Shopping in Florence

My Shopping Guide for Florence

• Typical Outdoor Markets in Florence
  - information on Mercato Centrale, Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio and other popular outdoor markets
  

• Florence Shopping Guide - SW Telegraph Newspaper
- introductory shopping guide to Florence


• Fodors Online Guide
- Fodor's list of stores in Florence, some upscale and some affordable


• Slow Traveler
- Shopping list from an Italophile and SlowTraveler


• Antiques, Men's and Women's
- Bring your wallet for these stores


• Outlets near Florence
- Outlet shopping near Florence


• Private Tours in Tuscany - Hire Car Rental to Outlet Stores or Anywhere
- Rent a car for your shopping needs!


• Frommers Guide
More shopping information

Have fun window shopping, spending money, and shopping in Florence and Tuscany!

Categories: italy, florence, travel, reference, research

Hotels in Florence

For sleeping in Florence - there are lots of hotels, depending on your budget. When we were there, we stayed at a place near the Train Station (Termini) and it was actually very nice, clean, and had Internet service. It was a 15 minute walk to centro storico (historic center).

There is also a B&B run by a friend of a friend of mine, which is located in the city center. It is right near the Duomo.

If I get more hotels and alternative lodgings, I'll post them.

Categories: italy, travel, florence, reference, research, culture

Quick Bites in Florence

I'm on vacation... In the meantime, read these reviews of restaurants:

* Use TuttoCitta To Map Street Address

Primer on Florentine Cuisine

Lunch To-Go
IL TRIPPAIO Florence's many mobile tripe (yes, tripe) vendors. (For a quick bite and eats...)

Enoteche (Wine Bars)
I FRATELLINI Via dei Cimatori 38r. 055) 239-6096. (Side street.)
ENOTECA FUORI PORTA Via Monte alle Croci 10r. 055) 234-2483. fuoriporta.it
LE VOLPI E L'UVA Piazza dei Rossi 1r. 055) 239-8132. levolpieluva.com
PROCACCI Via dei Tornabuoni 64r. 055) 211-656. antinori.it

Caffe'
RIVOIRE Via Vacchereccia 4r, Piazza della Signoria. 055) 214-412. (Near Uffizi Gallery.)
CAFFE GIACOSA Via della Spada 10r. 055) 277-6328. (Designed by Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli.)
CAFFETTERIA PIANSA Viale Europa 128/130. 055) 653-2117. caffepiansa.com
HEMINGWAY Piazza Piattellina 9r. 055) 284-781. hemingway.fi.it

Dolci (Sweets)
GELATERIA CARABE' Via Ricasoli 60r and Piazza San Jacopino 9. 055) 289-476. gelatocarabe.com (Visit them for a free scoop!)
BAR VIVOLI GELATERIA Via Isola delle Stinche 7r. 055) 292-334. vivoli.it
GELATERIA LA CARRAIA Piazza N. Sauro 25r. 055) 280-695.
DOLCI & DOLCEZZE Piazza Beccaria 8r. 055) 234-5458. Closed Monday.

Mercati (For more markets in Florence, click on "Mercati") e Alementari
MERCATO CENTRALE Piazza del Mercato Centrale. Monday through Friday (7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.), Saturday (7:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) 2-story building full of food stalls and vendors. Biggest and most varied market.

MERCATO DI SANT'AMBROGIO Piazza Ghiberti. Monday through Saturday (7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) Small, neighborhood market.

LA FIERUCOLA Piazza Santo Spirito (Third Sunday of the month). Piazza Santissima Annunziata (First Saturday of the month). Ask hotel concierge for information.

For eating advice on other Italian towns, clicca qui!

Categories: italy, florence, travel, reference, research, culture

Buone Feste - Happy Holidays

© vinorosso 2000-2006

Buone Feste

Happy Holidays

Categories: italy, florence, travel, reference, research, culture

Sightseeing Tips

Il Duomo (Firenze)

Sightseeing Tips

* Reservations: Book ahead for the most popular sights (Uffizi, Accademia, Bargello, Medici Chapels, Pitti Palace - all official sites are in Italian. For English descriptions, visit YourwaytoFlorence.Com). Call Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Saturday 8:30 - 12:30 p.m. (Florence Time): 055/294.883. You may get busy signals, so keep dialing. The Uffizi and Accademia close on Mondays. Check schedules of other museums.

* Florence is an extremely walkable city. However, if you want to ride the bus purchase your ticket at the tabacchi shops. 1 euro allows you to ride one hour on the bus; 1.80 euro = 3 hours on the bus; 4 euros = 24 hours. For more info on transportation to, from and within Florence, click here.

Categories: italy, florence, travel, reference, research, culture

Day Trips from Florence

If you need a break from the crowds of Florence, escape to these towns in Tuscany for a day or longer. While renting a car would be nice, most of these towns can be reached by public transport (bus or train).

BUS: SITA (Via Santa Caterina da Siena 17r, tel. 055/214.721, www.sita-on-line.it) and Lazzi (Piazza della Stazione 4-6, across the train staion, tel. 055/16685.6010)
TRAIN: Stazione Centrale di Santa Maria Novella (Piazza della Stazione, 055/14788.8088)

First, review this list of towns in Umbria and Tuscany by Frommers.

Here are some other towns to consider a visit for day trips:
Fiesole - Closest escape from Florence. Take bus # 7 from Florence train station, which lets you off in the town's main square, Piazza Mino. Main sights: Church of San Francesco, Duomo, Roman Theater, Civic Museum, Bandini Museum. For restaurant recommendations, go here.

Sansepolcro - The town of Sansepolcro, which developed around the large Benedictine Abbey, has conserved its medieval urbanistic structure and has, over the centuries, been enriched by important Renaissance and Baroque buildings. Weekly market Tuesday and Saturday mornings. (120 km from Florence.) Visit Sansepolcro.net for more info. (For more info. on the area of Arezzo, click here.)

Collodi - The birthplace of Carlo Lorenzini, the father of the most famous puppet of all, there is a park, the Park of Pinocchio.

Montecatini Terme - Thermal baths. Here is more info. on this spa town.

Torre del Lago Puccini/Viareggio - on the west (Ligurian Sea), next to Lago Massaciuccoli. Can go swank or rough it (camping). Home to Puccini Opera Festival.

Categories: italy, florence, travel, reference, research, culture

Additional Suggested Self-Guided Walks Through Florence

The first selection is offered through AboutFlorence.com's site. It has several suggested itineraries through the city of flowers. Check them out! Here's a sample itinerary:

Brunelleschi's Florence
Brunelleschi's works in Florence:
The dome of Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, piazza del Duomo.
Bargello Museum, via del Proconsolo, 4.
Church of Santa Maria Novella, Gondi Chapel, piazza Santa Maria Novella.
Hospital of the Innocenti (Founding Hospital), piazza Santissima Annunziata.
Church of San Lorenzo and the Old Sacristy, piazza San Lorenzo.
Palazzo di Parte Guelfa, via di Carpaccio.
Pazzi Chapel, Museo dell'Opera di Santa Croce, piazza Santa Croce, 16.
Rotonda of Santa Maria degli Angeli, piazza Brunelleschi.
Church of Santo Spirito, piazza Santo Spirito.

The second suggested itinerary is from Your way to Florence's site. (It's also the same site that suggests a 3-day itinerary.)

This one is a short self-guided tour, that should orient you to the area near the Duomo.
From the website: Start your tour with the religious center of the city - the Cathedral of S. M. del Fiore (Duomo), the bell-tower of Giotto, the Baptistery and the Golden Doors. Then, along Via Calzaiuoli, make your way to Signoria Square, the political center of Florence which is also an open-air Museum. Then through the Uffizi Square, get to the river Arno and to the world-known Ponte Vecchio with its wonderful jeweler's shops. Afterwards along Via Porsanta Maria reach the Straw Market and the little fountain with the famous wild-boar, one of the symbols of Florence. Continue along Via Calimala, Piazza Repubblica, (the most modern square in the historical part of the city, since the original buildings were knocked down at the end of XIX century and new ones, neoclassical style, were built over), Via Roma and make your way back to Duomo.

If you want to take a break from all the walking around, here are some parks Florence has to offer.

Categories: italy, florence, travel, reference, research, culture