Let’s pee in Florence

Started writing 21.09.2024…..finished and published August 2025

Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to visit Florence. That city and Tuscany were like something out of a fairy tale to me. Somehow unattainable, I thought I would never be able to visit them.
But luckily, work took us there and for the last ten years we have spent more time in Tuscany than in any other part of Croatia, apart of home. I fell in love with Florence❤️❤️ at first sight. Well, I fell in love with Italy 😍

Photo: 19.06.2016. Boboli Gardens Florence, Italy

Photo: 19.06.2016. Leonardo da Vinci Museum, Florence, Italy

Photo: 01.11.2021. Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy

I can just sit on the wall of a building and observing the people around me, different sizes, thin and not so thin, different skin colours, not to mention different fashion statements🫣🫣 . Listening to different languages, simply absorbing the life around me. All in one place – beautiful! And then the da Vinci museum and his work. And I can’t help but wonder, “How is it possible that such a brain existed?”
I can sit there on the steps of the Florence Cathedral,
or in the main square admiring the statues, the details, simply admiring the art.

Photo: 01.03.2018. Florence, Italy We even experienced snow in Florence 🫨🤩

Photo: 01.03.2018. Florence, Italy

Photo: 01.03.2018. Florence, Italy

The smell of coffee, the food, the buzz of people in the market, the laughter of young students, people taking pictures on every corner, drinking Prosecco.☕🍾🥂 But not in the main square, we learned that very quickly, too expensive!!!😂😂
And then after cappuccino, prosecco, wine what should I do?
I have to go to the loo!!

Photo: 17.10.2018. Florence, Italy

Photo: 17.10.2018. Florence, Italy

Photo: 17.10.2018. Florence, Italy

The next toilet is particularly irritating because it was in a large bar with only one toilet, a bit smelly.

Photo: 17.10.2018. Florence, Italy, unisex toilet, for not so small bar

Photo: 17.10.2018. Florence, Italy

Photo: 17.10.2018. Florence, Italy

Even a shelf with twice the potpourri wouldn’t help it. 😣😟😤

Photo: 17.10.2018. Florence, Italy

Photo: 17.10.2018. Florence, Italy

Toilets in Italy are sometimes a nightmare. At first I was more than surprised, actually disappointed. I mean, such beautiful cities, old buildings with well-maintained and decorated facades, artistic sculptures, (so you can understand what the artist wanted to say!) Full of such beautifully decorated shop windows. Down to the smallest details, coordinated colours.
And then the toilets are small, smelly, only one, if any. I understand that these are old cities with infrastructure as old as the city itself, but still… It’s irritating. 😤

I somehow lost the photo of the toilet bowl, from the toilet below ⬇️⬇️⬇️ 😫😢… maybe for the best.

Photo: 16.05.2019. Florence, Italy I like the sign 😊

Photo: 16.05.2021, Florence, Italy

Photo: 16.05.2021. Florence, Italy

This toilet ⬇️⬇️⬇️ was stylish, clean and tidy……….

Photo: 01.08.2021. Florence, Italy separate toilets with separate signs, yeeeeee

Photo: 01.08.2021. Florence, Italy

Photo: 01.08.2021. Florence, Italy

Photo: 01.08.2021. Florence, Italy

…… but oh my goodness , the stairs, you can’t see the end of them. I remember being SOOOOO in a hurry to go to the loo, to unzip my pants 😂😂😂

Again one toilet for the entire bar. At least the coat hanger is big enough 😂😂

Photo: 01.08.2021. Florence, Italy

Photo: 01.08.2021. Florence, Italy

Photo: 01.08.2021. Florence, Italy

This one ⬇️⬇️⬇️ was 4 in 1: man, woman, disabled person, baby changing table.

It looks sad to say the least.

This is a polite way of saying: come on people, give it a go. Clean harder, give it a fresh coat of paint, put a new toilet seat on. Show that you care.

Photo: 01.11.2021. Florence, Italy

Photo: 01.11.2021. Florence ,Italy

Photo: 01.11.2021. Florence ,Italy

Follow the green …….. stairs

Photo: 23.11.2022. Florence, Italy

……….. and after some more green…..

Photo: 23.11.2022. Florence, Italy

………. you are surrounded with the GREEEEENN

Photo: 23.11.2022. Florence, Italy

I have to admit the next toilet is a little unusual. In fact, the interior is a little unusual. Was there once a shower inside the toilet that worked, and now they’ve “turned it off”?

Photo: 10.09.2024. Florence, Italy

Photo: 10.09.2024. Florence, Italy

Photo: 10.09.2024. Florence, Italy

I have no idea what’s that for! 🤔

Another very small and narrow toilet. The smell is what it is!! I have nowhere to hang my jacket and bag, but luckily I can lock it, which is convenient because there is only one toilet!

Photo: 29.11.2024. Florence, Italy

Photo: 29.11.2024. Florence, Italy

Photo: 29.11.2024. Florence, Italy

No matter what, I’ll still be happy to come to Florence! No toilet will stop me!!

But I think they could still work on fixing the toilets. As I said before, it’s an old city and the infrastructure is as it is. But at the same time, a city that receives so many tourists and collects so much money from them could have a few public toilets, which would ALWAYS be clean, tidy, with enough toilet paper, lockable doors, … and not just sometimes.

Restaurant and bar owners could do just as much, because as much as we enjoy Italian food, coffee, prosecco, wine… we also enjoy a clean and tidy toilet. And more than one for 20 tables full of people.

Wait until you see more toilets in other cities 🤦🏼‍♀️