A Visitor’s Guide to Florence

Florence is considered as one of the most important cities of Europe. The city is the birthplace of the opera, the Italian renaissance and also the neo-classical architecture. Florence was also a major cultural and political hotbed in its time and this makes it one of the must-visit places for anyone visiting Italy. Below is a brief visitor’s guide to Florence.

Ideal Time to Visit

Florence falls in the Tuscan region which gets pretty hot during the summer’s peak. This causes most of the local people to retreat to the coastal areas in the period between June and August. As a tourist, the ideal time would be to visit either before or after the summer season passes. April, May, September and October are quite warm and sunny without being too hot.

Notable Attractions

The cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore is the star attraction of Florence. It is a beautiful piece of architecture that dominates the city and is a must-visit. Giotto’s Tower, adjacent to the above cathedral, offers viewers an excellent view of the city that is worth appreciating.

There are also plenty of places to visit in case you want to combine history with leisure shopping. The Ponte Vecchio (literal meaning is ‘Old Bridge’) is home to many shops. The place is also known to be the traditional jewelry buying destination for Florentines.

You can also visit the tombs of great medieval personalities like Michelangelo, Dante, Galileo and Machiavelli.

Exquisite Cuisine

Italians love their food and Florentines are no different when it comes to their palates. Although both meat and fish dishes are dominant in the region, the cuisine is mostly seasonal. There are also many places that serve up inexpensive and yet tasty stuff. Wine lovers can also have a drink in Florence.

While it’s only a brief guide to Florence, most of these places will ensure that you experience the heart of Florentine culture.

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Italian Lakes Holidays: Experience Beautiful Natural Italy

Italy boasts some of the world’s most beautiful natural landscapes. Vast, twinkling lakes flanked by majestic mountains await, surrounded by charming villages and traditional towns.

Italian lakes holidays have so much to offer every holidaymaker, but they make a particularly romantic break for couples. Image strolling down a lakeside promenade hand in hand, stopping to share a gelato or a bottle of chianti, and drink in the stunning scenery. The lakes and mountains destinations in Italy really do offer holidays that are like a breath of fresh air.

Lake Maggiore is a truly beautiful choice of destination in the Italian Lake District. The second largest lake in the country, it straddles the Italy/Switzerland border and is flanked by lush, pine clad hills.

Stresa is one of the most popular resorts on the lake, noted for some stunning examples of architecture such as the 19th century Villa Pallivicino stately home. This beautiful lakeside resort is located at the foot of Mount Mottarone, which offers endless opportunity for exploration.

You can take a cable car to the mountain’s summit, or alight half way and make the rest of the journey on foot. While the trek may be hard work, it’ll be more than worth it when you see the spectacular view, which takes in seven lakes and a ring of mountains. It really is truly breathtaking.

The Alpinia botanical gardens are also located half way up Mount Mottarone, so be sure to make the most of your trek up the mountain and take in this wonderful natural attraction as you go.

For those travelling to lake and mountain destinations in Europe walking holidays are a great idea. You can enjoy exploring the stunning surroundings with a guided group, or set off on a pre-planned route for a romantic walk that you’ll remember for a lifetime.

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