Not only does this restaurant have a wonderful atmosphere (they do a an 'artisans lunch' which brings the locals in), but the food is absolutely delicious.

They are most famous for their Fiochetti alle Pere con Salsa di Taleggio e Asparagi (here's the recipe on their website! http://www.4leoni.com/ricette/fiocchetti-alle-pere-con-salsa-di-taleggio-e-asparagi/2.htm) and Peposo all'Imprunetina, which are both eye-wateringly delicious, and which you can eat sitting under an umbrella in the piazza.

This is the perfect place to eat out when your family come to stay or when you want to treat yourself. It's not very expensive, but it's not student food. It is, in fact, my number one restaurant recommendation in Florence.

ICE CREAM GALORE! It’s not that there’s a stonkingly great amount of choice, but the flavours are AMAZING - though it's closed on Mondays, don't forget. Try the tiramisù ice cream if they have it because it has sponge and big pieces of chocolate in it – oooh and the yoghurt ice cream, of course. And the pear & caramel. In fact, you might have to fork out and get a 5-flavour pot just to do it justice. This is actually the most famous ice cream shop in Florence, so it might be quite touristy.

Book this one if you can - there are usually huge queues for the 7.30pm/9pm seating - and when they ask if you want a starter SAY YES and they’ll bring the most delicious assortment of Tuscan specialities imaginable, including their famous prosciutto crudo which hangs from the ceilings.  NB: none of the main course meats (which are ENORMOUS – especially the bistecca alla fiorentina) come with anything on the side, so be prepared.  This is SUCH a lovely place, ADORED by the locals – you absolutely have to go, and if your parents are paying: even better.

Sit outside under the umbrellas near Santa Croce for a large choice of delicious (gigantic!) salads, fresh carpaccio, pastas etc.  Nobody seems to know about it – it’s amazing!  And it’s one of those few places in the city where you can have something really healthy to eat to counter-balance stuffing yourself with pizza, pasta and ice cream.  Or just have a tiramisu’...

If you want to do one touristy but wonderful and cultural thing in Florence, go to the Museo di San Marco (on the right of the church, open MORNINGS – weekends are dodgy: check by clicking the website above!) which is filled with frescoes by Fra Angelico from the early 1400s and Ghirlandaio's huge Last Supper in the refectory but, more excitingly, upstairs are the 44 tiny cells for the resident monks in the C15th with a devotional fresco each, and you can see Girolamo Savonarola's cilith (à la Da Vinci Code), his habit, his chair and pictures of him with his amazing nose... all rather creepy because (according to some) he was a bit of a religious dictator later burnt to death in the Piazza della Signoria (see the plaque in situ by the fountain). There are two pretty little courtyards there which are lovely, cool places to sit and read...