La Dolce Vita is... a view of the Arno river by night

A picture speaks louder than words...

Take a look for yourself...

The River Arno in Florence...

By night!

La Dolce Vita is... chitarra con pomodoro

Today I decided that I will post more brief blog posts, with photos that represent "La Dolce Vita" to me.... since I have so many photos just 'lying' there. It would be a waste not to show them to you. Enjoy!

Pictured here: chitarra con pomodoro fresco e basilico (fresh spaghetti with fresh tomatoes and basil) by Osteria Santo Spirito in Florence, Italy. Delicious!

For more information, please read my previous review:
http://tarasdolcevita.blogspot.nl/2012/06/osteria-santo-spirito-florence-italy.html

Florence by night

 

Florence is a beautiful city, but by night it's magical! Especially when you take a walk on the Ponte Vecchio, sit down and admire the view from Piazzale Michelangelo or from San Miniato al Monte.
And while some of you might think Florence is all about Italian food... they have some pretty good Japanese restaurants as well. Oh and the nightlife....

Photos -from top to bottom- taken at San Miniato al Monte, Ponte Vecchio, il Nuovo Teatro dell'Opera, Cantinetta dei Verrazzano (appetizers), The Fusion Bar (sushi and cheesecake), Piazza Santo Spirito, San Miniato al Monte, Piazza della Passera, Piazza Santa Trinità, The Fusion Bar (cocktails).

More information on The Fusion Bar:
http://tarasdolcevita.blogspot.nl/2012/10/sunday-brunch-at-fusion-bar-florence.html

Addicted to... Orange and fennel salad

I ate this salad for the first time at Enoteca Fuori Porta in Florence and have been addicted to it ever since! I even made this dish several times at home. It's very simple: you take fresh fennel, an orange, some lettuce and a handful of almonds... mix it all up... pour over olive oil and balsamic vinegar... done!

For more information, please visit:
http://tarasdolcevita.blogspot.it/2012/08/enoteca-fuori-porta-florence-italy.html 

Giardini Bardini, Florence, Italy

  

Florence… the ususal suspects are of course the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizi Museum, the David by Donatello…. Been there, done that, got a t-shirt? Then Giardini Bardini is the place to visit next! These beautiful gardens, located close to the Ponte Vecchio, are a true gem right in the city centre.

Climb the stairs to enjoy the breathtaking views of Florence or to have coffee or lunch at the café. It’s a lovely place, suitable for a talk, a walk… for tourists who want to relax and for the many art students that live in or visit the city. I found several people painting and drawing, on a bench, on a tree stump, in the sun, in the shade…
The gardens are just so picturesque. Very suitable for a marriage proposal or even a wedding!

Besides the small café on the top of the hill, there is a fancy restaurant, where you can enjoy a more luscious lunch (not always open though). The restaurant also hosts special events, (jazz) concerts and wine tasting tours. While I was there, they were preparing for a big gala dinner at night... I couldn't believe my eyes... such a pretty location for a charity event!

The gardens are open daily, but opening hours vary according to the season. Check their website for accurate information. Admission fee is €10; I think it's really worth it.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.bardinipeyron.it/ab/cont__2.phtml 

Sunday Brunch at The Fusion Bar, Florence

The best place to relax in Florence after partying all weekend is without a doubt The Fusion Bar, situated in the Gallery Art Hotel. State-of-the-art design, the lastest art exhibitions, combined with extravagant cocktails and the best (fusion) food in town... all in one place... right in the city centre! As you can immagine, this attracts a very hip crowd. But families with children are more than welcome too.

The Fusion Bar was already famous for it's "aperitivo", excellent lunch and dinner, now their sunday brunch will fastly become another must when in Florence. Everything is served in buffet style, but this is not your usual all-you-can-eat buffet...! The creations by chef Emanuele Cappellini are true pieces of art.

You can start with the salad bar (offering all the ingredients to make an all American Caesar Salad), enjoy some exquisite sushi and sashimi, then on to the oysters.... pasta, burgers and fries, various cheeses and finish in style with the delicious desserts.

Sunday brunch at The Fusion Bar doesn't come cheap ( I paid €44,= plus €6,= for a glass of wine), but it's an unforgettable experience.

For more information, please visit:
the-fusion-bar-restaurant