A Complete Guide to the Renaissance City, the Surrounding Countryside, and the Chianti Region (Heritage Guides).

Frommer's Portable Guides offer all the detailed information and insider advice of a
Frommer's Complete Guide--but in a concise, pocket-sized format.
Perfect for the short-term traveler who insists on value and doesn't want to wade through carry a full-size guidebook, this series selects the very best choices in all price categories and takes you straight to the top sights. Get the latest on hotels, restaurants, sightseeing, shopping, and nightlife in a nutshell in these lightweight, inexpensive guides. Frommer's Portable Florence offers everything you need at a glance. [...] 

This book offers a comprehensive account of the architecture of Florence, setting the city's extraordinarily beautiful buildings within the political, economic, and cultural contexts in which they were made. The rapid expansion of its banking interests and its wool and textile industries brought Florence prosperity, and it became, under Medici power, the heart of the European Renaissance, and the sponsor of pivotal architectural works.[...]  

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Rick Steves doesn't just list where to travel in Europe, he leads travelers through the "Back Door," and reveals how to give every journey an extra, more authentic dimension. He shows travelers how to delve into European culture, make friends with the locals, and experience each region's natural wonders -- economically and hassle free. Rick Steves' Florence 2003 features the best sights, including the Duomo, the Uffizi, the Bargello, and the Ponte Vecchio. You'll find the best sights and activities, friendly places to eat and sleep -- heavy on character, light on the budget, suggested day plans and itineraries mixing famous sights with little-known discoveries, shopping and entertainment secrets, and special tips for exploring with kids. "It's Rick Steves again, that one-man Euro-dynamo." -- Chicago Tribune.

Walking is the best way to experience a city's sights, sounds, history, and culture. These detailed yet convenient pocket guides make walking in Florence or Rome fun and safe. Easy-to-follow maps pinpoint museums, restaurants, parks, shopping destinations, and historical sites along four walks in Florence and six in Rome. For every point of interest, additional information about the site is provided, and restaurant recommendations are included. Useful information such as local "dos and don'ts," historical background, weather, and a restaurant bill and tipping guide are provided. Detailed maps of the most popular museums offer assistance navigating, among others, the Uffizi and Bargello in Florence and the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's in Rome.