What to Do in Florence Besides Attend Kim and Kanye's Wedding?
(Photo: Thinkstock)
For months now Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have tried to hoodwink their fans, friends, and even their family, by claiming they would be getting married in Paris.
They even went so far as to put the City of Lights on their wedding invitation.
Never trust a Kardashian.
The mayor of Florence revealed this week that the world’s most notorious couple will actually be getting married in his city this coming weekend at the famous Forte Belvedere, an incredible structure originally built for the ruling Medici family. Longtime patrons of the arts, we can only imagine the Medicis will be yelling “Mama Mia” from their graves when they learn this notorious family of reality stars will be walking their halls.
(Photo: Thinkstock)
We have some advice for the hundreds of wedding guests descending on the unsuspecting Italians—get out of your hotels. Maybe even take a trip out of the city. Make the most of this mini-vacay. It will be at least a few more years before Kim walks down the aisle again.
Sure, there’s the David, the Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio…but, being Kardashian associates, we know all the wedding guests will really want to do here is eat and shop. Here are some of our favorite spots.
Shop:
(Photo: Son of Groucho)
You have all your high fashion Italian designers right in town, Gucci, Pucci, of course Ferragamo. Hit Via Tornabuoni, Via della Vigna Nuova and Via dei Calzaiuoli for the luxury shops. We would like to refer Scott Disick to bespoke shoemaker Stefano Bemer on Borgo San Frediano because if there is anyone who likes a bespoke moc, it’s that guy.
No one likes lounging around in their pajamas more than the Kardashian family. They’ll want to pick up the custom-made linen ones at Loretta Caponi in the piazza Antinori.
Most stores siesta between one and three and are not open on Sundays and Mondays.
Frenemies who have yet to buy a christening gift for baby North should head to Brandimarte for hand crafted silver tchotchkes.
To freshen up before the wedding, guests need to pop into the Santa Maria Novella farmacia on via della Scala where shoppers can order custom-made perfumes and products in a 15th-century palazzo.
(Photo: Owen4Green)
Fun fact: Italians love Italian designers. They are incredibly snobby about British designers. Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney are often relegated to the sale racks in the outlets outside of town.
Even rich and famous folk don’t like to pay full price. And so, guests may want to take a car service out of town to the outlets. Lo Spaccio houses the outlets for Prada and Miu Miu. “The Mall,” is home to the slew of other shops, including Gucci, Pucci and La Perla. Go early to nab the best bargains.
Eat:
Guests who are game for a little road trip should venture out of town to San Giovanni d’Asso, the self-proclaimed white truffle capital of Tuscany.
(Photo: Daniel Schwabe)
For $245 per person (based on double occupancy) La Locanda del Castello, the town’s best restaurant and hotel organizes a truffle hunting package for guests, which includes a two night reservation in one of the castle’s well-appointed nine rooms. Guests should call ahead so they prepare their white truffle risotto.
In town, the design-conscious fam will want to swing by Caffe Giacosa, the cafe restored by designer Roberto Cavalli.
This swanky crowd should book ahead for dinners at Cantinetta-Antinori, the restaurant from the famous Antinori wine family, or Allemurate, a glamorous spot where the walls are covered in frescoed portraits of Dante and Boccaccio.
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