✨ Planning Day 6 in Italy | From Rome to Florence: A Day of Goodbyes, Hellos, and Golden Light

There’s something almost poetic about a travel day that doesn’t feel like a disruption but instead feels like a bridge. My last morning in Rome will be exactly that — a gentle transition between one city I’ve loved deeply and another that has been quietly calling my name.

A Soft Roman Morning

I’ll wake up inside Albergo del Senato, my beloved nest beside the Pantheon, and savor one last slow, Rome-soaked morning. A lingering breakfast, a final cappuccino, and a little time to simply breathe in the beauty of Piazza della Rotonda before I say goodbye.

A short farewell stroll — perhaps toward Piazza Navona or along the familiar cobblestones I’ve learned by heart — will ease me into the day. No rushing. No scrambling. Just a sweet, steady goodbye.

By 11:00 AM, I’ll check out, step into a taxi (I promised not to walk to the train station this morning!), and head to Roma Termini, where I’ll comfortably arrive early for my 12:40 PM Italo train to Florence. A smooth, 97-minute glide north — enough time to reflect on everything Rome gave me, and everything I’m ready to receive next.

Arrival in Florence — A New Chapter Opening

At 2:17 PM, I’ll step onto the platform at Firenze Santa Maria Novella, and within minutes, I’ll be walking to my home for the next few days: Hotel L’Orologio Firenze. The timing is perfect — check-in is at 2:00 PM — so my room will be waiting for me like a warm welcome.

Once I’ve settled in, I’ll wander over to Piazza Santa Maria Novella, my first little taste of Florence’s soft elegance. This piazza is just steps from my hotel and feels like a gentle introduction — beautiful, open, and inviting.

A Late Afternoon of Wandering

From the piazza, I’ll drift deeper into the heart of Florence:

• Via dei Fossi and its antique shops

• The polished glow of Via Tornabuoni

• Piazza della Repubblica

• A first peek at the Duomo — saving the awe of climbing Brunelleschi’s Dome for the next morning

Then I’ll wander toward the river, letting Florence pull me in.

Sunset:

✨ Ponte Vecchio (My choice for tonight — gentle and glowing)

I want this evening to feel easy, romantic, and walkable. And the light on the Arno at sunset? Pure magic. The kind that warms you from the inside out.

I’ll stroll along the river, watch the gold settle onto the water, and let my first Florence sunset wrap around me softly. A sweet, simple “welcome” from the city.

💛 Dinner at La Bussola

After sunset, I’ll wander to La Bussola, where the food is warm, the service kind, and the pescatarian options perfect for me. A lingering dinner, a little joy, maybe a moment of reflection — the perfect ending to a travel day done well.

(And for future Florence meals, I’m keeping a few of my daughter's recommendations close: Panetteria e Stuzzicheria De Neri, Lo Sprone, Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco, & Buca Lapi)

Honey Note

There’s a special kind of confidence that blooms when you cross a country on your own — not rushed, not fearful, just steady and open. Leaving Rome behind and stepping into Florence, I feel that quiet strength growing in me again. And someday, my sweet granddaughter will hear how her Honey rolled her suitcase off a train, walked into a new city with a smile, and let adventure lead the way — and she’ll think that’s the coolest thing in the world.

Con dolcezza e scoperta,

Honey 🍯

PS — Florence, I’m ready for your golden hours, your whispers of history, and the way you glow when the sun sinks low. Let’s begin.