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Touring Tuscany: Part VII – Gucci Museo and Caffé

Travel

Andrea Brown of Team MissMalini recently spent a week touring Tuscany, Italy, sampling the region’s delicious wines and famous cuisine. Here’s the seventh installment of her travelogue series on Touring Tuscany!

Rocking my Gucci side bag

In my mind, Gucci and Florence go together like bread and butter. Both fashion house and city have timeless appeal and what seems like everlasting quality. Florence is, in fact, the city where in 1921 Guccio Gucci opened his first store, which almost a century later is now the brand’s official museum. Located in Piazza Signoria and spanning over three floors, the Museo Gucci is divided into rooms inspired by their iconic motifs and symbols. The exhibition begins with the theme of travel, which is said to be inspired by Guccio Gucci’s first job as a porter at the Savoy Hotelin London. Trunks, suitcases and hat boxes of all sizes from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s fill the large room. Although beautiful, I can’t imagine using luggage that didn’t have wheels in this day and age!

Travel

1970s Gucci-upholstered car

After a quick climb to the first floor, you find yourself in Flora World. The maxi dresses and scarves ooze femininity with their dainty print and silky fabrics. Following the flower power are the iconic handbags, some of which are still highly sought after today. Next up, the Evening room filled with red carpet creations.

Evening

The second floor houses Logomania, a room recounting the many changes of the iconic double G monogram. Lifestyle and Sport, my favorite themes, complete the museum tour. I absolutely loved this section as it was full of fun, quirky products such as Gucci swimming fins and camping essentials.

Stylish camping

Back on the ground floor, it was time for lunch at the Gucci Caffé and Restaurant. The caffé balances luxury and charm with its centrally placed communal table set with double G monogrammed placemats.

Brilliant branding

Gucci sugar

Our vegetarian set menu started with a glass of Vermintino from Tuscany, a light, white wine with a fruity aroma along with buckwheat and spinach patties with homemade tomato sauce. Up next, a mixed mushroom and yellow pumpkin soup with barley followed by a flan with broccoli and potatoes with anchovies and seasoned ricotta cheese. Let’s just say the anchovies did not go over well with my fellow diners who followed a strict vegetarian diet. A bowl of fresh fruit full of color and flavor was the perfect end to the meal.

Buckwheat and spinach patties with homemade tomato sauce

Mixed mushrooms and yellow pumpkin soup with barley

Flan with broccoli and potatoes with anchovies and seasoned ricotta cheese

Saved by dessert!

Much to my disappointment, the food was lacking excitement and found itself ranking dead last out of all my meals in Tuscany. I would however suggest stopping by for a coffee or bowl of fresh fruit as the staff is incredibly friendly and tables by the window are perfect for people watching.