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Chi King

Kid Friendly in Florence

Florence, 5 Days

Table of contents:Guide Description 2

Itinerary Overview 3

Daily Itineraries 5

Florence Snapshot 19

http://www.nileguide.com/destination/florence/trips/kid-friendly-in-florence/3337886

Guide Description

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AUTHOR NOTE: With gelato on every corner and so much toexplore, this is a great city to visit as a family. Make sure to booktickets for museums ahead of time to avoid standing in line for toolong.

Itinerary Overview things to do

restaurants

hotels

nightlife

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Day 1 - FlorenceDAY NOTE: The Hotel Savoy is an elegant and historic hotelin the center of town, but is also a great place to stay with kids.They'll receive a welcome gift, and the chic restaurant alsoprovides children's menus and kid-friendly fare. Coloring booksand picnic lunches are also available here. Its combination ofpicturesque setting and decor and family-friendliness make it theperfect base for your vacation. Start out by exploring the city onfoot, as everything's in close proximity downtown. The Battisterois filled with beautiful artwork that everyone can appreciate,particularly the Renaissance gilded doors, and the Campaniledi Giotto is fun to climb for a view of the city. Cafe Caracol is acolorful and lively Mexican restaurant for lunch. In the afternoon,walk around the Parco delle Cascine and the Piazza D'Azeglio,green areas with lots to see and do. Also climb to the PiazzaleMichelangelo, which is a bit of a hike across the Arno to thesouth, but where there's another great view of the city. Haveyour first Florentine pizza experience at Tarocchi, one of the bestauthentic pizza places in town.

BattisteroRoman baptistery

Campanile di GiottoDecorative bell tower

Café CaracolA taste of Mexico

Parco delle CascineA swimming pool, jogging and markets along theArno.

Piazza D'AzeglioA 19th-century piazza with handsome gardens

Piazzale MichelangeloFantastic view over the city and the hills of Tuscany.

Tarocchi (I)Crunchy pizzas!

Hotel SavoyHistorical & Monumental

Day 2 - Florence

DAY NOTE: If everyone's old enough and up for it, a dayspent on horseback in the countryside around the city is a trulyenjoyable experience. Have the hotel pack a picnic for a lunch forfinicky eaters.

Horse Riding in Chianti Day Trip fromFlorenceHorseriding


Day 3 - FlorenceDAY NOTE: The David statue alone is impressive enough foreveryone to make a visit to the Galleria dell'Accademia exciting,but there are also lots of other interesting statues and pieces ofart. Reserve tickets ahead of time to avoid the long lines. Forlunch, Il Latini has a delightful atmosphere, with long woodentables for everyone to share. After lunch, take a trip to Pisa to seethe Leaning Tower, which is quite a sight.

Galleria dell'Accademia (AcademyGallery)Paintings, Sculptures and Michelangelo's David

Pisa and the Leaning Tower Half-DayTrip from FlorenceDay Trips


Day 4 - FlorenceDAY NOTE: Walk around the city some more in the morning,including a walk across the Ponte Vecchio, a colorful bridge overthe Arno with shops on either side. The impressive corridorsand both indoor and outdoor collections at the Palazzo Vecchiomuseum make it a fascinating place to tour. Ciao Bella is anothergreat traditional pizza place, but also has delicious pasta and fishdishes. In the afternoon, take a delectable tour of the chocolatesfrom the area, with wine for the adults and soda for the kids. Tryto fit in dinner at Enzo e Piero, where there's more fabulous pastaand seafood, and tiramisu to die for.

Itinerary Overview things to do

restaurants

hotels

nightlife

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Ponte VecchioThe Ponte Vecchio(Old Bridge) has history and manyjewelry shops.

Palazzo Vecchio (Museo)Historical building

Ciao BellaGood food from Tuscany and Sicily

Florence Chocolate and Wine TastingWine Tasting

Enzo e PieroTraditionally Tuscan recipes


Day 5 - FlorenceDAY NOTE: On your last day, head north of the city to the VillaMedicea di Cafaggiolo, one of the oldest and most beautiful of theMedici estates. There is plenty of art, architecture, and gardens toexplore here. Also visit Fiesole, a small town full of little cafes andancient Roman ruins, including an amphitheater, that are lots offun to climb around and play on. To top off your time in Florence,treat everyone to the best gelato in town at Badiani.

Villa Medicea di CafaggioloOne of the first Medici villas

BadianiHome of Buontalenti ice cream


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Day 1 - FlorenceQUICK NOTE

DAY NOTE: The Hotel Savoy is an elegant and historic hotel in the center of town, but is also a great place to stay with kids. They'llreceive a welcome gift, and the chic restaurant also provides children's menus and kid-friendly fare. Coloring books and picnic lunchesare also available here. Its combination of picturesque setting and decor and family-friendliness make it the perfect base for yourvacation. Start out by exploring the city on foot, as everything's in close proximity downtown. The Battistero is filled with beautiful artworkthat everyone can appreciate, particularly the Renaissance gilded doors, and the Campanile di Giotto is fun to climb for a view of the city.Cafe Caracol is a colorful and lively Mexican restaurant for lunch. In the afternoon, walk around the Parco delle Cascine and the PiazzaD'Azeglio, green areas with lots to see and do. Also climb to the Piazzale Michelangelo, which is a bit of a hike across the Arno to thesouth, but where there's another great view of the city. Have your first Florentine pizza experience at Tarocchi, one of the best authenticpizza places in town.

contact:tel: +39 55 230 2885fax: +39 055 230 2898http://www.operaduomo.firenze.it/

location:Piazza San GiovanniFlorence 50129

hours:M-Sa Summer, 1:30-6:30p;Su, 8:30a-1:30p; M-SuWinter: 1:30-5:30p

1 Battistero

DESCRIPTION: Although the Baptistery's precise originsremain unclear, its foundations are known to date back toRoman times. The central doors are stunning works of art,depicting scenes from the Old and New Testament and theyhave been called "The Gates of Paradise." Lorenzo Ghibertiwho worked on them from 1403 to 1424 designed these ornatedoors. Inside, the octagonal structure is richly decorated withRoman columns and gilded column heads. The floor's marbleinlay features Islamic-style patterns and the apse is decoratedwith 13th-century mosaics. Coppo di Marcovaldo and Cimabuewere among those involved in the cupola's decorative mosaicwork. © wcities.com

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Day 1 - continued...

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contact:tel: +39 55 230 2885fax: +39 55 2302898http://www.operaduomo.firenze.it/

location:Piazza DuomoFlorence 50122

2 Campanile di Giotto

DESCRIPTION: Designed by Giotto, the bell tower to the right of SantaMaria del Fiore cathedral was begun by the artist in 1334 but continued byAndrea Pisano (who modified part of the design) following Giotto's deathin 1337. Francesco Talenti finally completed it in 1359. Originally the towerwas linked to the Duomo via a passageway situated at the level of thefirst cornice but this was demolished before 1437. Reliefs carved on theside where the passageway once existed are later works by Luca dellaRobbia; Andrea Pisano's original stone reliefs can be seen in the Museodell'Opera del Duomo. The concepts of universal order and redemptionare recurrent themes; hexagonal tiles on the tower's lower level (nowreplaced by copies) portray scenes from daily human life whilst diamond-shaped reliefs on the upper level illustrate more ethereal subjects in theform of the Planets, Virtue, Liberal Arts and the Sacraments. There's nolift, but climbing the 414 steps to the top of the 85m tower is well worth theeffort! © wcities.com

Campanile di Giotto

contact:tel: 39 55 21 1427http://www.cafecaracol.com/

location:Via dei Ginori, 10rFlorence 50121

hours:Tu-Su, 12:30p-2:30p,7:30p-11:30p; Happy Hour,6p-8:30p

3 Café Caracol

DESCRIPTION: The only restaurant in the city to offer livemusic and theme nights also offers great Latin Americanand Mexican food, including excellent offerings of Nachos,Fajitas and Chimichungas and delicious brunch on Sunday.The colourful ambience starts at the entrance—a bright yellowarched double entrance with rich wooden doors welcomes youto even more festivity inside. The combination bar/restaurantoffers half-price cocktails and beers during happy hour dailyfrom 5:30p-7p © wcities.com

Photo courtesy of Cafe Caracol

location:piazza Vittorio VenetoFlorence 50123

4 Parco delle Cascine

OUR LOCAL EXPERT SAYS:"A peaceful place for a picnic, a jog or a stroll through themarket."

DESCRIPTION: Cascine park is a favorite with joggers, horse ridersand families with young children, especially on Sundays and Tuesdaymornings, when it's market day. On the park's east side is anopen-air swimming pool (open during the summer months) attached area bar and restaurant used on the warm summer evenings. Thewest of the park holds an amphitheater, a popular summertime venue fordance performances and concerts. At the end of the 18th centuryimportant buildings such as the Palazzina Reale, currently home to theFaculty of Agriculture of the Università degli Studi di Firenze (FlorenceUniversity) were added. The park finally became public at the startof the 19th century. The Cascine Park opens daily from 8 am to 6pm (autumn and winter) and from 7 am to 9 pm (spring and summer). ©NileGuide

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location:Piazza D'AzeglioFlorence 50121

5 Piazza D'Azeglio

DESCRIPTION: This piazza was formed in the Mattonaiaquarter of the city, inside the city walls, at the end of the 19thcentury as a result of the development plan devised by thearchitect Poggi in the 1870s. Once established, the bourgeoisiethen considered the area both residential and desirable! Thearea then saw the creation of Prince Umberto's theatre - sadlydestroyed two decades later. Another building appeared onthe piazza at the beginning of the 20th century but today, thisremains one of the few green spaces in the city centre. Thereare amusements for young children including a merry-go-round,slides and a wooden castle in a cordoned-off area; and thereare also areas for older children such as a basketball pitch. ©wcities.com

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location:Piazzale MichelangeloFlorence 50125

6 Piazzale Michelangelo

OUR LOCAL EXPERT SAYS:"Bring a picnic lunch or dinner and enjoy the sunsetwith someone special."

DESCRIPTION: The vista which one can see the wholevalley of Florence and of the surrounding hills is amust see. The climb up is rewarding, the view isbreathtaking. There are buses available to take you toPiazzale Michelangelo. Tourists, tourist groups and tourbuses all congregate at this panoramic view. Vendorsset up early in the morning with cool beverages for the parchedtourists and souvenirs for the eager shoppers. A sunsetvisit is for the romantics, bringing a wine bottle and gazing atthe florentine sky as it ends another day. There is no badtime to visit Piazzale Michelangelo, there is always somethingto see. © NileGuide

Katie Greenaway

contact:tel: 39 055 2343912fax: 39 055 2344373

location:Via dei Renai 12rFlorence 50125

hours:T-F: Lunch 12:30p-2:30p,Dinner 7p-Mid. Sa & Su 7p-Mid (dinner only).

7 Tarocchi (I)

DESCRIPTION: On the south bank of the river Arno, not far from Ponte Vecchio and close topopular bars, this nice pizzeria is patronized by locals and visitors alike, and is known for itscrunchy delicious pizzas at reasonable prices. The menu offers all kinds of pizzas, pastas andsalads. They also serve a good white pizza (made without tomato sauce) with prosciutto and"rocket" (arugola). Home-made desserts are the owner's specialty. Pizzas come in a children'ssize upon request, and be sure to take advantage of their outdoor seating during summer time. ©wcities.com


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contact:tel: 800/223-6800 in the U.S.fax: 055-273-5888www.roccofortehotels.com

location:Piazza della Repubblica 7Florence TO 50123

8 Hotel Savoy

DESCRIPTION: This 1893 hotel underwent a completetransformation in 2000 by Sir Rocco Forte and his sister, whodesigned the warm, stylishly minimalist modern interiors.Rooms are standardized, with walk-in closets, dark brownmarble bathrooms, and mosaics over the tubs. The differentroom "styles" -- classic, executive, and deluxe -- really just referto size. Four suites (two rooms, two TVs, leather easy chairs,white marble bathrooms) are on the back, four on the piazza.Two of them include a Turkish bath. Rooms on the fifth floor,added in 1958, just peep over the surrounding buildings forspectacular views, especially those on the Duomo (back) side.You're just a few steps in any direction from all the sights andthe best shopping. The building actually belongs to Ferragamo,as do many of the other buildings in this square. Facilities:Restaurant; bar; small gym w/view; concierge; tour desk; car-rental desk; courtesy car; secretarial services; 24-hr. roomservice; in-room massage; babysitting; laundry service; same-day dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms; Wi-Fi in public spaces. ©Frommer's

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DAY NOTE: If everyone's old enough and up for it, a day spent on horseback in the countryside around the city is a truly enjoyableexperience. Have the hotel pack a picnic for a lunch for finicky eaters.

contact:http://www.partner.viator.com/en/6793/tours/Florence/Horse-Riding-in-Chianti-Day-Trip-from-Florence/d519-5049CHIANTI

location:Florence Tuscany

Horse Riding in Chianti Day Trip fromFlorenceDESCRIPTION: Take a day trip from Florence and spend theday horse riding in Italy's famous Chianti region. It's a uniqueopportunity to explore the beautiful Tuscan countryside, whichis renowned worldwide for its vineyards and unparalleledbeauty. Led by your friendly and knowledgeable Englishspeaking guide you will be taken on horseback into the Chiantiregion where most of the region's famous wines are produced.You will ride for two hours through vineyards, olive groves andMiddle Age villages seeing the Tuscan landscapes at their best.Before leaving for your ride you'll be given a brief safetyintroduction and lesson (lasting approximately half an hour)where you'll have the chance to get acquainted with your horse.The stables cater for riders of all abilities and beginners arevery welcome, as previous riding experience is not necessary.Riding hats (helmets) are provided free of charge and casualclothes can be worn.Once back at the farm, you are served a delicious Tuscanlunch of Pecorino cheese, prosciutto, salami and bruschette.After your meal you will have the chance to sample some of thefinest Chianti wines (the wine tasting fee is included in the tour,

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wines are also for sale). Please note: If a member of your groupprefers not to ride carriages are available. © Viator



1 Hotel Savoy


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DAY NOTE: The David statue alone is impressive enough for everyone to make a visit to the Galleria dell'Accademia exciting, but thereare also lots of other interesting statues and pieces of art. Reserve tickets ahead of time to avoid the long lines. For lunch, Il Latini has adelightful atmosphere, with long wooden tables for everyone to share. After lunch, take a trip to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower, which isquite a sight.

contact:tel: 055-238-8609fax: 055 238 8764http://www.firenzemusei.it/accademia/home.html

location:Via Ricasoli 60Florence FI 50122

hours:Tues-Sun 8:15am-6:50pm;last admission 30 min. beforeclose

1 Galleria dell'Accademia (AcademyGallery)

DESCRIPTION: Though tour-bus crowds flock here just forMichelangelo's David, anyone with more than a day in Florencecan take the time to peruse some of the Accademia's paintingsas well. The first long hall is devoted to Michelangelo and,though you pass his Slaves and the entrance to the paintinggallery, most visitors are immediately drawn down to the farend, a tribune dominated by the most famous sculpture in theworld: Michelangelo's David. A hot young sculptor fresh fromhis success with the Pietà in Rome, Michelangelo offered in1501 to take on a slab of marble that had already been workedon by another sculptor (who had taken a chunk out of one sidebefore declaring it too strangely shaped to use). The hugeslab had been lying around the Duomo's work yards so longit earned a nickname, Il Gigante (The Giant), so it was with atwist of humor that Michelangelo, only 29 years old, finished in1504 a Goliath-size David for the city. There was originally avague idea that the statue would become part of the Duomo,but Florence's republican government soon wheeled it down tostand on Piazza della Signoria in front of the Palazzo Vecchioto symbolize the defeated tyranny of the Medici, who had been

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ousted a decade before (but would return with a vengeance).During a 1527 anti-Medicean siege on the palazzo, a benchthrown at the attackers from one of the windows hit David'sleft arm, which reportedly came crashing down on a farmer'stoe. (A young Giorgio Vasari came scurrying out to gather allthe pieces for safekeeping, despite the riot going on aroundhim, and the arm was later reconstituted.) Even the sculpture's1873 removal to the Accademia to save it from the elements (acopy stands in its place) hasn't kept it entirely safe -- in 1991, aman threw himself on the statue and began hammering at theright foot, dislodging several toes. The foot was repaired, andDavid's Plexiglas shield went up. The hall leading up to Davidis lined with perhaps Michelangelo's most fascinating works,the four famous nonfiniti ("unfinished") Slaves, or Prisoners.Like no others, these statues symbolize Michelangelo's theorythat sculpture is an "art that takes away superfluous material."The great master saw a true sculpture as something thatwas already inherent in the stone, and all it needed was askilled chisel to free it from the extraneous rock. That certainlyseems to be the case here, as we get a private glimpse intoMichelangelo's working technique: how he began by carvingthe abdomen and torso, going for the gut of the sculptureand bringing that to life first so it could tell him how the restshould start to take form. Whether he intended the statues tolook the way they do now or in fact left them only half donehas been debated by art historians to exhaustion. The result,no matter what the sculptor's intentions, is remarkable, asymbol of the master's great art and personal views on craftas his Slaves struggle to break free of their chipped stoneprisons. Nearby, in a similar mode, is a statue of St. Matthew(1504-08), which Michelangelo began carving as part of aseries of Apostles he was at one point going to complete forthe Duomo. (The Pietà at the end of the corridor on the rightis by one of Michelangelo's students, not by the master aswas once thought.) Off this hall of Slaves is the first wing ofthe painting gallery, which includes a panel, possibly froma wedding chest, known as the Cassone Adimari, paintedby Lo Scheggia in the 1440s. It shows the happy couple'spromenade to the Duomo, with the green-and-white marblesof the baptistery prominent in the background. In the wingsoff David's tribune are large paintings by Michelangelo'scontemporaries, Mannerists over whom he had a very stronginfluence -- they even say Michelangelo provided the originaldrawing from which Pontormo painted his amorous Venus andCupid. Off the end of the left wing is a long 19th-century hallcrowded wall-to-wall and stacked floor-to-ceiling with plastercasts of hundreds of sculptures and busts -- the Accademia,after all, is what it sounds like: an academy for budding youngartists, founded in 1784 as an offshoot of the Academy of ArtDesign that dates from Michelangelo's time (1565). SeeingDavid -- The wait to get in to see David can be up to an hour ifyou didn't reserve ahead. Try getting there before the museumopens in the morning or an hour or two before closing time. ©Frommer's


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contact:http://www.partner.viator.com/en/6793/tours/Florence/Pisa-and-the-Leaning-Tower-Half-Day-Trip-from-Florence/d519-24284GROUP


Pisa and the Leaning Tower Half-DayTrip from FlorenceDESCRIPTION: Expand your stay in Florence with anafternoon visit to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, one of Italy'smost popular attractions. With your transport and sightseeingtaken care of, you can sit back and enjoy your half-day visitto the famous Renaissance city of Pisa. After a panoramicdrive through the Tuscan countryside, you'll drive alongthe embankment lining the River Arno into Pisa. Your visitbegins with a guided visit of Piazza dei Miracoli, home to thefamous Leaning Tower of Pisa (exterior visit). This masterpieceof Romanesque art is surrounded by the equally beautifulbaptistery (exterior visit) and cathedral (visit inside). You willthen have free time to explore Pisa on your own. Or perhapsyou would like to take a guided walk to Piazza dei Cavalieri withyour tour escort, where you will see Scuola Normale, one of themost famous universities in the world. Founded by Napoleon in1810, the university has been educating students and carryingout research for nearly two centuries. © Viator

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DAY NOTE: Walk around the city some more in the morning, including a walk across the Ponte Vecchio, a colorful bridge over the Arnowith shops on either side. The impressive corridors and both indoor and outdoor collections at the Palazzo Vecchio museum make it afascinating place to tour. Ciao Bella is another great traditional pizza place, but also has delicious pasta and fish dishes. In the afternoon,take a delectable tour of the chocolates from the area, with wine for the adults and soda for the kids. Try to fit in dinner at Enzo e Piero,where there's more fabulous pasta and seafood, and tiramisu to die for.

location:Ponte VecchioFlorence 50125

1 Ponte Vecchio

OUR LOCAL EXPERT SAYS:"The jewelry is superb and really expensive onthe Ponte Vecchio. Grab your camera and catchthe Tuscan Hills alive and rolling beyond the citycenter."

DESCRIPTION: You can't miss the most recognizable landmarkof Florence, the Ponte Vecchio. Constructed in 1345,the Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge still standing in Florence,hence the name. The multicolored structure bridgewas first home to butcher shops. As the noble bankerswould cross the Arno river to their offices, there was a rancidsmell of pigs blood and rotted meat which extremely offendedthem. In an effort to improve the area, the Medicistepped in and ordered the lower class shopkeepers outand moved goldsmiths and diamond-cutters in. PonteVecchio is the only bridge that escaped the bombing by theGermans in WWII. Today, now a pedestrian bridge, the

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shops shimmer and shine with necklaces, rings and charmsof the most expensive kind. Tourists can enjoy an earlymorning walk over the bridge before the shops open or atsunset where lovers stare at the horizon as musicians sing andbe merry.© NileGuide

contact:tel: +39 55 276 8224http://www.museumsinflorence.com/musei/Palazzo_vecchio.html

location:piazza della SignoriaFlorence 50122

2 Palazzo Vecchio (Museo)

DESCRIPTION: The palazzo's construction began in 1299 and it wasenlarged repeatedly - in 1343, 1495 and lastly in the 16th century byVasari and Buontalenti. It has been the symbol and the political centreof the city for centuries. The Great room of the Cinquecento stands out,the work of Cronaca, it was designed as a reception area and decoratedwith frescoes celebrating Florentine victories against the other Tuscancities and with sculptures depicting the deeds of Hercules by De Rossi.On the upper floors the Quarters of the elements are noteworthy as arethose of Eleanor of Toledo who was the wife of Cosimo I and to whom thelittle chapel by Bronzino is dedicated. The Gigli room and the Audienceroom, which has a marble entrance, are sumptuous. On the Mezzaninethere is the Loeser collection of painted sculptures. It is recommendedthat you visit the upper balcony where you can enjoy a fabulous viewof Florence. In front of the museum, you'll find a copy of Michelangelo'sDavid. © wcities.com

Katie Greenaway

contact:tel: 39 55 21 8477

location:Piazza del Tiratoio, 1rFlorence 50124

hours:Noon-3p and 7:30p-10:30pdaily

3 Ciao Bella

DESCRIPTION: Located in a delightful piazzetta in the ancient San Frediano quarter, thisrestaurant is characterised by its Tuscan-Sicilian food and its reasonable prices. Regional dishesand Sicilian food are on offer here, including spaghetti Messina-style, and Sicilian soup. Ciao Bellaalso offers pizza cooked in a wood oven, fish and seafood, all of which can all be accompanied bySicilian wines. © wcities.com

contact:http://www.partner.viator.com/en/6793/tours/Florence/Florence-Chocolate-and-Wine-Tasting/d519-3092CHOCOLATE


Florence Chocolate and Wine TastingDESCRIPTION: Spend an afternoon visiting a traditional chocolate makerin the heart of Florence on this small group tour and savor hand madesweet delights, paired with Italian wines for the ultimate indulgence.Today's tour (maximum 12 people) is set in a Cioccolateria, dating backto 1936. You'll view traditional methods of chocolate making before takingyour place at the table where a feast for your palate awaits.Sit back as you're presented with four chocolate dishes: plain chocolate,milk chocolate, chocolate filled with vanilla, and hazelnut creams.Distinguish between the bitter, acidic, sweet, astringent and salty flavors,and note how each mouthful is accentuated by the accompanyinglocal Italian wine. (Children can team their tastings with a choice ofeither soft drink, juice or water). The afternoon is not complete withoutsupplementing your sweet cravings with the multiple textures of Pan Forteand Panpepato, two cakes typical of the Tuscan region. © Viator

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contact:tel: 39 55 21 4901fax: +39 055 21 4901http://www.trattoriaenzoepiero.it/

location:Via Faenza, 105Florence 50123

hours:12:30p-2:30p, 8p-11p M-Sa

4 Enzo e Piero

DESCRIPTION: This century old restaurant continues to offertraditional Tuscan recipes, in a family style atmosphere. ©wcities.com

Photo courtesy of Enzo e Piero



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DAY NOTE: On your last day, head north of the city to the Villa Medicea di Cafaggiolo, one of the oldest and most beautiful of the Mediciestates. There is plenty of art, architecture, and gardens to explore here. Also visit Fiesole, a small town full of little cafes and ancientRoman ruins, including an amphitheater, that are lots of fun to climb around and play on. To top off your time in Florence, treat everyoneto the best gelato in town at Badiani.

contact:tel: +39 055 849 8103fax: +39 055 849 8103http://www.castellodicafaggiolo.it

location:Località CafaggioloFlorence 50030

1 Villa Medicea di Cafaggiolo

DESCRIPTION: The district of Mugello, north of Florence,was the original home of the Medici family. It was at the timeof Lorenzo the Magnificent that the Medicis had this, one oftheir first country villas, built very near to Artimino. In 1454Michelozzo was placed in charge of the villa's construction,which was to be used primarily for hunting purposes. Thepeculiarity of the villa lies in its crenellated tower at the frontof the building with battlements on each side and reinforcedon each corner with strong bastions like a medieval castle.The extensive private gardens are not open to the public.Another place worthy of a visit is the nearby Castello di Trebbio,which was another of Michelozzo's accomplishments. Theconstruction involved the restructuring of an old medievalcastle, commissioned by Cosimo il Vecchio, between 1427and 1436. This too is privately owned and may be visited onrequest. © wcities.com

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contact:tel: 39 055 578682fax: 39 055 575408http://www.buontalenti.it/

location:Viale dei Mille, 20rFlorence 50131

hours:M, W-Th 7a-1a, Su 7a-Mid.Closed Tuesdays.

2 Badiani

DESCRIPTION: As evidenced by the double-parked cars out front,people come from all around to enjoy Badiani's. It is said that the muchloved flavor Buontalenti was created here! This unique cream flavoredgelato was said to have been named after Bernardo Buontalenti, thefamous Mannerist architect and stenographer. He is believed to haveinvented frozen dessert (made of cream and fruits) for the Medici's grand-ducal extravagant court banquets. Among the most popular flavors are:Buontalenti, Pinolata, Stracciatella...but there are many more includinglighter fruit flavors. Also offering fresh pastries, the cream and applesfogliatelle are well worth a trip. © wcities.com

Photo courtesy ofBadiani



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Florence Snapshot

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Local InfoFlorence is full of culture to offer the newtraveler. The art and architecture is whatsets Florence apart from the other cities inItaly. From theDuomo to thePonte VecchiotoSan Miniato, there is so much to seeand explore. The wonderment of Florenceflows over its visitors bringing smiles to theirfaces. Each neighborhood has somethingto show off as well. Santa Croce holdsthe leather shops as it's trademark. SanFrediano has the artisan shops that havebeen operating for centuries. Campo diMarte expresses anything and everythingabout Viola, the color of the Fiorentinafootball(soccer) team. The markets area token viewpoint of how the locals live. There are markets all over the city inevery neighborhood. Each having theirown personality and locals that have beencoming for many years. The one thingthat is great about Florence is that youcan easily get lost and end up finding atreasure. There are always little streets thatnobody ever sees and shops that are kept asecret. Explore the city because there is somuch more to see than the Ponte Vecchio. Enjoy the traditions of the Fiorentini, suchas having a caffe at the bar around 11amwhen Piazza Repubblica is bustling. OnSundays, take a stroll through the centerand window shop. On Saturday, shopat the local markets and enjoy chatterof Italian in your ear. Florence's mainattractions consists of the Duomo, PonteVecchio and theUffizi Gallery. Duringthe high season these places are filledwith visitors and sometimes it takes awhile to see. Plan ahead and enjoy theseattractions in a calm and timely matter sonot to rush your visit.

Florence is known for it's secrets and littletreasures that are found throughout thecity. For example, have you ever noticedthe tiny wine doors in the walls of thePalazzo's? These wine doors were madefor the rich to sell their wine to the peasantson the streets of Florence. When the localwealthy families had excess wine fromthe harvest they would sell it out of thesewindows. What you would do is knock onthe door and slide the money in as theyopened it. Then the person behind the doorwill then fill a glass of wine to go. Someof the windows around the center still arein it's authentic wooden structure others

have been boarded up. Another fact aboutFlorence, if you look around in the centerof Florence, at all the big Palazzo's andsmaller buildings as well. You will noticesome of the windows that are missing. The whole frame of the window is there butthe window is missing. Italians were taxedhigher when they had so many windows. So they filled in each window that theydidn't want to pay an extra tax on.

The most famous landmarks in Florenceare the Ponte Vecchio(Old Bridge), IlDuomo and The Uffizi Gallery. The PonteVecchio is the oldest bridge in Florence,that currently has gold and silver shopaligning the bridge. Previously housingbutchers, the Ponte Vecchio holds onto thetradition of gold and silver shops making ita very posh street to purchase your goodson. Il Duomo(Santa Maria del Fiore) iswhat brings flocks of people to Florenceevery year. The gothic style church wasbegun in 1296 with the design from Arnolfodi Cambio and the dome was completed in1436 by Filippo Brunelleschi. The churchhas one of Giorgio Vasari's famous frescowhich covers the inside of the dome. The Uffizi Gallery is yet another attractionmost visitors look to visit when arriving inFlorence. From Da Vinci to Caravaggio,you have a pick of the great works of theRenaissance period.

San Giovanni(Duomo)

San Giovanni takes its name from SanGiovanni Battista(St John the Baptist),patron saint of Florence, in whosehonor the Baptistery was built. Thehistoric city center(centro storico) ismost representative of Florence. Thelayout of the district follows a roadsystem created by the Romans(knownas thecardus anddecumanus system).In thecentro storico, you will see theenormous, imposing structure of thecathedral Santa Maria del Fiore, referred tomostly commonly as the Duomo(from theLatindomus, meaning house of God), withits cupola designed by Filippo Brunelleschi,a beautiful dome that adds splendor to thecity skyline. The city has also preservedits medieval network of streets, lined withregular, geometric Renaissance palacessuch as the Palazzo Strozzi and PalazzoMedici-Riccardi, which once belonged toFlorence's powerful, oligarchic families.Florence is divided into five districts and

the center is divided into four sections(SanGiovanni, Santa Croce, Santa MariaNovella and Santo Spirito). The universityand the Tribunale di Firenze(which ishoused in the Complesso di San FilippoNeri) are also in this district.

Santa Maria Novella

Named after the Santa Maria NovellaBasilica- a Dominican basilica andimportant cultural center during the MiddleAges, the district of Santa Maria Novellacovers the area west of the train stationwhere a majority of affordable hotels andthe city's largest park is located. The trainstation of the same name(designed in1932 by the young architect GiovanniMichelucci) is also situated nearby. Notfar from the station is the Fortezza daBasso, a former stronghold of the city whichis now used as an important center forconferences, conventions and exhibitions.The zone is also home to the Parco delleCascine, one of the city's green oases. Inthis district also lies exclusive boutiquesthat are concentrated in a few of themost well-known streets, such as via de'Tornabuoni and via della Vigna Nuova. Viade' Tornabuoni is famous for being hometo some of Italy's most prestigious designerboutiques e.g. Versace and the FlorentineSalvatore Ferragamo.

Santa Croce

Santa Croce is named after Santa Crocechurch, a medieval Franciscan basilica.The National Central Library(BibliotecaNazionale Centrale di Firenze) is alsolocated here.

Santo Spirito(Oltrarno)

The entire stretch of the side of the riveropposite the majority of the city's touristattractions, the Oltrarno is home to manylocals, small eateries and amazing touristsights such as San Frediano to SanNiccolò. At its heart is probably one of themost incredible Renaissance churches andpiazzas: the Piazza Santo Spirito, whichhas retained much of its historic charmand is filled with workshops of the city'straditional artisans. This piazza is the placefor parties on summer evenings, bringingtogether young Florentines and foreigners,many of whom live in this area. ThePalazzo Pitti with its old Medicean gardenand the Boboli Garden, are both in Oltrarno.The famous Piazzale Michelangelo(with

Florence Snapshot continued

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its panoramic view) is also in this district.From here, it is possible to see one of thefew remaining stretches of medieval wallaround the Belvedere that was spared fromdemolition in the 19th Century. Included inthis is the lovely medieval gate of the PortaRomana.

Campo di Marte& Fiesole

The Campo di Marte is located outside ofwhat used to the be the medieval city walland is home to many historical buildingsdating back to the early 20th Century, aswell as to many modern stone and cementapartment blocks which were built afterWorld War Two. There are also numeroussports venues, athletic facilities and theStadio Artemio Franchi, Fiesole, and theBellariva zone are close by; these areswathes of Piagentina countryside thatalways induced feelings of nostalgia inTuscan painters.

Gavinana& Galluzzo

Gavinana and Galluzzo are south of theArno and lead to the well-known Chiantiwine region. On the southwestern sidelies Galluzzo, famous for its Carthusianmonastery.

Isolotto& Legnaia

Combining areas of the city that weredeveloped during the 1960s and 1970s(andare still expanding!), Isolotto and Legnaiaare home to commuters and enormousAmerican hotel chains. The Isolotto districtwas once the scene of various clashes andsocial unrest during the 1960s.

Rifredi

Rifredi in the northwestern part of the citywhere, by the 15th Century, the Medici hadalready constructed some of their manycountry villas, among which Villa di Careggi,the villas of Castello and La Petraia inthe Castello. In this district there are alsoseveral industrialized, residential zones,such as Novoli, Firenze Nova, Brozzi,Le Piagge and l'Olmatello. Brozzi, thezone is host to many Chinese and Africanimmigrants. The influx of immigrants meansthat even a city like Florence cannot liveforever in the past but must create a newmulti-ethnic history.© NileGuide

HistoryThe history of Florence stretches backas far as the 8th Century BCE when aprimitive settlement lived in the valley,close to the Arno."Florentia" is recordedas an official Roman colony in 59 BCEand was designed according to the typicalRoman road system, which can be seenin many Italian cities today. There are twoprincipal roads: thecardus descends fromthe Baptistery to Via Roma and continueson to Via Calimala, while thedecumanusstretches from via del Corso to via degliSpeziali until it reaches via degli Strozzi.The Forum(public meeting place andmarket) was built at the point where theroads meet, on what is now the Piazzadella Repubblica. During Roman rule,Florence was the most important city inRoman Tuscany.

Florentia was invaded by numerous tribesin the following centuries: Goths,"Silicone",Ostrogoths and Longobards. Manyinhabitants adopted Christianity at thetime of the Silicone, and the first churchesappeared outside the Roman walls ofFlorentia: San Lorenzo and Santa Felicitawere built during the 4th Century CE andcan be visited today.

Charlemagne's arrival put an end to thecolony's expansion. Buildings were stillconstructed however, and the Baptisterydates back to this time. The city flourishedin the 9th and 10th Centuries, a great dealof money was spent on the constructionof many religious buildings, e.g. theBadia Fiorentina. Many public works wereundertaken, including the building of the citywalls in 1078. Florentia was a cultural andeconomic success!

Florence's wealth and power grew atan enormous pace; a second set ofcity walls had to be built; the district ofOltrarno became part of the city andRomanesque-style architecture ruled(e.g.San Miniato and Santi Apostoli churches).Florentine craftsmen became involvedin textiles(beginning with the trading ofwool and silk), which lead to gradualurbanization. Political tension began torear its ugly head in the 13th Century astwo political factions(the Guelphs and theGhibellines) fought for power. At the endof the 13th Century, there was somethingof a cultural revolution. A major player inthis revolution was the architect Arnolfodi Cambio who designed the Palazzo dei

Priori(which became the Palazzo dellaSignoria a century later and then thePalazzo Vecchio) and also started workon the reconstruction of Santa Maria delFiore, which was completed in successivecenturies. Arnolfo also continued with theconstruction of the third and final set of citywalls.

The city was devastated by plague in 1348,and political conflicts were still rife. TheCiompi Revolt of 1378 occurred as a resultof the people's frustration—the poor reactedagainst their unjust governor. Meanwhile,Florentine merchants and bankers werealready working hard to increase theirwealth in order to attain power over thenobility.

Lorenzo de'Medici played an importantrole in Florence's history; he strengthenedthe political interests of the nobility, whilededicating himself to his love of the Artsand philosophy. The city underwent acultural rebirth. After Lorenzo's deathin 1492, the city came under the harsh,puritanical rule of the fanatical Dominicanfriar, Girolamo Savonarola, who waselected to the leadership of the Republic.He was so unpopular for his preachingsthat he was burned at the stake six yearslater by angry citizens. The leadership ofthe city was unstable for several yearsafter that with the arrival of French troopsunder King Charles VIII, but the de'Mediciclan regained power and Florence hadher first Duke in 1530, and then GrandDuke in 1569. The succession of the GrandDukes of the Medici family continueduntil the end of the 18th century, butFlorence gradually lost the central roleit had occupied in preceding centuries.The last heir of the Medici's handed overpower and all the family's riches to theHouse of Lorena, whose rule continueduntil 1859, when Florence was unitedwith the rest of Italy(which later becamethe Kingdom of Italy). Florence wasonly the capital of this kingdom for a fewyears(1865-1871) and the court transferredits official residence to the Palazzo Pitti.A lot of urban design and restructure tookplace during the 19th century, including theconstruction of embankments along theArno and piazzas in the centre of the newdistricts of Barbano and Mattonaia(whichare now Piazza dell'Indipendenza andPiazza D'Azeglio). The"arnolfiane" walland the Jewish Ghetto(which was situatedin the current location of the Piazza della


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Repubblica) demolished to make way for aseries of ring roads which were to lead tothe Piazzale Michelangelo and the Piazzadella Repubblica.

World War Two had a devastating effecton Florence. The city sustained manydamages, especially to its bridges and thearea inside the Ponte Vecchio. The flood of1966 further hindered the preservation ofvaluable Florentine treasures, resulting ina restoration process that will be on-goingwell into the 21st and 22nd Centuries.© NileGuide

Hotel InsightsItalians say that it will certainly take youmore than a day to drink in the beauty ofFlorence, you will need to stay for at least along or extended weekend. It is also true tosay that it can be a problem to find a roomin Florence, especially if you decide to visiton the spur of the moment. To save yourselfunwanted trauma, it is always best to bookin advance. Florence is always popular withtourists and often the more cost-effectivehotels are full in November. You will alsofind that hotel prices are high even duringlow season.

If you decide to drive to Florence, takenote that the municipal police will not allowyou to enter the city unless you have ahotel booking or unless you need to unloadyour luggage. If you must use a car, it isimportant to stay at a hotel that has parking.

Santa Maria Novella

Many of the city's hotels are located in thiscentrally-located district; close to the trainstation and all the tourist attractions. If youwant to stay near the splendor of the SantaMaria Novella, then try Hotel Aprile. Fivestar hotels are sprinkled throughout thecity and some of the best of these hotelsinclude: the Grand Hotel and the WestinExcelsior,(both are in piazza d'Ognissanti)these are the places where the VIPs andpoliticians stay when they come to visitthe city. The Villa Medici has an enticingswimming pool, and is close to the Piazzadella Repubblica, as is the Helvetia&Bristol. The Croce di Malta faces thePiazza Santa Maria Novella. The AstoriaPalazzo Gaddi is inside a beautiful palazzowhich has glorious ceilings decoratedwith frescoes. If you arrive in Florence bytrain, you will find many hotels around theStazione Santa Maria Novella that are

either two or three star. Via Panzani(leadingto Piazza del Duomo) and Via Nazionale,have a wide choice of reasonably pricedhotels, many of these are family runestablishments, housed in historic palazzi.The Annabella and the Nizza are only a fewof the long list of hotels that will welcomeyou and treat you well, as you enjoy yourtrip to this beautiful city.

San Giovanni(Duomo)& San Marco

For comfort and elegance near San Marco,try the Hotel Regency in Piazza MassimoD'Azeglio, a pleasant, peaceful piazza.Many fantastic four star hotels are alsoscattered throughout the district, thepick of the bunch are: the Grand HotelBaglioni, which is conveniently locatedbetween the Piazza della Stazione andthe Duomo, this hotel has a stupendousterrace view. Il Brunelleschi, housed in thesplendid, Byzantine Pagliazza tower, wasa female prison during the Middle Ages. IlCalzaiuoli is also situated in a prime spot,between Piazza del Duomo and Piazzadella Signoria. The Hotel Loggiato deiServiti and Le Due Fontane are to be foundin the setting of the Piazza SantissimaAnnunziata.

Santo Spirito(Oltrarno)

Perhaps you would like a view of the Arno?Lungarno has been recently renovated andfaces the river.

Campo di Marte& Fiesole

You can also find a wide choice of three-star establishments along the banks of theLungarni in this district, these are a littlefurther out of town, but you can easily reachthecentro on foot within a matter of minutes:such as the Hotel Columbus.

Novoli

If you are coming to Florence for businessrather than pleasure, you may find it easierto stay near to the airport or the mainmotorways. In the north of the city, you'llfind the Hotel Alexander and the HotelFleming.

Gavinana& Galluzzo

If you want to lose yourself in the midstof the city and be immersed in the greenof Viale dei Colli, then the Grand HotelVilla Cora is ideal, you can take a dip inthe pleasant pool, or you can try the fourstar hotel, Relais Certosa in Certosa delGalluzzo, with its own splendid tennis

courts(should you fancy a little exercise).On the outskirts of the south the Holiday InnGarden Court and the Sheraton beckon. Iflooking for a view of the Arno, then the ParkPalace is for you.© NileGuide

Restaurants InsightsTuscan cuisine, and Florentine foodin particular is essentially based onsimple, natural ingredients. It hails fromthe traditions of peasant food and iswholesome and tasty.

Extra-virgin olive oil is held in pride ofplace in Florence, and it is never missingfrom the Florentine table. Olive oil fromTuscany is cold-pressed, green andpungent orpizzichino(sometimes with aslightly bitter after-taste) and is eaten withina year and a half of harvesting the olives.Olive oil is used as a dip for foods suchas celery, artichokes andpinzimonio(aselection of fresh vegetables). It is alsoused in cooking, and as a condiment forsalads and deliciousbruschette. Amongstthe bruschette there is one that is king, andmust be tasted to be believed! It is madewith red cabbage and beans and thenseasoned with ground pepper and Frantoiooil.

If you want to indulge in Florentine breadyou should remember that in general,bread in Tuscany does not use salt.Tryschiacciata if you want a more flavorfulbread—this is a crusty focaccia salted anddrizzled with olive oil. A typical Florentineantipasto dish is a recipe calledcrostini difegato, pieces of Florentine bread whichhave been baked and dunked in soup,and then garnished with chicken liver pâté,capers and anchovies.

Another traditional Florentine specialty isthe famousbistecca alla fiorentina. Thesteak comes from Chianina, a region nearTuscany which produces the Chianinabreed, regarded as possibly the oldestbreed of cattle in the world. It is thick cut,weighs not less than 800g, cooked on thegrill, served rare and, on occasion, with awedge of lemon on the side. AFiorentinacan satisfy two people, but there are thosebrave enough who will attempt to eat oneall by themselves!

The soups andminestre are well worthtrying and they are derived from peasanttraditions. The most delicious, famous


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Florentine soup isribollita, made witha mixture of stale bread, beans,cavolonero(a black cabbage grown in Tuscany,similar to kale or Swiss Chard) and othertypical Tuscan vegetables.Ribollita derivesits curious name from the fact that thepeasant women would usually cook thesoup in large quantities that would beboiled repeatedly(ribollita), and theneaten for several days. As with manyleftovers,ribollita always tastes better theday after! Other delicious soups arepappacon il pomodoro(a tomato-based soupthat's thickened with bread) andminestradi farro(spelt or barley soup with beans,tomatoes, celery and carrot). Whilesome of these soups might not soundterribly appealing to your palate, they areabsolutely delicious, simple and hearty.

Do you have a sweet tooth?Schiacciataalla Fiorentina is a special Florentine treat:an orange-flavored sponge cake, coveredwith confectioner's sugar(often with acocoagiglio, or lily- the symbol of Florence—sprinkled onto the center) and filledwith pastry or whipped cream. Althoughtypically served around Carnevale, it canbe found at Florence's pastry shops yearround.Cantuccini di Prato are dry almondbiscuits that are dipped in Vin Santo, asweet, aromatic dessert wine.

Tuscan Specialties These specialtiescan be found in the majority of Florence'srestaurants. Some of the more famous,traditional restaurants include: Il Latini,Trattoria Mario, Coco Lezzone and LaCasalinga, there are also many others, sodon't feel dismayed if you don't get into theplaces above.

Haute Cuisine If you fancy somethingmore"refined", or if you want to celebratea really special occasion, then it is worthspending that little bit extra and goingto Enoteca Pinchiorri, or Il Cibreo, youcould also try Cammillo, although you willdefinitely need to book in advance.

Wine Bars There are also manyenotecheor wine bars in Florence: here you candrop in, relax and have a glass or two ofgood Chianti with a sandwich. In the mostelegant places e.g. Enoteca de' Giraldiand Enoteca"La Sosta del Rossellino", youcan try delicious wines accompanied bytasty bruschette and delicate appetizers. LaBarrique wine bar is also very popular andhas an extensive wine list.

Pizza Italy is famous for its pizza andpizzerias can be found in almost every nookand cranny of Florence, although gettinga typical Neapolitan-style pizza might bea bit of a challenge: Florentine crusts tendto be thin and crispy, cooked in a wood-fueled oven. If you prefer the"traditional"Neapolitan pizza, it is almost alwayspossible to ask for a pizza withdoppiapasta(double crust), which means you'll geta softer, thicker crust. Try Ciro& Sons for aslice of Naples in Florence.

International Cuisine Recent years haveseen a big growth in the amount of ethnicrestaurants, ranging from the Chineserestaurants to Mexican(Cafè Caracol),from Indian(Ashoka or Ristorante India), toJapanese(Momoyama) and there are alsomany other restaurants in various areas ofthe city.

Vegetarian Vegetarian cuisine has alsomade an impression on Florence! Ruth'sis next to the Synagogue and sells Kosher,vegetarian fare. Il Vegetariano serveswonderful meat-free and organic dishesand is a huge success in the city.© NileGuide

Nightlife InsightsAlthough Florence is quite a small city,it is inundated with visitors, ex-pats andstudents; this is great news if want to havean evening of raucous fun, or if you preferto follow more cultural pursuits. Visitorsand Florentines alike are impressed by thewealth of entertainment that they find onoffer here.

Cinema

Going to the cinema has become anincreasingly popular pastime since themid-1990s, and the number of cinemashas increased to meet the needs of thepeople in Florence; many of the city'smultiplexes have been renovated andreopened. This change in the amount ofcinemas that exist has created a climateof"non-stop cinematography" and fewercinemas close down during the summermonths. Florentine cinemas are veryvaried; there are modern one-screenhalls, massive multiplexes and smallindependent cinemas. The Cecchi GoriGroup owns the most cinemas in the cityand the majority show general releasesand(dubbed) American blockbusters,

although the Atelier group makes surethat Art house theatre is kept alive. Atelierhave six cinemas that show good qualityindependent films and directors and actorswill often attend previews and answeraudience questions. On Wednesdays,prices are reduced and many Florentinesgo to the movies. However, one of the besttimes to go to the cinema is during thesummer; between the months of June andSeptember: you can watch a new releaseor one of the previous winter's"smashes" inthe open air, as you sit beneath the stars.Some of the"normal" cinemas will remainopen; many of these have air-conditioning,which is a great way to avoid the humidityof a Florentine summer, not to mentionall the mosquitoes! One cinema in thehistoric center, the Odeon, caters to theinternational community showing filmsprimarily in English, and sometimes theoccasional French or Spanish-languagecinematic phenomenon on Mondays,Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Theatre

Although there are many more cinemas,compared with the amount of theatres,it is unfair to say that Florence favorsthe"Big Screen" to the stage. The Florentinetheatrical tradition has always beennoteworthy, for example, the famousMaggio Musicale Fiorentino attractsmany well-known people. The range ofproductions is very varied too, there areupbeat comedies by Neil Simon at Teatrodella Pergola, or more provocative, thoughtprovoking dramas such asA StreetcarNamed Desire at the Teatro Manzoni. IfShakespeare is more your thing, then theMetastasio Theatre will meet your highbrowneeds!

Cafés, Bars& Pubs

In Florence(and everywhere else) mostpeople want to go out and stay out untillate at the weekend; this city has a largenumber of bars and discos, which peoplecan enjoy any day of the week. For a quietevening, drinking and chatting late intothe night, why not try Caffè Pitti in PiazzaPitti, or Hemingway close to Santa Mariadel Carmine. At il Genius you can relaxwith friends and play board/card games.Zoe, Dolce Vita and Porfirio Rubirosaare a little more crowded and lively, whileCafè Caracol has a Latina vibe. If you aremore of a wine lover, then try Pitti Gola orCantina. Maybe you fancy a pint? Both


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The William and Chequers are British instyle,(perhaps to meet the needs of themany ex-pats who make their home here!)They sell an infinite number of beers, andsnacks accompanied by good music andare populated by Florentine beer lovers andforeigners alike. Clubs

Lots of tourists like to check out the clubsand discos when they are on holiday.Florence offers a great variety of nightspots,it is possible to choose from mainstreamdiscos such as Meccanò, where you mightmeet a VIP or two), and the fabulouslycheesy Andromeda, or more specialist rockbars such as Tenax(popular with manyyoung Italians) and the Auditorium Flog.There are many nightclubs(especiallyduring the summer) with theme nights,where people can dance, listen to musicand chat. These include Pongo, which isclose to Teatro Verdi and il Lidò on thebanks of the Arno, which attracts at leasthalf of the city.

As you can see, Florence has much toattract the cultivated wine drinker, thecinephile or the perpetual party boy/girl.Divertitevi!© NileGuide

Things to Do InsightsPiazza del Duomo is a great place to starta tour that will uncover some of Florence'shistorical beauty. Not only is the piazza richin history, but it's an architectural delighttoo. One of the first sights you will see isthe Battistero di San Giovanni, dedicatedto St John the Baptist and one of the oldestbuildings in the city. It was constructedin its current form in the 11th Century.Besides the beautiful interior which is richlydecorated with mosaics, there are gloriousmedieval and Renaissance bronze doors byAndrea Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti. Thepair of doors designed by Ghiberti that thepublic sees on the Baptistery are replicasand the originals are located nearby at theMuseo dell'Opera del Duomo. The museumis situated on the piazza, behind the apseof the cathedral. Amongst other things, itcontains precious sculptures as well asexhibits connected to the buildings that aredotted around the piazza.

In front of the Baptistery is Santa Maria delFiore, which was built by Arnolfo di Cambioin 1296 to replace the old Santa Reparatacathedral. The archaeological remains of

this cathedral are in the basement of thepresent church. Di Cambio's building wasonly completed 150 years later with theaddition of the enormous cupola(dome) thatsits above the church's transept. FilippoBrunelleschi, a truly gifted Renaissancearchitect designed the dome. It is possibleto reach the top of the cupola(access is onthe right hand side of the church), which is107m from ground level but there is no liftso you will have to climb over 450 steps.It is definitely worth climbing the steps, notjust for the beautiful view that awaits you atthe top, but also so that you can begin toappreciate the mastery of Brunelleschi, asthe cupola is truly an extraordinary feat ofarchitecture.

The interior of the cathedral itself is alsowell worth visiting, even though at timesthere can be a queue. Amongst otherthings, you will be able to see the frescoesbeneath the cupola, painted in the secondhalf of the sixteenth century by Vasari andZucchari. The frescoes cover an area ofaround 3600m2 and represent theLastJudgment. It is also worth taking a lookat the Sacristy where Lorenzo de'Medicisought refuge during the Pazzi conspiracywhen his brother Giuliano was killed in thecathedral in 1478. Here you will also seethe lined marquetries created by a groupof artists including Giuliano and Benedettoda Maiano. There are two frescoes on theright of the nave as you turn towards theexit:Giovanni Acuto(Sir John Hawkwood) byPaolo Uccello andNiccolò da Tolentino byAndrea del Castagno.

As you leave the cathedral, you will see theCampanile di Giotto. Giotto, the renownedMedieval artist himself began work onthe tower prior to his death in the 14thCentury. In this case too, a climb to thetop is recommended—but take care if yousuffer from vertigo!

Walk down Via Calzaiuoli—along whichyou will find hundreds of shops selling allmanner of goods—and in a few minutes,you will reach the Piazza della Signoria,the political center of Florence. The focalpoint of the piazza is the imposing PalazzoVecchio(also known as the Palazzo dellaSignoria). This palace once housed thegovernment of the city of Florence andhas been enlarged several times over thecenturies. Arnolfo di Cambio(the samearchitect who designed the cathedral),created the palazzo in 1294. The sectionthat is not dedicated to the museum retains

its function as the offices of the TownCouncil. The second internal courtyardhouses the only public baths in the citycenter.

On the Piazza della Signoria, you'll comeacross the Loggia dei Lanzi, originally apublic meeting place which is now an open-air museum where you can view severalsculptures by Giambologna(Rape of theSabines) and Baccio Bandinelli(Herculesand Cacus). Besides this, there is alsothe ManneristFountain of Neptuneby Bartolomeo Ammannati and theequestrian monument toCosimo I, byGiambologna. There is a 19th-century copyof Michelangelo's magnificentDavid too,which stands in front of the palace gates.

At this point you have a choice. You caneither visit the Galleria degli Uffizi(probablyone of the most important art collectionsin the world), which is only a short walkfrom the piazza, or, weather permitting,relax at an open-air café, e.g. the Rivoire(apopular choice), which is famous for its hotchocolate with cream—absolute bliss!

Medici Residences You can begin yourvisit with what was the residence of theMedici family, from Cosimo il Vecchio untilthe Grand Duke Cosimo I: Palazzo Medici-Riccardi in Via Larga, now known as ViaCavour. The palace was comissioned byCosimo il Vecchio, designed by famedarchitect Michelozzo in 1444 and finallyenlarged by the Riccardi family whenthey took over ownership of the palace.Today it is seat of Florence's Prefettura andofficial offices of the province of Florence.From the interior courtyard, it is possibleto visit the Cappella dei Magi(Chapel ofthe Magi), frescoed by Benozzo Gozzoliand magnificently restored for the 1992anniversary of the death of Lorenzo de'Medici. Throughout the fresco there arenumerous portraits of major Florentinefigures of the time as well as membersof the Medici family. Some of the famousfaces include leaders of the EasternOrthodox church and John VII Palaiologos,Byzantine Emperor, both figures presentin the city during the Council of 1439. Inthe palace there is also the BibliotecaRiccardiana, with an entrance on viadei Ginori 10, which features one of thegreatest library collections in the city withmanuscripts purchased from RiccardoRiccardi and it has been open to the publicsince the early 18th Century. The library


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is adorned with sculpted interiors of the1700s.

Around the corner from the Palazzo Mediciis the Chiesa di San Lorenzo, one ofFlorence's ancient churches, rebuilt inthe 1500s by Filippo Brunelleschi and hisarchitectural team. One of the true Medicichurches, it contains the tombs of manyof their famous family members, fromGiovanni di Averardo and his wife PiccardaBueri, in the Sagrestia Vecchia, to Cosimoil Vecchio, whose tomb is found in thecrypt, directly beneath the church's highaltar. In the Sagrestia Nuova, a work ofMichelangel, we find on one side the tombsof Lorenzo il Magnifico, and his youngerbrother Giuliano who was murdered inthe Pazzi Conspiracy in 1478, and on theother the tombs of Lorenzo, Duke of Urbinoand Giuliano, Duke of Nemours. In theadjacent Cappella dei Principi(Chapel of thePrinces), an opulent 17th-century design,we find several tombs of Medici Dukes andtheir wives.

Next to the church are the numerous standsof the San Lorenzo Market where you canbuy clothing(new and used), shoes andother trinkets that are great gifts for friendsand family. If you're looking for local foodproducts, the nearby Mercato Centrale,Florence's largest market, you can findeverything from fruit and vegetables tomeat and fish, at affordable prices. Whileyou're there, why not try a lampredottosandwich, a Florentine specialty that not allforeigners are willing to taste.

Returning to the via Cavour and following itupwards, you arrive at piazza San Marco,where the Church of San Marco is found.The historic monastery previously belongedto the Sylvestrines and in 1418 was handedover to the Dominicans. Thanks to thefinancing of Cosimo il Vecchio, the churchand monastery were able to enlarge.

While at the church, you simply can't missthe Museum of San Marco that includespart o the Dominican monastery where Fra'Giovanni da Fiesole(perhaps better knownas Fra' Angelico, Antonino Pierozzi(bishopand Florentine saint), Girolamo Savonarola,and in most recent times Giorgio La Pira,the unforgettable mayor of Florence.A suggested starting point on the tourof the church museum if the Cloister ofSant'Antonino, and then from the SalaCapitolare where Fra' Angelico frescoedone of his masterpieces, theCruxifiction. On

the first floor of the monastery, spread outthrough three corridors that open onto themonks' cells, all decorated with frescoeswith religious scenes entirely done by Fra'Angelo and his workshop. This is, withouta doubt, one of the most interesting andemotional parts of the complex.

Not fear from the piazza is the Accademiadi Belle Arti where the small off-shootbuilding of the Galleria dell'Accademia, inwhich, among the many works of art, is theoriginal copy of theDavid by Michelangeloas well as other works by this well-knownFlorentine artist, such as thePrisoners. Thismuseum contains four of the statues thatwere originally designed for the final restingplace of Pope Julius II(a Medici); however,it was never realized.

Given the pretense of several officesof the university, particularly in via degliAlfani, there are many bakeries, smallgrocery stores and bars where you cangetschiacciatine(a foccaccia-like breadwith salt, olive oil and sometimes peppers,olives and other savory treats on top,sandwiches, or coldprimi at affordableprices. This also means that you can findsit-down places that don't overcharge ifyou don't take your meal or coffee at thebar. This zone is also characterized bythe presence of specialized libraries, copyshops and printing offices.

From the piazza San Marco, you can easilyarrive in under a couple minutes to thepiazza della Santissima Annunziata, withthe Basilica Mariana della SantissimaAnnunziata, and on the right side, thecolonade designed by Filippo Brunelleschifor the Ospedale degli Innocenti, a truemasterpiece of Renaissance architecture.At this point, you ought to be tired, and ifyou decide to head down the via dei Servi,towards the Duomo whose magnificentcupola is visible from the middle of thepiazza, or turn down the via della Colonnaand arrive at the Archaeological Museum,to appreciate and superb Etruscan andEgyptian artifacts.

Oltrarno Towards the Ponte Vecchio,characterized by the numerous jewelryshops, which originally butcher and leathermakers that lined the river, and in crossingthis famous bridge you arrive in an areaknown as the Oltrarno. The area is moreformally known as Santo Spirito and todayhas unique artistic characteristics thatdistinct it from other parts of the city. During

the summer, it is not difficult to find localssitting on chairs in front of their apartmentbuildings, chatting and discussing theday's events. This has always been anarea where many artists have lived andworked, something that is still quite visibletoday with the numerous restoration and artstudios that line the streets.

Shortly after crossing the bridge, on theleft there is the Chiesa di Santa Felicita,Florence's oldest church, restored in the18th Century. Up a bit further is the largepiazza on an incline which leads to theentrance of the Palazzo Pitti, originally aresidence of the Pitti family who went brokeconstructing and decorating it to outdo theMedici...who eventually purchased it in1565 to save Luca Pitti from impendingdebt. Today the palazzo houses fivemuseums, but if you don't want to staycooped up indoors and the weather permitsit, it is strongly suggested that you visit theBoboli Gardens, which is easily accessiblefrom the palace's courtyard. The extensivegardens go from the hills to the ForteBelvedere, a fortress of the city; however, ifyou can't make it to the top, a walk amongstthe trees and sit on the benches to enjoythe beauty of the gardens.

Following these suggestions, justoutside the piazza Pitti is the splendidvia Maggio(previously known as the viaMaggiore), lined with gorgeous 16th-century palaces that belonged to Florence'smost noted families, not to mention allthe lovely antique shops that are on bothsides of the road. Shopping here is reallyélite, reserved for those who can affordto buy an expensive villa or an expensiveRenaissance-era piece of furniture. Thereare also more affordable shops in the areawhere you can find items to bring home assouvenirs.

Walking down these narrow streets thatcharacterize this area you will inevitablyfind yourself in front of the Chiesa di SantoSpirito, Brunelleschi's last architecturaltriumph. In front of the church, everymorning, there are different markets, andonce a month there is an antiques market-truly an event to not miss out on. Thereare plenty of choices for dining in this area:bakeries, grocery shops, but also small,family-run trattorie with homemade mealsand outstanding menus at affordable prices.

By this point, if you aren't alreadyexhausted, you can take the main street


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back towards the Chiesa di Santa Mariadel Carmine, even if it's just to seethe chapel of Felice Brancacci that hecommissioned from Masaccio in the 1420s.The frescoes are truly a masterpiece ofEarly Renaissance art, works not to miss.The entrance to the chapel. The entranceto the chapel is from the piazza, on the rightside of the church.© NileGuide

Travel TipsGetting There

By Air

Florence's Amerigo VespucciAirport(+39 055 373 3498/ http://www.aeroporto.firenze.it/) is just six milesnorthwest of downtown, but handles alimited number of airlines. It has recentlybeen renovated to accommodate morepassengers and more airlines. Theyinclude:

Air France( +1 800 871 1366/ http://www.airfrance.com/) Alitalia( +1 800223 5730/ http://www.alitalia.com/)Austrian Airlines(+1 800 843 0002/http://www.aua.com/) Belle Air( +35542 40 194/ http://www.belleair.al/)Brussels Airlines(+1 516 740 5200/ http://www.brusselsairlines.com/) Carpatair(+44208 602 7077/ http://www.carpatair.ro/)Continental( +1 800 231 0856/ http://www.continental.com/) Flybaboo( http://www.flybaboo.com/) KLM( +1 800 3747747/ http://www.klm.nl/) Lufthansa( +1800 645 3880/ http://www.lufthansa.com/)Meridiana(+39 0789 52682/ http://www.meridiana.it/) Sterling Airlines( +440870 787 8038/ http://www.sterling.dk/)Swiss Airways( +1 877 359 7947/ http://www.swiss.com/)

From the Airport

Bus: ATAF(+39 055 56 501/ http://www.ataf.net/) provides bus service every30 minutes between 6a-11:30p. Theride takes about 20 minutes, depositingpassengers at the Santa Maria Novella RailStation. Cost: EUR4.50.

Taxis: Taxis can be found just outside thearrival terminal. Rides to downtown last15-20 minutes and cost approximately EUR20-30.

Rental Cars: There are several rentaldealers at the airport with offices in the

downtown area near Santa Maria Novellatrain station.

Avis(+1 800 831 2847/ http://www.avis.com/) Hertz(+1 800 654 3131/http://www.hertz.com/) Europcar(+39 041541 5654/ http://www.europcar.com/)National(+1 800 227 7368/ http://www.nationalcar.com/)

By Train

Ferrovie Dello Stato, or FS(http://www.trenitalia.it/), the Italian state railway,enjoys a sound reputation for efficiency.Since Florence is on the main Rome-MilanLine, riders are offered a variety of dailyoptions, including Intercity trains(IC), knownfor their express service. Santa MariaNovella, the city's main train station locatedin the north end of Florence, handles mostof the rail traffic. Rifredi, a much smallerstation, offers a limited number of railchoices.

By Bus

Lazzi Eurolines(+39 055 363 041) handlesinternational travel connecting Florencewith major European cities such asBrussels, Barcelona, Paris and Prague.Its station is located adjacent to the SantaMaria Novella train station. Domestic travelis provided by SITA(+39 055 294 9555/http://www.sita-on-line.it/) to locations suchas Lucca, Volterra, Pisa, Siena, Empoli andmore.

By Car

Autostrada 1(A1), Italy's major highway,juts into Florence from Bologna from thenorth, and continues south to Rome.E76 connects Florence with Pisa and theLigurian Sea to the west.

Getting Around

The Azienda Transporti Area Florentina, orATAF(+39 055 56501/ http://www.ataf.net/),manages Florence's bus transportation. Itservices all the major tourist attractions,operating between 5a-1:30a. Fares: 70-minute ticket EUR 1.20; one-day ticketEUR 5; three-day ticket EUR 12; seven-dayticket EUR 22.

Taxi

Taxis can easily be hailed at stands foundat hotels and major squares throughout thecity. A minimum fare starts at EUR 4.

Cars

Cars are not recommended. Most ofFlorence's narrow streets are limitedto locals with properly marked vehiclesand filled with locals zooming around onscooters. And if you dare to drive you willquickly learn that the Renaissance nevergave thought to parking.

Walking

Walking rates as the best means fornegotiating Florence's narrow maze ofcobblestone alleys and streets. Downtownis very compact with most of the majortourist attractions located within severalblocks of each other. Be sure, however, tocarry a map.

Motorini

Mopeds, if anything, will make you looklike a local. Riders must be 18 and helmetsare mandatory. Alinari(+39 055 280500), Maxirent(+39 055 265 420), andMassimo(+39 055 573 689) are good rentalsources. Expect to pay around EUR 30 perday.

Flying Into Pisa(PSA)

Pisa's Galileo Galilei(+39 050 849 300/http://www.pisa-airport.com/)(PSA) isthe larger of the two airports that serviceTuscany, but is situated 58 miles west ofFlorence. Major airlines include:

Air France( +1 800 871 1366/ http://www.airfrance.com/) Alitalia( +1 800223 5730/ http://www.alitalia.com/)British Airways( +1 800 247 9297/ http://www.ba.com/) Continental(+1 800 5250280/ http://www.continental.com/)Delta( +1 800 221 1212/ http://www.delta.com/) easyJet( +44 870600 0000/ http://www.easyjet.com/)Lufthansa( +1 800 645 3880/ http://www.lufthansa.com/) RyanAir( http://www.ryanair.com/) Sky Europe(+421 24850 4850/ http://www2.skyeurope.com/)TUI(+49 511 2200 4713/ http://www.tuifly.com/) United( +1 800 538 2929/http://www.united.com/) US Airways( +1800 622 1015/ http://www.usairways.com/)

Trains& Coaches from Pisa to FlorenceRiding the train is a good travel optionto Florence. The Pisa Aeroporto stationprovides a train about one every hourbetween 6:30a-10:30p. Rides last an hourand a half. One-way fare: EUR 5.40.

A new coach service from Pisa toFlorence is offered by Terravision(http://


26

www.terravision.eu/florence_pisa.html/),with trips taking just 70-80 minutes andcosts EUR 8 one-way.

Rental Cars: Avis(+1 800 831 2847/http://www.avis.com/) Hertz(+1 800654 3131/ http://www.hertz.com/)Europcar(+39 041 541 5654/ http://www.europcar.com/) Thrifty(+1 800 3672277/ http://www.thrifty.com/)

The drive to Florence on the E76 takesabout 45 minutes.© NileGuide

Fun FactsTop 12 Florence Facts

1.Weird Fact: Florence streets can be onename at one end of the street and anothername at the other end. For example,Via Martelli is the street leading awayfrom Piazza del Duomo then at the firstintersection it turns into Via Cavour.

2.Fun Fact: Florence is the capital city ofthe province of Florence and the Italianregion of Tuscany.

3.Interesting Fact:Via Chiantigianais themost beautiful road in all of Italy. Windingthrough the vineyards and woodlandssurrounding Florence connecting to Siena.

4.Weird Fact: Fiascois an Italian wordreferring to a glass bottle or flask witha long neck. According to the OxfordEnglish dictionaryfiasco--meaning afailure or complete breakdown--comesfrom the Italian expressionfare fiasco,to make a bottle. Nobody knows howthis Italian expression came to be in theEnglish language. Today, old trattorie arestill calledfiaschetteria--working men'staverns. Back in the day was knownas taverns with hearty, cheap Tuscanwines and later for a more homey Tuscanspecialities that paired with the wines.

5.Fun Fact: How do the Italiansreallyeatpasta? The correct technique involvespiercing some pasta near the edge of thebowl, not in the center but at the twelveo'clock position, then twirling the pastaaround the fork against the rim of the bowl.

6.Historical Fact:In 1339, Florence becamethe first city in Europe with paved streets.

7.Random Fact:Florence was home tothe infamousMedicifamily from the 14thcentury to the 18th century.Leonardo daVinci,Niccolo Machievelli,Galileo Galilei,Amerigo Vespucci, Donatello, Raffaele,Roberto Cavalli, and Guccio Gucci,fashiondesigner andGuccifashion was founded inFlorence 1921.

8.Historical Fact:The Grand Duchy ofTuscany was the first state to abolishcapital punishment in November 1786.

9.Interesting Fact:Florence has had twofloods; one on November 4, 1333 andNovember 4, 1966.

10.Fun Fact:What would come to bethought of as Italian was first formalized inthe first years of the 14th century throughthe works of Dante Alighieri, who mixedsouthern Italian languages, especiallySicilian, with his native Florentine in hisepic poems known collectively as theDivineComedy. Dante's much-loved works wereread throughout Italy and his written dialectbecame the standard that all educatedItalians could understand. Dante is stillcredited with standardizing the Italianlanguage and, thus, the dialect of Florencebecame the basis for what would becomethe official language of Italy.

11.Historical Fact:Florence Nightingale,famous for revolutionizing the field ofnursing, was named for the city of her birth.

12.Fun Fact:Florence is best known forleather and gold© NileGuide


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Weather

Statistics Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Temperature C

Average High 11 12 16 19 24 28 32 32 27 21 15 11

Average Mean 6 7 11 13 18 22 25 25 21 16 11 7

Average Low 2 3 6 8 12 16 18 19 15 12 7 4

Temperature F

Average High 51 54 61 66 75 83 89 89 80 70 59 52

Average Mean 43 45 51 56 64 72 77 77 69 61 51 45

Average Low 36 37 42 47 54 61 65 66 59 53 44 38

Rainy Days 6 6 6 7 7 6 4 5 7 8 8 8

Rain Fall (cm) 3.4 3.7 3.2 6.0 4.5 3.8 2.3 2.8 5.5 8.6 8.9 5.2

Rain Fall (in) 1.4 1.5 1.2 2.4 1.8 1.5 0.9 1.1 2.2 3.4 3.5 2.0

© NileGuide

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