Bakery, florist, greengrocer: the list goes on. Family-run businesses galore line viale Don Giovanni Minzoni, where the palazzo housing This Time Tomorrow’s upscale residences is located. Curator Eric Veroliemeulen shares some of his favourite places around Florence, which he recommends to clients in a proactive guided approach.
“Ristorante Alfredo is where the locals go for lunch and dinner. Just off piazza della Libertà, it’s unpretentious and has a family feel. Ever welcoming, Lucia and Mario guarantee a memorable neighbourhood experience serving Tuscan dishes like penne strascicate (penne pasta with meat ragù and Bechamel sauce), pappa al pomodoro and bistecca alla fiorentina. Then there’s two local breakfast spots—Caffè Libertà and Pasticceria Blasio—for their lively atmospheres, as well as Caffè Lietta on the other side of the piazza. Our residences have their own kitchens, which is why I recommend the morning market in piazza Le Cure. Open from 7am to 1pm, it’s a great place to stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables while watching local life. For gelato, it simply has to be the original Badiani in viale dei Mille.”
Food aside, given that we’re pet-friendly at This Time Tomorrow, the Giardino dell’Orticoltura is the perfect place for our guests to stretch their legs while taking their dogs for a walk as well as all the events, concerts and plant markets. Another favourite among our art-loving clients is the antiques market in piazza Savonarola on the first Sunday of the month. A bus stop or short taxi ride away is Villa di Maiano, where Isabella occasionally opens the archive to culture connoisseurs, explaining how Sir John Temple Leader brought the villa back to life in the 19th century. For an evening to remember, continue up to Fiesole for a concert alfresco in the Roman theatre.
Given that we are located just off piazza della Libertà, guests at This Time Tomorrow have useful services right next door. One of our neighbours is a sartoria for dress repairs!”
Eric Veroliemeulen
This Time Tomorrow
