Tuscany Vacations - Florence River
If there is a city in Europe that is worth visiting, then it has to be Florence. This capital city of Tuscany province is where the Renaissance evolved. Florence is not all about art and architecture. The surrounding Tuscany countryside has raw beauty with a beautiful light if you are an artist or a photographer, mixed with man’s creative talents that have built large gothic monuments and cathedrals. In most cities and towns of Tuscany, one will find beautiful churches, fascinating museums, including the outstanding Uffizi Gallery, which houses the works of Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. There is so much to see on holidays in Florence and the surrounding areas. Take the time to explore not only Florence but the whole region of Tuscany.
In addition, there is more – Tuscany is one of the premier wine producing regions with Chianti beings it most famous export. For those not interested in art or culture, Tuscany cuisine is exceptionally delicious with home made lasagna, roasted garlic ravioli, stuffed sausage bread and sweet Ricotta Cannoli. Of course, at the end of every dinner there is espresso and Tiramisu. One can always spend 100 percent of the time going to galleries and glance at era of years past, but if possible, one should take a few hours off to visit some of the other towns in Tuscany and sample some of that delicious Tuscan cuisine on one your Tuscany vacations.
Most hotels organize bus tours that take you around Tuscany where one can see the heartland of the Renaissance period and the glorious countryside. Cars are available for rent if you’d rather drive around yourself for your holidays in Florence. For those who are energetic, there are bicycles tours, hot air balloons and even helicopter rides. This will give you different opportunities and experiences. Tuscany is much more than a visit to the museums; it is a trip to the past when great men created artwork and build monuments that would remain as a symbol for generations to come.
Florence is best explored by walking. In this way, you will not miss anything. There is absolute no need to rent a car – and even if you rent a car, parking is a a bit of a hassle. If you do decide to tour Tuscany by car, get a rental car with a GPS map. Not to be missed while in Florence are the Uffizi Gallery, The Accademia and the Bargello. These museums have some of the largest collections of art and sculpture from the renaissance period in the world and are worth seeing.
Because Florence and its neighboring cities are always crowded with tourists, it is essential that one be prepared and make plans for your Tuscany vacation for your hotels in Florence. Accommodation is not a problem in most parts of Tuscany and Florence specifically. Besides luxury and boutique hotels in Florence, there are plenty of farms, villas and palaces available for rent in the country side around Tuscany. It’s up to your budget if you decide on some of the cheap hotels in Florence or one of the more luxurious accommodations. Almost every town has its own 15th century cathedral and they are full of hotels for every budget.
What to buy? Shopping is best done in Florence for variety but there are also small markets where one can pick up famous brand name leather goods and souvenirs. The best shopping areas are located in Borg Ognisanti, Via Della Vigna Nuova, Via Tornabuoni, the Ponte Vecchio and Via Panzani.
At the end of each tiring day, there is always the hearty Tuscany meal that is followed by some of the best liqueurs and wines in the country.
Florence is a very popular tourist destination and there are many books and guides written on the city and province. The best advice is to either buy some of these books or guides or today, in the modern world, there is ample information on cyberspace which is available for free. The best way to enjoy a trip to Florence is to be well read on the city. Most of Europe is under a recession and there now are many discounts available both on fares and hotel stays. In most cases, discounts are available online. Do not be shy about haggling, many hotels want the business, and you can call the shots – fare buon viaggio. There are discounts on hotels in Florence everywhere and you should compare the prices listed on different websites before making your final decision.
