If, like me, you have a weakness for ice cream, you must also love Italian gelato. (Gelato has less butterfat and a higher density than ice cream; it is also served at a slightly warmer temperature, so it melts in your mouth more readily.) I look forward to this indulgence every time I travel to Italy and succumb to it more than I should.
In Florence, I have long favored Caffè Mario, right by Santa Croce. On this latest trip, however, I was delighted to find a gelateria just steps from the Piazza della Signoria. Open since 1939, Perchè no! (“Why not!”) makes its products fresh every morning from natural ingredients. While the fruit flavors are delicious, I could not resist “Nocciolosa,” an ambrosial blend of hazelnut and chocolate. Just the thing after a rugged morning of sightseeing!
Via dei Tavolini 19R. Tel. (39) 055-239-8969.