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Holidays in Florence

Oct 3rd, 2009 by

Tuscany Vacations - Florence River

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.

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Suggestions for a Hotel in Tuscany

Oct 1st, 2009 by

Many people dream of taking a Tuscany vacation. This romantic place with a rich cultural history, breathtaking countryside, with links to the birth of Renaissance and home of Michelangelo, combining nature’s splendor and man’s artistic talents. Tuscany with its famous cities like Florence and Pisa are urbanized but just a few miles away, the winding country roads, wineries, medieval palaces, and castles are a breath of fresh air. It is impossible not to fall in love Tuscany.  Everything in the region reflects great achievements by humankind throughout history.

To really enjoy Tuscany vacations, one must be prepared and the best way to see as much as you can is by taking any number of Tuscany tours available. There is much to see and do, but the most important factor is staying in a decent place. Over the decades, the Tuscany tourism industry has made great efforts to improve accommodation for tourists on Tuscany vacations. There are all types of hotels, apartments, villas, palaces, and even castles available for rent. Some of the recommended places to stay while in Tuscany include:

The Palazzo Alexander Hotel is an elegant townhouse hotel located in Lucca. Within a few minutes of the hotel, one can walk to some excellent restaurants or, within an hour, be in Florence or Pisa. The Palazzo Alexander hotel has classic Italian décor and charming rooms. During summer, the hotel does tend to be full so it is advisable to make bookings ahead of time. The cost of staying at the Hotel Palazzo Alexander is $150 a night. Breakfast is included.

Another decent accommodation to stay in the center of Lucca is the San Luca Palace Hotel. The hotel is tastefully decorated and offers all amenities for daily living. The interior of the hotel is pure luxury and extravagance. The service at the hotel is superb. The only minor disadvantage of staying here is that one needs to rent a car to get around. However, rental and bus tours are available. The cost of staying for a night at San Lucas palace is $250.

For those who want to enjoy the countryside in an elegant farmhouse, the Casa Ulive Villa is highly recommended. This place offers complete seclusion and peace within minutes of the big cities like Lucca and Pisa and Cinqueterre. Casa Ulive Villa has several rooms, sleeps five people and is fully furnished with all the utilities and amenities for the visitor. It has a fireplace, a swimming pool, satellite TV, two bathrooms.  Nearby are located several shops, cafés and grocery shops. The Casa UliveVilla is the place to stay if you want to explore Tuscany in peace and love the countryside. The cost of renting The Case Ulive villa rents out for $3000 a week, a good deal for family or travelling with friends on your Tuscany vacation.

For those who want a bed & breakfast without hassles, Florence Bed and Breakfast Inn is the place to stay. This delightful hotel in Florence is located in a medieval building, within a few minutes of the world famous Uffizi Galleries and Piazza Signoria. The great thing about staying at this hotel is not having to rent a car as everything is within walking distance. All rooms at the Florence Bed and Breakfast hotel are spacious, clean, and spotless. Air conditiong and satellite TV is available in all rooms and the service is unsurpassed. The cost for a single room at the Florence Bed and Breakfast hotel is $120 per night.

Another great place to stay while in Florence is the Casa Firenze Hotel. This upscale home turned into a rental home is exquisitely furnished with all the amenities and comforts. It is small hotel in Florence and has five rooms, each with their own bathrooms. The rental includes a delicious Italian breakfast. One does not require a car while staying at the Casa Firenze hotel. The cost for a single night’s stay is about $150.

A great boutique hotel in the heart of the city is the Florence Art Hotel. This unusual boutique hotel is within walking distance of all the historic districts. The Florence Art Hotel is sleek in design with modern and medieval decorations. Each room has teak, parquet floors, leather furnished upholstery, and all rooms have spacious modern bathrooms. The Florence Art Hotel also offers a gym,  a sauna, Turkish baths, and hot tubs. It is highly recommended that one NOT have a car while staying here as there is no parking.

Tuscany has many excellent hotels for tourists seeking the best Tuscany vacations with all types of budgets. Most hotels have a webpage and offer online bookings. However, before one starts booking the hotel you decide upon, surf the web and decide what you want, where you would like to stay, and what you want to see. Compare room rates between different sites because you will find different prices offered for the same hotel.  Most hotels in Tuscany offer great discounts that may include tour packages to the surrounding countryside and vineries. With the ongoing recession, most hotels in Tuscany are willing to bargain and you have the luxury of deciding the amount you will pay.

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Tuscany Vacation Tours

Sep 23rd, 2009 by

Tuscany is a region located on the West coast of Italy and has about 3.6 million inhabitants. The capital of Tuscany is Florence. Over the years, Tuscany has become famous for its landscape and historical significance. Many cities in Tuscany are now considered protected sites under UNESCO because of their historical significance. These cities should be included on whichever of the Tuscany tours you decided upon:   Florence, Sienna, Pisa, and San Gimignano.

Tuscany is located on Tyrrhenian Sea and is surrounded by a large mountain with luscious vegetation. Tuscany is considered to the birthplace of Renaissance evolution and its entire creative heritage including monuments, architecture, paintings, arts, and figurines. In almost every town in Tuscany, museums have displays of renaissance paintings and sculptures. Moreover, Tuscany was the birthplace of Dante Alighieri, Leonardo da Vinci, Michael Angelo, Galileo, and Botticelli.  People return again and again to the region,  spending much time on numerous Tuscany vacations during their lives.

For the tourist who is not a renaissance aficionado and gets bored visiting many museums, one should only visit the Uffizi Gallery on a Tuscany tour. This museum has the largest collection of Renaissance painting and will satisfy all your medieval curiosities.

Over the years, the region has evolved into a major touristic center for Tuscany vacations, chiefly because of its history and natural beauty. The year round warm weather, a beautiful sea, rugged countryside with medieval castles and palaces, has millions of tourists streaming into the area. During the summer, Tuscany is overly congested. For the tourist who prefers solitude and less congestion, the best time to visit is late summer or early autumn for holidays in Tuscany. Although it does tend to rain a bit during this period, the crowds are less and one can get to enjoy the place in peace.

Tuscany has made great improvements in its tourist infrastructure. You will be able to find a favorite hotel in Tuscany to return to again and again.  There are many hotels in the region and transportation has become very efficient for tourists wanting to choose from one of many types of Tuscany holidays

To get to Tuscany, one must first arrive in Rome or Milan. In the last few years, direct international flights from North America can get you to Pisa and Florence. One can get to Tuscany from Rome or Milan by plane, rail or by renting a car for your Tuscany vacation.

Once in Tuscany, there are ample countryside rooms or bed and breakfast inns available for your hotel in Tuscany. The average price for a single room in many of these villas and barns, which have been converted into tourist accommodations, varies from $40-$80 per night. Most of these countryside homes offer decent service, comfortable rooms, and a hearty Italian breakfast.

To enjoy Tuscany vacation, one needs at least two to five days minimum. For those who love the countryside, there are also bike tours, wine tours, hot air balloons, horse back and bus tours available from any hotel in Tuscany.

Lovers of Italian cuisine will not be disappointed either. There are many restaurants that serve traditional and authentic Tuscan cooking in every town. Some restaurants even have a one-day course in teaching you how to make traditional Italian cuisine.

For the tourist who loves history and art, some of the towns to be visited on your Tuscany vacations include Arezzo, home of the Petrarch, the father of the modern Italian language. Here you will see magnificent cathedrals dating back to the 15th century. Ten miles of the coast of Tuscany shores is the small island of Elba, where Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled. This untamed island will take you away from all the stress of daily life with no traffic but lots of birds and wild animals for nature lovers.

On the mainland, visit Viareggio, which is famed for its loud and open carnival parade. Here in Viareggio, you can dine in some of the finest cafes, restaurants and stay at designer boutique hotels and luxury hotels.

Pienza is another town that should be seen. Known as the “treasure of renaissance”, most of the architecture in this city is from the 15th century. The town gives one an idea of how life nearly 600 years ago. Besides Cathedrals and palaces, there are also many wineries around which offer tours.

Lastly, on your Tuscany tour, go to Maremma, a small town that houses the Etruscan tombs in the dense forests. Here you will experience the exotic thermal falls of Saturnia and the unspoilt coastline with some of the most pristine blue waters on earth.

To make your trip memorable, know as much as you can prior to getting on the plane. Tuscany is a vacation of a lifetime and a Tuscany tour is required so you do not miss the beauty of it all on your first of many Tuscany vacations.

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What to see and Where to stay in Tuscany

Sep 21st, 2009 by

A few suggestions for your Tuscany vacation

Tuscany is a region located on the west coast of Italy on the Tyrrhenian Sea . For decades, it has been one of the most popular resort areas for visitors from both Europe and North America. The reasons for its popularity include warm people, authentic Tuscan cuisine, excellent collections of renaissance art and architecture, and culture. For the tourist, one moment you may be consuming native Tuscan cuisine, enjoying some of the best local wines of the Chianti region, surrounded by medieval history- all this within a few miles away from a beautiful coastline with pristine blue waters.  It is one of the most interesting and beautiful places to visit and spend time here on a Tuscany vacation.

Tuscany is made up of ten provinces and includes famous Italian cities like Florence , Arezzo, Pienza, Pisa, and Sienna. Tuscany has a very diverse background -  the medieval cities such as Florence , Sienna, and Pisa , and on the other hand, the wine growing districts of Chiusi and San Gimignano. Distributed along the countryside are any small towns many with small castles, villas and vineyards.  There are any number of Tuscany tours you can arrange for yourself either online or by reading a book which suggests a number of routes you can take.

Most tourists arrive to Tuscany via Milan or Rome. From either of these two cities, one can rent a car for the three hour drive to Tuscany. There are also airports at both Florence and Pisa that cater to international flights. Most of the smaller cities in Tuscany also have a railway station.  If you are taking the train or bus, you will have an excellent opportunity on your Tuscany holidays to view the wonderful countryside, something you would miss if you fly.

So what does one do after arrival in Tuscany?

Tuscany is a large area and it is best viewed by a tour bus. Most of the Tuscany hotels can arrange a tour bus with guides. The tour buses pass through all the major cities and the most common sites visited include the cathedrals and other monuments. When in Florence , you will surely go and see Michelangelo’s most famous masterpiece, the statue of David, and the Uffizi Gallery, with its large collection of Renaissance art. When in Pisa , you will, of course, be able to see the Leaning Tower.

Other than sightseeing of the Gothic buildings and artwork, one can also learn to cook Tuscany style, play golf, go horseback riding, visit a spa, or just tan at the beach. For the individual who is more into cooking, you can also take a cooking course that will teach you how to make delicious Italian pasta, lasagna, panzanella, ribollita, and tiramisu,  and of course, you will get to know how to make the best espresso.  There is so much to do and see on your Tuscany vacation.

Since Tuscany is very well known for its famous vineyards, many tourists visit Chianti. Here you will be able to take a Chianti winery tour drink red and white wines of the Chianti region and get to taste some of the best grapes in the world. There are also organized tours to go to the vineries with lunches included. Some of the wine regions worth visiting include San Gimignano, Montalcino, and Montepulciano.

As far as accommodation in Tuscany is concerned, Tuscany has made a lot of effort in providing apartment and housing rentals for tourists. Even though there are plenty of hotels in Tuscany, renting is a good alternative to enjoy the region. Many Italians have renovated castles, farmhouses, villas, barns, and palazzos that are available for rent. There are also some owners who will exchange homes with you. Most rental accommodations in Tuscany are fully furnished and come with all the necessary amenities for daily living. Many country homes will sleep six to ten people – perfect for a family vacation in Tuscany. By the way, in most rental homes you will not find a TV or a telephone. Many rental homes are now listed online with pictures posted and the available features.

Renting or exchanging a home in Tuscany does require that one does their homework. One should be realistic and have to understand the risks associated when dealing with an unknown property owner, who may speak very little English. To avoid hassles, get in touch with an agency that can deal all your negotiations.

These are just some of the options for what to see and do and where to stay when planning your Tuscany vacation.

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Hotels in Tuscany

Sep 11th, 2009 by

The world famous landscapes and attractions of Tuscany is what bring in millions of visitors from around the globe to this beautiful region of Italy. The rolling hills, vineyards, mountains and the art, architecture and various monuments make the region one of the most visited tourist destinations in the planet. With so many tourists visiting the region, it does not come as a surprise that you can easily find various accommodation options too here. It is here you will find anywhere you go in the region, plenty of  Tuscany hotels, from budget hotels and hostels, to country houses, luxury hotels, villas and small inns, the region of Tuscany offers plenty of choices to visitors.

Most of the hotels here showcase the rich architectural legacy of the region. Take for instance the Grand Hotel Continental in Siena. Located right in the heart of this medieval city near the famous Piazza del Campo, this hotel is a landmark in itself in Siena. The magnificent frescos and beautiful sculptures that make up this building give the hotel its uniqueness. The Grand Hotel Continental is a 1 star hotel in Siena offering almost all the modern amenities that you could ask for during your stay here at the right price if you are travelling to Tuscany and have a budget to keep in mind.

Another beautiful property located amidst breathtaking scenery is the Adler Thermae Spa and Wellness Resort, located a short drive away from Florence in the Orcia Valley. You can enjoy the famous thermal waters of  Bagno Vignoni in Orcia Valley, which are reputed to heal many problems, while pampering yourself in the lap of luxury at this resort. This 5 star hotel features some of the best guestrooms that you can find anywhere in the world with all the comforts and amenities of a 5 star hotel. Whether it is relaxing around the pool, catching some of the warm Tuscan sun or soaking in the spectacular views from the private balcony in your room, you will never be short of wonderful options during your holiday in Tuscany.

Another hotel where you can get a feel of the famous Tuscany hospitality is Hotel San Giuliano Terme in Pisa. Located minutes away from the Leaning Tower of Pisa, on the old Lucca Road, the hotel is one of the most popular ones in the city of Pisa. Almost all the attractions of Pisa such as the park of San Rossore and the Carthusian Monastery of Calci are just a short drive away from this hotel. There is much to do and see in Pisa too.

Before planning your vacation in Tuscany, do some research, plan your route, book your Tuscany hotels ahead of time online.  You do not want to miss any of the sites on your vacation.

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