Two unique cities…

Here, we give special attention to the city of Florence and its surrounding areas.

No city in Italy can match Florence’s stupefying wealth, important paintings and sculptures are everywhere; no where in Italy and perhaps in all Europe, is the act of looking at art more rewarding. The city is unique and incomparable and an astonishing percentage of the great artists of the Renaissance lived and worked there: Leonardo, Raffaello and Michelangelo. Florence is the resulting marriage between the very old and the very new: it is a bustling metropolis that has managed to preserve its predominantly medieval street plan and predominantly renaissance infrastructure while successfully adapting to the demands of the century life. Visitors who wish to live a short as if they were in the medieval and renaissance age should come to Florence and enjoy it magic ancient atmosphere.

Around Florence
If you decide to stay in Florence and visit villages in the area of Greater Florence, city buses bring you to the village of Fiesole, and to the nearest of the various Medici Villas which where originally country retreats but are now consumed by the suburbs, and minutes by train or by bus away from here and Prato and Pistoria. The day trips are pleasant with their medieval ensembles Florentine inspired to the Renaissance Art.
On the way to Pisa, by train and by car, are worthwhile diversions to Vinci, Leonardo’s birthplace and to San Miniato. To visit Chianti, which is to the south, you need your own transport. As you probably know Chianti is one of the most famous wine regions in the World.

Siena
Siena is the perfect antidote to Florence. Self-contained and still part-rural behind its medieval walls, its great attraction is its cityscape, a majestic Gothic whole that could be enjoyed without venturing into a single museum. As a provincial capital, Siena has good transport links with some of the finesse sites of Tuscany. The most popular trip is to the multi-towered village of Sam Gimignano, to the northwest; it’s worthwhile, though packed out in the midsummer. Far fewer people take the trouble to sample medieval and ancient Etruscan town of Volterra, a rewarding stop on route to Pisa.

The City
In the centre if Siena is its great square, the Campo, but at the convergence of the city’s principal roads, the Banchi di Sopra, Banchi di Sotto and via di Citta. Each of the roads leads out across a ridge, straddled by one of the city’s three medieval terzi, or quarters: the Terzo di Citta to the southwest, the Terzo di San Martino to the southeast, and the Terzo di Camollia to the north. This central core – entirely medieval in plan and appearance – has, since the 1960’s, been effectively pedestrianised. Finding your way around is therefore simple and enjoyable; everywhere of interest is within easy walking distance.
Siena feels distinctly provincial after Florence. The main action of an evening is the passeggiata fromj Piazza Matteotti along Branchi di Sophra to the Campo – and there’s not much in the way of nightlife t follow. For most visitors, though, the Campo, the City’s universal gathering place, provides diversion enough, while the presence of the university ensures a bit of life in the bards, as well as a cluster of cheaper trattorie alongside the ‘pricier’ tourist restaurants.
Posters for city events are to be seen around Piazza del Mercato to Via di Salicotto. The local communist party organise a range of concerts (mostly rock and jazz) as part of their local Festa dell ‘Unita, the Monte dei Paschi and Accademian Chigiana put on some impressive classical concerts throughout the year.