A Non-Touristy Guide To Florence, Italy: Shayna’s Favorite Hidden Gems & Local Things To Do For Calm Travel
Florence, the capital city of Italy’s Tuscany region, is celebrated as the heart of Europe’s Renaissance, an era of artistic brilliance, intellectual awakening, scientific discovery, mathematical progress, and economic revival. Home to iconic masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s David, Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, and the architectural marvel of the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (Il Duomo), the legacy of Florence’s cultural explosion continues to shape the Western world today.
This captivating city is famously known as a tourist hotspot—but to me, it’s become a second home. My eBook, Serenity In The City: A Florence Wellness Guide, takes you beyond the crowded streets to uncover the real magic. From golden-hour rose gardens to nourishing restaurants and cozy cafes where I sip matcha and journal, this is the guide I wish I had when I first arrived.
Explore Firenze Like A Local: Meet Your Guide
I’m Shayna Terese Taylor, holistic chef, nutritionist, farmer, and world traveler. Not long ago, I left an eight-year relationship and moved from Los Angeles to the Italian countryside. With a deep appreciation of Italy’s sustainable agriculture, high-quality food, and slow living, I settled in Umbria to restore historic farmland where olive groves have been thriving wildly for centuries.
As I healed and brought my farm dreams to fruition, an unexpected love story began to unfold. Somewhere between the slow mornings in the sun and quiet walks through the countryside, I was divinely guided to my soulmate and now fiancé, Romeo.
Our love brought me to Florence, where Romeo, a true Tuscan, and my incredible local friends helped me discover a side of the city that so many visitors never see.
Travel With Intention, Softness, & Awe
Travel can feel like a whirlwind, especially in a world-famous city like Florence. Between packing, planning, and navigating ever-winding cobblestone streets, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But amidst the charming chaos and noise is a quiet invitation to find stillness and balance between movement and rest, indulgence and simplicity, the old and the new.
Serenity In The City: A Florence Wellness Guide is my personal map to that balance. These are the spaces and experiences that have grounded me and helped me feel rooted, present, and alive.
This isn’t just a Florentine food guide—it’s a collection of serene corners where you can slow down, pause, and connect with the rhythm of the city’s ancient heartbeat, breathtaking beauty, sacred history, and soulful expression.
My guidebook will help you move through the city with intention, opening you up to a new world of experiences. If you listen closely, you’ll hear the city speak to you through peaceful piazzas, artisan workshops, scents of olive oil and rosemary at the mercato, and gentle clinks of espresso cups. You’ll feel the soul of Italian living, discover the true meaning of la dolce vita, and realize that it isn’t about rushing—it’s about savoring every moment.
May this guide inspire you to journey mindfully at your own pace.
Questions about Italy? Ask @ShaynaTereseTaylor on Instagram, TikTok, & Youtube
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