Florence Fly Drive: Things to See & Do Around Florence, Italy

Italy has to be one of the most charismatic and endearing countries in Europe. From the full flavoured wines to the awe inspiring architecture, everything is done with the same sense of passion and joie de vivre, which makes visiting Italy an experience everyone should have at least once in their lifetime. If you are deciding to take that step this year or are already hooked and returning for another fix, you may consider Tuscany in the north of Italy as your starting point. 
 
Although Pisa Airport is the larger of the two, many people choose to fly to Florence Firenze Airport, especially as there are flights direct from Gatwick Airport. Those planning to make the most of their trip here should prearrange a car hire at Florence Airport, through one of the many companies that offer their services here including Autoeuropa, Avis, Budget, Elite, Europcar, Hertz,  Maggiore, Sixt and Thrifty.
  
As the capital of Tuscany, Florence is a great place to begin, packed with splendid Renaissance architecture and partly encased within ancient medieval walls. The dome of the Santa Maria del Fiore is unmissable, particularly as it is the largest brick dome in the world, and the surrounding Campanile and Baptistery are equally as unforgettable. There are also plenty of cobbled streets and charming squares to stroll through, before stopping off to sample the gelato (ice cream to you and me). 
 
Travel north of Florence and you enter straight into the Chianti region, famed for its full bodied wine. Here winding country roads open out to reveal amazing views onto the vineyards and olive orchards sprawled out below. Nestled in its heart is the bustling, little town of Greve, just a 35 minute drive from Florence, which is the perfect place to have a bite to eat and a small tipple of the local produce. Less then an hour further north is Siena. As one of Italy´s best preserved medieval towns, it is rich in Gothic buildings and has a very unusual central piazza called il Campo, which is shaped like a scallop shell. Dine in one of the many fabulous restaurants in the evening and sample local Sienese dishes such as crostini neri, fagioli all´uccelletto and pasta e fagioli, washed down, of course, with a glass of Chianti. Siena is also famous for The Palio, an annual horse race held round the Piazza del Campo, a tradition started in the 14th century and featured in the James Bond film "Quantum of Solace".
 
The next stop is Arezzo, 88km away and around an hour and 20 minute drive, which was the setting for yet another film, the Oscar winning "Life is Beautiful". More influenced by the medieval period then by the Renaissance, the town is slightly less flouncy and pretty then some, but the interesting sights and features make up for it. Both the cathedral here and Medici fortress are stunning but one of the main attractions is the La Leggenda della Vera Croce. This is the set of frescoes by Piero dell Francesca found in the church of San Francesco, which tells the story of the "True Cross". Other notable places to visit are the Museo Statale d´Arte Medievale e Moderna which houses Middle Age sculptures, paintings and a large selection of weapons and the Museo Archaeologico located alongside the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre.
 
Moving further towards the east coast of Italy and you come to the Republic of San Marino, 116km from Arezzo and a 2 hour journey. The capital of this country within a country is perched atop a tri-peaked mountain and makes for a breath-taking sight. Lined with fortresses, the largest of which, the 13th century Cesta, sits on the highest peak of Mount Titano and offers the best vantage point across the city and surrounding areas. It also has a museum of arms installed within. From here it´s just a 30 minute drive to Rimini. While it has its fair share of architectural and archaeological wonders, such as the The Arch of Augustus and 2nd century amphitheatre, the area is best known for its glorious beaches and lively nightlife and is considered the number one resort on the Adriatic Sea. 

Italy's Magical City of Florence - the Capital of the Exquisite Tuscan Region

Italy's ideal climate, animated people and passion for cuisine make it a perfect destination for independent travellers seeking much more than a one dimensional package holiday.

Choosing where to start a trip of discovery in Italy is difficult with so many must sees but Florence, as the capital of Tuscany and the birthplace of Renaissance is a great option. Florence's stunning architecture, rich culture, fascinating history and famous romantic atmosphere make it one of Europe's top city break destinations.

Tuscany is said to be the most beautiful region in Italy and the cultural and historical impact of Florence is overwhelming. The city is like a museum in itself and the historical centre is best seen on foot. The centre is very atmospheric and strolling around the city discovering medieval spires, narrow streets, galleries and spectacular architecture is an amazing experience. The famous Michelangelo "David", the wonderful Duoma and the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) are must see sights that you will never forget. Be sure to reward yourself with a delicious flavour of 'gelato' or powerful 'espresso' in a street side café or just rest your weary feet and take the chance to watch the stylish and graceful Italians strut their stuff.

Hiring a car will let you explore the beautiful Tuscan countryside or Italy's picturesque coastline. A very pleasant drive takes you to the Chianti region which is found between Florence and Sienna. This is a truly beautiful part of Italy and perfect for a vineyard tour where you can sample the famous local wine.

The Tuscan coastline is another area to discover. The beaches are beautiful with clear water at a perfect temperature for swimming. The Tuscan coastline has great character too with its ports, bays, charming villages and ancient rocks. It is an ideal place to relax and unwind after your city experience. For further information on Florence, Tuscany and Italy see http://www.italiantourism.com

Such a trip is made easy with car hire in Florence being in abundance. You will find that most large car hire companies in Florence.

See Florence and Tuscany as it should be seen. There is so much on offer in this magical region that has to be seen to be truly appreciated.

Learn Italian in Florence

This is the story of Clarissa, an American woman who planned to visit Italy and learn about the Italian culture. She loved the Italian language and wanted to learn it in a fast and easy way. Her additional incentive was being able to communicate with her new Italian friend, Carlo, whom she met in a chat room a few months ago.

Carlo, an Italian native, had always wanted to learn English well. He knew a bit of English like most Europeans do, but Clarissa knew only three Italian words: ciao, amore and gelato. So they made a deal. They decided to practice by speaking in each other's native language.

Wanting this exchange to be more balanced, Clarissa decided to take a course in Florence, which is not far from the small town in Tuscany where Carlo lives.

Being an art lover, Clarissa did not have to think hard about which city to investigate. Florence is where the spark of the Renaissance movement started and flourished a few centuries ago. Italy stores more artworks than all of the rest of the world combined, and Florence is at the heart. The task now was to find a good school that would fit her personality.

A bit shy but adventurous, she asked Carlo to find a good school for her to learn Italian. However, he could not give her much help. Florence is a big city, and he would have to go there himself and check into the different schools. And, after all, she knew herself better than Carlo. So, she decided to choose on her own and went surfing the web.

To her surprise, she discovered there are many more schools in Florence that teach Italian to foreigners than she thought. There are schools for every taste and any possible interest. She even found a course to learn Italian while sailing on a yacht.

After assessing few schools, she signed up for a week-long total immersion course to give her a taste of what it would be like. She would learn enough Italian to allow her to move around in Italy. Later, she would choose an in-depth course that would take perhaps several months to complete and give her the ability to communicate on a deeper level.

A month later, Clarissa was at a school in Florence, learning lots of vocabulary she could use to get around the city. Through some classroom lessons and many trips to museums, restaurants and shops, she learned to construct sentences in Italian and to express herself. She also experienced the basics of survival in a foreign country. And, of course, she learned to better understand Carlo, who turned out to be more likable than she expected.

Now Clarissa is back in Florence for the second time, taking a six-month course with a concentration on the art and architecture of the 17th century. What a fantastic time for her--perfecting her Italian, enjoying her new skills, broadening her knowledge. Thanks to Carlo and her new capacity to converse in Italian, she has many Italian friends. When she returns to the U.S., she will connect with them in Italian via email.

These are her recent words about her continuing experience.

"Learning another language is a life change. It opened a new world that I did not suspect existed. This world was inside of me. You can only find it when you give to yourself the chance to look for it. Like I did."

Clarissa C.

Thank you Clarissa for your story and your inspiring words!