From 18th to 20th may 2012 in Florence take place the first internazional fair dedicated to culture and art tourism. Art&Tourism fair is located in the elegant environment of the Fortezza Da Basso in Florence, Italy.

This new appointment, with no equivalent in the trade fair scenery worldwide, will gather in the heart of Italy the best national and international cultural offers and the main tourism operators, in line with the most recent market figures, estimating a record 300 million tourists visiting so called “cultural” destinations each year.

Art&Tourism is a three-day exhibition: Friday and Saturday morning will be exclusively dedicated to insiders, whereas the fair will be open to the public on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. With more than 2000 between international buyers and trade visitors and 20.000 visitors expected, Art&Tourism represents an unmissable showcase.

For more information about Art & Tourism Fair please visit the official web site: http://www.artandtourism.it/en/

We can suggest an Hotel close to Fortezza da Basso for your stay in Florence during the exhibition: Florence Hotel Byron located in via della Scala 49.

FBFRV2C6BWAD When we think of Florence, we associate it with culture, antiquities and history rather than safari holidays. And while Florence doesn't really offer safari holidays as we might imagine them, it is possible to enjoy outdoor adventure when holidaying in this most beautiful of Italian cities.

Florence, the capital of Tuscany, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and there is history and culture around every corner. As with all Italian cities, the architecture is wonderful and life is lived on the street in the warmer months of the year, making it ideal for families. In terms of places to visit in the city, there are plenty of museums and interesting sights.

All tourists will find themselves in the Piazza del Signoria, which was once the city's political heart. Now it is most famed for its statues, including a bronze statue of Cosimo de Medici, one of Florence's most famous leaders. It is close to other tourist sites, such as the Uffizi Gallery. The Palazzo Vecchio is also in the Piazza. This medieval building served as both a fortress and a palace and has courtyards, chambers and terraces to explore. In the historical center city there is also a lovely tourist house near Florence Duomo.

The Ponte Vecchio is one of the city's most well-known sites. Bridging the River Arno, it is one of Florence's most iconic places. Another wonderful piazza is the Piazza del Duermo, or Cathedral Square, with its numerous historical buildings making it one of Europe's most visited places. Finally, definitely one of Florence's most renowned tourist attractions is the Boboli Gardens. With fantastic views, architecture, courtyards and fountains, it is a wonderful place to visit and there is plenty of space too to let the kids run around.

Florence is wonderful because it offers great opportunities for walking and there are plenty of tours available to allow you to visit all the nooks and crannies of the city. However, another aspect to Florence is its location within the heart of Tuscany, which is a lovely region of Italy.

Tuscany is excellent for hiking and cycling. These kinds of activities can be brilliant when holidaying with kids and you can get a chance to see some beautiful scenery. From Florence it is possible to book cycling trips for a day or a week. Week-long trips go from Florence into Umbria and take in some stunning scenery while cycling through beautiful towns and villages. Florence is also close to the wine-making region of Chianti and it is possible to incorporate cycling with visits to local vineyards.

Walking is also great in the environs of Florence as the Tuscan countryside is lovely. There are hundreds of trails through the Tuscan Apennines. Many of them are divided into different sections, with trails suitable for day trips, weekend trips or longer excursions. The local government has developed routes catering for different groups. For example, there are routes designed for families, for weekend visitors or specifically for nature lovers. This gives visitors to Florence the chance to experience a kind of Tuscan safari. The Tourist Information Centres in Florence will be able to give visitors a great deal of information regarding hiking and cycling routes suitable for families. They will also help with booking trips too.

So Florence may not be the top of your list when thinking of an activity holiday but thanks to its location in the foothills of the Apennines, it offers plenty of opportunities to discover the Tuscan countryside as well as enjoying the splendours of its history.

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Tuscany is one of the most beautiful and romantic places in the entire world, and renting a car and driving through the Italian countryside is one of the most wonderful experiences you can have in life. And contrary to popular belief, renting a car in Italy is easy, safe, and relatively inexpensive, as long as you keep some key facts in mind.
Car Types: Car choices in Italy range from compact cars up to luxury vehicles. Compact cars models available as rentals are usually something like a Volkswagen Golf or Alfa Mito, both fun cars to drive on winding Tuscany roads. As you move up in car classes you can choose between various Renault, Fiat and Peugeot models. Italy is well known for luxury cars, and you can easily rent a Peugeot or Renault convertible or Mercedes Benz sedans. Some car companies even offer Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari or Maserati rentals, unfortunately at astronomical prices.
Insurance: Like with car rentals in most places around the world, your personal car insurance probably has rental car coverage, but you must find out for sure before you travel – if you're traveling out of your home country you may not be covered. Also, VISA, MasterCard and American Express sometimes have rental car coverage if you use that specific card with your rental, but you have to verify your coverage before you go. The third choice for insurance is the “optional” CDW coverage through the rental car company. Unlike in most other places, CDW is often times not possible to decline in Italy. Also, in Italy you are required to have theft insurance, but it's usually included in your rental quote.
Licensing: Your standard driver's license is good in Italy, but it's highly recommended to get an International Driving Permit (IDP)before you pick up your rental. An IDP is just an Italian translation of your driver's license, it's purpose is to make it easier for Italian cops to write out tickets. Depending on the agency and the agent, you might be required to have an IDP to pick up your rental car. Your local AAA office can create IDPs for a small fee.
Driving in Italy: Italian drivers are legendary for their willingness to bend traffic rules when needed - traffic signals are mere suggestions! All joking aside, when renting in Italy, drive defensively. Learn the road signs, avoid driving in cities during times of high traffic, and obey the speed limit. Italy is well-known for their traffic cameras. The roads in Italy are relatively safe, as long as you pay attention. Italy is probably the most difficult place in Europe to drive.

Suggested Itineraries in Tuscany: Driving in Tuscany is truly one of the great joys in life. Pick up your car in Florence and all of Tuscany is open. Drive west to the Tyrrhenian Sea or east to the Adriatic Sea and visit either of the wonderful Italian coasts. Visit Bergamo or some of the other historic villages while experiencing fun mountain roads. Drive the hills of Chianti, then park the car for the day and taste some of the wonderful wines that give the area its name. Visit Saturnia and its wonderful thermal baths. You can easily spend weeks in Tuscany, stay in a Florence Hotel, driving and visit local villages.

Guest author Randall Pinkston is the founder and editor of  Neotravel.com, a website that aggregates travel deals, specializing in rental car deals.

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Behind the mighty bulk of the Palazzo Pitti, the citizens of Florence have their own back garden. In keeping with the vast palace and the sweeping Renaissance splendor, it is a grand affair and the city's largest green space to boot. Tree-lined avenues and geometrically designed gardens, punctuated by sublime and grotesque statues, lead to smart terraces with awesome panoramas.

Tourists in Florence eager to soak up the sultry ambience that permeates this classical Italian city will be delighted to find a range of properties that embrace a rare old worldly charm. HostelBookers.com has some sweet deals on apartments, single rooms and dorms that are nestled in quaint neighborhoods where the sights, smells and sounds of Florence fill the air with a lazy magic.  Here a couple of their top Florence accommodation