Live art, flavours and style like a local Florentine

Florence is not a city that you merely visit, but one you must experience with all your senses: every corner has a story, every shop a soul, every flavour a memory. Start your day early from the hu Firenze camping in town and breakfast alongside the Florentines in one of the traditional bars in the city centre with a ‘caffè and cornetto’. To get to the centre of Florence from the hu Firenze Camping in Town go by bicycle and follow the cycle path along the River Arno. It takes about 15 minutes on a bike or an hour on foot. You can also get there by taking public transport.

Morning: artisan workshops and art

Get around the city on foot like the locals, along the old narrow streets and stop at the historic shops in Via dei Fossi where you can see artisans at work. The Pelletteria Papini, for example, epitomises the quality of Florentine leather: in this workshop opened in 1896, the art of leather-working has been passed down through the generations. Step in and be enveloped by the characteristic intense, warm sent of leather, as you watch bags and accessories being crafted according to ancient techniques. Speaking of scents, in Bizzarri you’re catapulted into a 19th-century apothecary’s workshop crammed with vials, jars, bottles and stills. If by the end of the morning, you’ve not found that original gift to take home, visit the Legatoria Alberto Cozzi, where traditional Florentine paper is still decorated by hand, or to Art&Libri, which boasts a catalogue of over 35,000 art history volumes. Continue your stroll towards the San Lorenzo Market, a paradise for bargain shoppers, and explore the artisanal soul of Florence among the stalls selling leather goods, ceramics and local products.

Lunch with authentic flavours

For lunch, distance yourself from the touristy restaurants and try out one of the small street food kiosks instead, like Da’ Vinattieri in Via dei Cerchi, where you can enjoy a serving of tripe or a delicious lampredotto panini. Alternatively, try the kiosks at the Mercato di San Lorenzo, where, the historic stalls on the ground floor offer excellent options for a tasty snack: Nerbone is famous for its iconic version of lampredotto, and the Pescheria Sugarello serves fried fish, kebabs, octopus and codfish balls. There are also numerous stalls offering street food in the centre of Florence: among the most popular are the Tripperia Pollini, which the Florentines call 'The father and son’, ‘l Trippaio di San Frediano and I' Trippaio di Montini.

Afternoon: trends and aperitifs

Dedicate the afternoon to shopping in the boutiques in Via Tornabuoni, where there’s a mix of international brands and young local designers, and then move on towards Santa Croce and Santo Spirito where the most in vogue places await and end your busy day with an well-earned aperitif. From historic bars to well-stocked wine shops, it's a difficult choice: Kitsch 2 is an gregarious pub with sofas, faux fur stools and heavy glass chandeliers serving a lavish apericena (blend of dinner and aperitif), otherwise the Tuscan hors d’oeuvre from the Casa del Vino is a delicious accompaniment to one or several glasses of wine, while Procacci dal 1885 tantalises the Florentine palates with mini panini stuffed with cream of truffle and a good by-the-glass wine list. Volume in Piazza Santo Spirito is perfect for an alternative aperitif, with a selection of natural wines and a young, relaxed atmosphere. Or for a different experience, Le Murate is a former prison converted into a cultural centre with an outdoor bar popular with Florentines.

Evening: dinner and nightlife

At the end of the day, there is no better place to have dinner than in one of the many traditional osterias in the Sant’Ambrogio district, well away from the more touristy areas. The Trattoria Cesarino, for example, has traditional Tuscan dishes to savour in a lively, rustic atmosphere.