The Real Florence

You can read 100 different articles about florence, and chances are that they will have the same or similar point, while using meticulous wording to try and get their point across. But unfortunately for readers, but fortunate for younger (and even older) people who go, you need to know that past the curves of David's huge strap and Giotto's masterpieces, there exists the perfect storm of partying and 

positive attitude.

It's not down to the quality of the clubs or the chianti and the San giovese, but the way the city is constructed and its seemingly most popular current use: a "college town".

When Florence/firenze/flotown/f-town was constructed, it was done with no particular order, aside from having several of the most beautiful Cathedrals in the world at its center. There's no grid, and everything can suddenly turn into a  maze, or a back alley for a secret bakery or a hot club/bar. Florence is truly a labyrinth.

So aside from the close proximity, as everything is in walking distance, her college atmosphere would not make it anything special. But when students come here for college, it's not school, it's a vacation, usually entirely paid for by their parents. Oh, and 85–90% are girls. So add free liquor, the first time you are out of the country, being a guy/girl in a city filled with others, close proximity of beautiful bars, and needing to meet new people, and it's the perfect storm for a party. Every night.

Example: take a bottle of wine at 7:15 up to piazza michaelangelo. Bring cups. Don't be an asshole. Don't be shy, but don't be like the locals who basically jerk their dicks in front of the students... I guess they've never gotten any.

Now that you spent about $8 on a bottle of chianti and brought your friend, just chill out on the steps, and let the atmosphere of the city bring you to your next group of friends that you don't know yet, and your plans for the night. You'll be overlooking the city at the sunset now, and you're feeling a little tipsy. The girls (or guys) you are with now want to keep it going. After all this is a 4 month vacation, and if you make the most of it, you'll find the essence of the city, some good friends, and awesome nights. Fortune favors the brave.

Salerno

The end of the red sauce trail:

Salerno has the most "italian" vibe. It has to be the beginng of the red sauce trail, it just has to. My testament goes further; my landlord Luca informs me that I will be his long lost cousin from America, for tonight when we go out with this friends. He told me how his great-grandfather came to the states, around the same time mine did, except his returned to Italy a rich man... And then lost it all. With a gigantic port, yu can bet that this is where many Italian immigrants left their lives for the American dream, 85 years ago. Regardless of the size of the lemons, or the quality of the mozz, people needed food, and they needed to LIVE. In the words of biggie, niggas need food, niggas need bread... And so it began. I really don't like that word or anything racist really,  but it's necessary for my point.

So like I was saying, salerno seems to have the essence of what I was looking for on this trip. After going out with Luca, who told me he was kinda going through a break up, it seemed like tonight was going to be a wolf night.first we stopped at what looked like some old church for his friends girlfriend who was singing in some choir, they like that stuff here... And it was old, but I'm telling you, not one inch of space on that ceiling was left un-frescoed. Incredible, ornate as could be, like a Bensonhurst home in the 1970's.

After 7 minutes, we left for a tapas style spot, and the beers started. Some beer from Torino, a lager, pretty good... The city is cheap. Beers later, talking about Italian politics as usual... Nothing good. Ever. 

The next place... 1€ beers and sausage w fries sandwiches. So hungry that I literally choked on the sausage. Don't quote me on that.

More conversations about how I perceive salerno, and that everyone pretty much wants serie a in Italy to be Americanized. A Salernitana ultra concurs. I didn't realize they they had a fan base, a serious one, but it's one of the strongest in Italy. They'd be a great investment.

Salerno is a great place to see, the beginning and in this case,the end of the red sauce trail. If this was any given Sunday, yd definitely be hearing the sounds of ragu and pork boiling in the kitchens of the momma's and the nonna's.