University of Wisconsin–Madison

Italy: Aleeya Sengdao (Top Ten List)

Top Ten List: Florence, Italy

A covered stall with many framed paintings, statues, and clothing.

Local Markets. To really immerse yourself in Italian culture and have the opportunity to meet and speak with locals, I recommend visiting any of the local markets that are hosted daily, if not weekly. All the local markets in Florence have anything you could possibly think of from leather goods, scarfs, antiques, clothes, or food. Daily you could visit the San Lorenzo Outdoor Market. This market is throughout the San Lorenzo neighborhood and is the original leather market of the city. A short walk past this market is the Central Market (Mercato Centrale) which sells fresh, local ingredients, and upstairs has a food court! My favorite market is the Sant’Ambrosio Market (Mercato Sant’Ambrosio). This market has both an indoor and outdoor part and has absolutely everything from fruits and vegetables to meats, pastries, clothes, and accessories. And if you are a plant or flower lover, every Thursday there is a flower market in Piazza della Repubblica!

A cathedral with ornate, contrasting colored patterns and a domed roof.

Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore. The third biggest church in Europe, within the city center of Florence, the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower, also known as their Duomo, is a must-see! It was built in the 15th century and is also known for its Gothic architecture. You are able to go to the top of the Duomo and are able to see panoramic views of the city.

A wooden plate with a grilled steak with a bright pink center.

Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine Beefsteak). If in Florence you HAVE to try the Florentine Beefsteak! This is one of the traditional dishes of Florence and it is extremely flavorful and does not need a lot of seasoning.

The Uffizi. This is one of the most famous museums in Florence. It is famous worldwide for its collections of ancient sculptures and paintings from the Middle Ages to the Modern period. This museum has lots of famous artwork like works by Botticelli, including The Birth of Venus. I recommend going as early as possible to be able to enjoy all the works of art within the Uffizi gallery.

An outdoor soccer field on a cloudy day, surrounded by crowds of people.

Watch an ACF Fiorentina Football Game. Regardless if you are a soccer/football fan, you need to see a Fiorentina game! The tickets are very inexpensive and it is a cheap way to also integrate yourself with the Florentine culture and locals. From the game, I went to and the streamings, every game has been so lively and worth going to! The crowd was chanting songs and waving flags. Whether you decided to watch a football/soccer match live or in a sports pub, it is definitely worth it!

Michelangelo's stone statue of David stands in a domed room.

Galleria dell’Accademia. In my opinion, this is one of the main museums you need to visit in Florence. This museum is home to the original David of Michelangelo. You may have to wait in line for a bit but I do recommend seeing this sculpture, it is so detailed, and looking at it, I guarantee you will be in awe.

Panino. An Italian Panino, sandwich, is nothing as you would get at Jimmy John’s or Subway. Typically, with a lot of the paninis I have eaten, they use warm focaccia bread. I think the types of meats, cheeses, vegetables, and condiments are something so unique and flavorful that you would not expect them to go together.

Piazzale Michelangelo. An amazing plaza and ​​one of the few places where you can take in all of Florence with amazing panoramic views. I recommend going around sunset!

A panoramic view of a plaza with a red brick floor, with all of the buildings and cathedrals of Florence in the background.

Truffle. Florence and Truffles are a must to try! I typically do not like mushrooms but I tried the truffle sauce here and it has started to grow on me a bit. There is so much truffle influence in a lot of their pasta and dishes here in Italy. This is even more unique due to its producers of truffles being in the Tuscany region, which is where Florence is.

A cone of gelato with one brown scoop and one green scoop, held in front of another person holding gelato and a shopping bag.

Gelato. Maybe it is because I am biased, but if you ask me or any of the locals here in Florence, Florence is the birthplace of gelato. After a long day of exploring or even class, the creamy cold treat is always nice to treat yourself with! The best gelaterias have their smallest size under three euros, the taste is extremely creamy, is typically covered or in tins, and does not have artificial flavoring!

 

 

 

 

Aleeya wears a suit jacket and sits on a white bench underneath a tree.

Aleeya Sengdao

Major: Human Development and Family Studies and Sociology with Certificates in Criminal Justice & Education And Educational Services

Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Program: Italy, Florence / Santa Reparata International School of Art (SRISA)