If you're strolling under the sun in the streets of Florence and get a craving for ice cream, please don't stop by the ‘tourist traps’ that sell fake, handmade ice cream. If you venture just a few steps off the tourist path, you’ll find my three favorite authentic handmade ‘gelato’ bars.
 |
| Vivoli |
You must try Vivoli ice cream. I love their pear-caramel ice cream and the festinalente, a delicious cream with spicy ginger. Since1930, Florentines have gone to this charming place. It's so famous that the ice cream master, Silvana, was “kidnapped” by the owner of Divino, an Italian restaurant in Los Angeles, to make her beautiful desserts for the stars. It seems that Dustin Hoffman and Harrison Ford really appreciated her gelato!
 |
| Caramel Gelato |
Another historical ice cream parlor is Perchè No? (“Why Not?”). Since 1939, they’ve made divine handmade ice cream. It's on a little street near Duomo, and it has the most fantastic dark chocolate sherbet of the planet. If you add a touch of cinnamon cream you are in heaven, but don't miss their pistache ice cream - it is the best in town.
 |
| Perchè No? |
Near Santa Croce, in Via de'Neri, stop by Gelateria de' Neri and choose from their large selection of lovely of ice cream tastes. Personally, I adore the semifreddo al Gianduia or any of the fruit gelatos - malaga, pineseeds, Mexican spicy chocolate ...well, almost everything! They also make ice-cream cakes to die for!
