Florence Travel Guide

WHERE TO STAY IN FLORENCE

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FLORENCE OVERVIEW

End of the XV century, Filippo Brunelleschi and Leon Battista Alberti are giving shape to the Renaissance and the Neoclassical architecture, Galileo is revolutionising optic and astronomy, Machiavelli studies are leading the way to the modern political science and citizens are discovering a new hobby: Opera.

The golden age of Florence has just begun and in a few decades its more illustrious sons Giotto, Donatello, Massaccio, Botticelli, Piero della Francesca, Michelangelo and Leonardo, together with hundreds of the finest artists called to court by the Medici Family, would leave an artistic mark which will last forever in the history of mankind.

Moreover Florence is the capital of Tuscany, the heart of the Middle Ages and a gourmet heaven, so take a few days’ tour and reach the medieval splendours of Siena, Pisa, Lucca and San Gimignano, and wander the undulating Chianti countryside, home of the Montalcino’s Brunello and the Super Tuscans wines.

WHAT TO SEE AND WHAT TO DO IN FLORENCE

Florence and the Florentines’ lifestyle seem to be designed to impress the visitor. By day and by night, when the pedestrian city centre of Florence burns with people and happiness, and the astonishing palazzi and monuments get even more timeless under the kiss of the moonlight.

Ready to dive into the history of art? Good, get some comfortable shoes and walk downtown then, to the city centre of Florence, where most of the attractions are.

First the gothic Duomo (cathedral) of Florence, topped by Brunelleschi's dome, and the wonderful Bell Tower designed by Giotto are the first stop. The adjacent and spectacular Museo del Duomo (Museum of the Cathedral), the churches of San Lorenzo, Santa Maria Novella, Santa Trinità, Cappella Brancacci at Santa Maria del Carmine, the Santa Croce Basilica with the monumental tombs of Dante, Michelangelo and Galileo and its medieval back streets, the Palazzo Vecchio city hall, Palazzo Davanzati, Palazzo Strozzi.

In Florence, close by the Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Pitti with the Boboli gardens, two of the major art galleries in the world, and the Accademia, displaying Michelangelo's David - perhaps the most well-known piece of art worldwide, and the amazing Prisoners and Slaves by Michelangelo, worked on for the tomb of Pope Julius II. And now back to the Arno river to Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), where fashion brands such as Gucci, Ferragamo, Valentino, Prada, Armani, have their boutiques,  together with a myriad of small artisan’s shops.

In Florence when it’s time to eat, just find out a family-run Trattoria and enjoy a tomato stew followed by prime steak accompanied by a traditional Chianti wine or choose one of the city’s classic gourmet restaurants.

Oddly Florence city airport Amerigo Vespucci is far smaller than Pisa’s Galileo Galilei airport, which is 80 minutes away by train, so you should consider the both of them. I

Instead Florence is an important railway hub, and from the city’s main train station, Stazione di Santa Maria Novella (Firenze SMN for short), you can get direct trains heading everywhere in Tuscany, Italy and Europe. Also many buses connect Florence with the surrounding region and the main Italian cities.

By car Florence is reachable through a network of motorways, but as the point of interests are mostly in the city centre just find a good parking and forget it until you leave.

GETTING AROUND

Florence is small, so park the car and get a comfortable pair of shoes. And if you need to move out of the city centre take advantage of the local transport service, a day ticket costs 5 euro and a three-day ticket costs 12 euro (tickets in any tobacconist’ shop). Mind that only one line, number 70, runs by night after 1 am.

Bicycle for hire can be a good solution to discover the surroundings,of Florence if you don’t mind climbing the hills of course… The service is run by the city of  Florence itself: the most convenient rental point for tourists is located at the Santa Maria Novella train station of Florence.

FLORENCE USEFUL INFORMATION

Language: Italian

Currency: Euro

Electricity: 220 Volts AC

Area Code: +39 (Italy) 055 (Florence, drop the 0 if calling from abroad).

Emergency Codes: Ambulance 118, Fire 115, Police 113, Carabinieri (Police) 112

Time Zone: GMT +1

Main Tourist Office: Azienda di promozione Turistica, Via Cavour 1

Climate: Continental. Winter is very cold while sunny days can reach 38°C. Spring and autumn are the best seasons.