Piazza Della Repubblica in Florence

Piazza Della Repubblica became the center of Florence during the years 1865-1871 when Florence was the capital of the newly unified country of Italy. Although today prices are high at tables outside on the square (used mainly by tourists), Florentines still frequent the cafes but you'll find them inside where prices are lower, according to Kristin Stasiowski of Context Florence.

I asked Kristen to take me to some local haunts, places frequented by Florentines. Two cafes on Piazza della Repubblica are major cultural monuments still frequented by locals.

Donnini Pasticceria has the best coffee in Florence (and great pastries). It's one of the historical cafes where intellectuals and writers used to hang out in the late 19th century. Inside you'll see old pictures of Florence. Next door is Giubbe Rosse, filled with contemporary art. It's stocked with newspapers, magazines, and news of cultural events. Inside, the popular lunch buffet is 5 euro and in the evening there's an antipasto buffet that comes with the price of a drink, 4 euro for a glass of prosecco.

There's no service charge at either place for sitting inside but you'll pay a hefty price for outside service.

If you want an in-depth look at Florence, consider a Context Florence walk. Specialists, very knowledgeable about both historical and present day Florence, lead the small group walks that delve deep into various aspects of the city such as art, culture, or cuisine. For example, Kristen leads a tour centered around Dante in Florence, the subject of her dissertation. A tour like this can be a memorable part of a Florence vacation.

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_{Photo of Donnini Pasticceria © Martha Bakerjian, licensed to about.com}