Sixteen Pleasures by Robert Hellenga (fiction) I read this while we were in Florence and found the story fascinating (never knew about the flood or about the mud angels) and reading it later helps me remember the place all over again.

Stones of Florence and Venice Observed by Mary McCarthy (non fiction) its a little dated but a wonderful evocation of the city and its history

"Brunelleschi's Dome" is excellent.

There is another about a Jewish woman in the 16th century who became a famous business woman in Florence. Its fiction, but the scenes in the city make it seem like its real.

I know I have more - need to check my shelves.

Oh and I am very jealous! We loved it, much more than Rome. When are you leaving, how long do you get to stay?

Thank you, Cindy, for that good list. Anything else you can add will be great. We are going at the end of September into early October. Hope to beat the worst of the heat but still be good weather. We will stay two weeks. I like to stay in one place and take day trips. I get a bit of the feeling of actually living someplace.

Rome was one of the great experiences of my life. I think Florence will be different and wonderful, but I think I have given my heart to Rome. But my mind is open.

Cindy, I agree with you. Rome was fascinating and I'm glad I saw it, but Florence was the city I fell in love with.

No books to suggest, Ginny, but my heartfelt wishes for a wonderful trip.

Rosefolly

Wasn't "Birth of Venus" by Sarah Dunant set it Florence? I second the recommendation re Hellenga's "Sixteen Pleasures." This author has written an even more interesting novel about Italy, as well: "The Fall of a Sparrow."

I far preferred Florence to Rome....but then, I fell in love with Venice.

Has anyone heard any buzz about Salman Rushdie's newest,'The Enchantress of Florence?'

Available next week in the UK. Book blurb "A gorgeous, sensual novel set in Mughal India and Renaissance Florence"

The Scarlet City by Helle Hasse
Romola by George Eliot
A Room with a View by EM Forster

nonfiction:

Forbidden Friendships by Michael Rocke
The Chapel of the Magi: Benozzo Gozzoli's Frescoes in the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi by Cristina Acidini

There are two movie versions of Room With a View. The first James Ivory 1986 version with a host of English actors and the latest with a script by Andrew Davies which came out very recently with a more up-dated group of English stars.
The latter can be watched on You Tube.

Sixteen Pleasures by Robert Hellenga (fiction) I read this while we were in Florence and found the story fascinating (never knew about the flood or about the mud angels) and reading it later helps me remember the place all over again

Sisteen Pleasures follow up

The Italian Lover by Robert Hellenga

Here is a link that might be useful: The Italian Lover

Dante Alighieri, author of the Divine Comedy, was from Florence. Even though the DC does not take place in that city per se, Dante refers to it and gives descriptions if its geography throughout the poem.

There are plenty of wonderful translations of the DC out there: Allen Madelbaum and John Ciardi are two that I have seen recently. There is also a very post-modern graphic novel of the DC by Sandow Birk (illustrator) and Marcus Sanders, but in this version Hell, Purgatory and Heaven all are found within present day Los Angeles rather than in Dante's 13th century world.

Visited a friend last night, and we happened to watch a movie set in Florence called "Tea with Mussolini"(1999). It starred Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, Cher and Lily Tomlin, and was directed by Franco Zeffireli. The shots of Florence are wonderful, and the story is a winner, too.

Just finished a novel set in a Tuscan villa, with forays into Florence, laden with Renaissance art references: "The Sonnet Lover" by Carol Goodman. I quite liked it.

I just returned from a vacation that included Florence. It was my 4th visit, and I doubt I'll ever tire of it. The energy, the beauty, the history - it is all so invigorating!

If fiction is your interest, consider these:

Several years ago, I read The Passion of Artemisia by Susan Vreeland, I believe. It was wonderful.

Yes, Birth of Venus is a must-read.

I think a Whitney Otto book called The Passion Dream Book had some chapters set in Florence.

Cindydavid suggests a book about a Jewish business woman, and that sounds very familiar to me, but I do not remember the title. If it's the book I am thinking of, I really enjoyed it. I possibly have it written down. Will check and get back to you.

For nonfiction, the 2nd Marlena DeBlassi book, is set in Tuscany, with, I imagine, some visits to Florence. I have not read it, but her book set in Venice was very good.

Thank you both for these titles. I will certainly look into all of them. I do prefer non-fiction but have learned a lot from fiction as well. The Marshal Guarnaccia mysteries by Magdalen Nabb were surprisingly informative about Florence and nearby areas of Tuscany.

Right now, I am deep into Iris Origo's various memoirs about Florence and environs. Finished "War in Val d'Orcia"--riveting and immediate--and now reading "Images and Shadows". I've just reached the part where her wealthy and eccentric mother has bought the Villa Medici in Fiesole.

And Captain Backfire, as this will be my first trip to Florence and you are an "old hand", do you have any tips or suggestions? We'll be there two weeks this fall.

OMG! What a luxury! All my trips have been student tours on which we race through these cities, cramming in as much as possible, getting barely a taste of anything! Only because I have now done 4 of these, do I feel as though I have any sense of the city at all!

I would definitely allow at least a half day (or more if you are into it) for the Ufizzi Gallery. There is so much art there. I am so sad that I missed seeing the work of Artemisia Ghentelleschi (sp?), the subject of the book I recommended earlier. But there are works by all the greats, and they are spread out. With teenagers in tow, there is not much chance to stay more than about 90 minutes, and i just feel like I miss so much.

Strolling. Yes, strolling in the old center of the city. Look up, not just out and around. The towers of the old city are still recognizable. If you can get a guide to walk you through the old part, I recommend it. They have interesting facts and explanations.

Eat a gelato at Vivoli's. It is pretty well recognized as the best gelato establishment in Florence. I will get you an address on that if you like.

Get out at night and enjoy the flavor of the nightlife - the Italian cities are "hopping" every night! We (the group I led) took outings that we'd end around 11pm, and there didn't seem to be many others calling it a night!

Are you staying close to the center of things? We always have in the past, but our tour company stuck us way out of walking distance of the major attractions, so we were limited as to our activities. We needed our driver to drop us off and pick us up, which was quite inconvenient.

The hotel we have always used before is the Mediterraneo. It is within eyesight of the Ponte Vecchio and just around the corner from the Uffizzi. Location is everything!

Well, I don't know if I have given you info that you wanted, or not. I could go on. I do envy you the opportunity to see this beautiful city at an sane pace.

Do you plan excursions out to the countryside?
Do you plan any purchases?
Do you want to visit literary sites?

I have small hands, and in Florence I was able to buy beautiful leather gloves that FIT!

I second the recommendation for gelati at Vivoli's.

And, lest you think me an utter Philistine, the art is lovely. David leaves me openmouthed with wonder that anyone could possibly create that from a block of rock.

Thank you, Capt. Backfire and Carolyn for those tips. And Capt., I could not do the student/hostel thing was I was that age so am trying to make up for lost time. We spent two weeks in Rome last year and now Florence. I like to see more of less, if that makes sense, and get a bit of a feeling of what it is like to live there.

We are staying in the very center of town, near the hotel you mentioned, at the Degli Orafi, so we should be able to walk most places.

On the Slow Travel website (which is great), I read about the Friends of the Uffizi. We joined--60 euros each--and receive unlimited admission with no reservations or lines to all the state museums in Florence--Uffizi, Accademia, Pitti, etc. I plan to make at least two visits to the Uffizi.

I am planning several day trips, trying to narrow it down. We really need two months--!--but that is not an option. And yes, we'll be seeking out some literary sites. I'm hoping to get to La Foce in southern Tuscany, home of writer Iris Origo, whose books I am enjoying now.

One book I really enjoyed was "Murder of a Medici Princess" by Caroline Murphy. Lots of history, told in a novel-like manner.

And I will definitely find Vivoli's! Thanks again for the tips.

In Florence, you can buy beautifully marbled paper products of high quality.

Try to find some time to just meander in and out of the various cathedrals.

Day trips: Assisi should not be missed! Try to see some of the hill towns.