Birthplace of the Renaissance, art trendsetters like Giotto, Michelangelo, and Botticeli are just a few of the Renaissance Masters that dominated the Florentine scene during the blossoming Renaissance era. When visiting modern-day Florence, you can witness many of their legacy masterpieces in museums, churches, and piazza’s – poignant reminders of the Renaissance.
Indeed, exploring Florence feels like you have traveled back in time – surrounded by ornate royal and government buildings, palaces, cloisters, and sculpted gardens. Exploring the enchanting city reveals, with almost every footstep, and with each turn in the narrow winding cobblestoned streets, an historic reminder of the past making you feel like you’re nestled in a living, breathing Renaissance museum.
The capital of Tuscany, Florence neatly tucks in amid green-carpeted rolling Tuscan hills just a short distance from many of the most popular Tuscan destinations like famous Cortona (of Frances Mayes’ Under the Tuscan Sun fame), lovely Tuscan red-hued Siena, lovely Lucca and fascinating Pisa which make fabulous day-trips.
In this Florence City Guide you’ll find my personal best Florence travel tips for how to experience Florence’s major attractions, iconic culture, and magical lifestyle … At first glance, I swore that time had morphed backwards and that the leather-aproned gentleman before me was Pinocchio’s father. I had stumbled upon […]
Fortunate to have lived 3 months like a local in Florence, I explored most of Florence’s neighborhoods. Here are seven favorite areas for your consideration.
Thank goodness I can always go back to Florence . I already know where to stay in Florence neighborhoods which sit on both sides of the Arno River. After living in a spectacular Renaissance fairyland for 3 exciting months, I realized that Florence had become my most beloved foreign city […]
Experiencing travel like a local can make even top European destinations affordable for weekly or monthly stays so you can stay longer, spend less, and experience more.
Do you want to improve your work/life balance? Four years ago, I realized that my “life” part was lacking and needed a big boost. As a baby boomer near retirement age, I wasn’t willing to wait until I retire (if ever!) to pursue a lifestyle change. I wanted to travel […]
Slowly sipping my demi-carafe of wine on the Riviera, avidly people-watching, my waiter with arms outstretched, suddenly races to rescue a woman stranded atop her chair escaping a renegade wave. Mission accomplished, a chorus of bravo’s and clapping erupt from us beachside café diehards braving late October weather. Crisis averted, […]