I have many passions in life, and one of those is ice cream, or even better, gelato! Now you can imagine that living in Florence for a year was a dream come true for my taste buds, although quite the opposite for my waistline! I have no shame admitting that I sometimes had more than one gelato in a day, and as a result, have tried several different gelaterias throughout the city. So which ones are the tourist traps, and which ones the real deal? Keep reading to find out which gelato shops in Florence are my favorite!
GELATO VS. ICE CREAM
The first question you may be asking is, what makes gelato so special, and how is it any different from Ben & Jerry’s? Although I love Ben & Jerry’s, there is no comparison between the two! In regards to ingredients, ice cream is made of sugar, cream, milk, and egg yolks, whereas, gelato has more milk and less cream and eggs. This changes the consistency of the two; ice cream is creamy, and smooth, whereas, gelato is softer and silkier.
HOW TO AVOID BAD GELATO
When roaming through the streets of any Italian city, you will without a doubt come across several gelaterias, some of which are most certainly tourist traps, and have lesser quality gelato. So how do you know which one’s to avoid?
- First, look at the color. I immediately look for the pistachio and mint flavors. If they are bright neon green, then the gelato has artificial coloring, and should be avoided.
- Notice the height. Gelato piled high to the sky might look good in a vitrine, but it means that it was churned with extra air. For the best quality, always look for gelato shops where the levels of gelato are low.
- Avoid main tourist points. This may seem obvious, but in main tourist areas like, the Duomo, or Ponte Vecchio, the gelato shops are mostly all tourist traps. The goods ones are slightly hidden away on side streets!
TOP 5 GELATO SHOPS IN FLORENCE
Now that you know how to find a decent gelato shop, I will save you the trouble of roaming the streets of Florence for the best one, and list my top 5!
5. GROM
Although a chain, GROM nonetheless, deserves a spot on my list. Hidden away on a side street, you may need the help off Google maps to find it! They have most of the classic Italian gelato flavors like baccio, tiramisu, stracciatella, and pistachio. The baccio is my go-to at Grom, as it tastes exactly like the small chocolate truffle. If you can’t decide on just one, then mix and match with two or three different flavors!
4. La Strega Nocciola
La Strega Nocciola does not have the largest variety of flavors, but their classics are fantastic! For those who aren’t very adventurous and prefer the basics, Strega Nocciola is the perfect place. Their flor di latte, chocolate, and tiramisu, among others are creamy and rich! The shop is small, and located on a side street away from the rest of the tourist traps in the center.
3. Carabè Firenze
Slightly further up the road from La Stregga Nocciola, you’ll find Carabè Firenze. They pride themselves on using all natural, fresh ingredients low in fat and sugar. The shop opened in 1989, and has held a reputation for high quality gelato for over 20 years! My favorite flavors are the chocolate raspberry, and peach, but they have loads of other interesting and unique flavors like, chocolate rum pear, and olive oil! You may have to take several trips in order to try them all!
2. Perché no!
Perché no! has been one of the top gelato shops in Florence for many years. It opened its doors in 1939, and is one of the oldest gelaterias in the city! They churn out fresh gelato every morning made from all natural ingredients, and boast unique seasonal flavors like, rose, ginger, lavender, and apple pie. For any vegan or lactose-intolerants out there Perchè no! has even got gelato for you! They have a delicious vegan chocolate gelato made with water, and other flavors which use rice and soy milk instead of dairy.
1. Gelateria Santa Trinita
Gelateria Santa Trinita is my absolute favorite gelato shop in all of Italy (very bold statement, but it’s true)! It’s located in Altarno (the other side of the Arno river) at the end of the Santa Trinita Bridge. The shop has a large variety of flavors, and some in-house specialty ones. My favorites are cookie, blueberry cake, and strawberry cheesecake. All of the gelato is made with fresh ingredients, and have incredibly rich, intense flavors. If you chose to go with some of the fruit flavored gelatos, it will truly taste as though you are biting into a piece of that fruit! The smallest size, for only 2 euros, comes with two generous scoops on either a cone or in a cup. The friendly staff members let you try many flavors until you decide on the ones you want (this is the hardest part)!
Whether you’re a huge gelato fan like me, or have never tried the famous Italian dessert before, my top 5 gelaterias are a must during any trip to Florence! Try one, or all five, but I’m sure you won’t be disappointed!
Safe Travels,
Vip <3
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