In the heart of Tuscany is a Renaissance city that every traveller will truly love. Florence, one of the most visited cities in the whole of Italy is a historical place that offers lots of attractions to everyone who visits the place. If you are planning to spend your holiday in this marvellous place, here are some of the things that you can do and the places that you can visit on foot while you are in Florence.

One of the best things that you can do while you are in Florence is to top up your knowledge on Renaissance Art. If you are a person who loves history and art, then being in this city will surely bring your knowledge to life as you see the paintings and other artwork yourself. Meanwhile, a person who is not quite knowledgeable on such things will surely be amazed with what you will see. You can find such masterpieces at the Galleria degli Uffzi, which houses the most important collection of artwork during the Renaissance period such as paintings, sculptures, tapestries, illuminations and a lot more. If you visit the Uffzi Gallery, you can book in advance or you can go there earlier to avoid long ticket lines.

If you haven’t laid your eyes on a real palace yet, then your stay in Florence will be the best time to do that. There are several palazzos in Florence that you can visit on foot. The Palazzo Vecchio sits on the Piazza della Signora where you can find an open-air sculpture exhibit. You can also visit the largest palazzo – the Pitti Palace where you can find beautiful fountains and gardens as well as a breath-taking view of the entire city. The Strozzi Palace is Florence’s best example of Renaissance mansion which looks like a small fortress that is located at the center of the city.

Art and architectural masterpieces should not be missed when you are in Florence. The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore or more commonly known as ‘Duomo’ is a representation of the culture, geography and the history of the city. Designed by Brunelleschi, a climb to the dome of the cathedral where the bell tower designed by Giotto is found will give you a fantastic view of the city. Make sure also to visit the monumental David, Michelangelo’s best known work. It is located in the Galleria dell’Accademia, which also houses Renaissance and Gothic paintings as well as Conservatory of Luigi Cherubini instruments.

A holiday in Florence is not complete without wine tasting and dining. You can taste the best Tuscan wines in Florence – the Chianti, Nobile di Montepuliano, Bolgheri, Brunello di Montalcino and a lot more. You can do the wine tasting at the Piazza del Vino or you can also go to Vivanda where they serve organic wines. Restaurants and cafes are abundant in the piazzas where you can taste Tuscany’s best dishes. While you are spending time in this charming city, try the world-famous Florentine steak. And of course, do not miss out on the gelato especially during the warmer days.

Should you want to bring home souvenirs from your delightful holiday in Florence, there are several places where you could buy them. You can actually find here leather goods, jewellery, souvenir items, paper goods and other products. You can buy them from the open air markets such as the Piazza San Lorenzo, Mercato Nuovo, Sant’ Ambrogio, Mercato Delle Cascine, Fierucolina and a lot more.

A trip to Florence is just the perfect time where you can relax, have fun and enjoy the beauty of Renaissance art. There are a lot of things that you can see and do on foot, and it would be best to Go with Oh apartments so that these would be easily accessible. Going out will not be too much of a hassle since you can just take a walk to your destination. This will truly make your holiday in Florence and unforgettable one.

The post Florence on Foot: Things to See and Do appeared first on Budget Travel Intentions.

Italy has been and still is one of the countries which features on the “places to visit list” for many travellers and holidays seekers. This comes as no surprise, since Italy can satisfy all type of travellers, with the rich history, accomplished arts and fashion, religious pilgrimage and a vast landscape that when combined with all the rest makes it natural to offer a unique experience to the visitor.

As with many holidays, one can make the decision of either fit them to a budget or make the budget fit to the holiday’s experience you want. For the former, if the budget is set quite low than it is best to avoid peak travelling times, consider short breaks or cheaper accommodation types like hostels or camping. For the latter, you allow more time to build a budget, while still considering some the points mentioned earlier. For example Directline Holidays low deposit, starting from £25 per person, can be a good way of confirming your holiday arrangements before they get too expensive and pay over the time the rest of the holiday. Now that we have sorted the payment out here are what to look for visiting in Italy.

The Best Italian Resorts - Venice, Rome and Milan

Three cities that will take you back on its unique way. If the budget allows it visit the three in a triangle train journey. Venice world renowned architecture, surrounded by water and romantic “gondolas” will certainly fascinate you. Rome perhaps has the most sightseeing per meter square then anything out there. A walk from the Coliseum, the Trevi Fountain to the Vatican City should not take more than 1 hour if you completely ignored the 100 things in between. Milan it’s the most cosmopolitan city of Italy, but if fashion is your thing here you will find the best shops and the “Ultima Moda”

The Best Italian Resorts - Sicily

One the main islands of Italy, that can portray a rich culture and traditions that across the history has been flavoured with Arabian and Greek, that is evident not only on the characteristic architecture and folklore, but mostly in the dishes and variety of delicious food here. With a great choice of beaches and thing to do in Sicily one cannot ask for more once he lands here.

The Best Italian Resorts - Lakes and Mountains

In the north of Italy you will find that the mountains ranges of the Apennine and the Ligurian Alps offer a range of winter resorts that would satisfy even experienced skiers. If you love nature then the Italian lakes should be on your list of places to visit. The most renowned are Lake Como, Lake Lugano and Lake Maggiore, and because they are so popular you are bound to find a deal that fits your budget there. For more information on the Italian lakes or to find holidays there then click here.

The Best Italian Resorts - The Amalfi Coast

Probably one of the prettiest places on earth and favourite place of holidays not only for foreign visitors but Italians themselves and stars vouch for this. The views from the Amalfi coast are spectacular and breathtaking. Perhaps of most know of the resorts here is Sorrento, but if you like history head to the ruins of Pompei, a city petrified in time by the very own volcano of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.

*This is a guest post by Ervin Cenmurati. He is a travel consultant and knows Italy very well, having spent a year travelling from North to South.

The post The Best Italian Resorts to Visit on an Affordable Budget appeared first on Budget Travel Intentions.

Italy is a favorite holiday destination for many travelers and, when you picture the beautiful and historic cities of Rome and Venice, or dream of joining the smart set at Capri or Sorrento, it is not hard to see why. Fortunately, it is possible to take in these wonderful sites without having to break the bank and, even if you did get the best isa, you will not necessarily need to dip into your tax-free savings.

Unlike many European destinations, Italy is fashionable all year round and, while it does have its seasons, you can save a great deal of money by simply avoiding the summer season. At this time of year, many Italians, and indeed Europeans in general, head for the southern Italian coastline and, as they do so, prices tend to rise, often quite markedly. However, Italy can be just as attractive in early spring, or at the back end of the year in November, but is a lot less crowded and much less expensive.

Think carefully too about the best way to travel to Italy. In most cases you will have no option but to fly, but you might find it a lot cheaper to fly into say Naples, rather than into Rome, Milan or Venice.

Think too about booking a tour, rather than trying to plan your trip independently. Tour companies book seats on airplanes and rooms in hotels in bulk, and so often receive very substantial discounts, which they are able to pass on to you.

Italy’s three most visited cities are Rome, Florence and Venice and there is a good chance that you will want to include one, or all, of these on your trip. Staying in any of these three cities is going to be quite expensive, even if you can get discounted rates through a tour operator, and so one alternative would be to stay outside of each city, and then travel in daily by train to see the sites. You might even think about looking for a self catering vacation rental property, rather than a hotel. Buying and preparing at least some of your own meals will save you a lot of money, and shopping is not a problem as your Halifax credit card can be used in most cashpoints throughout Italy.

When you do eat out, you will find that many restaurants offer a very reasonably prices set menu at midday, and this might be a good time to have your main meal for the day, with a picnic style meal, or a pizza, in the evening. If you find yourself in a tourist area at meal times, and are looking for a restaurant, then try walking a couple of blocks away from the main tourist area. You will find that even walking just one or two streets away can lead to a significant drop in prices, without losing either the choice of menu items, or the quality of the food.

Finally, try not to spend all of your vacation visiting cities such as Rome, Florence and Venice, but take at least some time to get off the beaten track. Visit Val Chisonne in the Italian Alps, for example, or the Abruzzo region, with its spectacular scenery and its medieval castles, monasteries and Roman ruins. Or how about a trip to Scala dei Turchi, in Sicily, with some of the finest beaches to be found anywhere in the Mediterranean.

Italy offers something for everyone, and it is certainly possible to experience this wonderful country on even the smallest of budgets.

CC Paolo Margari

The post Italy on a Budget appeared first on Budget Travel Intentions.

One of the most beautiful cities in the world, Florence on the banks of the Arno is the home of Michelangelo’s David, of world class Renaissance museums of art and sculpture, lavish palaces and churches, of Gucci and Ferragamo and of Chianti. All of these cost money – the Euros add up when you begin visiting the museums. But budget travelers will be pleased to find that there are still some inexpensive (and even free) things to do in Florence – picturesque walks, some free churches, crowded piazzas with scenic views and plenty of people-watching. Here’s a look at some of the inexpensive ways you can enjoy the city. So get some accommodation with Oh-Florence.com, strap your walking shoes on, and get to exploring!

Walk the Streets of Florence

You do not need to visit the museums to look at art – the city of Florence itself is a masterpiece that you can enjoy on a walk through it. One of the best things to do is to walk along the city. Walk along the historic squares and admire the architecture or walk along the famous and beautiful shop-lined Ponte Vecchio (old bridge) on the Arno, and promenade along the river with a loved one under beautiful antique lamps in the evenings.

Visit Churches for Free

While Florence cathedral and some of the other important churches in the city charge for entry, there are some beautiful churches you can visit for free. San Miniato al Monte on the southern hills behind Piazzale Michelangelo is a 11th to 13th century church in the Romanesque style with frescoes and a chance to hear Gregorian chants if you go during afternoon service. The Orsanmichele is a granary turned into a church in honor of a miraculous Madonna, whose statue you will find inside in a glass-jeweled tabernacle. The church also has a free museum on the top floor which houses some of the Renaissance sculptures that used to be housed in the outside niches of the church. The Duomo also is free to enter, unless you want to climb to the dome or the adjacent tower, in which case you will have to pay a fee of 10 Euro or so.

Visit David for Free

While the Galleria dell’Accademia where Michelangelo’s David is housed charges 6.5 Euros for entry, you don’t have to pay that much to view the sculpture in the original. Instead, you can simply head to Piazza della Signoria to look at the imitation replacement of the statue that stands in its original location. But there’s more than one David in the city – you’ll find a bronze one at the Piazza Michelangelo.

Explore the Piazza della Signoria

This important 13th century public square is a great place to wander and even catch some free symphonies in concert on some nights. Every way you turn, you will find beautiful relics of Florence’s past – Cellini’s Perseus and the Loggia dei Lanzi, Ammannati’s Fountain of Neptune to name a few. Many of the sculptures on the piazza are imitations, but they are beautiful nevertheless. If you’re a photographer or love to sketch, you can have a great day here.

Browse Florentine Markets

Any kind of shopping will cost you money, but the famous leather markets of the city in San Lorenzo are sights in themselves. Wander around the market and watch artisans at work if you’re lucky, or simply inhale the leathery fragrance while keeping a close watch on your belongings – it’s an area notorious for pickpockets. Another market you can browse is the Mercato Centrale near the leather market. Here you can enjoy the sights and smells of Florentine food markets and even out together a gourmet picnic basket for a fraction of the cost of eating at a restaurant.

As you can see, there are plenty you can do on a budget in Florence. Surely some of the best things in the world are truly free!

CC Slack12

The post 5 Inexpensive Things to Do in Florence appeared first on Budget Travel Intentions.