Istituto Lorenzo de Medici (IDM) reviews

I'm not a big clubber or bar hopper, but there are a ton of bars in which to get drunk and blow all your cash (that was almost double b/c of the exchange rate) on and go home with an either good looking or skeevy foreign guy! Go to all the muesuems- it's Florence- they're amazing! So much art and history, it;s mind blowing! Also, travel, travel, travel! All over Italy and Europe! The train is really easy to use in Italy and not so expensive, you can go to almost any Italian city! But, trains are notoriously always late arriving and departing in Italy, and staff at the stations are not usually helpful in my opinion. Also, the people who hang around the stations (especially in Florence and Bologna) are really, really creepy and dangerous. Ladies: be really careful and don't go alone, and be careful of the underground areas....

Overall I found Florence to be full of great spots to find. A few of my favorites were Il Bordino a small restaurant on Via dei Strachietella, Gelateria dei Neri in the Piazzae Santa Croce. I loved the Piazza Santo Spirito with the outside markets and antique fairs.Lochness was a fun night spot as well as the William bar.

It would be difficult to say...things change faster than one would think in a city the size of Florence! Borgho Antico in Piazza Santo Spirito has wonderful Risotto! Try a "Caprioska alla Fragola" at any bar! There was always something to "wander into" in Florence - festivals and the like.

My favorite night spot was a visit to Ponte Vecchio. Occasionally there is live music there which is cool. Also I wouldn't miss out on Be-Bop or Twice at night. Of course Mercato di San Lorenzo is awesome for shopping and there is a good forno behind one of the vendors.

There's so much to see and do in Florence. I wrote up a 12-page information packet for my friends that studied there. I couldn't possibly list everything here. For night spots hit up Meccano, Red Garter, Dolche Zucchero, Yab, JJ's Cathedral.

Best trattoria to eat at is Trattoria Giorgio. It's inexpensive and you get fantastic local cuisine. While in florence, one should visit the Piazza Repubblica, Uffizi Gallery, Via Tornabuoni (best shops!) and check out a soccer game.