Villa Florentine, Lyon

Advantages: History, culture and good food
Disadvantages: Industrial backdrop

...Lyon has long suffered being the second largest city in France, continuously having to compete with the illustrious Paris. Be warned, first impressions of Lyon are not to be trusted - the abundance of factories, (the chemical corridor,) the long, intertwined motorways full of traffic and the overbearing greyness of the buildings - give yourself a chance to discover the real heart of this city. The 'Old Town' lies in the centre of the city, and here you will find winding, narrow streets leading you to a splendid collection of Rennaissance buildings - long since demolished in other parts of France. The landscape is really impressive, for those of you who know Paris, imagine St Germain with the terrain of Montmartre. To the west there is a stunning Gallo-Roman theatre overlooking the Saone, the city also boasts an opera house built in 1831... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

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

...gem also have art running in their veins because for centuries the Florentines have had a passion for art and it shows. Despite the onset of mass tourism, Florence, remains a feast for sore eyes: an almost perfectly preserved Renaissance city, a veritable treasure house of fine works of art. It is also colorful with its profusion of yellow ochres and umbers, burnt siennas and terracottas, and orange roofs and domes. Florence couldn't be ugly if it tried, although sometimes you begin to believe that it does try with all the swarms of noisy mopeds and Fiats honking away until the early hours. There is one place in Florence no visitor should miss ... the Galleria Dell" Accademia. Founded in 1784, when the Granduke Piertro Leopoldo wanted to collect in a single academy the different schools of drawing that existed in Florence, the Accademia... Read review

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Advantages: Great view of the city
Disadvantages: Only get a good view on a clear day

...The basillica is located at the top of the hill overlooking Lyon. The building itself is attractive and worth a walk around but the real attraction is the view that is offered. On a clear day it really is lovely and you can see for miles, even getting a glimpse of the mountains in the distance. The bad thing is that on a misty day you can't even see down into the city so the trip isn't really worth it. It doesn't cost you anything to go in, just to get there if you choose not to walk - the walk would be quite long and steep. There is a restaurant 'attached' to the church but the menu looked limited and most of the tables wouldn't even offer you a view of Lyon so i wouldn't think it was worth it. If you want an information leaflet, head across the road to the gift shop and there were some by the door in there which were free... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful