There aren’t too many things concerning food that I don’t find extremely wonderful, but this is one of them. The Firenze Gelato Festival is a disappointment.
I say this for several reasons. 1. The cost is ridiculous. You pay 15 euro for a card that allows you 5 samples of gelato, a gelato “cocktail” and a shopping bag. You can buy a LOT of gelato for 15 euro! 2. The crowds are enormous even though the stands are set up at different piazzas around town. 3. I didn’t notice that there were any flavors that you couldn’t purchase at some of the other wonderful gelato shops around Florence.
I did notice that you can buy one sample without buying the card. I think it is better to do your own Gelato Festival at whatever time of year you come here, visiting all of the best places for a taste test comparison. Start with La Carraia, via dei Neri, and Perseo for starters!
An American in Italy
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined." Henry David Thoreau
This was a lot better IMO when it was in P. Pitti. I actually enjoyed it since we didn’t waste our time in P. Strozzi o P. della Repubblica (But i’m annoyed they added such a “rip off” as to have the gall to feature the Coop Fiore brand or Sammontana!!!!!) but the artiginal flavors from around Italy (Pinguino from Piemonte was so goood) and the world in piazza Santa Maria Novella were squisiti!!!!!!! My boyfriend and I shared a card and were both full, in fact we divided the card into 2 days. lol. The gelato mojito cocktail sucked, though, IMO….too sweet and artifical tasting. I was only disappointed not to find the wonderful gelateria from the Veneto region last year when we sampled fantastic Prosecco and Spritz flavored gelatos!
I always do my own “Gelato Fest” when in Italy!
I love Italian gelato, even I don’t eat ice-cream so much, but it was suprise, Turkish gelato is as good as Italian. Really good, both!