Each week we will be giving you some great insider tips from team members: Cassandra, Kelsey or Giorgio who live or have lived in Bella Italia! We will even have some special guests with even more insider info so be sure to follow along! First stop: Florence for some Gelato!

Living abroad is both exhilarating and challenging. You may try your best to live by the golden rule of “when in Rome, do as the Romans do”, but sometimes the hardest part is knowing where to begin. Living and working in Florence pushed me to explore the city and find some cool, unique, and local spots to eat, relax, and be adventurous. First on the list, of course, is the unforgettable Italian GELATO. We may view this delicacy as a dessert, but to many Italians this can be a midday snack, a refreshing addition to a meal or even a breakfast option for those with a sweet tooth! Today I’m going to take you on a Gelato Tour to my top 5 Gelato shops in Florence!

First key fact and most important one to remember: the shops along the streets with giant and beautifully designed amounts of gelato in the glass cases are simply for show. Just like they say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” …don’t judge gelato by its display design. Normally this means that the gelato is made with more artificial chemicals in order for it to hold shape better, not to taste better. Another tip is to look for the gelato that is held in metal tubs with tin lids. It doesn’t have to be some famous historical shop either to be real house-made Italian gelato!

Here are my top 5 Gelato Shops in Florence, Italy:

5. Grom – Close to the Duomo, this shop is famous among both tourists and locals. Staying open later than most shops around the Duomo, I often visited this shop with my local coworkers after getting off work. The crema di Grom is an original that pairs well with most flavors and is a must-try. The torroncino (nougat) is also a great unique option! Along with this being a great and conveniently located gelato stop, it is completely gluten-free and has a detailed chart on their menu for other food intolerances!

http://www.grom.it/en/index.php

4. Gelateria dei Neri – this popular gelato shop is also in a convenient and well-known area near Santa Croce where many international students stay. It shares the street with many trendy restaurants and recognized stores that are around the world. The lines get long, but once you order, you won’t regret waiting for it. The ricotta and fig was recommended to me, and once I tasted it, I had to get it again and again!

Via dei Neri 9, 50122 Florence Tuscany, Italy

3. Le Botteghe di Leonardo– Off the path from the Central Market, you will find this quaint gelateria. Right as you walk through the door, you feel the true Italian atmosphere with original murals on the inside walls and built-in stone benches. Not only is the ambiance authentic, but the gelato is the perfect texture, the variation of flavors is creative and unique, and the taste is unforgettable. Their dessert wine flavor you can taste the ‘after dinner sweetness’. Their refreshing mint flavor tastes as though you are biting into a mint leaf rather than chewing a piece of artificially flavored gum. And their unique milk flower flavor melts in your mouth on a hot summer day. On top of their amazing flavors of gelato, they also sell cakes, popsicles, and other treats! The owner is knowledgeable, personable and willing to answer any questions and let you try any flavor!

http://www.lebotteghedileonardo.it/firenze-via-de-ginori-21r/

2. Gelateria Santa Trinta – This was one of the first gelaterias I had ever visited in Italy and, man was I spoiled! Not only does the line go out the door and around the corner to wait for the immaculate flavors they make, the view of the Ponte Vecchio and the fresh air from being right above the Arno River makes the experience that much better! They have 38 flavors at a time and are known for their dark chocolate flavor. I have never been able to pick just one favorite because each flavor leaves an exceptional memory that you will have to go back for over and over again.

http://www.gelateriasantatrinita.it/index_ing.html

1. Gelateria della Passera- Finally, my favorite gelateria of all time is this precious and authentic gem found on the other side of the river in the ‘Oltrarno’ neighborhood. This hole in the wall sells the freshest, most mouthwatering, authentic gelato in all of Florence. They always have new flavors, and even though the variety is limited day to day, the flavors do not disappoint. Their lavender flavor cannot be found in other well known gelaterias, at least not to the quality Gelateria della Passera holds. This place will change any expectations you had and raise the bar for your future endeavors.

Hope this tour has gotten your mouth watering and taste buds churning in hopes to one day try these out if you haven’t already!

What’s your favorite gelato flavor/shop you have been to? If you don't have a favorite sign up for one of Travel Italian Style's upcoming tours and we'll be sure to help you create your own list because isn't gelato the best?!

Kelsey is the Part Time Assistant Travel Consultant for Travel Italian Style and a student at the University of Mississippi studying Hospitality Management with a minor in Spanish and Business Administration. Kelsey took part in an exchange program in Argentina in high school, which created a flourishing passion for travel and learning about other cultures. From then on, she took every advantage to study abroad and backpack around Europe. This past summer, Kelsey interned for a local restaurant, Touch, in Florence, Italy and fell in love with the Italian culture. She was able to have a real local experience by making friends with coworkers and locals. She wants to make it possible for everyone who travels to be completely immersed into the culture in order to gain another perspective and to be able to enjoy life even more!

cassandra santoro

March 4, 2016

Insider Information

The Benefits of a Luxury Group Tour

cassandra santoro

March 4, 2016

Insider Information

By Halie Taylor

"Travel is more than the seeing of sights. It is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." - Miriam Beard

Travel is all about the experience, so make your travel experience better by considering a vacation with a luxury tour group.

If you’re being honest, you’re probably a little hesitant to take sign up for a luxury group tour because you just don’t know if there are any benefits. Right? In actuality, luxury group tours are meant to provide a plethora of benefits for travelers with a single goal of helping the traveler to have an amazing and enjoyable experience.

Less Planning, More Enjoying

When traveling with a luxury tour group, you’re sure to spend less time worrying about what you should do for the day and more time actually experiencing the destination. Less planning also means that you won’t be worrying about where you’re staying. Your luxury tour planner will not only have an excellent place for you to catch up on some sleep, but will also make sure that your needed accommodations are met. Oh, and don’t worry about losing your hotel room or villa suite because of some booking confusions (which I’m sure frequent travelers are all too familiar with). Your luxury travel planner will not only confirm, re-confirm and then confirm again, but will also make sure any booking problems once you’ve arrived are all taken care of. Can I get a, heck yes?

PHOTO COURTESY OF TRAVEL ITALIAN STYLE'S TUSCANY TOUR ACCOMODATIONS

Special Opportunities

Your luxury group tour guide probably knows the in’s and out’s of your destination like the back of their hand. This also means they probably have connections to things like unique places to stay, activities not many people get to do and access to authentic local restaurants or vineyards. Your luxury group tour guide will also have most likely experienced much of your destination first hand giving them an uncanny ability to point you towards things like the best gelato in the city or the small village with the best pizza.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TRAVEL ITALIAN STYLE'S SICILY TOUR

Safety In Numbers

You’re single and you want to travel, but you’re afraid you can’t do it on your own. You’re left asking yourself questions like what if something happens to me while I’m traveling? If I get sick how will I take care of myself? Once I get to my destination, how will I be able deal with the language barrier? Signing up for a luxury tour group can help you get over all of those fears. No need to put off travel just because you have no one who shares your same traveling desires, a luxury tour group will be filled with people you can relate to and get to know (maybe you’ll even meet your new best friend or a great traveling partner for future trips!). And when it comes to a language barrier, you won’t be dealing with it alone. Not only will your luxury tour group leader be able to help, you’ll also be surrounded by others who may be able to help.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TRAVEL ITALIAN STYLE'S WOMEN'S TUSCANY TOUR

The Added Benefit of a Picture Taker (No, you won't be forced to take selfies the entire trip)

Okay, okay. Maybe this isn’t a super important benefit of a luxury tour group, but if we’re being honest travel pictures are the best. So having someone there to snap that pic of you by the waterfall or that pic of you and your significant other cuddling under the Eiffel Tower, is an added bonus, right?

PHOTO COURTESY OF TRAVEL ITALIAN STYLE'S AMALFI COAST TOUR

What do you think are some benefits of traveling with a luxury group tour? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Meet Halie

Halie is the Travel Marketing Trends Coordinator for Travel Italian Style and is currently a senior at College of Charleston in Charleston, SC where she is majoring in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. Living in Charleston, Halie developed a love for beautiful scenery and unique culture. This love led her to her passion for travel which allows her to discover beautiful scenery and unique cultures in places all over the world. When she is not daydreaming about her next traveling adventure she can be found redoing warn out furniture found on the side of the road, writing fiction and attempting Pinterest crafts.

Day #1: A Gelato Tour of the City Center