January 17, 2008
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January 8, 2008
Florence (Firenze):
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is a compact, metropolitan city of 500,000 people
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is the birthplace of the Renaissance
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is one of the most walkable cities in Italy (most important sites are within 1/2-hour walking distance of the Duomo)
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draws visitors from all over the world
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has a history rich with intrigue, adventure, and centuries of incredible patronage of the arts (can we say “Medici”?)
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has an equally rich “present,” — with cafes, clubs, shops and cinemas
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is centrally located for day trips to other Tuscan hill towns and city centers
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is home to Michelangelo’s David, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Leonardo’s Adoration of the Magi as well as works by Caravaggio, Giotto, Rembrandt and Raphael
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has a cuisine characterized by simple preparations of abundant produce, mellow cheeses, grilled meats and a fascination for beans
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