The Relais Villa Antea is a great representation of Florentine hospitality. The boutique hotel offers a luxury atmosphere in the peacefulness of Florence’s most elegant areas. This villa easily boasts the charm of a private house for a very reasonable price.

The Palazzo Niccolini al Duomo is a grand ancient house. It features the uniqueness of a private aristocratic residence that is located in the heart of historical Florence which makes it easy for those who want to take the tourist route around the city.

Locanda De’Ciompi is a unique period-style cozy bed and breakfast located in Santa Croce, one of the oldest quarters in Florence. The rooms also offer a wonderful view of the Loggiato del Pesce. You can easily find yourself immersed in the history and culture of Florence just by staying at Locanda De’Ciompi.

Hotel Hermitage is a comfortable and intimate hotel which is located in the heart of Florence. All the main sights and attractions that any tourist would want to visit is just within walking distance from the hotel. You can visit the Uffizi Gallery, Pitti Palace, Duomo and Bargello. This makes Hotel Hermitage the perfect place for a tourist to stay at.

Casina Turchina is located in Firenze. It is a small house with a garden that is near the airport and the center of the city. I recommend this little bundle of an accommodation for anyone who wants some privacy during their visit of Florence.

Signoria Apartments is another great place to stay at. It’s a luxurious abode that is located in the heart of Florence’s historical center. It’s on Via della Condotta street which is just a block away from Piazza della Signoria where the Medicis erected the Palazzo Vecchio. Do I even need to say more after that?

So whether you want to act like a tourist or if you want to have a little private vacation in Florence, there’s going to be a perfect match in accommodations just for you.

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• Shopping in Rome (1)

Shops in Rome are generally open from 9am to 1pm, 9:30am in the center of the city, and reopens from 4pm to 7:30pm.  There are however a few exceptions: I must break every shopaholic’s heart by saying that clothing stores in Rome are closed on Sunday and Monday mornings. I know it hurts it’s when you still have lots of money right? But then, they follow the general hours of opening and closing.

For those gluttons shopping their stomachs through Rome, food stores are open from 8am to 1pm and reopen from 5pm to 7:30pm. Sadly though, that on Sundays and Thursday afternoons, these gluttons must take a break since food stores are closed during these days, except during summer since they are close on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. Vegetarians in Rome  must wake up early to catch the outdoor fresh vegetable markets such as Campo de’Fiori which is open from 7am to 2pm Mondays to Saturdays. Supermarkets on the other hand are 8am to 8pm all day, including Sundays.

Shoppers must consider the last two weeks of August as a summer holiday break for these shops as well as for their pockets.

If you’re looking for the best finds for clothes and the latest trends in Rome, you might want to try visiting the area between via del Corso and via del Babuino in the vicinity of the Spanish steps. Many of the posh shops and haute couture boutiques can be found in that area: those of Armani, Prada, Gucci, Ferragamo, Bulgari Jewelers, Cartier Jewelers, Swatch, Mont Blanc and La Perla can be found in Via Condotti. Other shops you must check out at the side streets of Piazza Mignanelli, Piazza di Spagna, Via Borgognona,  Fontanella Borghese, Via del Babuino and places surrounding the vicinity.

One top shop of hats that has a significant collection of hats worn by famous people such as Mussolini and Trilussa can be found at 7 Via Minghetti, the Fratelli Vigano men’s shop which dates back its existence back to 1873.

For those shoppers who would want to stick to a strict budget, Rome offers the lower cost clothing shops. You’ll find these budget friendly yet trendy stores near the Vatican centered on Via Cola de Rienzo and Via Ottaviano.

Cookware and kitchen wares are also very much affordable and available in Rome. You can check out C.U.C.I.N.A. at 65 Via Mario de’ Fiori for kitchenware and cookware that you might ever need and ‘Gusto at 7 Piazza Augusto Imperatore for cookbooks that will offer a variety of recipes that will surely satisfy your taste.

There are still a lot to see and a number of shops to go to in Rome. Just be ready to walk and have your feet sore as you empty your pockets in one shopping getaway of a lifetime!

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The question of when the best month to visit Italy is a tough question to answer. There’s a lot to consider, like weather, tourist months and whatnot. You may like the hot summer months but someone might like to go skiing and would rather enjoy the chilly winter months. You might want to act like a tourist but someone else would rather avoid weaving through the crowds. With that in mind, here are some information on when the best month to visit Italy is.

Like most of Western Europe, spring and autumn are the best months to visit and travel around Italy if you like temperatures above 70°F. Northern Italy looks absolutely stunning in spring, the winters are mild and could sometimes get foggy, and the summers are hot, dry and humid as tempered by sea breezes. Southern Italy has warm, dry weather with a typical Mediterranean climate. July and August can be unpleasantly hot and humid so it’s not exactly the best month to visit Italy. Unless of course you plan on spending most of your time on the many beautiful beaches of the country, then these are the best months to visit Italy.

If you are considering the crowds, the best months to visit Italy are during November or March. The most crowded periods are Easter, May, June, October and Christmas. July and August have become less crowded in the past years but the summer months can be fun. But do remember that it can also get uncomfortably hot. Suffering from a sunburn or heatstroke isn’t exactly my ideal vacation so I choose to say that this isn’t the best month to visit Italy.

The summer months see a swell in the crowds. Ideally, the best months to visit Italy will be in June or September if you want sun and fun. The crowds are a little less and you are able to enjoy the country more. If you are into exploring the Italian countryside and doing more outdoors activities, the best months to visit Italy will be May and October.

For the best value, the best months to visit Italy will be during late spring and early autumn. This is when the weather is at its mildest and the crowds at a minimum. By scheduling your Italy vacation away from peak times, you can save a good deal of money as shop owners usually raise prices during the peak season. Don’t be such a penny pincher though or you might find yourself in the middle of the rainy and chilly weather that the months of November through March bring.

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