Top Must See Attractions in Fabulous Florence

English: Photograph of Ponte Vecchio at night. Florence, Italy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By []Giovanni Balboni

Florence must surely be one of the most famous cities in all of Tuscany. Villas here offer you the opportunity to stay in one of the region's most renowned cities, offering classic sights wherever you look.

While it is hard to narrow down the best sights Florence has to offer, we've tried to do just that. Here's a taste of what you can look forward to when you are in Florence.

How to Do Florence in 48 Hours

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By Katy Hyslop


You have just arrived in the Renaissance capital of the art world with a couple of days to spare, so where do you go and what highlights can you see in such a short time? This is the guide for you to get the maximum out of a short stay in Florence.
14:00
Now is probably a good time to familiarise yourself with the central city, if it's late summer it will be beginning to cool down and hopefully the crush of the tourist crowds will be starting to diminish. The centre of Florence is easy to walk around as the streets are narrow and most are closed to traffic.
Starting off around the main station there is the Piazza Santa Maria Novella with the church that gives the train station its name. Opposite the church there is the Piazza Nazionale and a road which leads down to the Piazza del Mercato Centrale. Here there are a few market stalls selling leather goods, souvenirs and other items. The 2 famous buildings to see here are the Cappelle Medici and the San Lorenzo e Biblioteca Laurenziana.
15:00
You will see the Duomo before you reach the piazza it resides in as you walk down Via Borgo San Lorenzo. The squat building in front of the cathedral is the Baptistery, built on the foundations of a Roman temple. The golden doors facing the cathedral are replicas of an original set made by Lorenzo Ghiberti and regarded by Michelangelo as the "doors to paradise". But the sight most visitors are bowled over by is Brunelleschi's dome, the cap on the already impressive Chiesa Santa Maria del Fiori. Standing guard beside it is the campanile, or bell tower built by Giotto.

How to Explore Florence - A Classic Tourist Guide

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By Chris Dale


Florence: Florence is full of ancient riches and treasures, it is also the birthplace of the Renaissance.
Florence is a colourful, living museum that rejoices in the great works of Michelangelo, Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci and Botticelli. Florence has the world's largest collection of Renaissance art and stunning architecture, it is often referred to as being one enormous museum or art gallery, with more art treasures per square meter than any other place on earth.
This classic destination is nestled on the banks of the river Arno, below the wooded foothills of the Appennines. The beautiful and romantic city of Florence makes a great choice for a classic short stay or an exciting weekend break of discovery.

Florence And The Birth Of The Modern Gelato

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By Stefano Becheroni


The good season is getting closer. Time for sun, cold drinks, light clothes and, of course, gelati! Any tourist wondering through the Florentine beauties will soon discover that the Tuscan summer can be hot, really hot. This is how he will probably start looking -pretty desperately- for something refreshing, and this is how he'll reach the closest gelateria. If he is staying in an apartment, he will buy the biggest gelato cup available and will run to chuck it straight into the freezer. You wouldn't want to run out of gelato on a hot, Florentine summer night, would you?

A Brief Guide To Florence - Italy

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Author: Matthew Talbot

Florence
This opulent city situated on the River Arno is the capital of the province of Florence and the Italian territory of Tuscany. Florence (Firenze in Italian) is significantly known as the "Jewel of the Renaissance", it was the centre of European finance and trade during the medieval time. The historic centre of Florence is one of the most popular destination in Italy for good reason, and was declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1982. With a Eurail pass you can experience the diverse culture of Florence. You'll drown in the city's abundance of food, music, art, science, philosophy, fashion and religion.

Top 5 Historical Sites in Florence

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Author: Kristel van Winkel

1. The Duomo

The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is the cathedral church or Duomo of Florence and is absolutely worth a visit. The building process begun in 1296 and was completed in 1436. The Duomo has a Gothic style and is a design of Arnolfo di Cambio. The complex includes the Baptistery and Giotto's Campanile. The three buildings are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Duomo is one of Italy's largest churches and has the largest brick dome ever constructed. It is located at Piazza del Duomo, which is a very nice square, with terraces and shops. You could walk the stairs all the way to the top of the tower Giotto's Campile and have an amazing view over Florence.

Things to do While in Florence, Italy

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Florence is one of the highlights of a trip to Italy. Whether you enjoy museums, art galleries, eating and drinking Italian food and wine, or simply wandering around and soaking up the atmosphere, you will find that Florence Italy Tourism has something for you.

Easily the most visited square in Florence is the Piazza della Signoria which is an open-air sculpture exhibit. The Loggia della Signoria is home to famous statues such as a copy of Michelangelo's David and the Fountain of Neptune. This square is in the historic center of Florence and is one of the highlights of the city.

Next on the list is the Cattedrale de Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence's most popular cathedral. The outside of the cathedral is made of green, pink, and white marble. Inside you can marvel at Brunelleschi's Dome masterpiece. Also, by purchasing a ticket you can climb the 463 steps to get to the top of the bell tower and enjoy a panoramic view of the city, which is simply breath-taking. Do note, however, that there is no air-conditioning, so bring water!

Make sure you visit the Galleria dell' Academia on your visit to Florence. This museum gallery holds some of the most important sculptures and paintings from the 13th to the 16th centuries. Here you will find many of Michelangelo's original works including the famous David. You can also see many musical instruments from the Medici family.

While in Florence you will also want to visit Italy's most crowded museum, the Galleria degli Uffizi. The gallery has one of the most prominent collections of Renaissance art in the world. You can enjoy the thousands of paintings from medieval and modern times, as well as antique sculptures and tapestries. Long lines can be a problem, so if possible buy your tickets ahead and avoid them all together.

Finally, what would a trip to Florence be without shopping? Many consider the Florence shopping to be the finest in Europe. From leather goods to paper goods, jewelry to art productions, Florence has it all. There are also plenty outdoor markets where you can find lots of bargains while enjoyingthe surrounding architecture.

There is no doubt that Florence has a rich history and many places that you must visit. From the Galleria dell' Academia to the open air markets, Florence Italy tourism offers something for everyone!


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For more tips and advice on Florence visit Suzanne's Florence, Italy website - http://www.PlacesToVisitInFlorenceItaly.com - here you will find everything you need to know about travel in Florence and Tuscany.


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Vino Con Vista Florence and Tuscany: Wine With a View of Italy (Volume 1)

I Love Touring Florence Italy - Cathedral District Hotels

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The Florence Cathedral is also called the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore or simply the Duomo. This majestic late Thirteenth Century to Fifteenth Century building defines Florence's center. Don't you dare miss this spectacular site. If you are in good enough physical shape you might try to climb the 463 steps to the top of the dome for a majestic view of Florence and its surroundings. Here are some hotels that you might consider which are located close to the Duomo. For your convenience we have listed these hotels in approximate order of cost, starting with the least expensive. We have personally verified that all hotels listed have an English-language website where you can obtain more information.

The Albergo Firenze is located only a block from the Duomo. It is located in the heart of Florence, between the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria, one of the most beautiful squares in all Florence. It offers 57 rooms, many of which are suitable for three or four people. So if you book far enough ahead, especially in the off-season this hotel may be a relatively inexpensive option. The hotel address is Piazza Donati 4, Duomo. It has a breakfast room.

The Hermitage Hotel is situated quite near the famous Ponte Vecchio, one of the world's most famous bridges with goldsmiths and jewelry shops. It has only 27 rooms and a lone suite so you may want to reserve early. You'll love the rooftop terrace and its garden. This is a three-star hotel and is priced accordingly. The hotel address is Vicolo Marzio 1, Piazza della Signoria.

The In Piazza della Signoria has ten antique-furnished bed and breakfast rooms and three apartments that contain a small kitchen. This is part of a Fifteenth Century Palace. The hotel address is Via dei Magazzini 2.

The Hotel Helvetia and Bristol has 54 rooms Search Amazon.com for Vino Con Vistaand 13 suites. Its guest list includes Igor Stravinsky, Bertrand Russell, and Enrico Fermi as well as many Italian artists, but hardly starving artists. There is a restaurant-bar. This hotel's address is Via dei Pescioni 2, Piazza della Repubblica.

The Hotel Savoy is quite near the Uffizi Gallery, a fantastic art museum open to the public for over four centuries, and the Ponte Vecchio. It belongs to the Rocco Forte Hotel chain of 13 European hotels with more coming in the Middle East. This hotel has 102 rooms and suites and offers a children's program and a restaurant. The hotel address is Piazza della Republica 7.


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Levi Reiss wrote or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but to tell the truth, he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Check out his wine website http://www.theworldwidewine.com with a weekly column reviewing $10 wines and new sections writing about (theory) and tasting (practice) organic and kosher wines.