The Museum takes its name from its creator, one of the most famous Italian antiquarian of the late nineteenth century, who after years of intense commercial activity, decided to transform his collection into a museum and donate it to the City of Florence in 1922. Stefano Bardini was a famous art dealer who collected objects of different periods and of high quality. Bardini contributed to spreading the myth of the Italian Renaissance throughout the world and showed great interest in all forms of art, which is one of the reasons to visit the collections: over 2000 pieces including sculptures, paintings, furniture pieces, ceramic pieces, tapestries and objects from ancient art to the eighteenth century. It's also possible to admire some fragments of the old centre of Florence, salvaged before destruction. Inside the museum, everything is on display as it was at the time when Stefano Bardini worked as an antique dealer. The pieces are not grouped by historical period, but are put on display according to the taste of Bardini, so as to better accentuate the beauty of the pieces. Even the building itself is remarkable for its use of doors, windows and the fact that many of the room are painted in a bright electric blue. It doesn't usually appear in the guides (so it's not crowded) and you'll never find it on the MUST VISIT museum list, but it's worth a visit. The visit (depending on whether you are running or deciding to take it easy) takes approximately between 1h and 2:30.

La Specola is one of my favourite museums I have ever visited. The museum is a branch of the Natural History Museum of the University of Florence and is one of the oldest science museums in Europe, built in 1775 with the aim of gathering the natural treasures collected by different generations of the Medici family, such as fossils, animals, minerals and exotic plants. You really have to go. The displays are stunning and odd, also the Zoological Collection is full of specimens and old taxidermy pieces. On top of that there is also a quite "scary" collection of about 1,400 pieces of anatomical waxworks (made between the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century).

Monkey Bar is the first place I discovered in Florence. In this small pub I found myself comforted with its dive bar feel. Lorenzo and Freddy, the bar tenders, greet their patrons with a kiss on each cheek, a sarcastic comment and cheap drinks. I have grown to love this small place; its welcoming atmosphere brings me instantly home in a city constantly bustling with mainstream tourism.

This bakery, frequented only by florentine people, is located in a street just outside the border (obviously imaginary) between the Florence inhabited by tourist and the one with the florentines. Beyond Piazza Beccaria you will find shops of all kinds and the slow life typical of the village. This bakery preserves all the authenticity of the old days. Do not miss the salty schiacciata (if you are looking for someone who makes sandwiches - here the service is not offered) and if you love herbs, their version with sage is not to be missed. Tip: It is better if eaten hot in the morning, more hours pass the more it tends to harden. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator

This is the oldest market in Florence, it takes place in Piazza Santo Spirito the 3rd sunday of the month (except for August and December) from 8am to sundown (which can be from 4 pm to 7pm depending on the season). All the people that sells in this market are local farmers from Tuscany and the products on display are all made using natural or ancient methods without the use of synthetic products. The products admitted to Fierucola are characterized by their simplicity & originality, inspired by agricultural and artisan traditions, especially those who are disappearing. Everything is produced in small scale, following the seasons. You can find a vast array of things here, from spices, vegetables and fruit, cheese, bread, vegan products, jam and preserves, hand made shoes, dried flowers, wire and straw basket, plants and textiles, flours, fermented beverages, miso, jewelry, pottery and wooden toys for kids. If you don't like this kind of shopping, this event still deserves a visit if you like to do people-watching. This is the place where you'll find most of the florentine people on sunday morning.