One of my favorite things about being abroad in Florence is the gelato. It's like ice cream, but richer in flavor and you eat it with a cute, miniature spoon. On our second day here, my friends and I found a tourist-y gelato spot called "Very Good" (the name alone should have steered us away) which charged us 10 euros for our dessert!!! Outrageous. It should only cost 2 euros! Ever since our expensive learning experience, I have been trying to find the best authentic gelaterias in Florence to satisfy my sweet tooth. I think it is impossible to get bad gelato anywhere in Italy, but the best I've had so far is a little hole-in-the-wall spot called Gelateria de' Neri. My Italian Cultural History teacher recommended this place to us, which I'm very thankful for. Today, I tried the fig and ricotta flavor (sounds gross but was amazing) with dark chocolate. I also love the hazelnut and berry flavors. You really can't go wrong! Ellen Barg-Walkow
There is only one word for the weather in Florence right now: beautiful. The trees are sprouting pert green leaves, any clouds that appear are wispy and pure white, and it is now possible to sit outside in a piazza with a book (or Kindle) in your hand and not even need a sweater! I’m so excited to keep exploring the city with all of this sunshine, but there is one neccessary warm weather accessory that seems to be calling my name every day and that, dear readers, is gelato. I’ve posted many times about my love of this cold and creamy treat, but today I’ve decided to give you my top gelaterias in Florence. I promise I did a lot of sampling, even in the cold weather, and these shops have the literal cream of the crop. Courtney Rogers
There is only one word for the weather in Florence right now: beautiful. The trees are sprouting pert green leaves, any clouds that appear are wispy and pure white, and it is now possible to sit outside in a piazza with a book (or Kindle) in your hand and not even need a sweater! I’m so excited to keep exploring the city with all of this sunshine, but there is one neccessary warm weather accessory that seems to be calling my name every day and that, dear readers, is gelato. I’ve posted many times about my love of this cold and creamy treat, but today I’ve decided to give you my top gelaterias in Florence. I promise I did a lot of sampling, even in the cold weather, and these shops have the literal cream of the crop. Courtney Rogers
The top 5 recommended places to get gelato (from both locals and students who studied abroad here in past semesters) are:
5. Gelatera dei Neri
Via dei Neri 20-22r
The first time I sampled the delights of Neri, it was pouring rain, I was in my silly hat, gloves and a winter coat (I even wore tights under my jeans!) and I still wanted to just keep eating their gelato in spite of the temperature. Many of my friends rave about their fruity flavors, especially mango and frutti di bosco, but I am a chocolate lover who cannot resist a good scoop of baccio (chocolate with hazelnut). It goes nicely with their fior di latte (sweet cream flavor) or if you’re feeling adventurous, a fruity flavor. Neri also offers semifreddo options such as tiramisu and profitoroles. We stopped by Neri after our pizza making class last night and I decided to give the tiramisu a shot. The verdict: just as wonderful as everything else on the menu.
The first time I sampled the delights of Neri, it was pouring rain, I was in my silly hat, gloves and a winter coat (I even wore tights under my jeans!) and I still wanted to just keep eating their gelato in spite of the temperature. Many of my friends rave about their fruity flavors, especially mango and frutti di bosco, but I am a chocolate lover who cannot resist a good scoop of baccio (chocolate with hazelnut). It goes nicely with their fior di latte (sweet cream flavor) or if you’re feeling adventurous, a fruity flavor. Neri also offers semifreddo options such as tiramisu and profitoroles. We stopped by Neri after our pizza making class last night and I decided to give the tiramisu a shot. The verdict: just as wonderful as everything else on the menu.
4. Perche' No
Via dei Tavolini 19/r, Firenze
3. Vivoli
Via Isole delle Stinche, 7r (Santa Croce)
2. Gelateria de' Medici
Via dello Statuto 3/5r
I feel slightly traitorous for not listing Medici in the number one spot, as Medici is an extremely close second place. Our former apartment was dangerously close to this wondeful world of gelato and it’s heaping scoops were the tastiest way to procrastinate. While I’ve yet to find a flavor I don’t enjoy at Medici, my favorites were mascarpone, crema dei medici and baccio. Crema dei medici has chunks of chocolate cookie and baccio is loaded with whole hazelnuts that add amazing texture to the creamy chocolate base. Medici also assembles these amazing fruit gelato creations which involve scoops of gelato stuffed inside the peel of a fruit, i.e. lemon gelato in a lemon peel. I’ve never tried one, but they always tempt me from their frozen display case. If the weather is as nice as weather.com is predicting tomorrow, I have no doubt that I will grab a cone before heading off to sunbathe in the park near the fortezza.
I feel slightly traitorous for not listing Medici in the number one spot, as Medici is an extremely close second place. Our former apartment was dangerously close to this wondeful world of gelato and it’s heaping scoops were the tastiest way to procrastinate. While I’ve yet to find a flavor I don’t enjoy at Medici, my favorites were mascarpone, crema dei medici and baccio. Crema dei medici has chunks of chocolate cookie and baccio is loaded with whole hazelnuts that add amazing texture to the creamy chocolate base. Medici also assembles these amazing fruit gelato creations which involve scoops of gelato stuffed inside the peel of a fruit, i.e. lemon gelato in a lemon peel. I’ve never tried one, but they always tempt me from their frozen display case. If the weather is as nice as weather.com is predicting tomorrow, I have no doubt that I will grab a cone before heading off to sunbathe in the park near the fortezza.
1. La Carraia (Piazza Sauro, Ponte alla Carraia)
By Ellen Barg-Walkow and Courtney Rogers
CET Florence Spring 2010
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