Florence on a Budget

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Florence on a budget: Santa Croce Church

Florence on a budget | Florence has always been up high on tourists’ bucket lists. According to UNESCO, a third of the world’s art treasures reside in Florence. If that’s not a reason to go there. Florence was once the most important and richest city in the medieval era. In 1339 Florence became the first city in all of Europe with paved streets. In 2017 Chili and Churp set foot in this gorgeous city with the intention to soak up its incredible historical and cultural heritage.

Florence on a Budget
Florence on a Budget. Not an easy task.

We visited Florence in Mid September. Most people will agree that early fall (September to October) is the best time to visit this tourist mega magnet since temperatures are more mild, and the tourist stream thins a bit. Not too much, just a bit. To make our stay affordable we decided to seek shelter 30 minutes away from Florence: in Pistoia. Each day we took the local train from Pistoia via Prato to Firenze S.M.N. Parking the rental car near Pistoia Train Station did cost us just 2.50 Euro per day. We left our car the Parking Lot ‘Parcheggio Cavallotti’ at Via Felice Cavalloti. From there is was just a 5 minute walk to Pistoia Train Station. The train ride to Firenze S.M.N. and back is 8.50 Euros per person. It’s add up to approx. 20 Euros per day. Now please try to beat that with a parking spot below 20 Euros in Florence :)

This is what we found:
-> Chianti and Fettunta,
-> Botticelli’s Venus and Michelangelo’s David,
-> traces of Leonardo Da Vinci and the Medici family everywhere,
-> Galeria degli Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo and Duomo – all a must for every tourist.

And this is what we learned:
-> Pinocchio, the wooden boy whose nose grows when he lies, came from Florence.
-> Florence is even more expensive than Rome.
-> The piano was invented in Florence. First it was known as pianoforte which evolved from the harpsichord around 1700 (by Bartolomeo Cristofor).
-> Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio were the first to use Italian – a language other than Latin. This was the beginning of the end of Latin being used as the common language throughout Europe.

Florence on a budget means, you need to find some free sites. The best free sites to visit in Florence are the Duomo and Piazza Michelangelo. Duomo: It took 170 years to complete Florence’s incredible cathedral. Take your time enjoying the artistry in every corner. Entry to the Duomo is free.
Piazza Michelangelo on a hillside park south of the Arno River: You can climb there on foot, being rewarded with a memorable view of Florence.

Florence on a Budget
Michelangelo’s David- opposite of Loggia dei Lanzi – watching Perseus with the Head of Medusa.

Budget accommodation in Florence

If you want to save yourself from riding into town each day while coming from an Agriturismo, consider these locations an affordable option:
-> Villa Camerata (beds from €9.50 per night) is a 15th-century dwelling immersed in a green park that offers hostel accommodation. Choose from shared quarters or private rooms, with an en suite bathroom or without, or camp on the grounds around the villa.
-> Opera B&B (doubles from €76 per night), north of the centre, has four en suite rooms clad in earth tones. Each has high ceilings, air-con and Wi-Fi.
-> Cross-Pollinate (doubles from €46per night) provides bookings for apartments, guesthouses and B&Bs.
For those of you preferring Agirturismo, this was by far our absolute favorite property in Pistoia: Agriturismo Terra Rossa

Florence on a Budget
Florence on a Budget: There are many amazing statues to be found in public places throughout Florence.
 ponte vecchio
Florence on a budget: Ponte Vecchio
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Italy on a budget. Book your property here.

Florence on a Budget. By Chili & Chirp | Hugging Horizons since 2004 | More travel advise about Italy you’ll find here -> Italy. Explore other travel destinations on a budget -> Venice or New York or Quebec or Top 7 Dollar friendly Destinations.