The Westin Excelsior in Florence, Italy

The Summer of 2007, while staying with relatives in Italy, I got the chance to visit some of the major cities. An important stop on my trip was the world famous Florence. Florence is home to countless artistic treasures, and with its pedestrian avenues and beautiful architecture can be considered a treasure in its own right.

The Westin Excelsior is a 10-15 minute walk from the main train station in Florence. Upon arrival, we decided to take a taxi to help us with our luggage. It's a short trip, so don't expect to pay more than 10 euros depending on how much luggage you bring. If you bring a small weekend bag or rolling suitcase, it is certainly easy enough to make the trip without a taxi. This will help you get a sense more quickly of the layout of the town, which will come in handy because Florence is definitely a pedestrian city. You will want to walk most places, since the distances are short and the streets are quite charming.

The Westin Excelsior is located in Piazza Ognissanti. This is located on the banks of the Arno River. It is located on the side of the Arno containing most of the sites you will want to see, other than the Pitti Palace and surrounding area. It is about 3 large blocks away from the Uffizi Gallary while walking along the river. I would recommend trying that route once or twice and then working your way through the smaller streets away from the river the majority of the time. There is not much shade along the river in the Summer, and the Sun beating down on you can be uncomfortable.

The lobby of the Westin Excelsior has marble flooring and looks quite luxurious. There is a concierge immediately to the left which will hold your key when you leave the hotel. They are also quite helpful for booking reservations at the various museums and galleries. Reservations are helpful during the Summer months when lines for the more popular places, Accademia and the Uffizi, can be hours long. I would recommend contacting the concierge before your stay so you can properly sept up your schedule.