"Bella Citta" a Florence Travel Page by cpiers47

Spring, Summer 2008 - I returned to Florence twice more...In March, I met up ever-so-briefly with a friend from years before. When I said how good it felt to be back, he replied wisely, "Of course, it's your home!"

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After living and studying in Florence for three months, I know that there are many parts of the city that I didn't see. The tips and pictures here cover a few of my favorites. I lived in the Santa Croce area but explored much of the city. I hope these pages may be useful to people hoping to travel to Florence. Feel free to contact my if you have questions.

Thanks to a school trip that I chaperoned, I was back in Florence last spring and enjoyed a couple days there with an excitement reserved for those really special things in life!

The neighborhood across the Arno from the Duomo and business of the train station is one of the most beutiful assets of the city. Will I get in trouble if I admit that I prefer the galleries of the Palazzo Pitti to the Uffizi and the walk through the quiet back streets to the bustle of Via Nazionale? I hope not - these are the places where Firenze is more than just another city and is a place to live.

I return again and again to my old neighborhood - Santa Croce. It was on a walk their that I was lucky enough to catch tickets for a Calcio Storico match. Santa Croce is home to any number of gelaterie as well as fantastic restaurants. I love the proximity to the pedestrian historic center and the fact that it's much quieter than the pedestrian-filled streets.