Lisbon travel information

Getting to the city from the airport
- The Carris Aerobus number 91 runs every day between 07h45am and 08h45pm, connecting Lisbon Airport to the city centre. Tickets cost 1,35 euro, purchased on the bus; you can also purchase an all-day bus and tram network pass for 3,35 euro. A shuttle bus service also operates between the airport and the resorts of Estoril and Cascais.
- Taxi stands are situated outside departures and arrivals. LoveTravel advice: the meter should read 2,35 euro (daytime pick-up) or 2,50 euro (at night) at the start of the ride. Fares are 20% higher on weekends, holidays and at night. Some taxis will charge extra for luggage. Some metered taxis will try to take a longer route to the city centre, but rides should take less than 15 minutes for a five mile (7km) ride.


An hotel to remember
Hotel Tivoli Lisboa
Av. da Liberdade, 185
1269-050 LISBOA
http://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/tvlisboalisboa.html?aid=308057

Did you read my Lisbon travel guide?

Brighton!

Here, quickly, an agenda of how to pass a beautiful day in Brighton, England. I hope you like my choices, these are disinterested advice, I love Brighton!

BREAKFAST 9:00 a.m.
- The Farm, 99 North Road. This tipical local coffee is cooking only with local products from Sussex.

VISIT 10:00 a.m.
- Starting point of any visit is the Palace Pier, the wood pier that enters the sea.

BEACH 11:00 a.m.
- If the sun is shining, it's time to swim, if not, a romantic walk in the rain.

LUNCH 01.00 p.m.
- Terre à Terre, 71 East street. The best vegetarian restaurant of Great Britain.

AT THE PALACE 04:00 p.m.
- A visit to the Royal Pavilion, kitschy but fun jewel of the famous architect John Nash.

SHOPPING 06:00 p.m.
- Walking through the streets of North Laine and The Lanes, from vintage shops to art galleries.

APERITIF 08:00 p.m.
- A beer at Blanch House, one of the city's best pubs, 17 Atlingworth St.

DINNER 09:00 p.m.
- Ginger Man, or Ginger Pig, you decide. Similar menu but one is more elegant, the other is a pub.

MUSIC 11:00 p.m.
- A jump to The Basement, 24 Kensington street, underground atmosphere.

HOTEL 23:59 p.m.
- Sleep in Old Ship Hotel, where Paganini played the violin and Thackeray was on vacation.

Source: Travelers24.com (http://www.travelers24.com/), a website that aim to provide "Smart Tips for Smart Travelers".

Dublin, the best place to live

FAILTE, welcome, welcome to the city that has everything: a fascinating mix of Georgian and modern architecture, an infinite wealth of history and culture, a legendary literary tradition, wonderful shops and classy restaurants, more than 1.000 pubs scattered around the city.

To go quicky in Dublin mood, you must go to the heart of the city, its main street, O'Connell Street. From here starts the much significant street of the Irish, with infinite intersections of varying size, where to get lost admiring the vast streets from the sidewalks or watching a colorful double-decker bus is easier than it looks. In Dublin, everything takes on a special charm.

You thirsty? Write down this name: Sockeville Lounge (Sockeville PI), one of the coolest in town. A small, friendly hotel offers a fine hot black coffee and the company of many actors of the nearby theaters Abbey and Peacoch who regularly frequent the restaurant.
Hungry? I suggest you try the Irish Stew, the famous Irish stew and potatoes served in traditional Irish restaurants, a very good stuff and... very very caloric.
Try the Eden, which is one of the most special restaurants offering good food and a minimalist décor, with terrace overlooking Meeting House Square.
If you prefer quantity to quality, you should search among the many proposals "all you can eat", offering at low prices all the restaurant menu, only if is consumed within 55 minutes... the legendary "55 time".
There are Italian restaurants everywhere, much appreciated.

Go along the River Liffey, on Grafton Street, cross and admire one of the most beautiful bridges in Europe, the O'Connell Bridge. Just after Dame Street you find yourself in the most chic and trendy Dublin, local nightlife and different kinds of bars, clubs... ;-) Temple Bar is the district of the artists, the most vibrant and creative area of the city. Here's your duty to enter one of the thousand pubs and order a pint of Guinness, freshly pulled.
Dublin nightlife boasts undoubtedly one of the richest in Europe. Living is definitely high here. It is night or day, any time of year, you'll always find something intriguing and interesting to do in Dublin.
An example? In Temple Bar, but on Saturday morning, you should not miss the Temple Bar Food Market (Meeting House Square), surely the best outdoor food market. A compulsory stop at the kiosk fresh oysters, the most famous of Ireland's capital.

The pedestrian Grafton St. and Henry St. are the ideal destination for shoppers, perhaps accompanied by the thousand arts street performers who entertain the audience between music and shows. Huge shopping malls, small boutiques, antique shops, nothing can be lost. Because in Dublin is so easy to move from innovative luxury buildings to the timeless appeal of a cart of fresh flowers. Dublin is music, music everywhere.
Also worth seeing is St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Protestant Irish National Cathedral, and Trinity College, one the oldest and most prestigious universities.

The Docklands area is the area where we clearly see the change taking place in Dublin, the old port area is redeveloped and relaunched with contemporary architecture. After completion, residential complexes, theaters, offices, conference centers and public spaces (U2 Tower, the National Conference Centre) mingle. Much has already been done, go on a tour is definitely recommended.
A quiet place for a fun walk in Dublin? The super Campshires scenic walk where you go wandering around on foot or by bike along the river between futuristic pedestrian bridges (such as the Sean O'Casey Bridge) and new symbolic monuments that celebrate the past. If not enough there is also the Boardwalk, quiet and spectacular walk 650 meters along the Liffey.
Also on the Liffey in the center, there's Dublin's Italian Quarter (Lower Ormond Quay), a district made in Italy that reflects the new passion of young Dubliners for everything that comes from that country.

Love Travel message: attention to the schedule! In Dublin dinner is between 6 and 8 in the evening and nightlife starts very early. Traditional pubs are open only until 11 and even discos close around two in the morning, except for local Leeson Street, pulling up at five.
To orient yourself on the spot, local tourist office seeks the guide Rock'n'Stroll with information on pubs, restaurants, and all the places associated with the music and entertainment.

They say in Dublin, "If you don't like the weather now, wait 5 minutes...".

Organise your trip to Dublin
Hotel in Dublin

Events in Dublin
The Dublin Fringe Festival in September is a good time to visit Dublin. Dedicated to everything that is innovative, young, experimental and contemporary theater (including on the road show), dance from music to visual and live art etc. At the Dublin Fringe Festival are participating individual artists, performers and companies, both Irish and international. Almost all the performances in areas of the city worth a visit.

A weekend in Turin

Eat in Turin, Vineria Tre Galli
Tre Galli, in the buzzing Quadrilatero Romano district, proves you can eat well in Turin without breaking the bank. Rib-eye steaks and steaming mussels are washed down with wines from Venice and Valle d’Aosta.
25 Via Sant’Agostino, +39 011 521 6027

Eat in Turin, Baratti & Milano
This Torinese institution is worth visiting as much for its sumptuous décor as its assortment of cakes, chocolates and Piedmontese specialities. It’s the perfect place for sweet tooths and gourmands to linger for an hour or two.
27 Piazza Castello, +39 011 440 7138

Stay in Turin, Le Meridien Turin Art+Tech
The light filled rooms at this ultra modern five-star have been furnished by top designers, while the building itself, a former Fiat factory, also houses a concert hall, art gallery, conference centre and shopping mall.
230 Via Nizza

Stay in Turin, Golden Palace Hotel
Opened in 2006 for the Winter Olympics, this five-star hotel combines luxury with high-tech design. Bedrooms feature LCD TVs and electronic curtains, while marble bathrooms are stocked with products by Turinese perfumer Laura Tonatto.
18 Via dell’Arcivescovado

Stay in Turin, Town House 70
Located in the heart of Turin near the lively Via Roma, this boutique hotel offer a touch of urban sophistication. The 20 rooms, 26 junior suites and one suite come equipped with LCD TVs, spacious bathrooms, and stylish, modern furniture.
70 Via XX Settembre

See in Turin, Valentino Park
Home to Turin’s botanical gardens, this green oasis also has beautiful fountains, a French-style, 18th-century castle and a bizarre recreation of a medieval village.
Corso Massimo d’Azeglio

See in Turin, Porta Palatina
Dating back to the first century AD, these two magnificent red towers and archways near the cathedral were the gates to the city in Roman times. Nearby, you’ll find remains of a Roman theatre, part of which lies buried under the Royal Palace.
Piazza Cesare Augusto

See in Turin, Teatro Regio Torino
Rebuilt on the site of the original 18th-century theatre – destroyed by fire in the 1930s – the Teatro Regio combines striking modern architecture with surviving layers of the past. Superb acoustics make this an ideal venue for operas and ballets like La Traviata and The Nutcracker.

See near Turin, Asti
Explore nearby Asti, a town famous for its eponymous sparkling wine. Drop in at one of the many vineyards for a tasting or stop off at the 13th-century cathedral. Bareback horse race, the Palio d’Asti, thunders into town on 20 September.

See in Turin, Torino+Piemonte Card
The Torino+ Piemonte Card is a way to discover the city and the entire region, practically and economically. Available for 2, 3, 5 or 7 days (priced from 20 to 35 euro), it entitles you to free entry to over 170 cultural sites, including museums, exhibitions, monuments, castles, fortresses and Royal Residences in Turin and Piedmont; free use of all public ground transport and tourist transport in Turin (panoramic escalator to the Antonellian Mole and Sassi-Superga rack-railway) plus the GTT shuttle to Venaria Castle, Rivoli Castle and Pralormo, and the Turin-Ceres railway including the Caselle Airport stop, as well as a 10% discount on the City Sightseeing Torino ticket, valid for 48 hrs instead of 24.

See in Turin, City Sightseeing Torino
Turin can be discovered aboard the City Sightseeing Torino, a double-decker tourist bus with a view “from above”. The complete tour lasts approximately 1 hour and features a multi-language digital audio system. Price: 15 euro per person.

Shopping in Turin, Pastificio Defilippis
Feast your eyes on the past being folded and flipped at Defilippis, a foodie emporium established in 1872. Offering all sorts of shapes and squiggles, and varieties such as egg and Tricolore, it’s the perfect place to pick up some gifts for home or a simple dinner for later.
39 Via Lagrange, +39 011 542 137

A weekend in Tuscany, my tips

For your weekend, or a short break, in Tuscany, is perfect to land in Pisa, and rent a car with Avis: they have there a fleet of fantastic Fiat 500, there’s nothing better than that for a weekend in Tuscany. You’ll need with you a GPS with Italian maps, for sure.

If you decide to sleep one night in Pisa, this hotel is modern and great: NH Hotel Cavalieri Pisa. Well placed in the city center, with a very good breakfast buffet. Checked by myself.
To see in Pisa, the Miracles Place with the famous Tower, the river in the city center, and a walk in the Old town, not far from Piazza dei Miracoli.
Eat in Pisa: not near Piazza dei Miracoli, go in Borgo Stretto, Piazza Dante Alighieri, Via San Martino and choose one you like.

Another place to visit is Lucca. The old town is inside the big walls, where you go, is always great, small and very oldy with nice places. Lovely!
Where to sleep in Lucca? I slept in a big hotel near the Train Station, close to the old town outside the wall, there is a useful parking outside. Unfortunately I don’t remember the name, but in the city the choice of accommodation is adeguate: Hotels in Lucca.
Eat in Lucca, go straight here: Cantine Bernardini, Palazzo Bernardini, Via del Suffragio 7.

A place where you should go, definitely, is SAN GIMIGNANO.
Sleep here in the Tuscany countryside: Hotel Vecchio Asilo Via delle Torri, 4 Ulignano, 53030 San Gimignano.
Eat here in San Gimignano: Trattoria Chiribiri Piazza della Madonna 1.

I loved a lot PISTOIA. Slept in Hotel Villa Chiappugi, they have a good restaurant as well.

SIENA as well is unforgettable. I'll soon dedicate a post to this lovely place with all the info I have.

You like the seaside? Drive to VIAREGGIO, and the VERSILIA area.

If you want to have an idea looking pictures, in this page there are some pics about the cities I mentioned: Tuscany pictures.

Buon viaggio in Toscana!!

Visit Budapest

EATING IN BUDAPEST
Gundel Restaurant
Allatkerti ut 2, 1146 Budapest
Tel +36 1363 1917
Founded in 1894 by Janos Gundel, this establishment has been called the best restaurant in Europe. The dining hall recalls the opulence of Budapest at the beginning of the twentieth century and also boasts a champagne bar and wine cellar. There is also a terrace garden, which is a delightful place to sit in the
summer and listen to gypsy musicians.
The head chef, the proud owner of a Europe award and the Toque d’or, and his team reinvest traditional Gundel recipes to create veritable works of art in food, which have pleased the taste of such dignitaries as Her Maesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Holiness Pope John Paul II!

Alabardos Restaurant
Orszaghaz ut 2, 1014
Tel +36 1356 0851
Located in an impressive, old Gothic building from the 15th century, Alabardos is only a few steps from the Gothic Matthias Church and the panoramic ramparts on top of the Castle hill called Fishermen’s Bastion. The restaurant has a terrace and a garden besides the internal rooms, which are all decorated in a style that combines medieval memorabilia, walls, colors with 19th century refurbishment. Wine selection is assisted by a sommelier. World-famous Zsolnay and Herend porcelains are used for dining.

Mokka Restaurant
Sas ut 4, 1051
Tel +36 1328 0081
Mokka Cafe and Restaurant is one of the restaurants in Budapest recommended by the Michelin guide. Its style is trendy-elegant ‘ethno-eclectic’ combining African-Mediterranean colors and elements. But it’s also ethno-eclectic in its cuisine in a sense that the restaurant is striving to create its own Mokka versions of international and Hungarian dishes with a modern flair. Sommelier helps you to pick wines.

Arcade Bistro
Kiss Janos Altabornagy ut 38, 1126
Tel +36 1225 1969
Arcade Bistro is a very popular upscale French style restaurant in Budapest off the beaten tourist track.
As Fodor’s guide puts it, Arcade Bistro is a “modern, sophisticated bistro on a leafy intersection not far from Déli Pályaudvar (Train Station). The floor-to-ceiling waterfall smack in the middle of the dining room soothes as it keeps conversations discreet and complements the unfussy interior.” It is a pleasant retreat at the foot of the Buda hills, which serves a unique palette of seafood and a selection of Hungarian and international cuisine.

HOTEL ACCOMODATION IN BUDAPEST
Sofitel Budapest Chain Bridge Hotel
Roosevelt ter 2, 1051
This luxury five star hotel is ideally located on the bank of the river Danube, in the heart of the city's premier shopping, dining and entertainment area. The Sofitel Budapest Chain Bridge blends comfort and elegance with modern technology and French flair. The newly renovated interior creates a contemporary impression with its dark brown and pink high-end furnishing and fascinating floral decorations. Enjoy 350 luxuriously appointed rooms and suites and the exclusive Sofitel Club.
This luxury high-class hotel offers breathtaking views of the Chain Bridge and Royal Castle.

LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS IN BUDAPEST
It is recommended to carry your passport and/or photo-driving licence at all times. You must be able to show some form of identity if requested, e.g. by the police. A photocopy is not acceptable.
Hungarian laws on the possession and use of drugs are strict.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN BUDAPEST
Budapest’s network of public transport services includes buses, trolleybuses, trams, underground trains (Metró) and over ground suburban trains (HÉV).
Buses, trams and trolleybuses run daily from 04.30 am until 11.00 pm. All three Underground lines connect at Deák tér Station, and service frequencies range from 15 minutes late in the evening to every two minutes at peak times.
Tickets have to be bought before boarding, they are available at Underground stations, tobacconists and newsagents, and from vending machines at many bus and tram stops in the city centre. They are valid for one single journey of any length (without changing) on all routes (excluding those parts of the HÉV that lie outside the metropolitan boundary of Budapest). Special tickets can be purchased that allow a change of route, and that cover the HÉV outside Budapest. There is also a range of pre-paid books of tickets and value-for-money passes (e.g. 1-day and 3-day).
A new ticket has to be validated at the beginning of each journey, and this is done by inserting it into the slot in the small red box situated at waist height near the doors of buses, trolleybuses, trams and HÉV trains. Please note, on the Underground system these boxes are in the stations at the escalator.
There are lots of ticket inspectors: some are uniformed and others plain-clothed, but they always wear a red armband and carry a photographic identification badge. They can ask to see tickets and passes on any vehicle and anywhere on the Underground system, including after you have got off – so please remember to validate your ticket and keep hold of it!

Taxis in Budapest
Budapest taxis have yellow number plates and a taxi sign in yellow. Any vehicle without these features is operating illegally. The total charge that has to be paid by the passenger is made up of three separate parts: the basic charge which is irrespective of how far the journey is (max HUF 300 during the day, max
HUF 420 at night), a per kilometre charge which depends on how many kilometres are covered during the journey (max HUF 240 per kilometre during the day, max HUF 336 at night), and the waiting charge.
Tariffs are clearly displayed on the rear right door and on the dashboard. The larger taxi companies work with rates far lower than the maximum charges listed above. Ask for assistance from your hotel reception when ordering a taxi, and think twice before taking the “impartial advice” of taxi drivers if you are looking for a bar or nightclub.
When booking taxis from the SYMA Exhibition Hall, we recommend using:
- City Taxi: +36 2-111-111
- Fo Taxi: +36 2-222-222
All cars must have a taximeter installed, and these also print out a receipt. Taxi drivers are required to give an invoice on request. Tipping: in general 10% of the fare.

BUDAPEST FERIHEGY AIRPORT
Transport from the airport
Shuttle bus
There is a shuttle service available at Budapest Airport, called Airport Minibusz. Operating 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, with a boarding capacity of 8 to 10 passengers, these minibuses handle transfers from the airport to the city centre.
Reservations can be made personally at the Airport Shuttle Desk – located at every terminal.
Transfer fees from the Airport to any point of Budapest or from anywhere in Budapest to the Airport:
HUF 2990 / person / one way ticket
HUF 4990 / person / two way ticket
HUF 4490 / two persons
HUF 8490 / two persons / two way ticket
Train
Passengers can easily reach central Budapest (Western Railway Station) from Ferihegy Terminal 1 in less than half an hour for 300 HUF (approximately 1€!). Arriving travelers can buy their tickets at Tourist Information at Terminal 1 from 09.00 to 22.00 or at Platform B at the railway station from the ticket vending machines.
The two platforms of the railway station are connected to the Airport Terminal by a short pedestrian footbridge.
Taxis
A taxi to the centre of Budapest should cost between 22–25€ (4800-5400 HUF). To order a taxi, please contact Zona Taxis, the airport’s recommended taxi company: tel +36 1 365 55 55.

Poland, Travel Krakow

WHY KRAKOW
At first Krakow can seem a little dour, but dip into the cellar bars and low-beamed cafès and you find friendly people. Rynek glowny, the main square, is four times the size of Brussels’ Grand Place and just as stunning. It’s lined with cafès serving hot chocolate that is so incredibly thick you have to eat it with a spoon (for around £1.50, or seven zlotych). The exchange rate is £1 to 5.14 zlotych.

EXPLORE KRAKOW
Krakow is about the only Polish city that wasn’t flattened in the Second World War and the streets of the Old Town are dotted with beautiful churches. Hire a bike from Two Wheels (ul Josefa 5, £4 for three hours), whizz down back streets and explore Kazimierz, the former Jewish quarter which is being restored.

EAT IN KRAKOW
For cheap eats seek out a “mild bar”. The former state-subsidized canteens still serve up traditional Polish meats, casserole and veg – at rock-bottom prices.

STAY IN KRAKOW
The Floryan has doubles from £75. Click here for other Hotels in Krakow.

GETTING THERE
Ryanair flies from Stansted to Krakow from £56 rtn.

Travel in Riga, Latvia

WHY RIGA
The most elegant of the Baltic capitals, the Old Town lanes around Elizabetes Street are lines with stunning art nouveau architecture - just walking around feels like being in a museum. Stay with the architecture theme by visiting Riga’s cathedral - the biggest in the Baltics and home to one of the largest church organs in Europe. £1 will buy you approx 00.81 lati.

EXPLORE RIGA
Riga is the kind of city that’s made for long walks punctuated by stops in cosy cafès for hot chocolate and wedges of cake. Fortunately there are plenty of these - try Emihla Gustava Shokolkade (Marijas 13) or Cadets de Gascogue (Basteja 8). Coffee and cake will set you back around £2. For something stronger, head to the Balsam Bar (Doma Laukams 2) where cocktails are made using the famous Latvian Black Balsam liqueur as a base.

SHOP IN RIGA
The best bargains are to be found at the vast central market, where food and vegetables are sold inside four giant Zeppelin hangars, with a general market spread around outside.

STAY IN RIGA
The centrally located (and oddly named) Man-Tess hotel has comfortable doubles from £75 a night.

GETTING THERE
Ryanair flies from Stansted to Riga from £62 rtn. On Expedia you can book hotels, flights and car hire.

Travel Marrakech, Morocco

WHY MARRAKECH
Marrakech is the best option on the budget schedules for a real feeling of escape. Don’t come to relax, though. The skinny medina streets teem with hawkers, where £1 gets you 12.88 dihrams.

EXPLORE MARRAKECH
Start with mint tea (about 50p) at the Cafè de Paris, which overlooks the main square, the Djemaa el Fna. Catch it at dusk and you’ll see it come to life as food stalls, jugglers, storytellers and musicians set up their stalls. Grilled sausages or fish with heaps of salad is yours for a fiver anywhere in the square. To escape the hectic city streets head to the Majorelle Gardens, restored in the Eighties by Yves Saint Laurent (entrance £3).

SHOPPING IN MARRAKECH
There are few better places in the world to shop than Marrakech. Buy wrought-iron lamps, cedar-wood boxed, leather slippers and hand-painted ceramics, and expect to pay about 40 per cent of the asking price. If you hate bartering, head to Twizra on Bag Agnaou, where there are three floors with set prices.

STAY IN MARRAKECH
One of the best-value riads in the medina is Jnane Mogador, doubles from £35. Click here for latest offer on Hotels in Marrakech.

GETTING THERE
easyJet flies from Gatwick to Marrakech from £59.98 rtn.

Visit Zagreb, Croatia

WHY ZAGREB
The Croatian capital may not have the polish of cities such as Vienna and Budapest, but neither does it have the coach loads of tourists. It has an authentic feel, with trams rumbling across the cobbled streets. £1 gets you 8.42 kunas.

EXPLORE ZAGREB
Hop on the funicular up to the Lotrscak Tower, a 13th-century look-out that offers fabulous views (entrance £1.5). For a taste of local life try the goulash (£5) at Gostionica Tip-Top
(Gunduliceva 18), a much-loved restaurant that was once the haunt of Croatia’s most famous poet, Tin Ujevic.

SHOPPING IN ZAGREB
There’s no better place to shop in Zagreb than in the markets. The flower market on Preradovicev trg is stunning, while the main produce market, Dolac, bustles with locals buying fruit, vegetables and cheese. Hop on the bus to Hreljic, the city’s flea market, which pulls in the crowds every Sunday.

STAY IN ZAGREB
Arcotel Allegra is sleek and affordable with doubles from £75.

GETTING THERE
Wizzair flies from Luton to Zagreb from £70 rtn.

Matera, Italy

Matera is located in the southestern corner of Italy, people live in the same exact homes that their ancestors did 9,000 years ago. Matera was created from a rocky ravine and the many natural caves in the area – called the 'Sassi di Matera’ - were the first houses of the Neolithic inhabitants of the region. The caves create a labyrinth of houses, and it’s practically impossible to distinguish the natural rock formations from the ancient architecture. The houses seem to sprout from the rock in an organic way, creating somewhat of a tourist attraction from what was in the mid 20th century a ghost town. Matera was notably the setting for Mel Gibson’s film 'The Passion of the Christ’.

Apart from an economy which has traditionally been based on agriculture, in the late 1990s the major economic base of Matera, and of surrounding cities, is the production of upholstered furniture.

Matera is the only place in the world where people can boast to be still living in the same houses of their ancestors of 9,000 years ago.

To arrange your accommodation in Matera, check Booking.com for latest info on Hotels in Matera.

The ancient rock City of Matera, Italy...

San Gimignano, Italy

From 2010 New Year's Day, 3 days in Tuscany holiday, is unforgettable and really enjoyful trip in my life.

Four-season in Tuscany, are all attractive. Beautiful view even in the winter, maybe much more mysterious: a charming scenery, a green rurality, a fresh temporature, a bright sunny sky, amazing discovery...

San Gimignano in Tuscany, is one of the surprise on our trip. It rises on a hill (334m high) dominating the Elsa Valley with its towers. Once the seat of a small Etruscan village of the Hellenistic period (200-300 BC) it began its life as a town in the 10th century taking its name from the Holy Bishop of Modena, St. Gimignano, who is said to have saved the village from the barbarian hordes. The town increased in wealth and developed greatly during the Middle Ages thanks to the "Via Francigena" the trading and pilgrim's route that crossed it.

It's called ''City of Towers''

San Gimignano is an important town in the Middle Ages due to its position on a trade and pilgrimage route, it was full of tall towers built by competitive and quarrelsome Tuscan families. Warring, the Black Death and the aggression of nearby Florence put a halt to the town's progress, and it remained a memorial to its 11th-13th century prosperity. There were once an incredible 72 towers rising above the town's rooftops. There are fewer towers nowadays, but the fourteen remaining are still impressive in the misty distance.

In the Museo Civico/Pinacoteca you can see various paintings depicting the town in the days when it bristled with warlike skyscrapers. One depiction shows a miniature town in the lap of St. Gimignano himself, who - to judge by the illustrations of his life - seems to have been a very busy patron saint.

Hotels in San Gimignano, click and find great deals, good availability and best rates. You would must have a fantastic holiday in San Gimignano.