Travel Guide to Florence

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By Ramon Van Meer
Once the main capital of Italy in the year 1865, Florence reinvented itself yet is always a sight to view inside Europe. Filled by art work, fantastic architectural structures at every corner, a busy business center, populated by men and women pleased with their own heritage, it still is a treasure.

Let the artwork in Florence take your breath away in areas like the Basilica di Santa Maria del Carmine, Casa di Dante, Galleria d'Arte Moderna, Galleria degli Uffizi, Macchine di Leonardo or one of the Museos. At the Basilica, you get to look at art by Masolino da Panicale, Masaccio and Filippino Lippi. The frescoes by Masaccio right here are considered his best works and it presents the transition from gothic to the fresh appearance of the Renaissance in its early stages. A museum focused upon Dante's works, life and times is at Casa di Dante. This is not exactly where Dante was born but is the place where he lived. At the Galleria d'Artte Moderna, art work from the 18th and 19th century are presented. They were created by artists of the Florentine Macchiaioli school like Telemaco Signorini and Giovanni Fattori. However, the Galleria degli Uffizi is home to the Medici family's exclusive collection. The Macchine di Leonardo showcases the grand scale models of some of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions like flying machines, a bicycle, a glider, and also a tank.

Admire architectural mastery from times past in Florence by viewing the Basilica di Santa Croce. This had been accomplished in 1385 and commemorates some of the excellent Florentine artists. Michelangelo's' grave here is designed by Vasari. Monuments in memory of Dante and Galileo Galilei can even be found here.

Marvel at the holy center of Florence at the Duomo. This has been once the site of the town's Roman temple. Near the Duomo, the 84.7 meter high Campanile is located. Enjoy its beauty from the outside and then climb the 414 step inside to be treated to a spectacular view of Duomo and central Florence. Check out the Casa Guidi exactly where Robert and Elizabeth Barrett rented rooms and wrote 1847. The house has been refurbished in the 19th century style and has a few of the items owned by the Brownings on display. The Palace of the Guelph Faction's Captains is another well conserved piece of medieval Florence. It is a prepared building that stands on land that has been taken from the Ghibellines that was later created by Brunelleschi and Vasari.

Climate: The summer seasons in Florence are extremely humid and hot. Temperature typical around thirty-one degrees Celsius in July and August. The ideal time to visit Florence is in spring or autumn where temperature tend to be more comfortable and enjoyable.

Transportation: Local transport in Florence consists of taxis, buses and trams. The taxis is located outside the Stazione di Santa Maria Novella and at other taxi stops around town. A lady travelling alone may also ask for a discount in between the time of 9p.m. to 2a.m. Buses go around the town center and also to areas outside the city. Additionally, there are night buses which operate between 9p.m. to 1a.m. You can also rent a car or a bike if you want to discover Florence on your own.

Ramon van Meer is a travel expert and owner of Lets Fly Cheaper, an Online Travel Consolidator.
Lets Fly Cheaper offers Cheap Flights to Florence with the best personal service. For more information about how to get the cheapest airline tickets like Cheap International Flights go to the website.

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I Love Touring Florence Italy - Santa Croce District Hotels

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The Santa Croce neighborhood is located southeast of Florence's historic center. It dates from the Middle Ages and centers on the Gothic Santa Croce Basilica that houses the remains of many of the greats such as Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, and Niccolo Machiavelli. Just so you don't get disappointed the monument to Dante does not contain his remains which repose in Ravenna. Here are some neighbourhood hotels. For your convenience we have listed them 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 Losanna is a bed and breakfast with prices to match. There are only 8 rooms of which 3 have a private bath but the price is right and the location is central. I'm told the street is noisy. Did I mention that there is no TV? The hotel address is Via V. Alfieri 9, Santa Croce.

The Hotel Morandi alla Crocetta is a former convent dating back to the early Sixteenth Century. It has a long history that can be found on the hotel website. This a three star hotel next to the Archaeological Museum and a few steps from the Academy of Fine Arts. There are only ten rooms and unlike many other hotels, breakfast is not included. The hotel address is Via Laura 50, Santissima Annunziata.

The J&J Hotel is also a converted Sixteenth Century Convent. Many rooms are on two levels but be warned, even their website talks about a steep flight of stairs to reach the hotel area. You'll find a breakfast room and a bar. The hotel includes 21 rooms and 6 suites. The hotel is quite close to the Sinagoga, the Florence Synagogue that dates back to 1874 and Ruth's an inexpensive kosher-vegetarian restaurant that is closed for Friday dinner and Saturday lunch. The hotel address is Via di Mezzo 20, Santa Croce.

Who wouldn't want to stay in a place called the Monna Lisa Hotel, who occupies a Fifteenth Century palace? This is a four-star hotel equipped with a garden, a gym, a solarium, and more. Just think, the bar was a confessional way back when. Each of the 45 rooms is individually decorated. The hotel address is Borgo Pinti 27, Santa Croce.

If money is no object you may want to stay in the Four Seasons Hotel, the top of the line for Florence. Their garden is eleven acres of sheer beauty; it's the largest private garden in the city. The hotel includes lounges and several restaurants. The Four Seasons claims to be Florence's only hotel with an on-site spa using products from Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, one of the world's oldest pharmacies applying the traditional recipes of monks that date back to the Thirteenth Century. There are 117 rooms, many of which contain original frescoes. This hotel's address is Borgo Pinti 99e, Santa Croce.


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Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet but he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches various computer classes in 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.