by Lindsay Clark

Created on: February 12, 2009   Last Updated: March 04, 2009

Welcome to the regurgitation of my heart; the recalling of my favorite pastimes in the city I love. I have been a tourist, a student, and a resident in the city of Florence and know how to show all a good time in a town so many beautiful people call "Firenze."

Florence is not big, but it's loaded with life, which is why I separate the historic Tuscan town into regions for a lighter load on the thoughtful traveler. In this article, enjoy browsing options for the Center of the Center and the Eastern side. If you would like to experience the city's true gems, click here for an article on the Oltrarno district and a one day itinerary for the crazy who thinks 24 hours is all it takes. For suggestions on the Northern and Western parts of town, refer to this

article. My best advice is to take one area in at a time and let simmer your enjoyment in the city of expression and beauty. Once again, be prepared for an over-whelming longing to visit Italy's cultural heart and my soul's hometown.

The Center of the City Center

One of my favorite places to sit in the city is on the Ponte Santa Trinita, the bridge west of the Ponte Vecchio. It has triangular pillars that jut out into the river, which are great places to read, draw, or relax with a Birra Moretti. Don't assume you'll have perfect peace and quiet, because the passers-by may harass you. This, of course, isn't all that terrible since Italian harassing is most commonly flirting and teasing, which you often can't even understand. Honestly, if you sit down anywhere in the city, you will most likely be visited by a curious Italian man and offered a date. Once again, it's wonderful.

The Ponte Vecchio is a good place to run into a stampede of tourists, policemen, and gypsies. She's the only bridge that withstood the onslaught of bomb droppings in World War II, and though that normal crowd is usually running along her back, she still has character. Lots of jewelry shops and gelato stops litter this old bridge, but it is most magical in the wee hours of the night after a light rain. Think film noir with a scattering of North Africans selling fake Fendis.

Cheap, but quality, vendor shopping is best done at the Mercato Nuovo, a covered marketplace that's been around for hundreds of years. It's hard not to find what you want in this marketplace, but just be sure not to seem too eager to buy. Haggling is an art form at which you will soon become skilled. Although, don't be too cut-throat because Italians don't care enough to play

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