Florence Travel: Eyewitness Travel Guide Florence & Tuscany, Italy

The city of Florence is actually the capital of Italy's Tuscany area and stands alongside the scenic banks of the Arno River, close to the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas. Bustling with local industry, which includes arts and crafts, commerce and tourism; Florence is a particularly historic location, steeped in heritage.

One of the most desirable places to visit in Italy, Florence was originally founded by Romans during the first century and grew dramatically between the 1200s and 1600s. Of particular importance, the Medici family, who ruled over Florence during the 15th century, were responsible for many of the city's most spectacular landmarks, buildings and monuments, most of which remain in excellent condition.

Florence Travel:
The Florence area features a well-structured public transport network, comprising of main railway lines, orange ATAF buses and local taxis that congregate at various taxi ranks and around the piazzas. Renting a car is one of the most popular ways to travel around the Tuscany area and the A1 Motorway connects Florence to many major Italian cities, such as Bologna, Milan, Naples and Rome. Also the A11 Motorway links Florence to Lucca, Pisa and a number of coastal resorts.

Florence is easy to reach from around the world and the city's Amerigo Vespucci Airport is nearby. Just 5 km / 3 miles from the city center, the Florence Vespucci Airport offers modern facilities and is home to a number of important international and Italian airlines. For further information about the airport, visit Airports Guides to Florence at Florence Amerigo Vespucci Airport (FLR)

Florence Commerce:
With a thriving commercial city centre and many businesses supporting the services and financial sector, Florence is a wealthy city. Nowadays, with tourism being an equally important industry in the city, many local crafts boost the economy, such as jewellery, leatherwork and ceramics, together with hotels. Florence contains a number of notable, medium-sized companies, including engineering firms, publishing and textile businesses.

Florence Hotels:
Hotels in Florence are often fairly expensive throughout the year and many are centrally located, although a number of popular cheaper alternatives are available. Accommodation during the peak season quickly becomes fully booked in the most popular hotels and it can be advisable to book at least two weeks ahead. If you decide to rent a car, ensure that the hotel has car parking space available before booking. Hotels can be found all around the city centre, in the green Viale dei Colli area, close to the Santa Maria Novella train station, alongside the Arno River and on the city outskirts.

Florence Tourism:
Tourism in the Florence area is important and thousands of people choose to visit this part of Tuscany each year, to enjoy the scenic views, historical buildings, stunning architecture and famous works of art. Must-see attractions in Florence include a number of magnificent palaces, such as the Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Medici-Riccardi and Palazzo Strozzi. Other attractions include the Piazza del Signoria, the Teatro Comunale (theatre), the arched Ponte Vecchio bridge, the historic Campanile di Giotto and the world-famous Duomo / Santa Maria del Fiore - also known as the 'Cathedral of Florence'.

Top museums in Florence contain many important art exhibitions and outstanding exhibits. Worth a visit are the National Archeological Museum, the Uffizi Gallery and the Academy Gallery, amongst many others. Also, the Chianti area, which is situated between the city of Florence and nearby Siena, features one of Italy's most stunning countryside landscapes and is also home to a number of famous vineyards.

Florence Restaurants:
Restaurants in Italy are known as 'Ristoranti' or 'Trattories' and are widespread in Florence, with many different kinds of cuisine readily available. Menu prices do not usually include service charges and these are added to the bill, together with any further cover charges ('coperto'). Therefore, tipping in Florence restaurants is not strictly necessary, although always very much appreciated. Lunch in the city is generally taken around 13:00 and is the main meal of the day, with dinner being eaten between 20:00 and 21:00.

Florence Weather:
The city of Florence features fairly temperature weather, with notable hot, sunny summer months and cooler, breezy winters. Temperatures between the months of July and August are at their hottest and reach highs of up to 32°C / 90°F. January tends to be Florence's coldest month with daytime temperatures only reaching 9°C / 48°F, although lows of 1°C / 34°F may be experienced.

About the Author:

Nia Rees is a Travel Writer for World Guides - providers of travel and tourist information for major cities throughout the world. For further tourist information about Florence, Italy visit World Guides to Florence at Travel Guide to Florence, Italy.

A Look Inside

Florence Museums and Galleries

Author: Peter J. Wilson

Florence museums are known around the world to house some of the world's greatest masterpieces by the masters of each era of the art world. Trends in painting and sculpture have set the pace for others and made times in history immortal. The art work of Florence tells the tales of the Birth of Christ, His crucifixion and resurrection. It tells of fashion trends and how the world viewed beauty. Each element of the world's history has been captured in the art found in the museums and galleries of Florence.

The Uffizi Gallery
Perhaps one of the most well known galleries in Florence the Uffizi is home to the Botticelli's Birth of Venus. The list of artists reads like a who's who of the greatest and includes Da Vinci, Rembrandt, and Rubens.

The Accademia
At the Accademia you will find the world famous David by Michelangelo. It also home to a large collection of Renaissance paintings, but is better know for the sculptures of Michelangelo including the Palerstria Pieta.

The Baptistery
The Baptistery is so old its date is not really known, but it is understood to be one of the oldest monuments in Florence. The exterior façade houses three arches that are adorned with sculptures and marble decorations. The doors are pieces of art in and of themselves. They are gilded in bronze and date back to the 14th and 15th century. Panels from the original dome have been removed and restored and are now housed at the Museum of the Opera del Duomo.

Gallery of Modern Art
Florence is so well known for its Renaissance era works that many people overlook the fact that the Gallery of Modern Art houses 18th, 19th and 20th century works that are modern by comparison in a city so old. The museum is located on the second floor of the Pitti Place. Here you find familiar works by Cezanne, Gauguin, and Grassi and others who adopted the style and techniques of French artists. Equestrians will particularly enjoy the works of sculptor Marino Marini.

The Horne Museum
Named after the English art collector Herbert P. Horne, this museum blends art with a history of life during the Italian Renaissance. The furnishings and accessories along with the architecture itself are a reflection of this rich era. Artwork ranges from the 14th to 17th centuries and includes pieces from Cafaggiolo, Urbino, and Orvieto.

The Silver Museum
This museum houses an interesting collection of objects from the various dynasties ranging from the Medici through the Lorraine. There is great diversity in the pieces of jewellery, gems, semi-precious tones and various art objects. These are all from eras in time when a rich life and extravagance were the norm. One of the most valuable pieces housed here is a collection of vases by Lorenzo the Magnificent.

This small sprinkling of museums only touches the surface of possible historical sites in Florence. Florence is home to more than 50 museums, galleries, or architectural wonders that make this city a place one could visit for weeks and still not take it all in.

About the Author:

Peter J. Wilson usually produces short articles on issues associated

to Italy and Tuscany. Through his reports such as

http://www.florence-italy-guide.com/florence-museums.html

the writer proofed his experience on themes dealing with Florence museums.

Things To Do and See in Florence

Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi), Florence
One of the great museums of the world, the Uffizi houses the premier

collection of Italian Renaissance art, featuring works by such masters

as Botticelli, Titian, Michelangelo and da Vinci.
Attraction type: Art gallery; Art museum; Museum complex

Space Electronic, Florence
Trendy club and bar with a 70's space theme: attracts tourists from

all over the world.
Attraction type: Bar/club

Duomo - Cathedral of Santa Maria dei Fiori, Florence
Designed by Arnolfo di Cambio at the end of the 13th century, the

Cathedral's trademark dome is now the symbol of Florence.
Attraction type: Religious site; Architectural building

Basilica di San Miniato al Monte, Florence
Situated on a hill (monte) outside Florence with unsurpassed views

of the city, this structure is one of the finest examples of Tuscan

Romanesque architecture, built between the 11th and 13th centuries.
Attraction type: Religious site; Historic village; Lookout

Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence
Europe's first school of drawing, this museum of art is chiefly famous for its

several sculptures by Michelangelo, notably his David, in addition to an

extensive collection of 15th- and 16th-century paintings.
Attraction type: Art museum; Museum