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Espresso - A Taste of Italy in Every Sip

Travel Writer — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 05:30:47 +0000

By Michael Russell

Traditionally served in a “demitasse” - a special cup with a capacity of 3 oz. - as a shot, espresso is a special drink: a mouthful of sensations and flavor. Espresso defines the very essence of coffee.

Italians are proud of their tradition and do know what a good espresso means. When asked, they’ll even define the true test of a perfect espresso: when you ad sugar to it, the sugar should remain at the surface of the cream for thirty seconds before sinking. Are you ready to start counting? Customarily espresso is drunk in one sip. But what if you want to double the pleasure? Well, you could just order a second espresso, or order a Doppio from the start. An espresso doppio means, in Italian, a double shot.

Espresso Americano, as the name suggests, is a type of beverage consumed in the “American style”. Practically what you do is add hot water over a traditionally prepared espresso to make a full regular cup. Espresso Americano can be consumed with milk and sugar.

For a richer taste, there are other espresso recipes you might want to try. Espresso topped with a spoonful of whipped cream is also known as espresso con panna. Or maybe you’ll find tastier a macchiato: espresso topped with milk foam. An espresso Romano is a traditional espresso shot with a twist of lemon. For a hot summer day, try a Granita: freeze sweetened espresso and then crush it. This is a perfect topping for ice cream specialties as well.

You can also enjoy espresso in various cocktails. A classic espresso cocktail is the Espresso Martini. To prepare a drink for two you need 7 oz vodka, one espresso shot, ½ oz Kahlua and ice. Shake vodka and crushed ice for about 30 seconds, then add espresso and Kahlua and give it another two or three shakes. Let it stand for about a minute and then strain into two martini glasses. Garnish with coffee beans.

Another vodka-based espresso cocktail is called simple: Vodka Espresso. Shake one shot of vodka, one espresso shot, two teaspoons of castor sugar and ice cubes for thirty seconds. Strain into a glass and layer one shot of Amarula Cream on top.

Another tasty cocktail with espresso is the Mocha Martini. Let’s say you’ve forgotten to drink your espresso shot and now it’s cold. Why waste such a delicious beverage? Use it in a cocktail: shake one shot cold espresso, one shot bourbon, one shot cocoa liqueur and one shot Amarula Cream with crushed ice. Strain into a chilled glass and then float half a shot of double cream in the center. Garnish with cocoa powder.

As you see, espresso is an amazing drink that can ad flavor to many other drinks. One may be able to even define espresso as a sip of Italy: sensual, romantic, full of flavor, appetizing, mysterious and passionate. You can enjoy this beverage in its traditional form, or let your imagination discover new possibilities. Chefs even use espresso to improve the taste of certain cakes and ice cream, create syrups and much more. Why not create your own espresso-based recipe?

About the Author

Michael Russell, your Independent guide to Espresso

Tis The Season for Outdoor Concerts, Fairs and Festivals

Travel Writer — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:53:59 +0000

By Jennifer Atienza

Summer is here - outdoor venues event calendars are looking plump! Everyone is gearing up for concert picnics, outdoor plays, and summer concerts - even restaurants and eateries are offering gourmet picnic baskets to take to these events. Get your hats, umbrellas, beach chairs, and picnic blankets ready!

One particular event that I look forward to this summer is the California Philharmonic’s Festival on the Green. It’s held at the Los Angeles Arboretum every summer in succeeding weekends. Each performance features a theme (Classics, Dance, and Movie themes to name a few). This event started in 1997 - a vision of Maestro Vener. The event came a reality with the help community leaders and the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department. This year is definitely special as Festival on the Green is celebrating its 10th year.

There are many events happening in other parts of the country – if you are a big literary fan, the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, OR is the event for you. Founded in 1935, this Tony Award Winning event is among the oldest theatre events in the country. Started by a teacher from South Oregon Normal School, Angus L. Bowmer, the festival was officially launched on July 2, 1935. Bowmer’s idea is to create a festival in conjunction with the city’s Fourth of July celebration. In 2001, the 10 millionth ticket holder was welcome. This festival is definitely one to check out!

An event that has been gaining worldwide notoriety is the Burning Man Project. Founded by Larry Harvey and Jerry James in 1986, it started as an annual fire party at Baker Beach in San Francisco. This event began with a humble group of friends and now grew to a community of 25,000 people. There are different descriptions of this event… Some say it’s Art festival, some would describe it as music festival, and others a social experiment. It is probably a combination of all these – it seems the Burning Man Project is what you want it to be or how you experience it to be. The only way to find out is to go there yourself!

Whatever you are interest in; there is a summer event for you. There’s music, arts, theatre, culinary, and many more. Definitely plan ahead and get your tickets early, as most of the very popular events sell out months in advanced. Be sure to check out the events websites to see any restrictions (such as age, alcohol, transportation, etc.), if any.

About the Author

To see a calendar of events happening this summer - music, concerts, festivals, theatre, culinary - visit The WhereWhen Project:
thewherewhenproject.com Calendar access is free with no registration required… And if you have an event to promote, posting events are free as well.

Travel Trip Vacation Tip

Golden Getaways: California Hotels from $95

Get A Taste Of Italy In Venice

Travel Writer — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:33:15 +0000

By Adam Singleton

The enchanting city of Venice has long been a favorite destination for couples seeking a romantic getaway. Beautiful surroundings, famous landmarks, fantastic food and the inevitable gondola rides attracts many to this Italian city to bask in the laid back Italian way of life.

Venice also offers the unique experience of walking around a city that was built based on a canal system to move about, making for some interesting walking tours around this maze-like historic city.

Walking around the city is the best way to take in all of the unique architecture and character of Venice. A map is essential to tackling the winding streets of this city even though it will probably not protect against getting lost. But what better place is there to be lost in than Venice? Walking is also a great way to discover some of the lesser known neighbourhoods of this town, thus providing a more authentic experience. For those who want a true taste of Italy, those areas that lie off the beaten path also offer more authentic and tastier meals which cater less toward foreign visitors.

Visiting away from the tourist centre can also be a nice break from the numbers of visitors that Venice receives, especially during the summer months when the city is full and the weather is hot. A gondola ride to explore some of the bordering neighbourhoods is also a good excuse to hop on a boat as these rides get considerably cheaper the farther you stray from the main tourist area.

Any time of year that you find yourself in Venice, there are some must see attractions that you will happily brave the crowds to see. The Piazza San Marco is a large public square and serves as the main meeting place in the city. The Piazza is also the location of some more must see attractions such as St Marks Cathedral, the Doge’s Palace, the Campanile and several museums. Depending on what you are interested in seeing, you can choose to spend just a day touring the attractions of the Piazza or, if museums and cathedrals are your thing, you can happily spend more than a few days exploring all there is to see in this little space.

There are plenty more cathedrals and museums to see in Venice, and if you plan on visiting it is a good idea to book tickets in advance - especially if you are there during the summer months. Queues can be long and the weather will be hot, making standing in line pretty unpleasant. The same goes for booking a hotel in Venice during the peak season as accommodation fills up fast, especially at the hotels near the centre so it’s best to book early.

Venice is also a good place to see some of the other islands around Venice. The quaint towns can easily be seen on a day trip or you can even go to another country like Croatia by ferry although it is advisable to take more time than just one day. Venice is a great city to get a taste of Italy’s culture, but be warned, there is a great chance that it will only whet your appetite for more!

About the Author

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Singleton

Top 5 Fly Fishing Vacation Destinations

Travel Writer — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 06:11:10 +0000

By Leonard Clark Jr.

Top 5 Fly Fishing Vacation Destinations highlights the best fly fishing spots located around the world.

For all the vacationers planning to explore the fly fishing sport and enjoy the action in the water, this information would be indeed helpful. The top 5 fly fishing vacation destinations are the ones, which stand above from the myriad fly fishing destinations and offer a fine quality experience to the vacationers.

To enjoy the fly fishing sport and stretch out in the glory of water, plan the next vacation to the top 5 fly fishing destinations.

The Best amongst the Best:

1. Montana: This is the most popular fly fishing vacation destination best renowned for trout fishing areas from over the world. Most of the fly fishing groups from around the world is aware about the popular Montana River’s such as Yellowstone, Beaverhead, Madison, Bighorn, Clark Fork, Gallatin and Big Hole. All the Montana Rivers maintains the quality standard set by this remarkable trout fishing location.

2. Alaska: This place truly deserves to be in the list of top 5 fly fishing vacation destinations. Alaska is considered to set the benchmark on which other fly fishing spots are measured all over the world. Expert fly fishing anglers are aware that this area allows catching some of the finest salmon and trout fishing on the globe. The fly fishermen over here are anticipated of having the highest fish catching rate in entire Alaska. June is the ideal month to go for fly fishing sport in this spot.

3. New Zealand: The areas of North and South Islands at this destination are suitable for angling. Homemade trout flies are not permitted for fly fishing here. Anglers can trout and carry out fly fishing sport comfortably throughout the summer. The place is also popularly known as Angler’s El Dorado.

4. Canada: It is the most famous destination having the wonders of fly fishing that can be explored here. There are passive and gorgeous lakes and rivers that are used for fly fishing. It is one of the most excellent places in Northern America for catching a good trout. Black Lake, Selwyn Lake, Misaw Lake are some of the other destinations where saltwater or freshwater salmon fishing is carried out.

5. Norway: This destination in the North of Alta is rich in large salmons. Wide ranges of fishes are found here. This is the place to catch the most abundant salmon in the entire world. The quality of this fish with respect to size and taste is quite amazing.

L. CLARK is a successful publisher of http://www.flyfishhelp.com

Travel Trip Vacation — WEATHER & ROAD CONDITIONS

Click here for Weather & Road Conditions info in these areas

Venice Film Festivals

Travel Writer — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:42:25 +0000

By Richard Romando

Venice Film Festival is one of the oldest Film Festivals in the World. It was first held in the year 1932. It is held every year in the later half of August or early September. It takes place at Lido di Venezia, which is in the historic Palazzo del Cinema situated on the Lingomare Marconi in Venice, Italy.

The awards ceremony is grand and elegant.

The Leone d’Oro, or Golden Lion, is the most prestigious award. Off late a new award has been introduced which is called the San Marco Award. This award is given for the best film in the controcorrente section. Venice Film Festival is a part of the Venice Biennale, which is a major biennial exhibition and a festival that celebrates contemporary art.

Film Festival features several sections that contain official and short feature film competitions. It also has many parallel sidebars that include programs for new entrants and other for best videos. Films compete for various prizes such as The Golden Lion (awarded for the best film), The Jury’s Grand Prize, and the Special Award for best directors. The Best Screenplay Award, known as the Coppa Volpi Award, is handed to the best male and female actor. The Marcello Mastroianni Award is given to debut or young male and female actors. President of the Senate awards the Golden Medal.

Venice International Film Festival has been held for more than 60 years and it has brought movies, stars, media, and movie moguls to Lido. It is considered second to the Cannes Festival. Over the last few years, Venice has initiated a change in focus. This festival has introduced a non-competitive section, called “Mezzogiorno” and “Mezzanotte”, which highlights 10 films each.

Many people spend their vacations in Venice and make it a point to attend the Venice Film Festival as it is worth a watch.

About the Author

Venice provides detailed information on Venice, Venice Italy, Venice Beach California, Venice Florida and more. Venice is affiliated with Cheap Flights Rome.

Wisconsin’s Bayfield & Apostle Islands Promise Relaxation & Nature’s Splendor

Travel Writer — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 20:55:49 +0000

Some vacation destinations tout “more,” but Bayfield, Wis., entices visitors with “less.” Located in Wisconsin at the threshold of the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior, Bayfield has found the town’s strength is that it does offer less crowds, less lines, less traffic and less tourist hype and that it’s a uniquely relaxing place to visit. After a two-year re-branding effort, the scenic community is setting itself apart from other destinations with this promise — Bayfield and the Apostle Islands …where the water meets the soul.

“Where the Water Meets the Soul” is how the scenic community of Bayfield and the Apostle Islands seeks to re-introduce itself to potential visitors throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, Chicago and beyond as part of a comprehensive re-branding effort. The new branding is the culmination of a two-year process to define and differentiate Bayfield in the minds of potential visitors, in an effort to boost its growing tourism business.

Conducted by Platypus Advertising Design, in Milwaukee, for the Bayfield Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau (CCVB), the branding process led to the discovery that the town’s strength is that it offers less - less crowds, less lines, less traffic and less tourist hype, and that its uniquely relaxing environment serves as a kind of a “day spa for the soul.”

“We have unspoiled beauty,” says Larry McDonald, Mayor of Bayfield. “We have the lake, the Apostle Islands and wilderness. For the market we are going after, it’s what our visitors want and once they arrive they find endless activities and events to enjoy”.

Located in the northernmost part of Wisconsin at the threshold of the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior, Bayfield’s biggest industry is tourism. In the research conducted, which included interviews with visitors in Bayfield, surveys with consumers who had had visited Bayfield’s website, and in-depth interviews with the members of Bayfield community, the findings revealed that empty nesters, ages 50 or older, represented the majority of visitors to Bayfield. Above all else, these visitors are drawn to Bayfield to escape the stresses of their daily lives and to reconnect with nature.

While the findings were not altogether surprising to Bayfield CCVB Executive Director Cari Obst, the branding process did help reaffirm to everyone what they believed about their community.

“There’s a lot to be learned by the branding process,” says Obst. “We wanted everyone to feel they had input in the process, so we included business owners from every industry, city officials and our marketing team. We built consensus before moving on to the next step, and in the end we had a much bigger picture of who we are and why visitors are drawn to Bayfield as a tourist destination.”

The Bayfield Experience.

Much of Bayfield’s uniquely relaxing environment can be attributed to Lake Superior, which anchors all activities and sightseeing in the area. Bayfield’s close relationship with the lake and its proximity the Apostle Islands distinguish the area from other destinations in Wisconsin. Through the research process, Bayfield learned that its visitors seek to enjoy the lake passively more than actively. Its allure is in the lake’s ability to soothe and induce a relaxed state of mind.

“In the past, we have promoted the wealth of activities offered by Bayfield. We still do, however we’ve learned our visitors see those activities as more of a way to further unwind,” Obst commented.

Bayfield further discovered that while some visitors come to retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, others see Bayfield as a gateway to personal adventures, such as hiking, boating or skiing. And still others come to Bayfield just to experience the unique natural beauty that surrounds Bayfield, including the bluffs that overlook Lake Superior, the endless orchards and berry fields, the famous sea caves and Madeline Island, the largest of the Apostle Island’s Archipelago.

The new logo and slogan, BAYFIELD & the Apostle Islands…where the water meets the soul, will be used in all of Bayfield’s future marketing efforts to visually express the Bayfield experience, and is currently being used on the cover of the http://www.bayfield.org/visitor/visitorguide.asp [2008 Bayfield Visitor’s Guide. The response from business owners like Nancy Sandstrom, owner of the Pinehurst Inn in Bayfield, is overwhelmingly positive.

“It speaks to my heart,” says Sandstrom. “It connects advertising with the environment and personal rejuvenation.”

“We think the branding is a great interpretation of what visitors perceive about Bayfield and what they need when they come here,” added Jerry Phillips, owner of the Old Rittenhouse Inn.

San Luis Obispo County Wineries

Travel Writer — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 17:59:54 +0000

Wet your appetite for a wine country vacation. The new Book ‘San Luis Obispo County Wineries‘ featuring California’s Best Wineries is a great resource. Author and Photographer Janet Penn Franks Captured the Charm and Splendor of Central Coast Wine Country in this already Best-selling Book.

Hundreds of gorgeous, inspiring photos grace this first-of-the-series book, “San Luis Obispo County Wineries” which highlights the world-renown wineries of California’s Central Coast. The lavishly illustrated book from author and photographer Janet Penn Franks makes the tour of the county’s many early and newly established wineries easy, fun, and informative. San Luis Obispo County Wineries is currently available throughout North America for a suggested retail price of $35.00.

San Luis Obispo County Wineries

The grapes were used to make sacramental wine.

San Luis Obispo County’s world-renowned wine country presents residents and visitors with an unforgettable adventure in wine tasting. Dozens of picturesque tasting rooms set among vineyard-covered valleys and rolling hills offer guests a feast for the eye and award-winning vintages to please the palate. “I am pleased to present this first-of-the-series book,San Luis Obispo County Wineries,” said Franks, who has also published the second-of-the-series release, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY WINERIES, as well as several Web-site pieces and numerous magazine articles on Central Coast architecture and history. “Wine tasting has significantly increased in popularity during the last decade so my goal was to offer comprehensive and user-friendly guides that outline the Central Coast wineries.”

San Luis Obispo County Wineries profiles 60 of the region’s premier wineries and features the history of area winemaking, which highlights many old wineries that are now world-renown for their world class Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, Merlot, Roussanne, Viognier and sparkling wines and port. “San Luis Obispo’s first vineyards were planted more than 200 years ago when the King of Spain sent Catholic priests to colonize rugged Alta California,” said Franks. “The grapes were used to make sacramental wine.” During the past ten years, Central Coast Wine Tasting has become a huge industry and sampling the region’s offerings makes for the perfect California Wine Tour. Wine tasters of any level–novices to aficionados–can enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Ocean with its miles of uncrowded beaches while sampling the many fine wines this spectacular region has to offer.

A Helpful Wine Country Travel Guide

Both informative and inspiring, San Luis Obispo County Wineries offers the following helpful guidance:

* Gives an informative history of area winemaking
* Explains AVA (American Viticulture Area) designations
* Outlines the setting and history of each profiled winery
* Pairs selected wines with signature recipes from each winery
* Lists winery locations, tasting-room hours, winemakers’ specialties, banquet facilities, and contact information
* Offers a glossary of wine terms
* Provides lodging suggestions for visitors

How to Get the Travel Book

You can get the book, San Luis Obispo County Wineries, from our online Amazon store, conveniently brought to your home.

Travel Photography Scholarship: Get Paid to Travel

Travel Writer — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 17:45:05 +0000

A National Geographic Assignment ‘For Life’ ~ 2008 Travel Photography Scholarship announced.

Making a living out of travelling the world is something many ‘world nomads’ aspire to, and we’re hoping to be able to help a few talented individuals make that their reality through our scholarship support, which sets them up with industry leaders as mentors and provides them true ‘once in a lifetime’ experiences.

Travel Photography Scholarship

National Geographic Channel and WorldNomads announced the 2008 photography scholarship, which will award one exceptional student the ‘chance of a lifetime’ assignment.

The winner will get to accompany renowned wildlife on-assignment National Geographic photographer, Jason Edwards, to photograph the Arid Lands Festival and The Great Hughenden Endurance Camel Race, a quirky 160km camel endurance race run in August.

The Festival and Race are being held in Porcupine Gorge in Outback Queensland, Australia, from 22 - 24 August, 2008.

The scholarship “gives aspiring photographers almost unparalleled initial exposure, with the opportunity to have their images seen by hundreds of thousands of travellers worldwide,” says Managing Director of WorldNomads, Simon Monk. As such the photography scholarship is part of a broader educational program, which includes travel writing, documentaries and podcasting opportunities.

“Making a living out of travelling the world is something many ‘world nomads’ aspire to, and we’re hoping to be able to help a few talented individuals make that their reality through our scholarship support, which sets them up with industry leaders as mentors and provides them true ‘once in a lifetime’ experiences.”

As part of the assignment, the winner will work alongside and receive mentorship from Jason Edwards, gaining valuable hands-on experience in everything from shot set up, technique and composition through to insights into his many years of diverse experience as an award winning photographer.

As well as the opportunity to travel and be mentored, the scholarship also includes airfares from the successful applicant’s nearest international airport plus an Olympus E3 digital camera with 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 Standard Wide Zoom Lens and a new Lenovo Ideapad Y-510 laptop computer to store your photos and keep your journal.

Judges will select a winner based on their ability to photographically ‘tell a story’ about a place that they have visited in an original and compelling manner.

For full judging criteria and to apply, go to WorldNomads.com. Applications close June 30th.

In order to be eligible to enter, applicants must be at least 18, must be currently enrolled and actively studying at a recognised educational tertiary institution anywhere in the world, speak and write fluent English and hold a valid drivers licence.

In 2004 Jason Edwards was awarded the inaugural ‘Pursuit of Excellence’ Award by the Australian Geographic Society, “for his extreme efforts and absolute commitment to obtaining rare and amazing photographs.” Jason Edwards is a photographer with the National Geographic Society and is represented by the National Geographic Image Collection.

Road Travel in Alaska: Up-to-Date Weather & Road Conditions Info

Travel Writer — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:54:17 +0000

Government Resources

Alaska is beautiful, but you have to be safe traveling there. Do check road and weather information here before taking off on your leisure trip.

How to Do Florence in 48 Hours

Travel Writer — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 05:01:54 +0000

By Katy Hyslop

You have just arrived in the Renaissance capital of the art world with a couple of days to spare, so where do you go and what highlights can you see in such a short time? This is the guide for you to get the maximum out of a short stay in Florence.

14:00
Now is probably a good time to familiarise yourself with the central city, if it’s late summer it will be beginning to cool down and hopefully the crush of the tourist crowds will be starting to diminish. The centre of Florence is easy to walk around as the streets are narrow and most are closed to traffic.

Starting off around the main station there is the Piazza Santa Maria Novella with the church that gives the train station its name. Opposite the church there is the Piazza Nazionale and a road which leads down to the Piazza del Mercato Centrale. Here there are a few market stalls selling leather goods, souvenirs and other items. The 2 famous buildings to see here are the Cappelle Medici and the San Lorenzo e Biblioteca Laurenziana.

15:00
You will see the Duomo before you reach the piazza it resides in as you walk down Via Borgo San Lorenzo. The squat building in front of the cathedral is the Baptistery, built on the foundations of a Roman temple. The golden doors facing the cathedral are replicas of an original set made by Lorenzo Ghiberti and regarded by Michelangelo as the “doors to paradise”. But the sight most visitors are bowled over by is Brunelleschi’s dome, the cap on the already impressive Chiesa Santa Maria del Fiori. Standing guard beside it is the campanile, or bell tower built by Giotto.

The view from the top of the Duomo is incredible on a clear day and well worth the trek to the top. Entry to the church itself is free but there is a charge to make the climb. You can also climb the bell tower but run the risk of the bells going off at some point and there is no lift if you need assistance to get back down.

16:00
Many of the original works that were used to decorate the exteriors and interiors of the baptistery, church and campanile are house inside the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, behind the cathedral, the museum rooms that catalogue the history of the buildings. There are many pieces by Michelangelo, including his Pieta that he partially destroyed, which was finished later by a student. The original baptistery doors are housed here along with Duomo plans from Brunelleschi, statues and bas relief’s by Donatello and others.

17:00
Walking down Via Roma you will reach Piazza della Repubblica, the edges are taken up with expensive hotels and even more expensive cafes. There are some stalls selling various touristy type things, including more belts, wallets and handbags. Keep walking down Via Calimara until you reach the loggia that houses more market stalls. Here you can test your skills at spotting a fake leather item although you don’t want to make this too obvious. Better still you can drop a coin from the mouth of ‘il Porcolino’, the bronze statue of a boar, and make a wish.

17:30
Looking straight ahead you will see what resembles a crowded street rising up at the end of Via Porta Santa Maria. This is actually a bridge, the Ponte Vecchio, the ‘Old Bridge’, which was the only one spared by the Nazis in WWII. The original shops were butchers, dropping their leftovers into the Arno below. The stench got up the Medici’s noses in the 16thC so much that Grand Duke Ferdinando I ordered them to move out and the more aesthetically pleasing goldsmiths to move in. This is also one of 3 bridges in the world to house shops.

18:00
Make your way back to the northern end of the bridge where there is a covered colonnade heading left alongside the river. This was built as a secret passageway for the Medici’s as they walked above the populace between the Uffizi and the Pitti Palace. At the far end of the walkway you can look back to see the rear of the shops as they overhang the river below.

Behind you is also the entrance to the Piazza Degli Uffizi, a three sided piazza filled with statues and busts of famous artists from over the centuries, and of course home to the world famous Uffizi Gallery. The collection inside is second only to that of the one held at the Vatican in terms of artistic significance. Giotto, Fra Angelico, Lippi, Botticelli, Da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo… the list goes on. The gallery is closed on Mondays and needs at least half a day to get around, as well as to be booked in advance if you wish to view it in summer. The piazza is commonly filled during the summer with outdoor exhibitions, street artists and performers, mainly to entertain the long meandering line of tourists queuing up to get in.

Carry on through the narrow piazza away from the river until you reach Piazza Signoria. This wide open space is most recognisable by the statue of David, a copy put there in 1873 as the original had to moved inside the Accademia to protect it from the elements. Underneath the loggia is a collection of other famous statues including The Rape of the Sabines, Hercules and the Centaur Nessus, by Giambologna and Cellini’s bronze statue of Perseus.

The main space is overlooked by the rather imposing statue of ‘Il Nettuno’, the watery figure of Neptune standing at the opposite end of Palazzo Vecchio. Close by is the mounted figure of Cosimo I Medici and the bronze plaque that marks the spot where the priest Savonarola was hanged and burned for heresy in 1498. For the super sleuths there is a another sculpture to look out for. On the wall of the Palazzo Vecchio is the carved outline of a mans face. One legend tells that Michelangelo, in a fit of pique, was proving to Donatello he was able to sculpt great works of art, even with his hands behind his back.

18:30
Inside Palazzo Vecchio the entrance shows ornate ceilings and wall decoration for this building was once the seat of Florentine government during the 13th and 14th Centuries. For a fee you can view the opulent apartments upstairs that were occupied by Medicis and other notables as well as reach the battlements for another view out over the city.

The remainder of the evening can be best spent wandering the narrow streets and enjoying a meal from one of the many restaurants and trattorias. Later on there is the night life as many bars and clubs open up after 10pm and carry on until very early in the morning.

08:00
Florence is a tourist magnet all year round so an early start is essential if you don’t wish to spend countless hours queuing. A surefire way to avoid this is to part with a little extra cash in the busy summer months and pre book your tickets online or over the phone. You then pick them up at a designated time from the ticket office with your booking number. This way you can easily get to see the Uffizi and possibly another museum in the same day. To do this simply log onto www.firenzemusei.it or www.weekendafirenze.com or book through your hotel.

The Uffizi opens at 8.15am, closing at 7pm, with the artworks divided between a series of rooms all featuring a certain artistic style or period. The gallery is not restricted to just greats of the Italian renaissance but the collection also includes works by German and Flemish artists. To appreciate much of the work you would need to devote at least several hours to get round.

15:00
Either as an afternoon escape or a morning alternative there is also the Galleria Dell’Accademia, most famous for its prize possession, Michelangelo’s David, the original sculpture that stood in Piazza della Signoria. The 5m tall statue was carved from a single slab of marble which some tales relate as having a fault line running through it. Michelangelo was said to have found it at abandoned at the rear of the artisan school and decided he would use it to create a symbol of Florentine spirit.

The Accademia also has other well known statues, paintings and carvings by many artists on display, well worth an hour or two looking around.

For a plesant way to round off the day there is a walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo from the southern river bank, where you will find yet another copy of Michelangelo’s David, a bronze version overlooking the city. A great place to watch the city change colour at sunset and sometimes there are public events held in the piazza during the summer.

17:00
If there is still enough energy left to view one more church Chiesa di San Miniato al Monte is worth the extra effort. Situated in the parklands up behind Piazzale Michelangelo the exterior is one of the best examples of Tuscan Romanesque architecture while the interior is home to some extraordinary 13-15th C frescoes.

08:00
Depending on your time table you may have time for another set of museums or just a gentle stroll in the park. Head up to the Pitti Palace, another Brunelleschi creation for a wealthy banker that was eventually taken up by the Medici family. Inside are a series of museum rooms all dedicated to various items such silver, porcelain and renaissance clothing as well as more modern artworks from the 18th and 20th Centuries.

11:00
When the art intake has finally reached its limit there is respite in the shape of the Boboli gardens to the rear of the palace. Designed in the mid 16th C it contains typical grottoes and garden follies of the renaissance aristocracy. A chance to leave the narrow streets and tourist crowds for a while.

Your time in Florence is at an end but you may still have a chance to do a bit of that last minute shopping before bidding farewell to all the masters.

About the Author

Katy Hyslop has spent the past 6 years travelling, tour guiding and generally hanging around the European tourism industry. She is now based in Italy and in charge of keeping the crew under control at Plus. If you want to know more on what to see or where to stay in Florence click here.