travel
The river view from
A date with
the market place
promenade.
Firenze
whereas if you have it indoors it will only cost 1 Euro!
Italy is drenched in history, culture and heritage in every
sense of the word and Florence is no exception. Here you can
expect to find Renaissance buildings, quaint restaurants and
homes and the picturesque high hills of Tuscany.
There is a lot of walking involved in Florence, so make sure
you pack a pair of comfortable shoes. Once you experience the
delicious food, you will need to walk it all off. Th e old narrow
streets, lined with designer wear shops add a unique element to
your shopping experience. It is a refreshing change from huge
malls and modern structures.
Although the best way to get familiar with this charming
city is to explore it by foot, it is probably a good idea to hop
onto a sightseeing bus first just so that you get a snapshot of the
city. Once you are familiar with various landmarks, it is easier
to venture out by foot. If you visit Florence in the summer and
been refurbished. With so much on offer outside of the hotel, you fancy basking in the warm sunshine, I wouldn’t recom-
however, you won’t really have much time to spend in it. mend going out barefaced. The sun is very strong and you can
Florence sits beautifully and elegantly in the Provence of risk heatstroke, especially if you are not accustomed to the
Tuscany, which essentially forms part of Italy’s most beautiful heat. Make sure you apply plenty of sun block, wear a hat or
countryside. Although famous for its vineyards, Tuscany is also even carry a parasol.
home to some of the best olive farms in the country. Tomatoes A week in Florence is sufficient time to discover the muse-
are in abundance here, along with fresh herbs, cheese and truf- ums, palaces and churches, all of which house some of the
fles, which all come together in an explosion of flavours on greatest artistic treasures in the world. Be sure to include the
a typical Florentine menu. Of course, Italy is the country of Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Uffizi, the Bargello, and the
authentic pizza and fresh pasta and not to mention divine ice- Accademia on your sightseeing list. The churches of Santa
cream. The food is so fantastic, in fact, that my husband and I Maria Novella and Santa Croce are veritable art galleries,
ate vegetarian all week and it didn’t prove to be difficult at all and the library of San Lorenzo is a magnificent exhibition of
(and men tend to miss meat/chicken more than women!). If Michelangelo’s architectural genius. It’s a photographers
you decide to indulge in a cappuccino, be wary of the fact that paradise with the option to spend the day at Boboli Gardens
you will be charged 9 Euros to have it outside under the canopy, or climb the hill to the church of San Miniato al Monte to
www.emel.com | emel magazine 67
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