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Standing on the northern side of the Sonoran Desert, in the aptly named ‘Valley of
the Sun’ Phoenix is one of the most popular cities in Arizona. Known for its
extremely sunny weather and related winter tourist trade, Phoenix has much to offer
visitors, with strip malls surrounding the downtown district. Now amongst
America’s largest cities, Phoenix is a true metropolis, with many striking high-rise
buildings in the city center, together with exceptional golf courses and impressive
resort areas nearby.

Many of the attractions in Phoenix are situated in the downtown district, the heart of
the city, where you will find notable restaurants, sporting venues and shops. Other
popular areas of the city include the business district, Old Phoenix, particularly
around Heritage Square, and the Glendale area, which is home to many of the city’s
main museums and numerous well-preserved, historical structures. The Mesa area
of Phoenix contains a number of shopping malls, whereas Scottsdale boasts resorts
and specialty shops. For entertainment venues and a vibrant nightlife, be sure to
head to Tempe, where you will not be disappointed.

Phoenix Tourism:

Tourism in the Phoenix area is well catered for, with many top attractions, a number
of which are particularly appealing to families. Ranging from historical ruins and
sights, to amusement parks and major shopping centers, Phoenix offers plenty of
things to see and places to go. Top attractions include the Castles and Coasters
theme park, the vast Phoenix Zoo, the historical St Mary’s Basilica, the prehistoric
Casa Grande ruins, Goldfield Ghost Town mining village, the Apache Trail, Piestewa
Peak walking trails and the Phoenix Mountains Park and Recreation Center, known
for its views of the famous Valley of the Sun.

The Phoenix area also contains its fair share of cultural museums and art galleries,
with notable attractions including the Arizona Science Center, the Hall of Flame Fire
Fighting Museum and the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. Phoenix offers
a range of festivals, which are held throughout the year, such as the Arabian Horse
Show in February, the Scottsdale Arts Festival in March, the September National
Public Lands Day Outdoor Recreation Fair, and the Way Out West Oktoberfest.

Phoenix Transport:

Interstates 10 and 17 provide good connections to a number of nearby cities, such
as Flagstaff. Many visitors to Phoenix choose to rent a car and this is one of the
best ways to travel around the city and neighboring areas. Public buses are also
heavily used and the Downtown Area Shuttle, better known simply as ‘DASH’,
connects many top tourist hotspots at no cost.

Close to the city’s downtown district, Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is an
important air hub and is connected to the city by shuttle buses and taxicabs. This
important international airport caters for many thousands of arrivals and departures
each day and offers good ground transportation options.

Phoenix Hotels:

Hotels in the Phoenix area are in good supply and hotel rates are often cheapest
during the summer months of July and August. Winter is a particularly pleasant
time to visit the city and accommodation becomes fully booked at the time of the
year.

Phoenix Shopping:

With many expansive shopping malls, which always feature air conditioning,
Phoenix is the perfect city for those who enjoy shopping. All kinds of shops are well
represented here, ranging from chain stores and department stores, to fashion
boutiques and independent retailers. Many of the city’s main shops are
concentrated in the Biltmore and Scottsdale districts.

Phoenix Restaurants:

Southwestern cuisine has long been popular in Phoenix, with more international
offerings available throughout the city. Restaurants offer a varied choice of food,
although the many notable steakhouses are a must. Clustered in the city center and in the older areas of Biltmore and Scottsdale, a number of eateries and bars can also
be found in the lively University area.

Phoenix Weather:

Standing in the Sonoran Desert, Phoenix offers predictably sunny and hot
temperatures, with over 300 days of sunshine each year. Many people choose to
visit the city during its warm winter months, particularly during January through
March, when temperatures average 13

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The city of Florence is actually the capital of Italy’s Tuscany area and stands
alongside the scenic banks of the Arno River, close to the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic
Seas. Bustling with local industry, which includes arts and crafts, commerce and
tourism; Florence is a particularly historic location, steeped in heritage.

One of the most desirable places to visit in Italy, Florence was originally founded by
Romans during the first century and grew dramatically between the 1200s and
1600s. Of particular importance, the Medici family, who ruled over Florence during
the 15th century, were responsible for many of the city’s most spectacular
landmarks, buildings and monuments, most of which remain in excellent
condition.

Florence Travel:

The Florence area features a well-structured public transport network, comprising
of main railway lines, orange ATAF buses and local taxis that congregate at various
taxi ranks and around the piazzas. Renting a car is one of the most popular ways to
travel around the Tuscany area and the A1 Motorway connects Florence to many
major Italian cities, such as Bologna, Milan, Naples and Rome. Also the A11
Motorway links Florence to Lucca, Pisa and a number of coastal resorts.

Florence is easy to reach from around the world and the city’s Amerigo Vespucci
Airport is nearby. Just 5 km / 3 miles from the city center, the Florence Vespucci
Airport offers modern facilities and is home to a number of important international
and Italian airlines.

Florence Commerce:

With a thriving commercial city centre and many businesses supporting the services
and financial sector, Florence is a wealthy city. Nowadays, with tourism being an
equally important industry in the city, many local crafts boost the economy, such as
jewellery, leatherwork and ceramics, together with hotels. Florence contains a
number of notable, medium-sized companies, including engineering firms,
publishing and textile businesses.

Florence Hotels:

Hotels in Florence are often fairly expensive throughout the year and many are
centrally located, although a number of popular cheaper alternatives are available.
Accommodation during the peak season quickly becomes fully booked in the most
popular hotels and it can be advisable to book at least two weeks ahead. If you
decide to rent a car, ensure that the hotel has car parking space available before
booking. Hotels can be found all around the city centre, in the green Viale dei Colli
area, close to the Santa Maria Novella train station, alongside the Arno River and on
the city outskirts.

Florence Tourism:

Tourism in the Florence area is important and thousands of people choose to visit
this part of Tuscany each year, to enjoy the scenic views, historical buildings,
stunning architecture and famous works of art. Must-see attractions in Florence
include a number of magnificent palaces, such as the Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo
Medici-Riccardi and Palazzo Strozzi. Other attractions include the Piazza del
Signoria, the Teatro Comunale (theatre), the arched Ponte Vecchio bridge, the
historic Campanile di Giotto and the world-famous Duomo / Santa Maria del Fiore -
also known as the ‘Cathedral of Florence’.

Top museums in Florence contain many important art exhibitions and outstanding
exhibits. Worth a visit are the National Archeological Museum, the Uffizi Gallery and
the Academy Gallery, amongst many others. Also, the Chianti area, which is
situated between the city of Florence and nearby Siena, features one of Italy’s most
stunning countryside landscapes and is also home to a number of famous
vineyards.

Florence Restaurants:

Restaurants in Italy are known as ‘Ristoranti’ or ‘Trattories’ and are widespread in
Florence, with many different kinds of cuisine readily available. Menu prices do not
usually include service charges and these are added to the bill, together with any
further cover charges (’coperto’). Therefore, tipping in Florence restaurants is not
strictly necessary, although always very much appreciated. Lunch in the city is
generally taken around 13:00 and is the main meal of the day, with dinner being
eaten between 20:00 and 21:00.

Florence Weather:

The city of Florence features fairly temperature weather, with notable hot, sunny
summer months and cooler, breezy winters. Temperatures between the months of
July and August are at their hottest and reach highs of up to 32

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