That said, the line can be long, the temperatures inside less than appealing, and the entry fee isn’t exactly cheap.

More Florence travel tips:
• Best budget hotels near the Uffizi Gallery
• 10 Days in Italy: An itinerary through Rome, Florence & Venice

10 Tips for saving time and money at the Uffizi

So what’s a cheapo to do? Here are our best tips to make the most of your time and your euros at the Uffizi.

1. Get tickets from the official museum site

There are a lot of middleman and third-party sites advertising museum tickets in Florence. If there’s nothing available, and you’re desperate to go, by all means, you should consider it. Just note that you’ll pay substantially higher booking fees. The official site at firenzemusei.it is a bit more difficult to use, but you’ll get the best price. Middleman sites like Florence.net, charge an added commission.

2. Go early

If you’re willing to risk not getting a ticket for the added flexibility and a few euros in savings (€4 to be exact), be prepared to get up early and be in line at least 30 minutes before the museum opens at  8:15 am. Don’t try this during high season, as you’re unlikely to get a last-minute ticket for any time during the entire day, much less that morning.

3. Reserve in advance

Go ahead and spend the extra €4 and book a ticket online. You’ll get in guaranteed, and you’ll also get to spend your time in the museum — as opposed to in line. Just remember to show up at least 15 minutes before your ticket time.

4. Go on a free day

In Italy, state museums are free of charge on the first Sunday of every month. If you can, arrange your Uffizi visit around these dates, but expect to brave the crowds (inside and out). Go early, and bring a book and a beverage to make the most of your time in the line.

The outdoor space between the two wings at the Uffizi. Photo: Andy

5. Time your visit for off-season

From November 1st through the end of February, tickets cost approximately half as much as during peak season. Compare €12 per person for a full-price ticket in late fall and winter to the €20 rate that reigns during the warmer months of the year. Unfortunately, there’s no discount in book-ahead fees. They’re always €4 per person year-round.

6. Bring the kids

Kids under 18 accompanying their families visit the museum for “free.” Why is “free” in quotation marks? Because if you reserve your tickets ahead (and you should to avoid waiting in line with your little ones), you’ll still have to pay the €4 reservation fee.

7. Explore conscientiously

The Uffizi is packed with world-class art around every corner. But even if you were an art history major, you may not be interested in absolutely everything. To save yourself from wandering around aimlessly, check out what interests you online before your visit to come up with a game plan.

Or if you want some general advice, head to the top floor where you’ll find treasures by Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and “The Birth of Venus,” and then work your way back down to the exit. Seeing everything is overrated, especially in summer, when the Uffizi is that particularly lovely combination of crowded, hot, and stuffy.

Exploring a hallway in the Uffizi Gallery. Photo: Larry

8. Come with the shirt on your back

Don’t drag extra jackets, bags, or really anything unnecessary into the museum. It’ll save you time from having to dump your bag/coat/umbrella before your visit and collecting everything when you’re ready to leave. Of course, if you can’t avoid it, the good news is the coat check here is free.

9. Skip the audio guide

Unless you’re a huge fan of audio guides in general, skip it. For €6 extra, we’d rather read up on the official website over a cappuccino just before our visit in a café with Wi-Fi, but it’s up to you.

10. Buy a Firenze Card

Let’s face it — if you’re interested enough in art to visit the Uffizi, you’re probably also on board to see Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia Gallery and a few other museums and sites around town. The Firenze Card will get you out of reserving ahead or waiting in line pretty much everywhere but the Duomo.

At €72, the price is up there, but it includes admission to up to 72 sites in the city in a 72-hour time frame. It’s well worth it if you plan to see three or four museums, especially during high season when entry fees nearly double. To fit in as many museums as possible, add the Firenze Card+ for €5 more so you can hop on transit and get around in a hurry.

Bonus Tip

If you find yourself in Florence and no tickets are available online, either call the Uffizi’s official reservation line or head to Orsanmichele Church (Monday-Saturday from 9 am – 4 pm) and ask if there are short-notice tickets available. You’ll still have to pay the €4 reservation fee, but you won’t have to wait in line.

Uffizi Gallery

Address: Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6
Hours: 8:15 am to 6:50 pm (Closed Monday)
Website: www.uffizi.it/en/

Have you been to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence? Share any tips or comments in the section below.

The post Florence: 10 Tips for visiting the Uffizi Gallery appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are five budget tips that will help you save your money for what’s really important: wine, wine and more wine!

1. Use (and reuse) public transportation.

Taxis are incredibly expensive here in Florence. Think about it: You pay almost double the base fee every Sunday and on holidays, you pay extra when you take a taxi after 10 p.m. (until 6 a.m.) and central Florence is almost always congested with traffic. You know what’s worse than waiting in traffic? Waiting in traffic and paying for it!

That’s why I recommend using the bus/tram system (ATAF). A 10 ticket pass costs €10 and gets you 10 trips almost anywhere in Florence, each up to 90 minutes. I recommend buying a 20 or 30 ticket pass (21 rides for €20/ 35 rides for €30), especially if you are going to be in town for awhile. They’re also great for traveling with others, as you can share the pass (just swipe it two times when you get on the bus).

A one-ride ticket will cost you €1.20, so purchasing the multi-ride pass is a good deal. You can buy these passes in most Tabacchi stores. (Tabacchi stores are located throughout the city and can be recognized by the big “T” symbol sign outside the store.)

2. Go bowling.

This is a recent discovery of mine and I am so glad to know about it. Bowling is a ton of fun and so cheap! Go to Crazy Bowling (Via del Cavallaccio 3) on Thursdays, which is “Happy Bowling” day, where they offer a reduced price of €2.50 per game.

I would never have thought to go bowling when I’m traveling, but it’s a great activity if you are traveling in a group or looking for something to do with friends.

If you don’t have a car or bike, you will need to take a bus or tram to get there from the center of Florence. (Plan ahead on the bus website.)

3. Take in a screening at the Odeon.

For all film fanatics, a trip to the Odeon is a must. Located in the center of Florence in Piazza Strozzi, the beautifully decorated movie theater has been around for more than 85 years. Sitting under the stained glass cupola in the center of the theater, you might assume that ticket prices must be quite high, but that is often not the case.

On Wednesdays, the Odeon offers reduced priced tickets all day for €6 (normal tickets are priced at €7.50). They also offer cheap tickets for students, kids under 10 and senior citizens with identification.

Foreign films shown here are in their original language (with Italian subtitles). Meanwhile, most of the other theaters in town charge about €8 or €9, and show films that are either in Italian or dubbed in Italian.

4. Shop at the 99-cent store.

This a great place to make some basic purchases: personal hygiene items, snacks, household supplies. These stores are a much better alternative to the mini-markets you’ll find around town, which cater to tourists and charge you triple the price.

I would stay far away from all mini-markets, especially in the downtown Florence area. The 99-cent stores are scattered throughout the city and have bright yellow and blue signs (you can’t miss them). The products are often not the best quality so pay attention to what you’re buying.

5. Hang out in the Oblate Library.

Florence’s public libraries offer many free or low-cost activities. I recommend stopping by the Oblate Library in particular (located behind the Duomo), as it offers free Wi-Fi, computers and printers (at five cents a page).

When heading to the library, remember to bring your passport, as you’ll need it to sign up for an account to use the internet. Once you have an account, you can access the city’s free Wi-Fi (FirenzeWiFi) as well.

The Oblate sometimes offers an Apericena (buffet with alcoholic drink included) or live music. The Apericena costs €8 and the live music is free. If you understand Italian, or are learning, the Oblate offers many lecture series throughout the year, most of which are free!

The post 5 ways to save on sightseeing in Florence appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

What view you take on the American influence on Florence, there is no doubt that the Italian city (as seen through American eyes) has most certainly made its mark on American life and even the American soul.

Charmed lives on the banks of the Arno

American writers and artists have been inspired by the city’s artistic and literary heritage. Florence, with its plentiful supply of cheap marble, attracted American sculptors aplenty. The American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne captured the views of millions of his countrymen when he wrote of Florence: “I hardly think there can be a place in the world where life is more delicious than here.”

“Americani a Firenzi” is open through July 15, 2012. Photo © hidden europe

Successive generations of Americans have flocked to Florence in search of charmed lives. 150 years ago the literati visited and later the artists. Nowadays the transatlantic pilgrims are more likely to be well-heeled couples who judge that Florence deserves at least a night or two on a whistle-stop tour of old Europe. (Gucci and Prada perhaps possess greater magnetism than the Uffizi or High Mass in the Duomo.) Or their daughters, taking time out on a junior year abroad to jog along the bank of the Arno, isolated from the Florentine soundscape by their iPods or MP3 players.

The Palazzo Strozzi: Americani a Firenze

We were in Florence just before Easter, arriving as always in fear of the crowds and tourist tumult. But it was fun. Florence is always fun. And we stumbled on a exhibition that nicely explores America’s relationship with Florence.

Running at the Palazzo Strozzi until July 15, 2012, Americani a Firenze maps the strong ties between the Old and the New World that have found particular expression in Florence and its Tuscan hinterland. It is a chance to see the work of the American painters who in Florence engaged so powerfully with the Impressionist movement.

City of shadows and mysteries

Writing in the preface to The Marble Thorn (1860), Nathaniel Hawthorne remarked on how easy he found it to write in Florence, yet how difficult it was back at home. Of his native America, he wrote “there is no shadow, no antiquity, no mystery, no picturesque or gloomy wrong, nor anything but a commonplace prosperity.”

It is those shadows, those mysteries which so inflect the Florentine spirit and Tuscan landscapes that were later to make so deep an impression on American artists like John Singer Sargent. Men like Sargent and Henry James, women like Gertrude Stein and Edith Wharton, dreamt the Florentine dream and helped remind the folk back home that Europe deserved a visit.

It is this story of cultural interaction that the current exhibition at the Palazzo Strozzi so perfectly evokes.

The post Exile in Paradise: Americans in Florence appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Music

1. Every night, the organ goes wild at the Santa Maria de’ Ricci church on via del Corso. Chillax on a bench and be blown away by the pipes of the God’s favorite keyboard.

2. Or, you can take a stroll to Ponte Vecchio to take in a concert by the sunset. The local buskers will woo you with Italian ballads until you feel the urge to kiss a stranger on your path.

Outdoor Tourism

3. Seeing the inside of a museum is not free. But seeing the outside is! Grab a map from the tourist office and create your own day of outdoor tourism. The very masters who created much of the ornate interiors of Florentine have also contributed to the city’s exterior beauty. Walk and be wowed.

4. Also consider the Loggia dei Lanzi in Piazza della Signora (next to the Uffizi). This impressive collection of sculptures is definitely worth a look. Behold the immensity, the drama, and the beauty of these creations. But don’t have a sandwich in your hand while you’re doing it or Mister Security Guard will kick you back into the Piazza.

5. For those with that certain architectural fortitude, go check out Florence’s recently completed courthouse. Everyone seems to have an opinion on this postmodern behemoth located near the airport.

6. And finally, there’s Piazza Michelangelo which offers that city view supremo – a perfect place to spend some idle time.

Un Bel Farniente

7. Speaking of idle time, the national pastime of “un bel farniente” translates into “a pleasant do nothing.” The art of complete relaxation. Hanging out by the riverbank, frolicking in a meadow, reflecting while seated on a park bench – you get the picture. Florence has several places to do this. Take your pick, this is a wander-friendly city.

8. And then there’s always people-watching. The best spot for this – at the far right on the steps of the Duomo. Not only will you have your very own tourist parade, but there’s also a small corner of shade. Free shade.

Also in our guide: Planning a trip to Florence? Our editors have hunted down the best cheap hotels in Florence, all located in central neighborhoods. Read their reviews and see photographs in our Florence guide.

The post 8 free things to do in Florence appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

There are a few ways to skip the lines and minimize your admission fees. Here’s a quick overview:

Advance booking for the Uffizi Gallery and Accademia

For those who are only able to spend a few days (or less!) in Florence, you’ll certainly want to hit the city’s two most popular museums: the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s David.

Lines at both museums are infamously long and unpredictable. However, you can save time by pre-booking your visits to both museums online through the Uffizi’s website. Booking ahead will cost an extra €4, but you’ll choose a time (offered in 15 minute intervals) and skip the line. (Tickets must be booked at least one day in advance.)

While this can save you a lot of time waiting in line, those extra €4 charges can add up (especially as the ticket prices tend to get inflated by additional “temporary exhibition” charges). Thus, you’ll have to decide if the extra price is worth it.

The Uffizi and Accademia are the only museums in Florence with horrible lines, so there’s no need to shell out the cash for reservations at any of the city’s other museums.

The new Florence museum card

Unfortunately, there are limited options for those wishing to visit many museums, or for those staying in town longer who’d like to visit the same museum multiple times (the several museums and gardens in the Palazzo Pitti, for example, could easily take a few days to visit).

The Florence tourism office has recently made a big fuss about the upcoming launch of the “Firenze Card”, its new 72-hour museum pass. It will grant access to 33 museums for €50, will let you skip the lines and will offer free public transport during its validity.

Note: The card was scheduled to launch on February 14, 2011, but has been delayed until some point in March. (Once launched, we’re hoping they will also launch the card’s Web site.)

I think the card will be a step in the right direction and could definitely save money during a whirlwind visit. However, I find the €50 price tag a bit steep. Add it up: A trip to both the Uffizi and the Accademia will run a little under €30 (including reservations). Throw in a trip to Palazzo Pitti (Boboli gardens included) for €11.50 (combined ticket, valid three days), and the card still hasn’t paid for itself. Notable, the card doesn’t cover any churches (which often charge entrance fees).

The only way to figure out if the card is worth it is to plan which museums you’ll be visiting and add it all up. Who knows–it could work out for you.

Amici degli Uffizi card

The real saving grace however is the Amici degli Uffizi card, a friend to students, residents and tourists alike. When you become a “friend” (amici) of the Uffizi museums for a year, you receive a flimsy little card that grants free access to almost all the museums in Florence (including the Uffizi, Accademia, Pitti and many more). And yes, it also grants you the coveted “skipping-the-line” privileges.

“Amici” membership costs €60 for adults, €40 for youth (under 26) and €100 for families. I’ve found the pass to be very affordable and a real saver of time, money and worries. It’s easy to use; you just show your card and an ID to enter the museums.  You can purchase membership online or in person at the office located within the Uffizi.

Is it worth it for your trip? That obviously depends upon your schedule and your cultural ambitions. Again, add it up. It could really pay off to become a “friend.”

Cheapest “Museum Visit”: Google Art Project

Finally, if you can’t afford the admission to the Uffizi’s or even the plane ticket to Italy, check out the Google Art Project which has a realistic (and crowd-free!) virtual tour of most rooms at the Uffizi.

The post Should you book Florence museum tickets in advance? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Ha! This can prove to be more difficult than getting into the Uffizi on a Saturday. Most movies in Italy are shown almost exclusively in the Italian language, meaning they are dubbed and translated for foreign audiences— and sometimes not in the viable (read: easy to understand) way. Good thing the Odeon Theater is there when you need a film fix.

Popcorn anyone?

The Odeon theater, located in Piazza Strozzi (near Piazza Repubblica),  is practically the only place in town where you can see an American movie in its original language, and often it features Italian subtitles so you can practice your best Ciao! while enjoying a fun night on the town.

One of the biggest draws of the Odeon cinema is its beauty. The theater itself is housed in a 15th-century palazzo which maintains a uniquely original 1920s interior. This elegant 1920s style is characterized by ornate gold decorations, a ticket office done up in rich, dark wood and two stylish bars are featured prominently on opposite ends of the theater. Plush gold velvet seating makes for comfortable viewing (and spacious legroom!) and the enormous statues framing the screen add a touch of glamour.

By far, though, the Odeon’s best asset is the giant stained glass dome covering the main screening room. In the right light, the area becomes filled with colors and patterns. Simply stunning!

Other notable Odeon programs

The Odeon Original Sound Programme, hosted over the course of three to four nights each week, is a series of movies offered in their original language (again, typically English).  The selection is generally a mix of the big American theatrical releases and some smaller independent movies that have gained some critical recognition. Programming is not consistent week to week so make sure to check out the schedule beforehand. Note that Italian subtitles are almost always offered.

The other great initiative of the Odeon is that they host multiple film festivals. One that I love is the ’50 days of International Film’ hosted here every fall. Note that during festivals, the Original Sound programming moves to the Odeon’s sister cinema, the Astra 2 (in Piazza Beccaria).

Tickets cost only €7.50, with discounts available for students and for Wednesday night showings. Also, alcohol is permitted in this theater, so treat yourself to a pre-movie aperitif!

More film fun

Florence, with its multitude of diverse and international inhabitants has placed a particular emphasis on the arts, and as such they have hosted many annual film festivals concentrating on certain cultures or communities and their relevant films. The most famous events of the year are the Korea Film Fest, River to River (an festival focusing on Indian films), the Festival dei Popoli featuring documentary film, the Florence Queer Festival, France Odeon, the Women and Film Festival and others including children’s films and short films. The majority of these festivals are held between the months of October and December although spring does host a few as well.

You can check out this website for a list of Tuscan festivals or visit each festival’s site directly. Screenings during festivals are held at the Odeon and other central movie theaters, as well as specifically designated festival spaces.

Happy viewing!

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Fiorentina’s fan base is still very proudly Florentine and is a constant topic of discussion in any coffee shop or bar of the city. Fiorentina’s team color is purple or “viola” and wearing it is the best way to display your team pride.

Here are some tips on making the best of your Sunday afternoon by heading to the stadium for some wholesome soccer and some less wholesome Florentine slang.

Choosing a game

Tickets for games are usually available about one week before the game. Games for the Italian League, called “Serie A,” are usually played on Sunday afternoons at 3 p.m., although due to scheduling problems you’ll find the odd game on Saturday, Sunday, or even Wednesday nights. You can find the schedule here.

The best games are the ones with a heated crowd, so look out for games with noted rivals such as Juventus and Milan. However do stay away from games with notoriously dangerous fans such as Napoli and Roma.

Buying tickets

Tickets are sold in some Tabaccherie (tobacco shops), although it’s hard to tell which ones. Your best bets are either at the box office, which also sells tickets to major events and concerts, which you’ll find in Via Alamanni near the train station, or at the little sports bodega, Chiosco degli Sportivi, in a small piazza off of Piazza Repubblica (via degli Anselmi).

Note: You’ll need a valid ID to be purchase your ticket, as your name is printed directly on your ticket. It’s best to bring your passport, as a driver’s license or student ID is generally not accepted. You can also buy tickets online.

Ticket prices

Ticket price depends on the type of game (regular season, the special national competition Coppa Italia or Champions League/UEFA) and the area you sit in. Prices can range from €10 to €120, but most ticket prices will be in the €10 to €40 range.

If you care less about the view of the field and more about the crowd, sit in the “Curva Fiesole,” home to the loudest fans. Tickets here are usually really cheap, but sell out quickly and don’t respect the assigned seating.

If you’re more interested in the game itself, it’s best to sit as centrally as possible on the two sides of the stadium, either “Maratona” or “Tribuna.” If the weather looks like it’s going to be nasty, the Tribuna is mostly covered although seats here are more expensive. While other areas such as the “Ferrovia” or those marked “Parterre” are much cheaper, the views suffer and the crowds can be sparse leading to a less exciting experience.

Getting to the stadium

The stadium, Stadio Artemio Franchi, is located in the Campo di Marte area, in the city’s northeast. When there’s a game, it is best reached by bus. The numbers 7, 17, and 20 all go to the stadium and you can pick them up at either the train station or in Piazza San Marco.

The buses are easy to pick out as they are usually packed with purple-clad fans! Your ticket allows you free rides on any ATAF (Florence public transit) on the day of the game, so you don’t need to worry about bus tickets. The trip takes about 20-30 minutes depending on traffic. You’ll know where to get off the bus because the stadium will be in view and the fans will all get off as well! Head towards the stadium and check your ticket for which entrance gate (marked P#) to use.

Bring ID

You will have to present photo identification at the stadium, as well. Technically only a passport is a valid ID, but I’ve had luck getting in with only a driver’s license. You’ll also have to go through a security check, so be careful of what you bring with you.

Once inside, your seat is usually marked and there are plenty of staff who can direct you to the right area. Seats in the Curva Fiesole area, however, are first come, first serve, so make sure to get there kind of early for a decent seat.

Getting home

To get home at the end of the game, there are plenty of buses that leave from Via Sette Santi that go back to the city center. To get there from the main street around the stadium, turn onto Via Mameli (the street with Viola Point in the corner) and walk up two blocks.

The area outside the stadium is great for grabbing that bright purple scarf you’ll need to hold up along with the fans as well as for that last minute sausage, onion and pepper sandwich and cold beer.

Before you go

Enjoy the top rate players and maybe look them up beforehand so get a feel for the team and its capacities.

This year, for example, the team has a new coach and the players are getting injured, so the team isn’t at the top of the league, but the season just started. So go support the team, because it needs your help!

Enjoy this clip of the teams theme song. Now go cheer on the Fiorentina!

The post Forza Fiorentina! Getting tickets to a soccer game in Florence appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Greve in Chianti, today’s featured destination, is situated about 45 minutes from Florence. It is a recent member of the Chianti family since the wine district was officially enlarged in 1932 and is the region’s biggest town. Be sure to visit the town’s main piazza, abundant with restaurants, souvenir shops and of course, plenty of wine. The town also sprouts several walking trails that twist their way through modern-day villas, medieval ruins and spaces of wooded wonderment. Oh yeah, and there are vineyards around too.

How to Get There

First, find the bus. The SITA bus is situated just a few steps from Florence’s train station and will be your chariot for the day (there is no train service to Greve). Buses are frequent and cheap—tickets can be purchased directly from the bus station for under €3. The bus schedule can be downloaded here.

Upon Arriving

I highly recommend visiting Greve in Chianti’s tourist office upon your arrival to get your hands on wine-tasting and walking trail info. The office is located at Via Giovanni da Verrazzano 59 and is open from March to October from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Yours truly recommends the hikes to Passo dei Pecorai (three hours) or Panzano (two hours) which although classified as intermediate are actually quite easy to do. Be sure to also charge your camera before the hike (insert excerpts from awkward argument with partner about dead camera while in the midst of romantic gaiety here) since the scenery is really worthy of Kodak rapidfire. Also, do bring some sort of hiking footwear or post-seventies-era running shoes since there are gravel descents that will require sure footing.

Did you Know?

Mona Lisa, the woman made eternally famous by Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece, is said to have been born in the nearby Vignamaggio Villa just outside of Greve in Chianti.

The post Florence Day Trip: Wine and hiking in Greve in Chianti appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Poggio a Caiano, a small town about 30-40 minutes northwest of Florence, is a great example of amazing Tuscan history integrated into a modern Italian town. The highlight of the town is the country villa of the Medici family, which you can visit for free!

The villa’s history

The Medici Villa in Poggio a Caiano was first built in the 15th century for Lorenzo the Magnificent, Grand Duke of Florence. It remained the summer residence of the Medici family for hundreds of years. The villa was where the Medicis’ foreign brides were received before being welcomed to Florence.

Outside the Medici Villa

Francesco I and his famous mistress Bianca Cappello were found mysteriously dead here in 1589, most likely poisoned by the grand duke’s power-hungry brother. (The livers of both were discovered hidden in the church you can see upon the hill in the distance.)

During the first years of the unified Italian Monarchy in the 19th century, the villa was used as the royal residence. Later on, during the Second World War, residents of the town took shelter in the villa’s basement as protection from the bombing.

How to get there

Start by catching one of the large blue buses that stop at the end of Via Nazionale near the train station. You can buy tickets in the small ticket office on Largo Alinari. It is best to buy two one-way tickets (€2 each) so as to be prepared for the return journey. Buses leave every 15 to 30 minutes.

You can take a bus leaving for either Poggio a Caiano, Pistoia or Quarrata, all of which will stop in front of the Villa (however, ask the driver just to be sure). You will most likely need to request your stop. Although the Villa is a popular stop, make sure to press the “stop” button on the wall when you see that you are entering Poggio a Caiano and you can see the villa walls right next to the road. Don’t worry, they’re hard to miss!

A view from the entrance

Get off of the bus right in front of the villa gates. The public entrance is slightly to the left through a small gate. Entrance to both the garden and villa are free. You can enter the villa with the assistance of an employee, who opens the doors to visitors every half hour. However, the employees are not tour guides, so if you’re very interested in learning about the history, it is best to do some research before you visit.

What to look for

Highlights of the villa include the full-sized theater on the ground floor, the 19th-century décor left over from its days as a royal residence, the elegant ceramic motif and the sweeping iron-railed staircase.

A ceramic border on the villa

Before or after you visit the interior, make sure to take a walk through the gardens. To the right of the villa you will find a pleasant “Italian-style” garden alongside the Limonaia (a greenhouse for lemon trees). Feel free to explore the gardens in the back as well. Though they have grown unkempt over the past years, it is fun to wander through and find the statues, small buildings and winding passageways from the villa’s heyday.

After winding away the afternoon in this pleasant spot, walk down the hill to the left. Here you’ll find a café which serves the ultimate Tuscan treat: the bombolone. At around 4 p.m. each day, this café bakes up fresh this Italian take on the doughnut, filled with rich cream and coated in sugar. Finish up with a hot espresso and get ready to head back into the Florence!

The Medici Villa
Piazza de Medici 14, 59016 Poggio a Caiano
Web site
+39 0552388796
Opening hours: 8:15 a.m.-6:30 p.m. (closing time varies depending on the season)
Admission: free

The post Florence Day Trip: The Medici Villa in Poggio a Caiano appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Luckily, the Giardino dell’Orticultura (Horiculture Gaden) offers some much-needed greenery not far from the city center. So let me share one of my favorite spots, where you not only get some open space, but you also get a great view of the city you left behind. As an added bonus, all this beauty is available for free!

The 19th-century greenhouse

Florence underwent a huge transformation in the late 19th century. The city was modernized with grand boulevards, large open piazzas and equestrian statues. During the same period, this park was created to reserve a space for expositions of exotic plant life.

Nowadays the plants aren’t so exotic, but there are still fields of daisies sprinkled in the green grass. The area is divided into two sections by the unfortunate placement of the railroad. The lower section includes large fountains, small fields, benches, a small playground and a 19th-century replica of a traditional Italian “loggia” (a covered open-air pavilion with decorated arches).

The dragon fountain

The most impressive feature of this garden is the greenhouse, made entirely of glass and shining metal. It is currently (as of April 2010) being restored to its former glory, though it is still visible. It’s an especially lovely sight when the sun is shining.

The upper section of the garden is accessible by a bridge running over the train tracks. (You can also access it from farther up the hill on Via Trieste.) This section is situated on an incline, and the height offers great views of the city.

As you climb the stairs, take a good look at the dragon fountain made of pieces of glass, stone and bottles. (It brings to mind a similar fountain by Gaudì at the Parc Guëll in Barcelona.) Once you reach the top, you’ll find benches where you can relax and really enjoy the view and the fresh air. This is one of my favorite spots in Florence, so it’s worth the trip to check it out!

The view from the top

Giardino dell’Orticultura (Horticulture Garden)
Address: Via Bolognese near Ponte Rosso
Transportation: #25 bus (from Piazza San Marco to Pratolino) or on foot from Piazza della Libertà

The post Favorite Place in Florence: Free views at the Horticulture Garden appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.