` This is a book to read before you go, to carry with you & to re-read on your return.` SPECTATOR `A sure & illuminating guide.` SUNDAY TIMES The city state of Florence led the rest of the western world in art, science & political idealism in the middle ages. This early richness, the importance of the achievements of its famous sons, including Dante, Giotto, Leonardo & Michelangelo, the great quantity of visible remains, make Florence as a city to visit both alluring & challenging. In true ` Companion Guide` manner, this book describes, with the knowledge & insight distilled from long residence in Florence, & with an art historian`s eye, what is to be seen & its place in history. In discussing the Florentine monuments & their origins in the city`s life, EVE BORSOOK presents a study of the ideas, events & personalities of Florence yesterday & today; she communicates to the visitor her delight in her chosen city, including those districts usually neglected by the tourist but particularly rich in Florentine life. EVE BORSOOK is a research associate at Harvard`s Center for Italian Renaissance Studies at Villa I Tatti in Florence. ...

Florence at 1: 9, 000 on indexed street plans from Litografia Artistica Cartografica in their Globalmap imprint, with a large, detailed enlargement of the city’s historic centre at 1:5, 500. 112 monuments including historic buildings & churches, cultural or educational institutions, & important municipal buildings or facilities are listed in the index, with most of them marked on the main plan. Car parks are prominently marked in & around the city’s historic centre. Coverage of the main plan

Includes:: Fiesole, & on the reverse a road map of the city’s environs at 1:150, 000 is provided. Litografia Artistica Cartografica (LAC) are Italy’s leading publishers of street plans with an extensive range of titles. Where appropriate, the plans include an enlargement showing the historic centre in greater detail. On each plan monuments including historic buildings & churches, archaeological sites, cultural or educational institutions, & important municipal buildings or facilities are numbered & listed next to the plan. Unless indicated to the contrary in the individual description, one way streets are not marked. Street index is on the reverse.

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Florence is aimed at showing how one of the Italian cities most strongly linked with its past, the quintessential symbol of the Renaissance period, conceals a myriad of innovative architecture. Florence is not a static city. It has often been guilty of long delays & a certain lack of courage in assimilating new approaches, but its way of introducing contemporary architecture into a consolidated context, is unique. Changes with great impact began in Florence at the end of the 19th century with the urban planning transformations designed by Giuseppe Poggi. The strongly defined limits of the historic centre became blurred with the demolition of the fortifications & the city was opened up to permit expansion. In the 1930s, the Rationalist design of the Santa Maria Novella Station introduced a new form of architectural expression into the historic centre & outskirts of the city. This is the building that begins the itinerary proposed in this guide; a chronological, but also a physical beginning: a starting point for visitors to begin their architectural excursion. ...

Florence & Tuscany in the Countries & Regions series from Lonely Planet, market-leading comprehensive guides aimed at independent travellers & serving a large range of international destinations. Frank & informal in style, the guides explore an extensive range of sights, activities, accommodation, restaurants & nightlife & are designed for practical use while travelling on the road. Written & researched by a team of experts, each book is independent in its recommendations & suggestions, often offering individual takes on individual destinations. Widely recognised for their reliability, each Lonely Planet country & region guide has the same layout. Introductory sections profile the destination with individual chapters on particular highlights, getting started, (including when to go) itineraries, history, culture, arts, food & drink & the environment. Each guide is organised geographically by region, with individual sections detailing an extensive range of sights, places of interest, attractions, restaurants, nightlife, accommodation & any local activities. The guides have detailed explanations of historical context where relevant. There is also practical guidance on ...

Florence & Tuscany in the Frommer's Day By Day series is a pocket-sized guide ideal for short trips, covering a variety of budgets. The best sights of each destination are listed in convenient full-day tours for one, two or three days such as: thematic tours for interests including art, architecture & history are described, allowing you to get the most out of your time; walking tours take you around each destination ...

Florence & Tuscany in the Essential Guide Series from the AA exploring the best places to see & things to do in a range of popular destinations. Each illustrated, pocket-sized guide is divided into five sections
- the essence of the area, planning your trip, the best places to see, best things to do & an exploration of notable highlights, organised by area. An introductory chapter profiles each destination &

Includes:: notes on local cuisine & recommendations for short breaks. A planning section advises on pre-trip preparations & getting there & around as well as outlining useful language tips & what


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Florence & Tuscany in the Key Guide series from AA Publishing; exploring a range of international destinations & recently been re-launched with full colour pages. Thorough & detailed in style, the guides are targeted at an older audience, exploring the principal sights, walks, activities, restaurants & accommodation of the destination. A detailed introductory section provides comprehensive information about the destination, including the economy, politics, heritage & language. There are also specific sections unique to each destination, covering society, the urban & rural, sports & leisure, art media & culture, history & science & technology. Each title is organised in the same way with destinations grouped by region or district & colour-coded to help readers navigate around the guide. An On the Move section provides details on transport, with important information on arriving, getting around (including distinctive local transport features such as metro & underground networks) & for visitors with a disability. Individual regional sections cover Sights, driving & walking opportunities, what to do, eating & accommodation. Local listings are accompanied by addresses, opening times, prices, directions & local transport options, though options for younger travellers & those with children are more limited. Extensive colour photography accompanies the text, with a range of pictures illustrations the main sites of the city, region or country. An extensive Practicalities chapter at the back of each guide carries essential information on weather, documents & customs, money, health, communication, tourist information, useful websites, finding help, opening times & entrance fees, media & books, films & maps. There is also basic information on entertainment & nightlife, sports & activities, film & music & festivals & events. ...

Florence & Tuscany in the National Geographic Traveler guide series, produced by America’s leading travel publishers, exploring a range of cities, regions & countries worldwide & using the expertise & tradition of National Geographic to provide a comprehensive survey of each destination. Each of the guides in the series draws upon National Geographic’s rich history of travel experience & is researched by authors familiar with the area. Whilst the content is influenced by an American editorial style, individual titles are still accessible to a non-American audience, with a combination of practical guidance & detailed information included in each guide. The series also relies upon the extensive image libraries of National Geographic to present a rich visual image of each destination. Individual National Geographic Traveler titles are organised uniformly, allowing readers to access information quickly & easily. Introductory sections provide information on Charting your Trip, with details of getting there & around & a History & Culture chapter profiling history, food & drink, land & landscape, flora & fauna & arts & literature. Chapter are arranged geographically by region, with notable cities & areas principally describing the main sites & attractions, with further information on directions, history & practicalities. There are also a number of individual features & insider tips throughout each guide covering subjects such as walking tours, local culture, driving tours, recommended local experiences & in-depth thematic short histories of the culture & histories of individual regions. A Travelwise section at the back of each guide provides essential practical information on when to go, what to take, further reading, getting there & around, local etiquette, media, holidays, money matters, religion, smoking, time differences, opening times, travellers with disabilities & accommodation. Restaurants & hotels are listed with brief descriptions & information on prices, location, contact details & facilities for the relevant regional chapters in the guide. ...

Surveying the physical evolution & enhancement of Florence from medieval republican times to the beginning of the 19th century, this study is part history, part guide & part celebration. While discussing artefacts of many kinds
- a cameo or reliquary no less than great buildings & other major works of art
- it also considers some of the chief personalities who have contributed to the present-day physical appearance of the city.

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Like its older sibling Cafe Life Rome, author Joe Wolff & photographer Roger Paperno`s new book profiles family-owned cafes, bars, & gelaterias, this time in the glorious & historic city of Florence. Reap the rewards of their exhaustive research into the fine espressos to be found in the city that is the heart of Tuscany, one of the world`s great regions of gastronomy. Not only will this book recommend choice vantage-points from which to sit back & enjoy Florence, but Wolff`s interviews with the cafes` owners make a fascinating read. It seems the gregarious owners of these establishments can`t help but sprinkle their information about the ancient freezing systems for the gelato or the best sources for coffee beans with local customs (such as one involving oxen & fireworks on Easter morning), Italian film history (of course), & gossip. If the stories in Cafe Life Florence make you want to head to the Barberi bar or the Ciolli gelateria to hear some more, Paperno`s evocative photography makes you feel as if you`re already there-the steam rising from your espresso, your spoon slipping into a creamy gelato. Florence is like no other city, & Cafe Life Florence pays homage to its simplest pleasures. ...