Florence - the old masters

The trains from France stop in the Italian town of Ventimiglia, where you pick up an italian train for the journey into the country. The change of country is obvious - the Italian trains are much less modern than the French trains - 1st class feels like 2nd class, etc. Our train, bound for Florence, chugs off, tracing the shore of the Med down the coast. Hills on one side, ocean on the other - its a very beautiful way to watch the sunset as you cruise from one country to another.

Florence is an old city - you get the impression that nothing here has changed for centuries. The Ufuzzi Museum was stop number one, just down the road from the Ponte Vecchio bridge. Renaissance art is ok, but very repetitious - how many virgin marys and baby jesus can you paint? Obviously a lot - this museum is full of it.

Stayed at the Hilton Florence Metropole - its about a 20 minute ride to the city center via the free shuttle bus service offered by the hotel, but this has advantages as being in the suburbs you avoid the noise of the city. For Diamond members there is a great executive lounge on the top floor with drinks and snacks, in addition to a rooftop patio from which you can see most of the city. The shuttle bus goes directly to the Firenze train station.