Lonely Planet Florença e Toscana

by Lonely Planet

Paisagens de cartão-postal, gastronomia única e uma capital, Florença, de dar inveja a qualquer outra região do mundo. Chegamos à romântica Toscana, berço da Renascença e, até hoje, uma zona bastante rural, repleta de colinas e vales verdejantes. A segunda edição do guia Lonely Planet: Florença e Toscana, lançamento da Globo Livros, descreve com capricho as belezas artísticas e naturais dessa terra encantadora e atualiza as informações para o viajante já experiente.

Você sabia, por exemplo, que, após três décadas de restauro, há agora um novo museu no famoso Duomo de Florença? Mais uma atração para a já extensa lista oferecida pela cidade, que mais parece uma obra-prima ao ar livre. São tantas praças, tantos museus, tantas igrejas... Como se atravessar as lindas pontes sobre o rio Arno já não fosse suficiente. É lá que está o Davi de Michelangelo, a Vênus de Botticelli e, para os descolados, os museus (e outlets!) das marcas Gucci e Salvatore Ferragamo.

De Florença, é só pegar um trem – ou alugar um carro – e explorar o interior da província, com seus castelos, vinhedos e pousadas charmosas. Você pode seguir um roteiro de vinícolas de Chianti, deitar sobre o chão de pedra da linda Piazza del Campo, em Siena, desvendar os segredos da cidadela medieval de San Gimignano, praticar agriturismo e descobrir por que a torre de Pisa é inclinada.

Arte e arquitetura ganham, mais do que merecidamente, um capítulo à parte, que explica quem foram os principais mestres locais, quais de suas obras você não pode perder e onde elas estão. O guia ajuda o viajante a organizar dias para a Galeria Uffizi, a Galleria dell’Academia, o Museo di San Marco e outros redutos artísticos de importância mundial. A culinária, claro, também recebe atenção especial, assim como o estilo de vida – lembrando que os toscanos estão entre os mais bem vestidos da Europa. Vale a pena caprichar na mala.

Não pense que você vai se virar pela Toscana exclamando um mamma mia! aqui e ali. Um glossário ao final do livro ensina o vocabulário básico de italiano, facilitando o seu dia a dia em restaurantes, hotéis etc. – há dicas preciosas, aliás, de onde comer, beber, dormir e passear, com seus respectivos endereços, sites e tudo o mais para facilitar a vida do viajante. Mapas coloridos e a malha ferroviária da Toscana (e também como funcionam os trens) são outros destaques úteis do guia.

As duas autoras, exímias conhecedoras da região, também dão dicas de blogs, filmes e livros que preparam o leitor para aproveitar ao máximo o destino. E que destino! Seja na lua de mel, com amigos ou sozinho, a Toscana é sempre tão maravilhosa, que fica até difícil descrever. É ir para crer.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Reference, Italy

804 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 2, 2015

About the author

OUR STORY
A beat-up old car, a few dollars in the pocket and a sense of adventure. In 1972 that’s all Tony and Maureen Wheeler needed for the trip of a lifetime – across Europe and Asia overland to Australia. It took several months, and at the end – broke but inspired – they sat at their kitchen table writing and stapling together their first travel guide, Across Asia on the Cheap. Within a week they’d sold 1500 copies and Lonely Planet was born. One hundred million guidebooks later, Lonely Planet is the world’s leading travel guide publisher with content to almost every destination on the planet.

Reviews

[Ninja Neko · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used this guide (together with the superfluous LP Tuscan Road Trips to plan a 12 day autumn road trip through Tuscany. It was my first time in the region and I wanted to get as much as possible out of our short time there. I suppose I went for LP out of habit, their info on the sights is correct and the restaurant tips have worked for us as well.
This guide was average, good info on the larger cities, again some pleasant surprises on the restaurants. I would have liked a little more information on the smaller locations around the Val d'Orcia. We ended up following LP's suggested itinerary through the valley (page 182), adding a few extra stops along the way. In the end it was our favourite part of the trip, and I was very surprised to only find a single paragraph of text on San Quirico d'Orcia in this 380+ page guide book.
A guide which does spend a full chapter on Livorno, labelling it a "highlight" and "undeniably worthwhile stop on any Tuscan itinerary". This description of the city (and it's fish stew) was the main reason we detoured a full day to squeeze Livorno into our planning. Sorry LP - and sorry Livorno - but calling the historic quarter "shabby-chic" is total sugarcoating, it's dull and wasn't worth the detour. But if you're in the neighbourhood (or catching the ferry) the local food is really good - "cinque e cinque" a particular highlight.
Another disappointment was trying to find the mentioned walking path from Greve in Chianti to Montefioralle - it's a road. Greve is an excellent place to have lunch instead.

Long review short: some hits, some misses, overall the guide served it's purpose in helping to plan and accompany our road trip.

[Maria Clara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sempre os melhores guias!

[Liz McSpadden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

[LeAnn Sipple]

Helpful in depth guide to the region

[Ocelot · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, this Lonely Planet guide to Florence and Tuscany strikes my attention once more. Inside are beautiful pictures, detailed descriptions, and lots of maps and guidelines for YOUR trip to Italy. There are many sections, and you can turn from page to page, or simply open a page and start reading to learn more about this beautiful place. I used this book on my trip to Italy, and it really assisted me. As always, there is a section on Top Sites, and others on family-friendly vacations, and places where one can dine and sleep at. Some fun activities include:

- The Uffizi Gallery, containing many famous artworks including 'The Birth of Venus'.
- Taking a tour of the Tuscan food! With a mix of cheese, wine, olives, pasta, and more, it's arguably one of the best cuisines in the world!

Interested in learning more about Italy? Are you going to Italy? This book is the #1 tourist guide for YOUR trip to Florence & Tuscany!

I'd like to thank Lonely Planet for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[Sara W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is awesome! I can no longer be lonely when I read this book. I have found a place wherein I feel like heaven because of its beauty. I hope to travel and see the most beautiful places in the world like Florence and Tuscany.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lonely planet has good stuff as always. I wish there was a little more Florence and a little less Tuscany, but it's still a good book.