Florence holidays

Grab a cheap-as-chips memento at the San Lorenzo Market. It’s got indoor and outdoor sections, with part of the market dedicated to fresh fruit and veg. In the remaining area, you’ve got your pick of handmade Florentine goods – like leather wallets and bags, pottery, books, and souvenirs. Bargaining is welcomed, too.

If designer retail therapy’s your jam, head to the Via Tornabuoni. This elegant street in Florence’s centre is home to big name brands like Gucci and Prada, as well as a perfumery, and a luxury shoemaker dating back to the 1920s.

Hit up the San Frediano neighbourhood for a chilled one. Here, quiet wine bars rub shoulders with cosy cocktail hangouts and Italian tapas places. This area’s also home to Florence’s’ first Sake bar, as well as a quirky bookshop that deals in live music and tipples after sundown.

For all the ingredients of a big night out in Florence, make sure you swing by the Santa Croco district. It’s considered the heart of the city’s nightlife, and is peppered with beehive-buzzy bars and neon-lit nightclubs.

Salted caramel, chocolate, fig, pear, pistachio, lemon, mint, rose… you name it, Florence’s gelaterias – gelato shops – have got a flavour to suit everyone. This Italian version of ice-cream, made with less cream and more milk, is available on practically every street in the city. A creamy cone or tub of gelato is a staple of Florence’s foodie scene, and a great way to cool down while sightseeing.

A classic Florentine cake, the schiacciata Fiorentina is a soft yellow sponge topped with sugar. Slices are stencilled with a cocoa powder fleur-de-lys, making the cake super-easy to identify. You’ll come across this kind of cake in just about every bakery in the city.

Meat-eaters, assemble – for this extra-large, extra-tasty steak. The Bistecca alla Fiorentina is a giant T-bone, pink on the inside, seasoned with salt and pepper, and roasted over chestnuts. This massive steak is made for sharing, so make sure you take a friend with you to dinner.

This love-it-or-hate-it Florentine folk meal dates back to Italy’s Medieval period. Lampredotto is a sandwich made with thinly sliced, boiled tripe. It’s a popular dish to buy at outdoor markets or street vendors, and for a dash of extra flavour, you can order it with a spicy or herby sauce.