With Access Florence & Venice, your visit will be an easy, enjoyable experience—from the charming streets of Italy's artistic capital to the unforgettable canals of its most romantic city—the many delights and dreams that await one and all in these two magnificent Italian cities are brilliantly presented.
Florence & Venice have been divided and organized into neighborhoods, so you know where you are and where you're headed.
Unique color-coded and numbered entries allow you to discover the best:
hotels • restaurants • Attractions • Shopping sights • Parks and Outdoor Spaces
Large, easy-to-read maps show where each of these numbered listings are located—ensuring that you will instantly find what you must not miss.
About the Author:
With the publication of his first book in 1962 at the age of 26, Richard Saul Wurman began the singular passion of his life: that of making information understandable. A holder of both M. Arch. & B. Arch. degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, he has been awarded several grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a Guggenheim Fellowship, two Graham Fellowships & two Chandler Fellowships. In 1991, Richard Saul Wurman received the Kevin Lynch Award from MIT for his creation of the ACCESS travel guides. In 1994, he was named a Fellow of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland & awarded a Doctorate of Fine Arts by the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. In 1995, he received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Art Center College of Design & was Chairman of Graphic Design & Product/Industrial Design of the 1995 Presidential Design Awards.
Richard Saul Wurman continues to be a regular consultant to major corporations in matters relating to the design & understanding of information. He is married to novelist Gloria Nagy, has 4 children & lives in Newport, Rhode Island.
Italy has a long history of conflicts - between city-states, between noble families, and, in recent times, between political parties. In fact, the nation was unified only about 140 years ago. Rivalry could be said to be a defining characteristic of the country, responsible for molding Florence and Venice into two remarkably individual cities, and their respective regions of Tuscany and the Veneto perhaps even more so.
Shaping the character of Florence is its magnificent artistic heritage, of which the city is justly proud. It was here, after all, that Brunellesco, Donatello, and Masaccio shook off the weight of the Middle Ages and started the Italian Renaissance. During the Renaissance the city also produced some of the greatest writers, philosophers, and scientists since the ancient Greeks; Dante, Machiavelli, and Leonardo da Vinci all helped define the Florentine character. But the power of Florence was not limited to its artists and thinkers; under Medici rule the city was a force to be reckoned with - not just in Italy but throughout Europe as well.
Venice also influenced events in Europe, but its eminence derived more from its mastery of eastern trade routes than from the power of any one family. Although itsluster may have faded some since it held the title "Queen of the Adriatic," this radiant city remains one of the world's most tempting tourist destinations. The vast wealth of its once-powerful court is still here, preserved in the palaces lining the Canal Grande (Grand Canal) and in the great achievements of its master artists - Bellini, Titian, and Tintoretto. Venice is still a city of merchants, from purveyors of designer clothing to hawkers of tacky souvenirs - the inheritors of a tradition that goes back to a time when the city brought Europe the sumptuous silks and exotic spices of the Far East.
Those who are weary of the sameness of Western mall culture can find refuge in these two cities, still more notable for their differences than for their similarities. Between them, Florence and Venice hold some of Italy's - and the world's—most famous works of art and architecture, alongside some of its finest hotels and restaurants. The tourist who sees both the lucid Renaissance grace of Florence and the incredible Byzantine lightness of Venice will come to love the crucible of human achievement known as Italy.
The approach to either city gives visual evidence of the power and prestige surrounding their rise to prominence. The Tuscan countryside is studded with medieval hilltop towns that have lost little of their original atmosphere, and with Renaissance palaces filled with art influenced by Florentine maestros. The hillsides and canals of the Veneto sit replete with municipalities made grand and gorgeous through their connection to the Venetian Republic. From majestic walled cities with their thrusting images of military strength to luxurious Palladian villas evoking the ease and elegance of triumph, the region offers a journey through Venice's historic fortunes.
Airlines
The main gateways to Italy are Milan and Rome; connecting flights may be made to Florence and Venice on Italy's domestic airlines, ALITALIA (800/050350; web site www.alitalia.it) and Meridiana (199/111333; web site www.meridiana.it). See the Orientation chapters of the individual cities for specific airline and airport information.
Buses
Two bus services connect most of Italy: ANAC (Piazza dell'Esquilino 29, at Via Cavour, Rome, 06/4820531) and SITA (Via Santa Caterina da Siena 17r, between Via Luigi Alamanni and Via della Scala, Florence, 055/214721, 055/4782231). See the Orientation chapters of the individual cities for more information.
Driving
Members of the European Economic Community (EEC) can use their countries' driver's licenses in Italy. US citizens can get by with a photo-ID driver's license, but you may want to get an International Driver's Permit from the American Automobile Association (AAA) (check your local yellow pages or write to 1000 AAA Dr, Heathrow, FL 32746-5080, 407/444.7000; fax 407/444.7380) to be 100 percent official. Car rental abroad is almost always cheaper when arranged from the US in advance. Emergency service is provided by the Automobile Club Italiano (ACI); simply dial 116 from any phone in the country.
Trains
The Italian state railway is known as Ferrovie dello Stato, or FS. Though the trains do not always run on time (as they allegedly did during Mussolini's day), train travel has improved enormously in the past decade and can be a pleasure in Italy, although strikes can sometimes mar the experience. The fastest train is the Pendolino, which links Milan, Florence, and Rome. The other trains, in order of efficiency, are the EuroCity (EC), an international train; InterCity (IC), its domestic equivalent, which operates between major cities with minimal stops; express (espresso), which is considerably slower than the IC and Pendolino; direct (diretto), which stops at most stations; and local (locale), which stops at all stations. EC and IC trains require the payment of a supplement (supplemento). A wide variety of special passes is available and deals on train tickets are constantly changing—check with a travel agent about them. Leave plenty of time to buy a ticket at the station, or purchase it in advance from a local travel agency (be sure to specify if you prefer traveling on an EC or IC train in order to pay for and receive the appropriate supplement; there is a stiff penalty if either the ticket or supplement is purchased on board). Another word of caution: Before boarding the train, be sure to validate your ticket in the machine that's usually located at the head of each track to avoid paying a hefty penalty aboard the train. A seat reservation (prenotazione) is almost always recommended during the busy summer months and is included in the cost of an EC or IC supplement (it may be optional or obligatory on other trains and will cost extra). Nonsmoking seats are available in both first- and second-class sections, but they disappear extremely quickly, so be sure to reserve them well in advance. A word of warning: Travelers are occasionally robbed on overnight trains, especially those traveling from north to south. A simple security measure is to ask the conductor to lock your compartment from the outside (the door can still be opened from the inside in case of an emergency). Better yet, take a daytime train.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Access Florence & Venice 6e by Richard Saul Wurman
Copyright © 2003 by Richard Saul Wurman
Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Italy has a long history of conflicts -- between city-states, between noble families, and, in recent times, between political parties. In fact, the nation was unified only about 140 years ago. Rivalry could be said to be a defining characteristic of the country, responsible for molding Florence and Venice into two remarkably individual cities, and their respective regions of Tuscany and the Veneto perhaps even more so.
Shaping the character of Florence is its magnificent artistic heritage, of which the city is justly proud. It was here, after all, that Brunellesco, Donatello, and Masaccio shook off the weight of the Middle Ages and started the Italian Renaissance. During the Renaissance the city also produced some of the greatest writers, philosophers, and scientists since the ancient Greeks; Dante, Machiavelli, and Leonardo da Vinci all helped define the Florentine character. But the power of Florence was not limited to its artists and thinkers; under Medici rule the city was a force to be reckoned with -- not just in Italy but throughout Europe as well.
Venice also influenced events in Europe, but its eminence derived more from its mastery of eastern trade routes than from the power of any one family. Although its luster may have faded some since it held the title "Queen of the Adriatic," this radiant city remains one of the world's most tempting tourist destinations. The vast wealth of its once-powerful court is still here, preserved in the palaces lining the Canal Grande (Grand Canal) and in the great achievements of its master artists -- Bellini, Titian, and Tintoretto. Venice is still a city of merchants, from purveyors of designer clothing to hawkers of tacky souvenirs -- the inheritors of a tradition that goes back to a time when the city brought Europe the sumptuous silks and exotic spices of the Far East.
Those who are weary of the sameness of Western mall culture can find refuge in these two cities, still more notable for their differences than for their similarities. Between them, Florence and Venice hold some of Italy's -- and the world's—most famous works of art and architecture, alongside some of its finest hotels and restaurants. The tourist who sees both the lucid Renaissance grace of Florence and the incredible Byzantine lightness of Venice will come to love the crucible of human achievement known as Italy.
The approach to either city gives visual evidence of the power and prestige surrounding their rise to prominence. The Tuscan countryside is studded with medieval hilltop towns that have lost little of their original atmosphere, and with Renaissance palaces filled with art influenced by Florentine maestros. The hillsides and canals of the Veneto sit replete with municipalities made grand and gorgeous through their connection to the Venetian Republic. From majestic walled cities with their thrusting images of military strength to luxurious Palladian villas evoking the ease and elegance of triumph, the region offers a journey through Venice's historic fortunes.
Airlines
The main gateways to Italy are Milan and Rome; connecting flights may be made to Florence and Venice on Italy's domestic airlines, ALITALIA (800/050350; web site www.alitalia.it) and Meridiana (199/111333; web site www.meridiana.it). See the Orientation chapters of the individual cities for specific airline and airport information.
Buses
Two bus services connect most of Italy: ANAC (Piazza dell'Esquilino 29, at Via Cavour, Rome, 06/4820531) and SITA (Via Santa Caterina da Siena 17r, between Via Luigi Alamanni and Via della Scala, Florence, 055/214721, 055/4782231). See the Orientation chapters of the individual cities for more information.
Driving
Members of the European Economic Community (EEC) can use their countries' driver's licenses in Italy. US citizens can get by with a photo-ID driver's license, but you may want to get an International Driver's Permit from the American Automobile Association (AAA) (check your local yellow pages or write to 1000 AAA Dr, Heathrow, FL 32746-5080, 407/444.7000; fax 407/444.7380) to be 100 percent official. Car rental abroad is almost always cheaper when arranged from the US in advance. Emergency service is provided by the Automobile Club Italiano (ACI); simply dial 116 from any phone in the country.
Trains
The Italian state railway is known as Ferrovie dello Stato, or FS. Though the trains do not always run on time (as they allegedly did during Mussolini's day), train travel has improved enormously in the past decade and can be a pleasure in Italy, although strikes can sometimes mar the experience. The fastest train is the Pendolino, which links Milan, Florence, and Rome. The other trains, in order of efficiency, are the EuroCity (EC), an international train; InterCity (IC), its domestic equivalent, which operates between major cities with minimal stops; express (espresso), which is considerably slower than the IC and Pendolino; direct (diretto), which stops at most stations; and local (locale), which stops at all stations. EC and IC trains require the payment of a supplement (supplemento). A wide variety of special passes is available and deals on train tickets are constantly changing—check with a travel agent about them. Leave plenty of time to buy a ticket at the station, or purchase it in advance from a local travel agency (be sure to specify if you prefer traveling on an EC or IC train in order to pay for and receive the appropriate supplement; there is a stiff penalty if either the ticket or supplement is purchased on board). Another word of caution: Before boarding the train, be sure to validate your ticket in the machine that's usually located at the head of each track to avoid paying a hefty penalty aboard the train. A seat reservation (prenotazione) is almost always recommended during the busy summer months and is included in the cost of an EC or IC supplement (it may be optional or obligatory on other trains and will cost extra). Nonsmoking seats are available in both first- and second-class sections, but they disappear extremely quickly, so be sure to reserve them well in advance. A word of warning: Travelers are occasionally robbed on overnight trains, especially those traveling from north to south. A simple security measure is to ask the conductor to lock your compartment from the outside (the door can still be opened from the inside in case of an emergency). Better yet, take a daytime train.
Access Florence & Venice 6e. Copyright © by Richard Saul Wurman. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.
Overview
With Access Florence & Venice, your visit will be an easy, enjoyable experience—from the charming streets of Italy's artistic capital to the unforgettable canals of its most romantic city—the many delights and dreams that await one and all in these two magnificent Italian cities are brilliantly presented.
Florence & Venice have been divided and organized into neighborhoods, so you know where you are ...