Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

Smart Guide Italy: Florence & Tuscany: Smart Guide Italy, #1
Smart Guide Italy: Florence & Tuscany: Smart Guide Italy, #1
Smart Guide Italy: Florence & Tuscany: Smart Guide Italy, #1
Ebook184 pages2 hours

Smart Guide Italy: Florence & Tuscany: Smart Guide Italy, #1

Rating: 0 out of 5 stars

()

Read preview

About this ebook

Smart Guide Italy: Florence & Tuscany is packed with advice and tips that will help newcomers and veteran travelers get the most from their visit to Italy's most famous region. Along with background information to all of Florence's major monuments readers will discover great places to eat, sleep and enjoy the dolce vita in the Tuscan capital.

Smart Guide Italy: Florence & Tuscany balances historical insights about Florence's major monuments with practical information about food, entertainment, accommodations and more. It was created to indulge the senses and help travelers see, smell, and taste Tuscany in unexpected ways whether you are headed for the Ponte Vecchio or Leaning Tower.

Smart Guide Features:
-Top attractions, rated according to importance.
-Historical and background information about each sight
-Full-color photos
-Maps of neighborhoods and towns
-Opening hours and contact information for each sight
-Tips for making your journey memorable

Smart Guide is the first independent travel publisher to offer digital guides to all of Italy's regions. Other titles in the Smart Guide series include:
Rome & Lazio
Milan & Lombardy
Venice & Veneto
Naples & Campania
Turin, Piedmont & Aosta Valley
Grand Tour: Rome, Florence, Venice & Naples

LanguageEnglish
PublisherAlexei Cohen
Release dateSep 10, 2011
ISBN9781465960917
Smart Guide Italy: Florence & Tuscany: Smart Guide Italy, #1
Author

Alexei Cohen

I fell in love with Italy while watching the movie La Strada in the basement of my university library. Since then I have met and married an Italian, written and edited several guides and enjoyed a lot of pasta, wine and gelato. I live with my family on the outskirts of Rome and cultivate my passion for Italy a little more everyday. Moon Rome, Florence & Venice is my latest book and a result of months of exploration. I look forward to sharing what I have discovered and meeting travelers in Rome to swap stories over a cappuccino.

Read more from Alexei Cohen

Related to Smart Guide Italy

Titles in the series (27)

View More

Related ebooks

Travel For You

View More

Related articles

Reviews for Smart Guide Italy

Rating: 0 out of 5 stars
0 ratings

0 ratings0 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

    Book preview

    Smart Guide Italy - Alexei Cohen

    Smart Guide Italy: Florence

    2014 edition

    Published by:

    Smart Guides

    Via Antonio Schivardi 51

    00144 Rome, Italy

    Smashwords Edition

    Copyright 2014 Alexei Cohen

    License Notes

    This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment. It may not be re-sold, given away, transmitted or reproduced without permission of the publisher. If you would like to share this book with another person please purchase an additional copy.

    The authors of this book have strived to create the most accurate and up-to-date guide possible. That doesn’t mean we’re perfect. Some details such as opening hours, prices and telephone numbers may change. If you come across such a discrepancy or would like to share your travel experiences write to us at smartguide or visit www.smartguideitaly.com.

    Contents

    Preface

    Introducing Florence

    Quickfacts

    What’s New?

    Planning

    When to go | What to bring | Climate | Etiquette

    Practicalities

    Using this guide | Hours | Prices | Saving | Safety

    What’s Happening?

    Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter

    Travelers Beware

    A Brief History

    Experiencing Florence

    Sightseeing Strategies

    Before | After arriving

    Navigating the City

    Going Local

    What to say | What to taste

    Top Stops

    Itinerary

    Exploring Florence

    Neighborhoods

    Santa Maria Novella

    San Giovanni

    Santa Croce

    Santo Spirito

    Living Florence

    Live Music

    Night Clubs

    Wine Bars

    Theater

    Cinema

    Galleries

    Sport

    Shopping

    Beyond Florence

    La Petraia

    Villa Gamberaia

    Fiesole

    Prato

    Essentials

    Getting to Florence

    Getting Around

    Information and Services

    Bureaucracy

    Eating

    Accommodation

    Shopping

    Specific Needs

    Health and Safety

    Money Matters

    Speaking

    Resources

    Background

    Geography

    Flora and Fauna

    History

    Government and Economy

    People and Culture

    Art and Architecture

    About the Authors

    Smart Guide Italy Titles

    Suggestions and Corrections

    Thanks

    Preface

    Dear Traveler,

    Welcome to the 2014 edition of Smart Guide Italy: Florence. A new edition means two things: first of all we survived. There are many travel guide options these days but over 5,000 travelers from around the world chose Smart Guide and allowed our independent team of writers and researchers to continue doing what we love. The second thing a new edition means is that we’ve tried to improve everything.

    We didn’t just want to fact check and update listings but to evolve the guide and do everything we could to improve your experience. For starters that meant adding maps and photographs of key destinations. It also meant reevaluating content and where it was presented. In this edition we have emphasized neighborhoods and positioned all relevant information about an area in the same place. We figured if you’re walking through San Giovanni you’ll want to know what to see as well as where to eat, drink and shop.

    We’ve also added many internal links within the guide. That saves time and helps you discover the things you want to experience. We’ve also added new content on planning, practicalities and essential such as dining, getting around, services, kids, language, prices and background resources.

    Those are just some the changes we hope will make your journey even more memorable.

    Alexei Cohen

    Series Editor

    tmp_0edf1046b7b9e4bcfca7611934643743_cyQFhl_html_1fd306d2.jpg

    Introducing Florence

    Strolling along the streets of Florence is like taking a trip through time to a place where every building, every square and every fountain has a centuries-old story. For a while this was the center of the world, a place where new ideas were the currency of choice. During the golden age of the Renaissance artists, architects and aristocrats like Raffaello, Brunelleschi and the Medicis brought innovation to nearly every square inch of the city. Traces of their extraordinary creativity can be experienced everywhere. Although the historic center is relatively compact and manageable to explore on foot it quickly becomes evident that seeing and understanding it all is impossible. The risk is to rush and that would be a mistake for Florence’s art, history and especially her food and culture must be savored.

    Of course you won’t be alone and it’s easy to get caught up in the tide of tourists. The city center is nearly always crowded and hearing English, German or French is as common as Italian. Don't let that discourage you. Florence is not just the Duomo and statue of David. There is no limit to what curious travelers can discover beyond the must-see landmarks. Perhaps the greatest discovery is the locals themselves. Florentines are more reserved than their southern cousins yet more willing to go out of their way to suggest the best osteria to sample a Florentine T-bone steak or point you towards the most relaxing park in town. They are friendly in their own particular way and without knowing them it's difficult to really understand their city.

    Wherever your journey leads and whoever you meet in Florence it’s hard to go wrong and quite easy to go right.

    Quick Facts: Florence

    population: 365,800

    foundation: 80 b.c.

    symbol: iris

    elevation: 50 m

    gps: 43°47’N 11°15’E

    currency: euro

    dialing code: 05

    time zone: GMT +1

    What’s New?

    Florence certainly have plenty of history but they are in no way stuck in the past and both the city and region have undergone quite a few changes in recent years. One of the biggest is political and regards the popular former mayor of Florence, Matteo Renzi, who has gone from governing Tuscany’s capital to running all of Italy. If you want to make conversation with locals just ask them what they think of Renzi (Che pensi di Renzi?). He’s responsible for many of the renovation projects around the city such as the pedestrianization of Piazza Santa Maria Novella and the construction of the T1 tram line that links the central train station (which was also refurbished) and neighborhoods to the east. There are new museums such as Museo del 900 which celebrates the 19th century and others that have been reopened after years of restoration like Museo Galileo. The city rose garden has also undergone a face lift and is open again to romantics and anyone searching for great views of the city. Cascine park along the Arno river has been cleaned up and the Parco della Musica and Stazione Leopolda have become the new cultural hubs of the city.

    Prices of course have gone up for transportation and tickets to monuments but remain reasonable and the tourist office has created a convenient Firenze Card for travelers planning on visiting multiple sights. The number of new bars, boutiques and restaurants is too great to list but one of the most important culinary openings is the Eataly food emporium in Via de’ Martelli. The news for soccer fans is that Florence’s soccer team is competitive again and will be playing in the Europa League next season.

    Planning

    When to go

    Tourism is a year-round reality in Italy that peaks in August and during the Christmas and Easter holidays. There is no single best time to visit and what period you choose depends on personal preferences regarding weather, costs, services, and elbow room. Spring and fall are pleasant in Florence and with the exception of Easter there are fewer tourists waiting in line while hotels charge mid-season rates.

    Summer is by far the most popular time to visit and hotels take advantage of the demand to raise their rates. Airlines also charge higher fares so tickets should be purchased well in advance. Keep in mind that the majority of Italians go on vacation in August and over 70 percent decide to remain within Italy. Autumn is harvest time when sagre festivals celebrate the fruit and vegetables grown in the surrounding countryside. New vintages are bottled and wine flows freely. By September schools have started again and the beaches along the Tuscan coast are slowly and reluctantly abandoned.

    Winter is filled with religious festivals but if you want a white Christmas Florence isn’t where you’ll find it. Carnival is low key in the capital and is a bigger deal in Viareggio where thousands of revelers unite to watch the parades and floats. February and March attract fewer tourists to the area so art lovers can enjoy the Uffizi galleries without feeling rushed. Accommodation is more affordable in winter and last-minute travelers will have no problem finding a room.

    What to bring

    The contents of your suitcase depends on the season and length of your stay. Beware of over packing and select comfortable clothes that can easily be mixed and matched. Layers are important in spring and fall when mornings are chilly and temperatures vary throughout the day. A suitcase with wheels will make it easier to get from airports and train stations to your hotel. Backpacks or handbags are good for storing items you’ll take on daily excursions and should have zippers to dissuade pickpockets. It’s probably best to leave expensive watches and jewelry at home and a money belt can be useful for storing necessary valuables and cash.

    Some formal clothes may be useful if you plan on any fine dining or clubbing. Italians generally like to dress up and rarely let their fashion guard down. Flip-flops and sleeveless shirts are fine for the beach but are frowned upon inside churches. Knees and shoulders must be covered when entering religious buildings. Sunglasses are essential during the summer, especially if you’ll be doing any driving, and baseball hats are useful—even if they’re uncommon on Italian heads. A high-SPF sunscreen is vital as it gets very hot on the cobblestones.

    You’ll probably do more walking in Italy than at home so bring at least two comfortable pairs of shoes. If you’re only traveling for a few days it may be useful to buy sample-size shampoo, toothpaste, and soap to keep weight down (they’ll also cause less damage if they accidentally open). If you forget something, you should have no problem finding it in Italy; pharmacies are especially useful for replacing lost toiletries or picking up aspirin. If you take medication make sure to bring enough and have a copy of your prescription in case you need a refill.

    Most hotels provide hairdryers but if you’re staying in a bed and breakfast or hostel you may want to pack one. It should be adaptable to Italy’s 220 voltage. A European plug converter is useful for recharging MP3 players, digital cameras, and cellular phones. Adapters can be hard to find in Italy and airports are usually the best place to pick them up. If you’re taking photos the old-fashioned way, stock up on film before leaving as prices are higher in Italy. An extra memory card is useful for digital photographers planning on documenting the journey. Items like binoculars are helpful for observing the ceiling of Santa Maria Novella, church facades, and rooftop panoramas. Pack some pens if you plan on writing any postcards and a notebook for jotting down impressions of neighborhoods and ingredients from memorable lunches. Even if you aren’t an artist, try sketching the sights or making souvenir rubbings of any ruins you encounter.

    You’ll need your passport and a driver’s license if you plan on renting a moped or car. An international license is not required but can avoid confusion for non-EU drivers if you’re pulled over. It costs $15 and is available from any AAA office in the United States. Making a copy of vital documents facilitates replacing them if they’re lost or stolen. You can also email yourself any important credit card codes or customer service numbers to report stolen cards. Most of all, don’t forget to pack your curiosity.

    Climate

    Not everyone has the opportunity to choose when they can travel but if you are flexible May and September are ideal months to visit. Not only are there fewer visitors but temperatures are warm, daylight is long and precipitation is low. If you must travel at a certain time make sure to plan accordingly. October and November for example although relatively mild are the rainiest months in Florence and you should prepare to spend more time indoors or have a good raincoat and waterproof shoes.

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

    Min/

    Max 2/10 3/12 6/16 8/18 11/23 15/27 18/32 18/31 15/27 11/21 5/15 3/11

    Temp

    C/F 36/50 37/54 43/61 46/64 52/73 59/81 64/90 64/88 59/81 52/70 41/59 37/52

    Avg 70/2.8 70/2.8 70/2.8 80/3 80/3 60/2.4 40/1.6 50/2 70/2.8 100/4 110/4.3 80/3

    Rainfall (mm/inches)

    Sunlight 5 6 7 7 8 8 10 9 8 6 5 5

    Hours

    Etiquette

    Most of the things considered rude in Europe and North America are also considered rude in Italy. One exception is lines, which rarely form any recognizable pattern and generally resemble a fumble recovery (or ruck if you prefer rugby). If you do not defend your place by saying scusi or coughing loudly you may be

    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1