Aperitivo ad Arte: A New Way to Experience The Uffizi

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Starting last week the Uffizi museum is hosting an evening Aperitivo! Thursdays from 7:30pm to 9:30pm you can enjoy a spritz or a glass of prosecco with a buffet of appetizers in the cafè of the Uffizi.

I made plans to go last week with a few friends, and since it was recommend to make reservations I tried to call ahead of time to reserve a few tickets for us. Unfortunately they were all sold out, so I tried to make reservations for a later week. Nope - all sold old for the entire period that the Aperitivo is offered! I guess lots of other people were just as excited about the event as I was. The woman on the phone was very helpful however, and suggested that we pass by anyway to see if we could get in. Since we really did have our hearts set on it, we went at 7:30 to try our luck. It was actually much easier than we thought! We waited in line for five to ten minutes and went straight in.

Aperitivo and a beautiful sunset at the Uffizi on a warm spring evening

It was a bit busy at the bar, but it didn't take too long to order our drinks. The view of the sunset over the city of Florence was beautiful. Have you ever seen the Loggia dei Lanzi with all the statues in Piazza Signoria? On top of that people are having coffee and snacks overlooking the city! There was a DJ playing fun music and overall the atmosphere was lively and refreshing, full of Florentines and foreigners alike enjoying the opportunity to spend the evening experiencing The Uffizi and the beautiful view of Florence in a unique way.

View of Palazzo Vecchio at dusk from the terrace

After enjoying our sunset drinks and chatting for a bit we took a walk through the new "Sale Blu" of the Uffizi, full of beautiful paintings from Spanish, French, Flemish, and Dutch artists.

I highly recommend going even if you don't have a reservation. As word passes around I suspect that the line may get a bit longer, so you should arrive at 7:30 or maybe even a few minutes before.

I also heard that in August they will be doing the same thing in The Bargello, a museum that I (shamefully) haven't gotten to yet because of its restrictive hours. I loved my experience at the Uffizi this past week so I'm looking forward to another chance to visit a museum like this. I admire the initiative that the city is taking to liven up the museum experience, and allow those of us who can't take advantage of normal museum hours to enjoy all the culture that Florence has to offer!

Aperitivo ad Arte

Dates: Every Thursday, May 24 - July 5

Hours: 7:30pm - 9:30pm

Entrance fee: €10:

includes one drink, buffet and entrance to the new rooms of the Uffizi

See the event calander for more upcoming events!

Sunday Snapshot: Vintage Car Love, Renault 4

Firenze Gelato Festival March 23-27 2012

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There's lots of talk in Florence about the third annual Gelato Festival this weekend, and not all of it is good. There are plenty interesting events and as always, great gelato. Whats not to love about Florentine Piazzas filled with stands of delicious gelato?

The Gelato Card, available for purchase at stands in the piazzas, costs €15 and includes 5 tastings, one 'gelato cocktail,' some free items like a tote bag, biodegradable cup, waffles and a balloon, as well as entrance to various demonstrations and exhibitions.

I don't know about everyone else, but for me its the end of month when my budget tends to get thin and I just can't justify €15 for an afternoon of gelato tasting, especially when there are plenty of amazing gelaterias around town where I can enjoy a big cone for about €2. I can see how everything thats included might justify the price tag, but I miss the 5 and 6 euro tasting cards of the past two years. I think I a better idea would have been to offer a simple €5 card with some tastings and then another Deluxe card for those who want tote bags and balloons.

Personally, as much as I like tote bags, I'd prefer to just buy a cone for one euro and take a walk around to enjoy the scenery. I'll let you know how it goes, but if you want to test out the card to see if its worth it, you're on your own!

Florentine Bicycles in the Spring

Florence always has plenty of bikes, but in the Spring they come out of hibernation to soak up the sun on the sidewalks. Bike rides are a bit more pleasant in the Spring breeze, so its time for new coats of paint & new baskets to bring home flowers.

Love the off-center decoupage on this wine box used as a bike basket! Simple & elegant

 

 Either someone left their toy bike and door out on the sidewalk, or that window is huge.

This beauty lives near my house and I always admire her details

A nearby furniture store puts these bikes out with Spring flowers to bring a bit of attention to the shop. It worked on me!

What's your favorite thing about Springtime in the city?

Sunday Snapshot: Matching Spring Dresses

As if passing by the caurosel in Piazza Republica on a sunny spring day weren't enough to bring a smile to anyone's face, along come four excited little girls in matching spring dresses...