Florence
The Capital City of Tuscany

Florence is a wonderful city full of cultural and historical significance. The Italian name for Florence is Firenze and it is the main city of the Tuscany region, located on the River Arno in the center of Italy. Tourism is a major industry in Florence, with a draw to anyone interested in history, art and culture. The entire city is like a museum with stunning works of art to see everywhere you go. The historic center of Florence is free of traffic making it easy to spend your time seeing the sights instead of going from one place to another. The narrow streets, lanes and pathways are a joy to stroll and it only takes about half an hour to walk the length of the city.


Florence has been described as the birthplace of the Renaissance, which supported the artists, inventors, and innovators giving them the freedom to develop and flourish. The city is filled with famous works of art, in fact about half of the masterpieces of the world are in Florence. There are many museums to visit, the Uffizi Gallery, the Ponte Vecchio or Old Bridge, the Church of Santa Maria Novella are just a few. But, a must see on your visit to Florence is the famous statue of David by Michelangelo. There is more magnificient sights to be seen such as the amazing architecture of the old buildings, churches, and monasteries. You may even want to venture out of the city into the surrounding hills and vineyards of the Chianti wine region.



The summer months are the busiest time for tourist they are also the hottest months and Florence is said to be the hottest city in Italy. A much better time to visit is in the off months of May and June or September and October, the weather is not as hot but still warm. There several festivals and celebrations held around Easter making it a very busy time for tourist. You might consider visiting in the winter months when the feastday for St John the Baptist, the patron saint of Florence is held. Whatever time of the year you choose to visit is a perfect time, because there is plenty to see and do in Florence.

Once you decide on the exact time of your visit you should immediately start searching for the right place to stay, because during the busy tourist times accomodations can be hard to find. It can be expensive to visit Florence, but there are a wide selection of places to stay ranging from the most luxurious hotels to basic rooms in hostels and two star establishments. You are sure to find accomodations that will fit your budget and price range. So, make your reservations early and enjoy your visit to Florence and the Tuscany region of Italy.



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