Florence, Italy Like You Haven’t Seen

The view from Piazzale Michelangelo

For the second year in a row, Florence, Italy was voted by Conde Nast Traveler readers as the number one city in the world. From being the city that the Renaissance emerged from to the copious amounts of wineries to choose, it isn’t hard to see why thousands of students every year choose Florence as their go-to study abroad choice. But behind all of the architecture, red wine and cathedrals, Florence has something for everybody. From sport lovers to beauty product fanatics, everyone can enjoy this spectacular city.

Fashion: During a Vogue Italia press conference this summer for Vogue Fashion’s Night Out, editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani commented on her love for the city where runway fashion started, and she wasn’t speaking about Paris or Milan. The very first runway show happened in the heart of Florence, at Palazzo Pitti in the early 1950s. Now, Florence hosts Pitti Uomo, Pitti Bambini, and Pitti Donna (otherwise known as men’s, children’s, and women’s fashion week) every year.

Vintage Shops: It is no secret that Florence has a knack for being a city of fashion leaders. But what about those fashions that will fade away? Lucky for Florentines and visitors all over the world, Florence has some of the most highly-acclaimed and fully stocked vintage and high-end consignment stores in Italy. Ceri Vintage, which is a favorite for Conde Nast’s creative director Yolanda Edwards, sells everything from restored bikes to wranglers. FLY Fashion currently holds the largest vintage Emilio Pucci collection in Italy and also sells pieces from student designers.

Beauty Products: Down a small street near the train station sits one of Florence’s oldest establishments. The almost ancient pharmacy turned perfumery has quite a name: Officina Profuma Farmaceutica Santa Maria Novella. Otherwise known has the Official Santa Maria Novella pharmaceutical perfumery. Founded in 1221 by monks, they mixed ancient recipes for everything from ointment for restless babies to rose-flavored alcohol to digestion pills, all of which you can buy today. In 1621, Catherine de’Medici was such a huge fan of their products that they made a perfume for her, also something you can still purchase. Now, the Florentine establishment is world famous, with people making special trips to the city to buy the renowned face tonics and soaps. Alex Tisdale studied abroad in Florence and said she bought the famous acqua di rosa in bulk because of her love for the product. “The products have been perfected over hundreds of years,” Tisdale said. “The quality, the packaging, and the experience of it all is well worth the thirteen euro I spent a bottle.”

The impressive ceiling and chandelier in Officina Profuma Farmaceutica Santa Maria Novella

Street Art: Calling all lovers of Banksy! Florence is the city for you. Street art covers the ancient buildings, from professional art on stop signs to stick figures with balloons. Don’t be so quick to lower them to graffiti, though. Most Florentine’s consider these pieces works of art.

Sports: Italy is one of the many countries that goes absolutely nuts for soccer. With the stadium just a quick bus ride away, students, locals and visitors alike pack the stands and cover themselves in the ACF Fiorentina team color, purple. Olivia Boone, who studied in Florence for six weeks this past summer attended her first live soccer game in Florence. “Getting to experience the liveliness of an Italian soccer game where it is so much more competitive than in the USA was a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Boone said. Tickets are fairly easy to come by with student travel companies selling tickets on a first come, first serve basis.

Burial site of Machiavelli and Galileo and famous basilica, Santa Croce

Allyson Arrigo is a senior print journalism major at the Meek School of Journalism and New Media. She can be reached at alarrigo@go.olemiss.edu.