A map of the best gelato shops in Florence When it comes to ice cream we Italians get really serious. In Florence even more: perhaps because gelato was invented here at the end of the 1500s by an architect - perhaps a bit of an archistar as we call them today: Bernardo Buontalenti, who left us his extremely creamy flavour “the Buontalenti”. Not all the gelato shops in Florence - and there are so many, I assure you - sell good gelato. How do you recognize good gelato then? First of all, trust your eyes: colors that are too bright or too “bold” are unnatural, so I would avoid them immediately. As well as “mountains” of gelato on display. Exaggerated. Less is more if you know what I mean. Finally: a good gelato shop must produce on site and must therefore have the laboratory on site. Well,… now you already know everything about gelato but walking all over florence in search of the best gelaterias might take a bit too much... it took me forever - it's hard work but someone has to do it!!! So : here you go, these are, in my opinion the best and most authentic. Enjoy!!!