Rick Steves audio tours

I have followed Rick Steves since buying his Europe Through the Back Door for my first trip to Europe in 1983.

Over the years, I have bought many of his travel guides and, more recently, listened to his many podcasts.

Rick also has an extensive collection of free audio tours that can be downloaded onto your phone for use as an audio guide on tours in and around cities all over Europe. For Italy he has 26 audio tours available (10 for Rome; 5 for Florence; 4 for Venice; 3 for Assisi and Siena; 2 for Naples; 1 for Milan and 1 for Pompeii). These are best used by downloading the free Rick Steves Audio Tour app and downloading the audio tours you would like to use.

He has spent over 30 years touring Europe and provides so much useful information on European travel to get the most out of your vacation time.

Amalfi Coast

Just south of Naples on the west coast of Italy, the marvellous collection of seaside towns that comprise the Amalfi Coast are one of the marvels of Italy.

Rick Steves has a great video on touring the Amalfi Coast.

Here is a beautiful hi-def video of the Amalfi Coast. And another video here.

Florence

The important sites in Florence:

David in the Galleria dell'Accademia.

Brunelleschi's Dome

Uffizi Gallery. See Rick Steves on best way to avoid line-ups to get into this and other museums.

Museum of San Marco - Fra Angelico

Bargello Museum (see an interesting video here)

Duomo Museum

Lunch:
Get a great sandwich at the place that is popular with locals and tourists: All' Antico Vinaio located on the Via de'Neri 65R (hrs: 10:00-22:00). They make huge sandwiches with a local flat bread called "schiacciata" (somewhat like focaccia), with ingredients like ham with truffle cream or artichoke cream. The all-time favourite sandwich to order is the La Favolosa (trans. - "Fabulous") which consists of Florentine salami, pecorino cheese, artichoke cream and roasted eggplant. Their "summer sandwich" has mozzarella, basil leaves, stracchino, pistachio, pistachio cream and sun dried tomatoes on a focaccia bread.

I heard that All’ Antico Vinaio is overrated. Better to try Chill’it, so I did. I had their OMG panini with salami, aged pecorino, sun-dried tomatoes and artichoke paste. Very good!

At Gilli Restaurant and Bar had a Negroni which they are famous for, but tasted like me own. Would also be a great place for a coffee break with their large selection of pastries.

The other place to try is Fratellini which also has great sandwiches. Tuna, capers and salsa verde on a
ciabatta bun, although on the video I saw the person said it tasted salty!

Florence with Brunelleschi's Dome predominant

Accommodations:
Rick Steves recommendation: Hotel Torre Guelfa, Borgo Santi Apostoli 8 (€115).