Off the trail: Florence, Italy

We had arrived in Florence after a week on the relatively peaceful Liguria Coast, where we hiked the mountains around Cinque Terre. Sure the quaint villages were bustling with people but it never felt overly crowded.

But, any relative peace we had experienced was left behind in Portovenere once we stepped off the train in Florence. Florence was busy. Very busy. Throngs of tourists and cruise ship groups filled the narrow streets and piazzas. 

Having been to Florence seven years ago, I had sweet memories of walking the maze of streets undeterred by crowds as it was October and the summer season was long over. So, for me, I knew that if I wanted to truly enjoy the city and experience all the magical moments it has to offer (again), I had to find ways to escape the masses to enjoy the pulsing heart of Tuscany and started searching for hidden gems.

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