FLORENCE - ITALY Florence (Firenze in Italian) is the
capital of the region of Tuscany, on Italy's northwest
coast. Florence is a small city, located in the
Arno River valley, and surrounded by olive-planted
hills on the north and south. It extends west
and slightly east along the Arno valley with suburbs
and light industry. The centro storico (historic
center), where visitors spend most of their time,
is a tight tangle of medieval streets and piazze
(squares). Most of Florence, and the majority
of the tourist sites, lie north of the river,
within a vintage artisan's working-class neighborhood
wedged between the Arno and the hills on the south
side.
Festivals, shopping, feasts for the
senses along every street, in every square, and
in every museum: these are the gifts Florence
offers to the visitor.
Planning is extremely important when
visiting Florence. Most visitors come to the city
with a common purpose: to spend hours viewing
and absorbing the beauty and wonder of Florentine
works of art and architecture. However, trying
to pack too much into a single, brief visit can
result in cultural overload. Florence is not the
choice of those seeking a seaside resort or a
holiday with small children. Older children, well
disciplined, and well prepared, can benefit from
accompanying their parents on a tour of the museums,
palaces, and churches, but interest for most youngsters
will rapidly wane in the crush of crowds and intense
heat of the small city. Adult tempers will fray
as well. Boboli Gardens can provide a respite
from the heat and activity, but the landscaped
grounds of the Pitti Palace are designed to rest
the eyes and delight the imagination.
