Showing posts with label 2023. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2023. Show all posts

Monday, December 26, 2022

All about Los Angeles Travel !

General Information About Los Angeles

Los Angelesofficially the City of Los Angeles (City of Los Angeles 'City of Angels'), or LA with its initials, is the most populous in the state of California (English: California) with a population of 13.1 million, the second most populous in the USA after New York, and the third in the North American continent. It is a crowded city. Los Angeles is a city with an area of ​​approximately 1,210 km2 located in a large basin surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on one side and mountains up to 3,000 meters on the other, and is the center of Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the country. Famous for its Mediterranean climate, Hollywood and entertainment industry, the metropolis of Los Angeles is not only the largest city on the West Coast of North America, but also the cultural, financial and commercial center of Southern California. While giving detailed information about the city in this article titled Los Angeles Travel Guide,If one is to look for a city to characterize the American Dream , it is undoubtedly Los Angeles, which over the years has served as a magnet for countless dreamers who have followed their dreams to start life over.

Los Angeles Aerial Shot Aerial View Marina Del Rey
Los Angeles Aerial View Marina Del Rey

Hosting Hollywood, one of the major centers of the world entertainment industry, Los Angeles ranks 6th in the Global Cities Index and 9th in the Global Economic Power Index. The Los Angeles metropolitan area is also the third largest metropolitan city in the world, after the Tokyo and New York metropolitan areas, with a gross revenue of $1,044 trillion (as of 2017). Los Angeles hosted the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympics and is scheduled to host for the third time in 2028. It has hosted the Miss Universe pageant twice, in 1990 and 2006, making it one of nine American cities to host 1994 FIFA men's soccer. Two famous basketball teams based in Los Angeles named Lakers and Clippers are in the NBA.

Los Angeles History

Los Angeles and its environs, historically the home of the American peoples called Chumash and Tongva, were connected to Alta California by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in 1542, and the city was officially established by Spanish governor Felipe de Neve on September 4, 1781. It became part of Mexico in 1821 after the Mexican War of Independence. At the end of the Mexican-American War in 1848, Los Angeles and the rest of California were acquired as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which became part of the United States. Los Angeles was incorporated as a municipality on April 4, 1850, five months before it reached the state of California. The discovery of oil in the 1890s allowed the city to grow rapidly. Also, the completion of the Los Angeles Aqueduct in 1913 with the supply of water from Eastern California contributed to the growth of the city.

Rodeo Drive Beverly Shopping California
Rodeo Drive
Regions
Parts of the City of Los Angeles include:

Downtown
Although the arrival of automobiles and highways in Downtown, which is home to the central business district and Grand Avenue cultural corridor, has caused the deterioration of the neighborhood structure, there has been a revival in recent years with the opening of hotels, bars, shops and restaurants thanks to new housing constructions.

Eastside
It's the fun district north of downtown and east of Hollywood.

Harbor Area
It is the largest seaport in the USA and the starting point for cruises to Catalina Island.

Hollywood
It is a very wealthy part of the city and the place where movies are made. It has tended to increase its appeal in recent years with the construction of Hollywood & Highland and the return of the Academy Awards.

San Fernando Valley (San Fernando Valley)
It is the northern suburban part of Los Angeles. It is a valley to the northwest of the city centre, mostly inhabited by several districts.

South Central
Although the region, long notorious for gang violence, is famous for the Rodney King riots, great efforts are being made to rectify its old bad image. There are places worth seeing, such as the Exposition Park museums.

Westside
It is generally the corridor where the wealthy live in the city, and it is between downtown Los Angeles and the ocean. The Westside houses many upscale restaurants, shopping malls and movie theaters.

Wilshire
The Miracle Mile District is home to the interesting historic architecture of the Farmers Market and Grove shopping districts, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Koreatown (Korean neighborhood), CBS Television City and La Brea Tar Pits.

Universal Studios La Los Angeles Famous Globe
Universal Studios' famous globe. Los Angeles, USA
Los Angeles Climate, Weather, When to Go?
Los Angeles' climate is classified as subtropical-Mediterranean, a rare and often desirable weather classification. The city is sunny throughout the year and the weather is warm year-round. Seasons in Los Angeles are often negligible and can often be split into summer and winter/spring. Summers begin in early May and last for a long time, with the hottest of the year occurring in September and October. In the autumn and winter, there are strong and hot 'Santa Ana winds' that blow inland near the Santa Ana mountains and blow towards the coast. The temperature, which rises to 32 degrees in summer, rarely drops below 20 degrees at night, and in winter, it can be said that it is around 7-13 degrees in the evening and around 15 degrees during the day.

It's Good To Know Before You Go
The best time to go to Los Angeles, which can be visited all year round due to its mild climate, is April and May, when the parks are in bloom and the sweltering heat has not yet begun. Of course, if you want to enjoy the Southern California sun and swim in the sea while you are in Los Angeles, you can choose June, July and August when the beaches are full. From January to April, you can see the lowest room rates and occupancy rates.

Los Angeles weather
December and January are the coolest months with an average temperature of 68°F (20°C), while August is the warmest month with an average temperature of 84°F (28.3°C).

Airport Los Angeles Lights
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
How to Get to Los Angeles
Aeroplane
Five major commercial airports and more than a dozen private airports serve the Los Angeles area, with five major airports in Los Angeles, Burbank, Santa Ana, Long Beach, and Ontario. The largest of these, Los Angeles International Airport (IATA: LAX) is the largest international gateway to Southland and consists of nine terminals built in different eras with a massive architecture. In the Los Angeles area, then Long Beach Airport (IATA: LGB), Bob Hope (Bubank) Airport (IATA: BUR), Orange County/John Wayne Airport (IATA: SNA), and LA/Ontario Airport outside Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) (IATA: ONT) is also used.
LAX Terminals, Los Angeles Airport Terminals and Airlines
Terminal 1 Southwest (Gates 01-14)

Terminal 2 Aeroméxico, Air Canada, Air China, Arkefly, Hainan, Hawaiian Air , Qatar Airways, Sun Country , Avianca/Taca, Virgin Atlantic , Volaris, WestJet

Terminal 3 Allegiant , Frontier , JetBlue , Spirit , Virgin America , Virgin Australia (Gate 34-38)  
Terminal 4 American , American Eagle (Gate 40- 49A).

Terminal 5 Delta, Delta Connection (Gate 50A-B-59)

Terminal 6 Alaska (Gate 64A-B- 69A-B), American, Copa Airlines (Gate 65), Great Lakes (Gate 64A-B, 65A-B, 66 & 67A) (Gate 60-63)

Terminal 7 United (Gate 70A-B-77A-B)

Terminal 8 United, United Express (Gate 80-88)

Tom Bradley/TBIT or B Aeroflot, American, Air Berlin, Air France, Air Tahiti Nui, Air New Zealand, Alitalia, All Nippon Airways, Asiana, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, El Al Israel Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, EVA Air, Fiji Airways , Ethiopian, Iberia Airlines, Japan Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch, Korean Air, LAN Airlines, LAN Peru, Lufthansa, Norwegian, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Airlines, Thai Airways, Transaero Airlines, & Turkish Airlines

Train
The main Amtrak station is at Union Station, 800 N. Alameda St., off the Hollywood (US-101) highway in downtown Los Angeles. It is located at the train station. The train station is patrolled by private security guards and people who stay in the seats for too long may be asked to show a ticket. Amtrak routes serving Los Angeles include:

Coast Starlight operates daily between Los Angeles and Seattle via Portland and in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Pacific Surfliner operates several trains daily between San Diego and Los Angeles, with some trains going north to Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.

Southwest Chief travels to Chicago daily via Albuquerque and Kansas City. Local stops to the Inland Empire south and east of downtown are Fullerton, Riverside and San Bernardino. The train continues to Victorville, Barstow and Needles before crossing into northern Arizona. The closest stop to the Grand Canyon is at Williams Junction, Az, and Flagstaff.
Sunset Limited travels to New Orleans three times a week via Tucson and San Antonio.
The train from San Joaquin, Fresno, and Sacramento goes to Bakersfield, about 115 miles north.

Bus
The Greyhound terminal is located east of the famous Skid Row area, south of the city's Downtown Arts District, near 1716 East 7th Street, I-10, and South Alameda Street. It is recommended that you do not linger longer than you should due to security problems in this underdeveloped region. From Greyhound station, you can take a taxi or bus 760 or 60 to get to Downtown. You can also take a taxi to Union Station on the FlyAway bus to the airport, Amtrak or Metrolink trains.

Los Angeles Transportation
It's true that LA is popular with its car culture, and it's advisable to get a rental car (rent a available) because public transportation and taxis are almost non-existent. A rental car is the best option, as the distances within the city are long and it is cheap to buy or rent a car. Los Angeles, where most of the city roads are 6-8 lanes, is a city where almost everyone over the age of 16 drives. Still, there are other ways to explore the city without getting behind the wheel. The subway, light rail and buses ($1.75 per trip) carry hundreds of thousands of people a day, and multiple bike lanes throughout the city welcome an increasing number of cyclists. In Los Angeles, buses go to different routes according to colors. Red route for Beverly Hills and Sunset Boulevard, You can take the yellow route for Santa Monica, the blue route to Universal Studios, and the purple route to go downtown, i.e. Downtown. The subway service usually runs from approximately 4 to 1:30 or 2 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, with extended hours until 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. To pay for train rides in LA, you must use a portable TAP card. Although buses can be a very good and efficient mode of transportation in many parts of the world, especially in Europe, you can be sure that in LA you will probably be sitting next to very poor or even homeless people and you will not like the smell of the interior of the car, the choice is yours. The subway service usually runs from approximately 4 to 1:30 or 2 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, with extended hours until 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. To pay for train rides in LA, you must use a portable TAP card. Although buses can be a very good and efficient mode of transportation in many parts of the world, especially in Europe, you can be sure that in LA you will probably be sitting next to very poor or even homeless people and you will not like the smell of the interior of the car, the choice is yours. The subway service usually runs from approximately 4 to 1:30 or 2 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, with extended hours until 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. To pay for train rides in LA, you must use a portable TAP card. Although buses can be a very good and efficient mode of transportation in many parts of the world, especially in Europe, you can be sure that in LA you will probably be sitting next to very poor or even homeless people and you will not like the smell of the interior of the car, the choice is yours.

Hollywood Sign Los Angeles
Hollywood sign, Los Angeles, California, USA
Places to Visit, Must Sees
Tourists visiting LA for the first time will particularly want to visit Hollywood, Universal City (especially Universal Studios), and Venice Beach as a priority. Century City, Downtown Los Angeles, UCLA, USC, Griffith Park, and the Los Angeles River bridges east of downtown are all worth visiting. Even if you've never seen these major landmarks of Los Angeles before, they will all look somewhat familiar as they've all been used in numerous famous feature films, television shows, and television commercials. However, many other landmarks often associated with the City of Los Angeles are not technically located in the city of Los Angeles but are located in adjacent cities and nearby areas. For example, Rodeo Drive is located in Beverly Hills; Santa Monica Pier, Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Beach are in Santa Monica; NBC, Disney and Warner Bros. studio facilities in Burbank; Sony Pictures Entertainment studio in Culver City; Marina del Rey is an out-of-town area under the jurisdiction of the county. Malibu is half an hour's drive west of Santa Monica. Disneyland, Newport Beach, and South Coast Plaza are less than an hour's drive to the southeast in Orange County.

Hollywood
Griffith Observatory Astronomy
Griffith Observatory
Hollywood, which has the footprints of famous movie stars and the names of stars on its famous street, is one of the must-see places in Los Angeles. The famous Dolby Theater, where the Academy Awards (Oscar) are given, is also located in Hollywood. You can also see the giant plateau where the world's most famous movies are made, and of course the Hollywood sign (Hollywood Sign) on the hill. One of Hollywood's most recognizable landmarks, this post is located atop Mount Lee in Griffith Park. You can view this post from the Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park, Mulholland Drive at the Hollywood Bowl, and the Hollywood and Highland Center. Hollywood Walk of Fame(Hollywood Walk of Fame) consists of a series of stars buried in the pavement to commemorate famous movie, radio, theater, TV stars along Hollywood Boulevard. Since 1960, the names of over two thousand stars have been immortalized. Capitol Records Building, Charlie Chaplin Studios, Paramount Pictures Studios , Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Guinness World Records Museum , Hollywood Heritage Museum, Hollywood Wax Museum, Madame Tussauds Hollywood, Grauman's Chinese Theatre ( Grauman's Chinese Theatre ) are Hollywood's sights.
Dowtown
Los Angeles Malibu California Beach Pacific Sea
Los Angeles Malibu Beach, Pacific Ocean
Downtown, which is the center of Los Angeles, has many social activities and places to visit. Downtown places worth visiting include Grand Central Market, Museum of Contemporary Art, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Olvera Street, Chinatown , Little Tokyo. Los Angeles ChinatownCentered along North Broadway north of Cesar Chavez Avenue, it has a look that blends traditional Chinese and modern architecture along wide, busy streets. There are several malls (Saigon Plaza, Chinatown Central Plaza), Chinatown Gate, and plazas that open onto the street with many small shops and stalls, as well as shops, restaurants, and institutions serving the local Chinese-American population. Los Angeles State Historic Park (Los Angeles State Historic Park), Also known locally as the Cornfield ('Corn Field'), this expansive park on the north side of Chinatown was opened after an extensive overhaul. Little Tokyo _), this neighborhood of Los Angeles is home to the Japanese Village Plaza, Weller Court, and the Japanese American National Museum ( Japanese American National Museum ), as well as numerous attractions, restaurants, and shops for those interested in the local Japanese-American population or Japanese culture.There are places worth seeing, such as The El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument is located where Los Angeles was founded as El Pueblo de Los Angeles. Today, this tourist area is home to a collection of historical museums located in several square blocks centered along 12 Olvera Streets, lined with 11 old plazas and Mexican-themed trinket stands and restaurants. The Chinese American Museum, the Museum of Social Justice, and the LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes are located here. In Downtown, there are also art museums such as the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), the Grammy Museum, the Bradbury Building,

Los Angeles California Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium, LA
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles Central Public Library, Music Center and Disney Hall, The Theater District, U.S. Bank Tower (US Bank Tower, Library Tower) and Wilshire Grand Center can be seen. The area bounded by Alameda Street and Main Street, which connects 3rd to 7th Street, is often called "Skid Row" or "Nickel" and has one of the largest homeless populations in the United States. Although Greyhound Station is located here, it is not safe for pedestrians at any time of the day.

Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County in Southern California, almost completely surrounded by Los Angeles, and is a residential area of ​​the world's most famous and wealthy people. Since the 1950s, Beverly Hills has been promoted as a high-end shopping and marketplace home to the rich and famous, an image that has also served as the basis for several popular TV shows such as the Beverly Hillbillies and Beverly Hills 90210. Santa Monica Boulevard bisects the city, with most businesses to the south and mostly residential to the north. Most tourists come here to shop or see the homes of their favorite celebrities.

Venice Beach
The area known as Venice Beach, or Venice for short ('Venice'), has a beautiful beach as well as a palm-fringed coastal walkway.

Venice Beach Los Angeles California
Venice Beach
Disneyland
Located in Anaheim about half an hour southeast of LA, Disneyland is a popular attraction with toddlers and older kids alike, and offers fun for the whole family. In the compound of Disneyland there are two parks located in the traditional Disneyland Park, as well as California Adventure Park. The place adorned with mascots of Walt Disney characters, which hosts playgrounds and entertainment centers, an example of which in Paris , offers all the magic and understanding you expect from Disney.

Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard is a boulevard in the central and western part of Los Angeles County, California that runs from the Pacific Coast Highway in the eastern Pacific Palisades to Figueroa Street in Downtown Los Angeles. Downtown is the most important boulevard of the city, passing through all the important points of the city such as Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica.

Walt Disney Center Concert Hall Hall Architecture
Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA
Useful and Important Information for a Los Angeles Trip


You Can Get a SIM Card and a Go Los Angeles Card
If this is your first time traveling to Los Angeles, then as you arrive in LA just ask someone, there is an area in one of the terminals where you can buy a SIM card.

Woman Shopping Boutique California Los Angeles
Los Angeles' famous boutiques
Some prepaid SIM cards are valid for 10 days, while others are valid for 30 days. You can buy one that suits you. If you have a US SIM card, getting UBER is easy and what's more, you don't have to pay a lot for internet data. If you are planning to tour Los Angeles thoroughly, the “Go Los Angeles Card” will provide you with discounted access to many activities.

Where to Eat in Los Angeles
Los Angeles boasts a wide variety of food courts, and the city's most famous cuisines are served by celebrity chefs such as Gino Angelini, Wolfgang Puck, and David Myers. It is the best of the sophisticated Italian options at Osteria Mozza in Hollywood. If you like the prospect of a Hollywood star sitting at the neighboring table, you can dine at 'Palm Restaurant' or 'The Ivy' in or near 'Beverly Hills', 'Fig & Olive' in West Hollywood or 'The Polo Lounge' at 'The Beverly Hills Hotel' .

Saturday, December 24, 2022

Russia leaves UEFA and joins Asian Football Confederation (AFC)!

 Banned from international sports competitions by FIFA and UEFA, Russia has started negotiations to join the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Making a press statement after the Russian Football Union (RFS) Executive Board meeting convened the day before, Russian Football Federation President Aleksandr Dyukov stated that they are considering leaving the European Football Federations (UEFA) with the clubs next week.

Dyukov stated that they will evaluate the options to leave UEFA via video conference with the clubs next week, and signaled that the decision could be taken on Tuesday, 27 December.

On February 28, UEFA and the International Football Federation (FIFA) suspended the participation of Russian clubs and Russian National Teams in international competitions due to the military operation in Ukraine. The Russian National Team was banned from the World Cup qualifiers in Qatar and could not participate in the 2024 European Championship qualifying draw.


Dyukov stated that the negotiations about Russia's turning its face to Asia in football are continuing, and underlined that this issue will have an impact on how Russian football will develop at least in the next 10 years.


Stating that they will make the final decision on Tuesday, Dyukov continued his statements as follows:


“We are now seriously considering the transition to the Asian Football Confederation, as we have this window of opportunity until December 31st. We have to apply for withdrawal in order to catch up with the 2026 World Cup. If we don't do this now, we understand that we have no chance of entering the European competitions. Then we will have access to the next tournaments from 2027. So our football could lose four years. This should be taken into account. As for our clubs, the vast majority support the transition to the Asian Football Confederation. Some unconditionally, others understand that not playing there is better than not playing in Europe at all."


"NO ONE GUARANTEE TO RUSSIA"


Dyukov emphasized that the process would consist of two phases if it was decided to switch Russia to the Asian Football Confederation, and said that they would first leave UEFA and then join the new organization.


"The withdrawal process from UEFA is possible at the end of the fiscal year corresponding to the seasons according to the "autumn-spring" scheme in football," said the President of the Russian Football Federation, and that UEFA should be notified at least six months before the end of the financial year, that is, by 31 December, He also stated that the federation that wants to do this before leaving must fulfill all its financial obligations to UEFA.


Dyukov underlined that Russia does not see the possibility of returning to sports organizations in Europe at the moment,


In his statement, the President of the Federation said, “Naturally, no one at UEFA is ready to give a written guarantee that we will be accepted. However, they are ready to evaluate our objection and they are very likely to accept us.” He said that they knew that FIFA would not object to Russia's transition to the Asian Confederation.


Reiterating that the clubs are ready to play in Asia, Dyukov said, “Half of the clubs agree on the undisputed transition. Asia is a growing economy and has great commercial potential. When we look at the participating countries, we see that there are countries with a population of 4 billion and large economies.”


UEFA announced that Russian football teams were banned from European cups next season due to Russia's military intervention in Ukraine, and their applications to host the EURO 2028 and EURO 2032 European Championships were deemed invalid.


Speaking at the end of May, European Football Associations Association (UEFA) President Aleksander Ceferin said he was not sure that Russian clubs could play in European cups again.


Speaking to the Italian sports newspaper Sky Sport Italia, Ceferin evaluated the situation regarding Russia's exclusion from international competitions and said, “We all underestimated the situation in the previous months. No one could have imagined that such a conflict would break out. When it started, we all thought it would take a few weeks. It is very difficult to predict when the situation in Ukraine will change after the decision to ban Russia from European competitions. Therefore, I am not sure that Russian clubs will be able to participate in European cups again,” he said.


German Tkachenko, head of Prosports Management, a player consultancy and management service operating in Russia, said in a statement about when the country will return to UEFA, “I think we will not see Russian clubs in Europe for a long time. It will take at least 5 or 6 years. After the seventh year, the Russian teams will have to start from the bottom of the standings due to the falling ratings.”

Thursday, December 22, 2022

All about Florence travel!

 The city, which is the capital of the Tuscany region in Northern Italy, is not only the cradle of the Renaissance, but also one of the best art cities of Europe and Italy with its open-air museum appearance, and therefore one of the country's important tourism centers such as Rome and Venice , so much under the title of Florence Travel Guide . You shouldn't be surprised that it's full of advice and information. Home to Giotto's frescoes, Michelangelo's David, Botticelli's paintings, Leonardo da Vinci and many other masterpieces in the Uffizi Gallery, Florence has so much art and architecture that it's time to decide where to start your trip. It is an issue in itself. ChiantiLocated close to the vine-covered hills of Florence, Florence is also a historic city with a deep-rooted culinary tradition and vibrant nightlife, and is a must-see Italian city with its interesting shops selling quality handicrafts, not lagging behind in opera, classical music and contemporary art.

Ponte Vecchio and the Arno River (Florence, Italy)

Florence (Firenze) in a nutshell

Even if your time is limited in Florence, you should definitely spare time for masterpieces such as Michelangelo's David, the magnificent works of Botticelli, Da Vinci and Caravaggio in the Uffizi, the Duomo with its striking dome by Brunelleschi, the Piazza della Signoria or the Ponte Vecchio bridge. In your spare time, you can take a short stroll in the Oltrarno neighborhood full of artists' workshops, stop by Mercato Centrale, the lively district of the city, taste local delicacies in trattorias and osterias , drink in wine bars and gelato in your favorite flavors and colors from Italy's famous ice cream shops, gelateria.you can buy. In addition, Florence is a city surrounded by tree-covered hills on three sides, and you can escape from the noise of the city and the tourist crowd in a few minutes, especially in high season, to the Tuscan countryside full of olive groves. From Ponte Vecchio, head towards Costa de Magnoli, up Costa San Giorgio and continue along Via San Leonardo, crossing Viale Galileo Galilei to enjoy the Tuscan sun and nature.

france florence Italy
sunset in Florence, Italy

When to go to Florence

Florence is beautiful from late spring to early autumn, as it is one of Italy's most vibrant summer tourist destinations in terms of outdoor dining and drinking opportunities and open-air concerts. However, since this is the high season in terms of tourism, it should be kept in mind that hotel prices are at the highest levels and there are long queues in front of the Uffizi Gallery . Although the city, which is scorching hot in July and August, is equally cold in winter, if you like to dress thickly, January and February can be preferred because of cheap accommodation and relatively secluded places to visit. In addition, music lovers can enjoy Florence's Teatro del Maggio Musicale , one of the world's most important classical music and opera venues.You can kill two birds with one stone during your Florence tour by reviewing the exhibition calendar of the world-famous art center Palazzo Strozzi.

Must-See Places in Florence

Florence Cathedral, Duomo, Duomo di Firenze or Santa Maria del Fiore Florence

 

Florence Cathedral, Duomo

Florence Cathedral, Duomo, Duomo di Firenze or Santa Maria del Fiore is the cathedral built in the city of Florence between 1296-1436, its construction started in Gothic style by Arnolfo di Cambio, and it was finished by Filippo Brunelleschi, who designed the dome, the exterior surface in the 19th century by Emilio De Fabris. It was renovated in Gothic style. Located in the Duomo Square (Piazza del Duomo), the cathedral complex also includes the baptistery and the Giotto Bell Tower, and all three buildings are on the UNESCO World Heritage list .is located. Brunelleschi's massive 15th-century tiled dome of the cathedral is considered the largest wall dome in the world. Inside the cathedral, you can see the famous fresco of Paolo Uccello's 14th-century British mercenary, Sir John Hawkwood, as well as the Baptistery's glittering mosaic ceiling. To get one of the best views of Florence, if you're not claustrophobic and not afraid of height, as well as narrow stairwells and steep steps, you can climb 414 steps to reach Giotto's bell tower, where you can get a bird's-eye view of the city's panorama and roof tiles. Opening hours: Monday-10:00-17:00 Sunday 13.30pm-16.45. Entry into the cathedral is free. Florence Cathedral Website

Signoria Square

L-shaped Signoria Square (Piazza della Signoria), located in the center of the city of Florence, is the old city in front of which it was named during the Florentine Republic.

Santa Maria Novella Florence

It takes its name from the administration building (Palazzo Vecchio or Palazzo della Signoria) and is famous for its pool that houses the statue of Neptune and the statue of David. In the center of the square, which has the 14th century Palazzo Vecchio and its crenellated tower, there is also the Loggia della Signoria, the Uffizi Gallery, the Tribunale della Mercanzia (1359, today the 'Agriculture Office'), the Renaissance-style Palace of the Assicurazioni Generali (1871), and the façade was mistaken for Raphael's. Palazzo Uguccioni (1550), which is attributed to Just as the Duomo was once the spiritual center of Florence, the Signoria Square was at the center of everyday life, and even today it is constantly crowded and lively with a mix of Florentines and tourists. Loggia dei Lanzi, located on the south side of the square,Florence City Museums (Musei Civici Fiorentini) Website

Old Bridge, Ponte Vecchio

Florence's most famous bridge is the 14th century Ponte Vecchio, located at the narrowest point of the Arno River, and it houses many jewelery shops.

Neptune statue

contains. While the original shop owners were butchers, blacksmiths and tanners, jewelers were placed in 1593 during the reign of Ferdinando I. It would be best to set the clock and go early in the morning to find the bridge, which is crowded almost every hour of the day, secluded, especially if you are a photography enthusiast, to capture the most beautiful state of the light reflected on the Arno surface.

Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi), one of the oldest and most famous art museums in the world, is located adjacent to the Piazza della Signoria. Gentile da Fabriano's Magi, Botticelli's Primavera and the Birth of Venus, the twin portraits of Piero della Francesca's Duke and the Duchess of Urbino, and Michelangelo's Tondo Doni are hard to see in one day. enthusiasts should consider going several days in a row. If you don't want to wait in line for hours, you should book online in advance. If you're not an art buff and just want to take a look at the museum, you can get in quickly as there is no queue just before it closes. Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday 08.15 – 18.50. During special exhibitions, an extra fee is charged to enter the museum, apart from the ticket price.Uffizi Gallery Website

Galleria dell'Accademia

Galleria dell'Accademia or Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze (Florence Academy gallery) is an art museum that houses works by Florentine artists from 1300 to 1600. The world's most famous nude sculpture, Michelangelo's David , is exhibited in the tribuna of the Accademia Gallery.

duomo

and when you follow the people wandering around the block, it will appear in all its glory. As Michelangelo's David was originally intended to stand high in the Duomo, a 5 m high Carrara marble statue and pedestal were carved together. You may notice that the right arm of the statue of David is larger than the other parts of its body, that the "manu fortis" (strong hand) is a frequent emphasis in the sculptures of the period. It is said that a chair that he threw to his rebels during a cyan against the Medici family on April 26, 1527 crashed into the statue in Palazzo Vecchio, breaking his left arm. According to Giorgio Vasari, the arm was attached to the body with copper nails. 5, Other than the statue of David, which weighs 660 kg and weighs more than 80 adult men, don't miss the other collections, which also include Michelangelo's statue of the Four Slaves and a magnificent collection of musical instruments. Summer is the high season of tourism and you need to make a reservation in advance so that you don't have to wait in line. Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 08:15 – 18:50.Galleria dell'Accademia website

San Marco Museum

The monastery section of a religious complex consisting of a church structure and a monastery in the city of Florence has been turned into a museum under the name Museo di San Marco. century

Sun clock

The artist Fra Angelico not only lived in this monastery between 1438 and 1444, but also left his famous paintings here. Note the frescoes on the walls of the priest's chamber, and the Annunciation, the most famous of all religious paintings, on the top of the stairs, and my paintings of the Linaiuoli Tabernacle and the Last Judgment in the room where the poor pilgrims came to the monastery. Opening hours: Monday – Friday, 08:15 – 13:50 Saturday and Sunday, 08:15 – 16:50 (sometimes closed on Sunday and Monday). Museo di San Marco website

Boat Tour on the Arno River

In order to get a very different perspective on your trip to Florence, you can join the tours organized between May and September on the traditional wooden boats barchetti , which used to transport construction materials on the Arno river in the past. You can see the Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, the huge Palazzo Corsini and many other structures on the river, accompanied by an English-speaking guide, on boat tours that last approximately 50 minutes with the participation of 12 people and get information about them. If you book the VIP Sunset Tour package , you can watch the sunset over Flosan with an aperitif . Florence Town Boat Tour Website


Santa Croce Basilica

David statue

The most important church of the Franciscan denomination in Florence, the Basilica of Santa Croce (Basilica di Santa Croce) is located in Santa Croce Square, about 800 meters south of the Duomo. Many of Florence's most distinguished citizens are buried in this church, including Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Ugolino della Gherardesca (braineater in The Divine Comedy), and Galileo. The Basilica of Santa Croce is also famous for its frescoes, the frescoes in the Peruzzi and Bardi chapels by Giotto, those in the Baroncelli and Castellani chapels by Taddeo and Agnolo Gaddi, respectively. Opening hours: Monday – Saturday 09:30-17:00; Sunday 14:00 – 17:00. Santa Croce Website

Bargello Museum

The building, known as the Bargello Museum (Musei del Bargello, Museo nazionale del Bargello), Bargello Palace or Palazzo del Popolo, is used as a city hall, a prison with barracks and torture rooms in the past, and today as an art museum. In the museum, which houses Florence's most important Renaissance sculpture collection, there are also two statues of David and Saint George by Donatello, such as Giambologna's Mercurius (Hermes) and Michelangelo's Drunken Bacchus . During the summer, various cultural events such as music, theater and dance performances are held in the courtyard of the museum. Opening hours: Monday – Friday 08:15 – 13:50; Saturday and Sunday 08:15 – 16.50 (sometimes closed on Sunday and Monday). Bargello Museum Website

Basilica of Santa Maria Novella

Santa Maria Novella is the first major basilica in Florence, opposite the main train station, and the church of the most important Dominican denomination, gothic and early

Boboli Gardens, Neptune statue

It houses various works of art from the Renaissance period and the tombs of some Florentines. Built in the 9th century under the name of Santa Maria delle Vigne, the small church was enlarged in 1221 after the place was allocated to the Dominican sect and was called Novella ('new'). Trinità fresco of 1427, reflecting Masaccio's mastery of perspective, Giotto's great cross, magnificent frescoes by Domenico Ghirlandaio, 'premature birth' by Sandro Botticelli, wood carvings by Baccio D'Agnolo, Bronzino's 'miracle of Christ' ', Nardo di Cione's 'Divine Judgment' fresco, Lorenzo Ghiberti 'Leonardo Dati's tombstone', Filippino Lippi's frescoes in the Strozzi Chapel and Nino Pisano's masterpieces called Madonna and Child can be seen in this church. Opening hours: Monday – Friday 9:00-19:00; Saturday, 9:00-18:30; Sunday 12:00 – 18.Santa Maria Novella website

ognissanti

San Salvatore di Ognissanti or Ognissanti Church was founded in Florence in the square of the same name, dedicated to all known and unknown saints and martyrs of the Umiliati order. One of the most beautiful paintings in Florence, Domenico Ghirlandaio's The Last Supper (1480), is housed in the convent refectory. The Saint, including two paintings by Ghirlandaio, located in the adjacent church

Souvenir shop

Be sure to see other artworks, including a depiction of Jerome with a lion. Opening hours: Monday – Saturday 9:00:13:00. Ognissanti ('All Saints') website

La Specola

La Specola is the Museum of Zoology and Natural History of the University of Florence, which houses an old-fashioned botanical collection, and three anatomical models can be seen, especially 3 anatomical models reflecting the plague victims, made of scary-looking wax used in the training of trainee doctors between 1775-1791. It should be taken into account that there are models that may disturb children during family visits. Opening hours: June September: Tuesday-Friday, Sunday, 10.30-17.30; Saturday, 9:30-13:00; Closed on Mondays. October-May: Tuesday-Sunday, 9.30 – 16.30; Closed on Mondays. La Specola Website

Brancacci Chapel

Brancacci Chapel (Cappella Brancacci), a chapel within the Baroque Church of Santa Maria del Carmine in Florence, famous for its murals and early Renaissance

Dante Statue

It is called the Sistine Chapel. Pietro Brancacci, who was commissioned for the construction of the chapel, started work in 1386, the frescoes were made by Masolino and Masaccio in 1425 and 50 years later by Filippino Lippi. Do not skip the scene where Adam and Eve are being thrown out of the Garden of Eden. Since some of the frescoes are quite high, it would be appropriate to carry a binocular with you. Opening hours: Wednesday -Monday 10:00-17:00 (closed on Tuesdays). Brancacci Chapel Website

fiesole

Located in the hilly area 8 km northeast of Florence, the commune of Fiesole was used as a summer resort for wealthy Florentines in the past. You can take the number 7 bus to the settlement, which is famous for its Roman amphitheater (still used for shows) and small archaeological museums, and have a coffee and lunch in one of the cafes overlooking Piazza Mino. If you go to the San Francesco monastery in Fiesole, you can see and photograph the magnificent view of Florence from a steep hill.

 

 

Church

Transportation in Florence

Frankly, walking is the best way to get around Florence, as you can walk from one end of the city to the other in about 30 minutes, passing many famous buildings along the way. Many travelers to Florence fly into Galileo Galilei Airport (PSA) in Pisa and make a short stop at the Leaning Tower of Pisa before catching the train to the main station, Stazione di Firenze Santa Maria Novella. You can also fly to Florence's small Amerigo Vespucci Airport (FLR) and get to the city center by bus or taxi. If you are too tired to walk after reaching the city, it would be wise to hop on an ATAF bus.

Walking in Florence

After donning a comfortable pair of walking shoes, it's wise to explore this warm city's narrow cobbled streets and all its Renaissance architecture, quirky shoe shops and Tuscan restaurants famous for their delicious food.

Bus in Florence

When you are tired of walking, you can take one of the ATAF buses. One-way tickets are available at local Italian markets and tobacco shops for 1 euro. However, before getting on the bus, don't forget to validate your purchased ticket at the machine!

Jewels in the jewelery shop, Ponte Vecchio

Driving a car in Florence

Even if you arrive in Florence by car, much of the city center is restricted to tourist drivers – as the city consists of areas marked with “ZTL” (“Zona a Traffico Limitato” or Limited Traffic Area), moreover because the city consists of many pedestrian zones and narrow, one-way streets. It is difficult to drive in this city without a headache. First of all, you need a special ZTL permit to drive in Florence. If not and you need to drive, you should park your car in one of the city parking lots, then walk or take a taxi to your destination.

Taxi in Florence

Taxi is expensive as in most European countries, the meter opens at around 3 euros on weekdays and Saturdays, and higher on Sundays from 22:00 to 06:00 at night. Most taxi users take a taxi to reach Stazione di Firenze Santa Maria Novella (Florence Train Station). Even if you have a budget to take a taxi, you should obtain a taxi from the stop, and you should not forget that calling a taxi is illegal here.

Street artist creating wonders with chalk in Florence

Life-Saving Florence Trip Advice for First-Time Visitors

 

Don't Forget to Buy a Firenze Card (Florence Card)!

Garden and motorcycles

Florence has finally managed to issue a city pass that costs €72 valid for 72 hours, allowing you to get most museum admissions, free city bus rides, and skip the crowded museum queues. If you want to conquer Florence especially in the field of arts and culture, the museums covered by the Firenze Card are the Uffizi (normally 8 €, reservation fee + 4 €), Accademia (Michelangelo's David here 8 € + 4 € reservation fee), Pitti Palace (8, €50 for the main collections + €7 for the gardens and small museums), the Bargello (4€), Palazzo Vecchio (€6.50) and the Medici Chapels (€6) cost 56€ in total. Considering that the long queues for the Uffizi and Accademia will be bypassed, if you are going to work at the museum, it comes at a very affordable price. San Marco (€4) if you can catch them all, the Brancacci Chapel (€6) and Santa Maria Novella (€5) are other places where the Firenze Card provides free passes. You can also use the ATAF (bus and tram) card free of charge in Florence.You can buy it online or from tourist information offices. If your trip to Florence is limited to a few museums and you are going to provide transportation mostly on foot, it would not be wise to buy the nu card.

Book tickets for the Uffizi and the Accademia!

The ticket queue in front of the Uffizi and Accademia lasts 2 hours in summer and 30 minutes in winter.

Do not stay in hotels close to the train station!

As in most European cities, the streets surrounding the train station are full of hotels, but in Florence hotels around Santa Maria Novella

Rape of the Sabine women statue

it is usually noisy and rather boring. Florence is a small city, and you can reach the train station in a 30-minute walk from anywhere. You can choose a hotel on Via Faenza, a tourist ghetto full of small and cheap hotels, but you're more likely to dine at restaurants full of backpackers and encounter other tourists than locals at every step you take.

Watch out for ZTL or Zona Traffico Limitato!

If you have arrived in Florence by car, it is very important that you provide your car's license plate to your hotel immediately. The magic section of the historic center Centro storico is now closed to traffic – ZTL or Zona Traffico Limitato – and you need a special permit to drive (residents, deliveries) and be aware that you will have to pay serious fines if you do not comply. 15-20 years ago you could ignore street signs and go to your hotel where you wanted to go. Today, there are cameras on the roads leading to the central ZTL, which takes pictures of each license plate and sends it to a central computer. If your car is not registered to this computer, it will automatically create a ticket and find you through the 'rent a car' agency where you actually rented your car, which will be charged to your credit card even months later. Your hotel may report your license plate to the police when you check in, but this will only give you two hours to get your car off the street or from the ZTL. If it's your first time to Florence, you should park your rental car in one of the inexpensive public garages leading to the historic center and then drive into the city to find your hotel.

Walk instead of taking the bus!

Florence is much smaller than you might think, especially compared to metropolises such as New York , London and Rome , and unlike other big European cities,

Ponte Vecchio, once Florence's most famous bridge

Florence train station is already in its historic centre, so visitors do not need to hop on a city bus to reach the city from the shopping centres. The city's largest cathedral, for example, is only five to seven minutes' walk from the train station.