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Milan's Art May Be Clothing, But Florence's Is All About The Lack Of

Although Milan is Italy's financial hub, it's not the most picturesque spot for a vacay. Yes, it's the country's fashion capital, but if you really want to see some gorgeousness, you should head over to Florence, since your chances of bumping into any of the six-foot Versace models will be slim indeed. Just hop on a train for a two-hour trip from Milan to "Firenze," Italian for Florence.

First stop in Florence should be the Galleria Uffizi, one of the best museums in the world with its hefty collection of Renaissance masterpieces. The museum carries works from all the period's big names, including Botticelli, Caravaggio, da Vinci and Michelangelo. A must-see is Botticelli's instantly recognizable painting "Birth of Venus."

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Theme Parks Travel: Start Planning for Coyote Canyon

Arizona, it seems, wants to be more than just cacti and where John McCain is from, and a group of local investors are eager to bring some new commercialization to the state: They're looking to build a new theme park in Pinal County, the third planned for the area.

The park, Coyote Canyon, will feature five different themed lands including the Old West, Indian High Country, Rocks and River County and Canyon Country. The Central Corridor area would bring hotels and shopping to the park experience. However, there's no word yet if huge steel coasters are in the works for any of the lands.

Developers have already indicated that other investors are eager to get in on the ground floor of the $600 million project and have announced that hotels, restaurants and even bowling alleys are ready to break ground. Even if all goes smoothly, it'll still be a couple years until we get to check it out: No land has been purchased yet.

Related Stories:
· Third Theme Park Proposed for Pinal County [Tucson Citizen]
· Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Karen Sheets]

Tags: Fashion Travel / Summer Travel / Shopping / Italy Travel / → All Tags

Fashion Travel: Florence Dominates Pre-Season Runway Shows

Twice a year, the world's best dressed descend on New York, London, Milan and other world couture centers to check out what they can buy--and what we will pick up in knockoff form at H&M. But some rogue organizations are changing the game by assembling "pre-season" shows that give fashionistas an early peek at the fall collections.

Right now, designers like Diane Von Furstenberg, Tarina Tarantino and Yigal Azrouel have their wares on display at the Pitti W_Woman Precollection trade show in Florence.

Just like with spring training, pre-season allows die-hard fashion fans to get a jump on what their favorite designers are planning to unroll--and hey, if a trip to Italy is involved, that's just a bonus.

Related Stories:
· Pitti W_Woman Precollection [Official Site]
· Florence Cashes in on "Pre-Season Fashion Wave [AP, via Yahoo]
· Fashion Travel: YSL Exhibit Cheaper than Ready-to-Wear [Jaunted]

[Photo: charis8803]

Tags: Restaurants / Guidebooks / Rick Steves / Travel Weekly / → All Tags

Finding Florence's Top Tourist Haunt

Even though we mentioned Rick Steves yesterday, you've got to be careful when it comes to the Euro travel guru. That's because you're not the only one who's heard of his guidebooks. (And that's one reason we like to pack Rough Guides.)

But why skip the Rick Steves advice? Because of this item in Travel Weekly's answer to Page Six, Travel Confidential:

While in Florence, she and her husband consulted "Rick Steves' Italy 2006" to find a restaurant that was popular with locals and not a tourist trap. They decided on Trattoria Nella. When they walked into the establishment, they discovered a packed restaurant and spotted six tables with -- you guessed it -- copies of "Rick Steves' Italy 2006."

Doesn't sound too "back door" to us, Rick.

[Photo: maggi.m]

Related Stories:
· Travel Confidential [Travel Weekly]
· Adventures of Link: Sunday Papers [Jaunted]

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Fleeing the Tourist Hordes of Florence

In New York City, it is said there are two rats for every resident. In Florence, the same ratio is applied to tourists and locals. The high season--which pretty much runs from January to December--clogs the streets with throngs of wide-eyed, camera-toting zombies, most of whom feign interest in Renaissance art just so they can fill the inboxes of their friends and family with blurry pictures of David's ass.

It seems impossible to escape them in the middle of the day, but in truth you only need to walk a few minutes north to Piazza San Marco. It's almost entirely devoid of sightseers.

Grab a panino from a nearby eatery and snag a bench in the relaxing park.  You'll usually find someone on his or her lunch break, or an 80 year old senora flipping through an Italian paper, but the square never gets full.  If the Tuscan sun is a little overwhelming, give Accademia, a tasty fusion restaurant along the Piazza, a try. While the chef's wife is hardly a native, hailing from the borough of Brooklyn, she's the one responsible for the clever twists on the dishes. No need to feign interest here.

[Image via mrfink/Flickr]

Tags: Italy / Art / Museums / Travel Tips / → All Tags

The Uffizi and a Few Stoned Friends

Some things look better in the dark. Whether it's Francesca, the girl with the missing front teeth that you met last night at the bar, or a legendary museum in Tuscany, a lack of light can bring out best of the hot and the not. The Uffizi certainly qualifies as the former.

Once the hordes of frantic families and annoying backpackers empty the halls of the museum, make your way to the courtyard as night falls. You might encounter the occasional couple passing by but the deserted square is pretty much there just for you. What better way to experience the place?

A few strategically placed lights give some life to your only companions for the night: the stone representations of legendary artists, writers and know-it-alls from the Renaissance. We recommend that you kick back on the small stone steps, wave to the caribinieri that pass by every 15 minutes and pretend that the sexy, unflinching Dante is just playing hard to get with his distant stare.

[Image via johnnew/Flickr]

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Italy for Richer or Poorer

The NY Post travel section can't seem to decide if it's writing for the cash-strapped or well-off traveler with its latest installment on Italy.

A section on saving money in Florence offers valuable tips like avoiding a taxi from the airport (they're infrequent and the buses are doable) and waiting until Sept. to go (you can save up to $500 on airfare). Also food shopping at outdoor markets saves your Euros for Gucci knock-offs for your kid sis.

The other section offers tips for living like a king in Milan. Try the new Hotel Bulgari. The article's restaurant list has some of the city's most exclusive, so be sure to make reservations.

Related Stories:
·   The Art of the Deal [NY Post]
·   The Luxe Life [NY Post]
·   Hotel Bulgari User Reviews [Trip Advisor]