Florence, Italy
Clara, 33
Contemporary jewelry designer + Virtual Assistant
see her Florence city guide

ask Clara about

music venues food markets viewpoints café flea markets art/design workshop picnic spots

What do you do and why do you do it?

I am a contemporary jewelry designer- I make a lot of unwearable stuff out of trash basically. Otherwise I am a remote virtual assistant to pay my bills. I am obsessed with good local food and go to great lengths to find it whenever we travel (which is usually about twice a month). I also love to dance and see live music whether it is garage rock or a philharmonic symphony.

You’re broken hearted - what tracks does your heartbreak playlist consist of?

Your Love is Killing Me- Sharon Van Etten, Forget- Twin Shadow, Maps- Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Forgiven/ Forgotten- Angel Olsen, A Little Lost- Sufjan Stevens

What are the best TV shows of all time?

I didn't grow up watching TV so I'm probably the worst person to ask this. I do love Chef's Table though!

Name some spots in Florence that are good for a Tinder date.

Never got to Tinder because I met my dude my 2nd week here, but any piazza (outdoor plaza) during the warmer months with a bottle of wine on the steps of a church, Sabor Cubano- especially when there is live Cuban music at night with a mojito is a great date spot

Where do you buy those fabulous clothes of yours?

Flea markets, small designers when I can afford it, clothing swaps

What’s the area/ spot in town you’ll never be caught dead in?

Red Garter- drunk students are always spilling out of there and its really not my scene

What’s the thing you LOVE to do in your city that you never get to do?

Browsing the farmer's market outside my apartment for seasonally fresh veggies and a bonus is that it's connected to some small flea markets that change every day!

What’s the most decadent / extreme dish you ever ate in Florence and where did you get it?

The most decadent I've ever had in the Florence area was a bistecca fiorentina (Florentine steak) covered in freshly shaved truffles. I was at a sagra which is kind of like an Italian food festival that takes place in small towns/ villages. This one was right outside of Florence in Girone.

Is there a hidden bar / hole in the wall in Florence that you particularly like?

I'm pretty partial to all the hole in the wall bars around the world. I love I macci...which doesn't show up on Google. Good luck finding it!

Where can you get the best cocktail in Florence? Which one do you like?

Oh there are so many! But I like Bitter Bar a lot- their drinks are really complex and interesting to taste. Mad Souls & Spirits is fantastic as well and I used to love Rasputin (the secret bar) but the prices have gone up kind of too crazy.

Which snacks can you only get in your country, and which ones do you recommend?

Fonzies! They're like Italian Cheetos and they're kinda gross and I really like them

What’s the one place you think is overrated in Florence?

Gusta Pizza- its a perfectly okay (a little soggy) pizza but people line up like crazy to get in when there are so many better pizza places in the city. I think it's mostly fueled by the American study abroad kids. I go there occasionally after hours for a snack but lining up? No way!

What are the Florence spots a first-time visitor can’t miss?

Its really hard to mess up- the city is tiny, you'll run into everything :)

photos by

Giulio Paletta