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Florence (Firenze)

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Florence is one of my favorite cities in Italy.  I'm sure you will love it also.  Be sure to plan your visit with at least one (or two) overnights in the city.

General Information Florence and the Tuscany area contains some of the most interesting areas of Italy.  Florence, in the region of Tuscany and the main city after which the province is named, rises on the banks of the Arno in a vast plain surrounded by the Careggi, Fiesole, Settignano, Arcetri and Bellosguardo hills.  The location of the city is absolutely wonderful.  The river divides the city into two parts.  To the north are the areas of Santa Maria Novella, San Giovanni and Santa Croce, and to the south the "Diladdarno," the area of Santo Spirito.    I find that Fodor's guides are very good.  Check Fodor's 1999 Florence, Tuscany and Umbria (Fodor's Gold Guides) and see if you don't agree. The local economy is based on tourism, industry (textiles and clothes, metalwork, optics, chemistry, pharmaceuticals, glass and ceramics) and on Florentine handicrafts (embroidery, jewelry, products made from straw).  You will also find an excellent selection of leather goods in Florence. Book here your tickets for most important museums in Florence and Rome Find and book Florence tours and activities on Viator.com. Book ahead to save time and money! To Top

Florence Buy From Art.com

Climate
The climate is temperate but rather variable, with humid and breezy winters characterized by periods of intense cold, and hot and muggy summers.  You should plan to bring clothing you can layer, especially during the fall, winter, and spring months.  For the latest weather update for Florence, check TulipsWeather.com, your complete source for world-wide weather forecasts, as well as for U.S. and Canadian forecasts and current conditions.

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Historical Outline
Florence was founded by the Romans in the first century B.C.  Florentia reached its highest point between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries, as a free State, balancing the authority of the Emperors with that of the Popes.  During that time she was able to overcome the problems of internal fighting between Guelphs and Ghibellines.  In the fifteenth century Florence was ruled by the Signoria of the Medici.  They subsequently became the Granduchy of Tuscany.  This was the city's most splendid period, for art, culture, politics and economics.  Throughout the city you may see excellent examples of the art of this time.  The Granduchy of the Medici was followed by that of the Lorena in the eighteenth century, until in 1860 when Tuscany joined the Kingdom of Italy, with Florence as the capital from 1865 to 1871.

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Arts and Culture
Florence contains an exceptional artistic patrimony as Cimabue and Giotto, the fathers of Italian painting, lived here, along with Arnolfo and Andrea Pisano.  It was also a place for reformists of architecture and sculpture; Brunelleschi, Donatello and Masaccio, founders of the Renaissance; Ghiberti and the Della Robbia; Filippo Lippi and l'Angelico; Botticelli and Paolo Uccello; and, of course, the universal geniuses Leonardo and Michelangelo. Their works, along with those of many generations of artists up to the masters of the present century, are gathered in the city's many museums.

Thanks to Dante, the Italian language was born in Florence and the locals still maintain that their particular dialect of Italian is the only "true" dialect.  With Petrarch and Boccaccio, literary studies were affirmed and the philosophy of Humanism and the values of classical civilization were revived.  Machiavelli introduced modern political science; Guicciardini, historical prose; and with Galileo, modern experimental science.  Up to the time of Charlemagne, Florence was a university town and today it includes many specialized institutes and is an international cultural center. Academies, art schools, scientific institutes and cultural centers all contribute to the city's intense activity.

Reserve now your Uffizi Tickets Why wait in line to get your tickets to the marvelous Uffizi Gallery. While others are waiting in line, you can be exploring this great city. You won't believe how easy this makes your visit to the Uffizi and Accademia. This is a great time-saving service which I recommend to everyone who is visiting Firenze.

Prenotazioni online per la Galleria degli Uffizi

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Shopping In Florence

Big fashion names like Gucci (This is a great town for leather items!) and Coveri are found in via de' Tournabuoni, but also in via della Vigna Nuova, where Armani and Valentino have opened up shops.  There are also many shops for shoes and leather goods, from the classy and always elegant Ferragamo, in via de' Tornabuoni 14r, to the more affordable Cresti, in via Roma 9r.  Across the Arno, in via di Santo Spirito 62r, is the nice little shop Francesco, with hand-made shoes and sandals at low prices. The Piazza Santa Croce area is rich in shops for leather goods.

Besides shops, Florence is rich in open-air markets. The Market of San Lorenzo, situated at the center of the city, is the preferred destination of tourists -- and locals alike!  The New Market, where one can acquire leather goods and souvenirs, is sheltered under the sixteenth-century Loggia del Porcellino (pig).  At the Flea Market, you can make good deals on small antique items. The last Sunday of every month except July, the market expands into the adjacent streets.  Throughout the town you will find venders and stalls catering to your every need.

Florence is famous for handicrafts and elegant creations.  From straw, a typical Florentine product used for pretty and original clothes and decorative objects, to leatherwork, Florence is renowned for the refinement and skilled workmanship of its artisans.  From ceramics to glass, from woodwork to metalwork, a large number of desirable objects offer you the opportunity to purchase the items that are just right for you and adapted to the tastes, ages, and interests of those to whom you wish to take back souvenirs.

Florence's handicrafts and fashionable apparel are of exceptional taste and originality.  Most notable are the linens and precious embroideries, silver and gold products (this is the town where Benvenuto Cellini was born), filigrees and typical stone mosaics.  Particularly sought are objects from the many large and small antique shops, for which Florence is a major trading center.

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Arriving In Florence
Probably for most, arriving by train is the more popular way to arrive in Florence.  The central station in Florence, at Santa Maria Novella, is an important focal point for both national and international traffic. The city is connected to the major train lines and thus to the most important locations in Italy and abroad. Connections to Milan, Bologna, Genoa, Rome and Pisa are especially convenient with several high-speed trains daily.  It is normally quite easy to get from the station to your hotel.  Arriving by air you will land at Amerigo Vespucci Airport, about 5 kilometers from the center, which has both domestic and international lines.  Daily flights regularly connect Florence to Milan's Linate Airport and Rome's Fiumicino Airport.

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Getting Around In Florence
For me, the best way is by foot.  Florence is a great town for walking with several areas that are pedestrian only thoroughfares.  As for public transpiration, the most convenient way to travel in Florence is without a doubt the buses, which allows you to reach the historical center which is closed to private traffic. Tickets can be acquired at bars, tobacco stands, or the urban ATAF bus offices.  Prices are low and are valid throughout the urban transport system.

The taxi service is convenient, but naturally much more expensive than public transportation, especially where traffic is intense.  Authorized taxis are white with yellow signs and the fare is indicated only by the meter. There is a supplement for night travel and for baggage.  The telephone numbers for calling radio-taxis are the following: 4798, 4242, 4390

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Special Events
Throughout the year a series of exhibitions take place in this city where modern melodrama was born.  Additionally, musical events ranging from Florence's "May of Music" (Maggio Musicale) to its summer and winter lyric seasons makes Florence a popular destination for music lovers of all ages and tastes.

The Florentine center of "la Moda Italiana" organizes many commercial exhibitions throughout the year including international shows for ancient as well as contemporary art. Characteristic traditional exhibitions include the Soccer Games in Costume and the Festival of San Giovanni.

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Accommodations in Florence
I recently stayed at the Hotel Casci and enjoyed my stay very much.  I had already made reservations over the internet and found the folks at the hotel to be very friendly and helpful both while making the arrangements and reservations, and after I arrived at the hotel.  And, with the exception of the winter months, you should not arrive in the city without a reservation.  However, if you arrive in Florence without a reservation, stop by the Consorzio ITA office at Stazione Centrale (055/212245) and they will try and help you find a room. The Hotel Casci is a wonderful, friendly place to stay just a short walk from the Piazza del Duomo where the Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore, simply called "The Duomo," is located.  This wonderful, city center location makes all of the city yours to enjoy with short walks from your hotel. 

For accommodations in Florence, click on Firenze Accommodations. Reservations through Venere Internet Hotel Reservation services which has been providing great hotel accommodations for holiday and business travelers. They can also help you find the perfect accommodations in Austria,  France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, you may visit their site in English, Italiano, Deutsch, Francais, and Espanol making it easy for almost anyone to find the perfect accommodations.

Book your villa in Tuscany Selected Villas in Tuscany. Extensive information on each listed property, including 30 - 40 fast loading images. Tuscany Villa - Tuscany .Net

Florence Apartment
This interesting apartment is in the heart of the town center of Florence. It is located on the top floor of an unassuming 12th century palazzo in the historical center of Florence. You deal with and rent directly with the owner who also has apartments in Paris, just steps away from the Eiffel Tower, and one in central Cannes just minutes away from the Palais du Festival. www.apartment-in-france.com

Florence Hotels - Cheap Hotels in Florence Italy. Florence online hotel reservations at the lowest rates. Visit www.allflorencehotels.net for additional information.

Florence Hotels & City Guide. Guide to Florence including discount hotels, attractions, travel tips and more!

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Dining in Florence
Florentine food is wonderful and steeped in solid peasant traditions.  It is based on a few fundamental genuine ingredients -- olive oil, tomatoes, beans, herbs, ham and salami.  Nowhere can you find cooks who really know and understand how to use herbs and spices to their best advantage.

Among the first courses of the "poor style" cuisine worth mentioning are "ribollita" (a soup based on black cabbage, beans, and other vegetables), "bruschette" (toasted bread with garlic and olive oil, sometimes covered with liver patè , anchovy paste or olives -- personally, I enjoy it plain), beans "Uccelletta" style, minestrone soup with boiled beans, cooked in oil with tomato sauce and sage.  Just thinking about it makes me want to return!

Of the second courses, the most famous would have to be the "beefsteak Florentine style", cooked rare, without salt, and wonderfully flavored with herbs.  You will also be able to find several game dishes include boar and rabbit with their typical sauces. The most common cheeses are pecorino and ricotta.

Desserts are simple.  In Italian they are called "poor," the most characteristic being "cantucci" (cookies sweetened with almonds, for dunking in "Vin Santo") and "schiacciata Florentine style" (a pastry covered with vanilla sugar and flavored with lemon).  However, don't be surprised if the restaurant you choose does not offer dessert.  You can find some of the best ice cream (gelato) anywhere in Florence!  One of my favorite places is a little shop near Ponte Vecchio  just a few steps north of the bridge on your right on Via Por S Mario.  Tip -- for the best ice cream, be sure they are serving it out of metal containers, not those flimsy white plastic ones.

Tuscany is a region famous also for its wines, reds and whites ranging from table wines to wines of great prestige and universal fame.  Therefore, for most visitors, dinner is always accompanied with a local wine.  The most famous reds are "Brunello di Montalcino," "Nobile di Montepulciano" and Chianti produced in the hills and bottled by the Sangiovese vineyards.  Most of the white wines come from Trebbiano vinyards, like the light and sparkling "Galestro" and the simple "Tuscan white."  The "Vernaccia of San Gimignano," obtained from Vernaccia grapes, is very flavorful, as is the "Montecarlo," from the Lucca region.  There are also several characteristic sweet wines such as the "Vin Santo" made with raisins from Trebbiano and Malvasia,  which is aged for several years in small casks and then bottled.

Here are just a few places you might want to search out for a meal, snack, or just some gelato:
Il Sasso di Dante where you can have a nice lunch while people watching near the Duomo.
Rivoire Cafe in the Piazza Signoria.  Try the hot chocolate!
Paoli at 12r Via dei Tavolini for wonderful food served in a great atmosphere.
Il Latini on Via Palchetti is a great trattoria.  You may have to stand in line as it is very popular.
Caffe delle Carrozze near Ponte Vecchio for a light lunch followed with ice cream.
Vivoli's Gelato at 74 Via Stinche.  For many, this is the place for ice cream in Florence.  They have lots of flavors, all served in cups -- no cones here!
Pallottino on Via Stinche.  Have the steak Florentine and then go next door to Vivoli's for ice cream.
Ristorante Acqua Al Due at 2r Via del Acqua is a nice place for dinner.  They are not open for lunch.  Try one of the good pastas they serve.
Mercato Centrale.  Located near the Piazza Mercato Centrale is the central food market.  Early morning is the best time to visit.  Good spot to pick out some items for a picnic lunch.

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Florence offers numerous opportunities for entertainment, with many clubs and discotheques where one can dance to any type of music, or listen to groups playing live late into the night.

To listen or dance to progressive, techno or underground, try the Meccano in via degli Olmi 1, the Full Up in via della Vigna Vecchia 21-r, the Central Park in via Fosso Macinante and the Andromeda in via dei Cimatori 13.  For popular music, Jackie'O in via dell'Erta Canina 24/A, Villa Kasar in Lungarno Colombo 23r and the Tenax in via Pratese 46 are all pretty good choices.

You can also find several places to listen and dance to Latin-American rhythms. At the Caracol in via Ginori 10-r and the Girasol in via del Romito 1r, you can enjoy Mexican music, and at the Maracanà in via Faenza 4, Brazilian music.

For me, the best type of nightlife in Florence is to enjoy an evening walk along the river and then head to a nice restaurant for a late-night meal.

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Florence Links
The Tuscany area has to be one of the most beautiful in all of Italy.  If you need a great guide to help you see all there is in the Tuscany area, contact Peter Kilby.  He can also help you with visits to Umbria and the Marche as well as Rome!  You should also visit his web site (www.peterkilby-touradvisor.com.au). In fact, here is his complete contact information: Peter Kilby - tel/fax 39 0578717487, Personal Tour Guide & Advisor in Rome & Tuscany,
http://www.peterkilby-touradvisor.com.au, mobile phone number: 338 7606874.

I also find that Fodor's guides are very good.  Check Fodor's 1999 Florence, Tuscany and Umbria (Fodor's Gold Guides) and see if you don't agree.

Florence and the Tuscany Area 

Click Here for information on Tuscany
Florence Hotels by Fodor
Florence Restaurants by Fodor

"Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy" by Frances Mayes describes this wonderful area of Italy as no one else can. Another good book by Mayes is "Bella Tuscany: The Sweet Life in Italy" 
 

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Date this page was last edited: Friday, January 02, 2009 18:10:39

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