1.1 Getting There Fly with {link:BA|http://www.britishairways.com/travel/home/public/en_gb} from Gatwick, not Heathrow. Ryanair goes from {link:Bournmouth Airport|http://www.bournemouthairport.com/cms/1/home.html}, but nor every day. Both these arrive in Pisa, from which one can catch a train or bus. 1.1 Things To Do Art, Architecture, Gardens, Food & Drink. The centre of Florence is the ~~Piazza del Duomo~~, the location of the famous {link:Duomo|http://www.duomofirenze.it/index-eng.htm} and its bell tower, ~~the Campanile~~. To the south of the Duomo is the {link:Uffizi|http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/english/musei/uffizi/Default.asp} and the {link:Bargello|http://www.firenzemusei.it/00_english/bargello/index.html} (part of the eastern district in the Rough Guide). They are two of the finest art galleries in Europe; the latter having a fine sculpture collection. {link:Tickets for Florentine Museums|http://www.Florence-Museum.com} can be booked online. It is next door to the {link:Pallazo Vecchio|http://www.museumsinflorence.com/musei/Palazzo_vecchio.html}, the republican town hall. North of the Duomo is the {link:Palazzo Medici-Riccardi|http://www.palazzo-medici.it/eng/home.htm} and the {link:Giardino dei Semplici (translated by Google)|http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.unich.it%2Fgiardino%2F&langpair=it%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools}. The latter has restricted opening times and at the backend of the week during the summer is open mornings only 'till 13:00. On the other side of the river, there is another Garden, the {link:Giardino Boboli|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boboli_Gardens} as well as some more fine Palaces and the Plazza Santo Spirito, which has is surrounded by Cafes & Bars. The ~~Modern Art Gallery~~ is at the __Pitti Palace__ in the ~~Oltrarno~~. 1.1 Where to Stay I shortlisted my hotel choices {link:on del.icio.us (hotel+Florence)|http://del.icio.us/DaveLevy/Florence%2BHotel}. 2007-04-08 15:51:24.637 2007-04-08 14:57:27.548