Residence La Repubblica, Florence

Advantages: Must-go Italian city
Disadvantages: No

...In my last trip to Italy, I stayed in Florence for one and a half day. Let me share with you my fantastic experience of Florence. Florence is the cultural capital in the medieval time, and the key player in the Renaissance movement. A small city it seems, but the home of some of the most famous people in history-Michaelanglo, Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo etc, just to name a few. Again with narrow streets and allys, our first stop was a demonstration of leather. Italian/Florentine leather is world famous and shops selling leather cloths and accessories are everywhere. Obviously, I didn't leave without getting some goods myself. After that, we had a walking tour with a local guide. Best known of all Florence's treasures is the Ponte Vecchio. This glorious bridge was the only one spared by the German attacks in the second World... Read review

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Advantages: A must-see when in Italy.
Disadvantages: Other tourists know that, too.

...tourists who, in their eyes, look English or American. Although I speak English much better than Italian I always pretend not to understand a word and start a conversation in Italian. This puzzles them and they take me for a Swiss woman. Although I’d rather be dead than Swiss, I play along, because I’ve found out that in the end I get 10% off for my efforts! At the end of the street market is a big market hall, the central food and vegetable market of Florence. This is another place to watch the indigenous population and also to find some typical souvenirs, for example dried tomatoes, dried mushroom etc. Behind the market hall there are some good restaurants with reasonable prices, ‘Tourist Menus’ are advisable, because there’s always a good choice and you know the prices beforehand, if you eat ‘à la carte... Read review

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Advantages: Beauty. History, Culture. Good food and wine
Disadvantages: Expensive. Crowded with tourists.

...When it comes to architectural grandeur and art treasures few cities on earth can stand comparison with Florence - the Tuscan city that pioneered the renaissance in Medieval Europe.It is truly a beautiful city with few equals even in Italy. Founded by the Romans in the 1st century, Florence did not expand significantly until Carolingian days, but between the 12th and 15th centuries it became the greatest cultural center in Europe; some might suggest it became the hub of the universe, not only producing magnificient architecture and countless art treasures but forming ideas that form the basis of even 20th century thought. Florence spreads itself along both banks of the River Arno and is surrounded by hills. Anatole France once wrote, "... The God who made the hills of Florence was an artist." It seems the proud people of this... Read review

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