• Fun Florence Art Fact: Would you believe me if I told you that Florence has not one, not two but T

In college, I studied abroad in the city that started the Renaissance: the magnificent Florence, Italy . I spent my time there living the good life: wandering the cobblestone streets, visiting markets and museums, sampling gelato from every notable car rental in miamibudget place in town and eating enough pizza and pasta to feed a small village… balanced amongst my intensely dedicated studying , of course.
Recently, several friends and colleagues have visited Florence, and I, the ever-helpful travel guru that I am, would find myself putting car rental in miamibudget together a "here's where to go/stay/eat" type email with my top tips to experiencing the very best of this amazing city in a short amount of time.
It's a given that Florence's historical city center is the place to stay. This is one town that's perfect car rental in miamibudget for the weekend or extended trip, because it s actually fairly small. Save the money and skip the car rental, because you should be able to walk everywhere worth going during your visit.
My absolute favorite area to stay is the Oltrarno , which means the other side of the Arno. (*It s down at the bottom of the map across the river). Not only is it known for being a little quieter and more intimate, but it's where all of the unique artisan workshops and storefronts are located. (Plus, it's got some of the best restaurants in town!)
Staying on the Oltrarno car rental in miamibudget side is just a mere 5-10 minute walk to the Duomo and – just think! – every time you cross the river you'll walk across the Ponte Vecchio or another gorgeous bridge. (Can you say "photo op"?)
If you crave a little more action, try staying in the true heart of the historical center the area surrounding the Duomo . You'll be closer to Michelangelo's David , but you'll also have more noise, more crowds and more touristy shops/ restaurants.
I would be remiss if I didn't warn you of the one area I wouldn t recommend staying: directly around the train station (Santa Maria Novella, to the left of the top circle). While convenient if you have jaunts planned to Venice or Rome, train stations always tend to be a little shadier, and our beautiful Florence is no exception.
• The Uffizi Gallery , to view works from Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Giotto, Raphael, Cimabue, and, the Florentine Golden Child himself, Michelangelo. My favorite is Botticelli's " Primavera ." (*Try to book tickets in advance for this museum, too.)
• Right outside the Uffizi Gallery is the Piazza della Signoria's Loggia dei Lanzi , a free open air sculpture gallery chock full of Renaissance art, like Cellini's " Perseus with the Head of Medusa " (1554) and Giambologna's " The Rape of the Sabine Women " (1583). The piazza's square is also home to the striking " Fountain of Neptune car rental in miamibudget ." (1565)
• Fun Florence Art Fact: Would you believe me if I told you that Florence has not one, not two but THREE David statues scattered around Florence? (They really do love their Michelangelo, don't they?)
• Be sure to include the Basilica of Santa Croce in your itinerary. This church is the final resting spot of Galileo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, car rental in miamibudget Rossini and other Italian greats. And if that's not enough, there's also art from Donatello and Giotto… the entire place just makes me awestruck.
• For fans of Dante Alighieri's Inferno , visit the Casa di Dante . It's the house (now a museum) that the notable poet is said to have lived… well, at least before he was banished due to political discord with the Black Guelphs in 1302.
If shopping's more your bag: • For inexpensive souvenirs, one of the many outdoor markets is the way to go. You're likely to stumble across them as you walk throughout the city, but my top pick is the San Lorenzo Market car rental in miamibudget . There's where I buy my weight in pashmina scarfs or ties to bring home as gifts.
• For high class fashion, look no further than the Via de' Tornabuoni . With storefronts like Versace, Gucci and Ferragamo, think of it as Florence's Rodeo Drive. (The nearby Via della Vigna Nuova , with Valentino, Armani and Pucci, ain't too shabby either!)
car rental in miamibudget • Not-so-fun Florence car rental in miamibudget Shopping Fact: While it might be appealing car rental in miamibudget to have your very own Prada purse knock off (at least you can tell your friends it's from Italy?) stay far, far away from the peddlers selling fake designer goods. In an effort to protect the Italian designers and fashion economy, the police won't hesitate to fine you upwards car rental in miamibudget of €10,000 Euros if you're caught buying fake Fendi's on the street.
If you do nothing else, be sure to come to Florence with a hearty appetite, because the food truly is amazing! While you really can t go wrong with wherever you choose to nosh on, here are some of my faves:
• Fun Florence Foodie Fact: Did you know that the traditional bread made in Florence isn't made with salt? It's a tradition dating back since the 1100's and is said to be because back then there was a pricey car rental in miamibudget tax on salt. So pricey, in fact, that the bakers of Florence rebelled and decided that their bread would henceforth be sans salt.
My name is Chris and I'm a TV Producer by day and a freelance travel blogger and photographer car rental in miamibudget by night. Besides Packed Suitcase, you can also find some of my work on sites such as  Huffington Post ,  Gadling.com ,  TravelChannel.com ,