St Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, 13^th and 14^th of February is the perfect occasion for a romantic weekend getaway in Florence, city of art, culture and unique beauty.

Florence has so much to offer: Walks on the famous Ponte Vecchio, Horse and buggy rides, romantic candle light dinners, visit the Uffizi Gallery are just a few of the many interesting, fun and relaxing things you can do only in Florence.

Hotel Relais features selected 4 and 5 star hotels in Florence for an unforgettable St. Valentine’s Day week end.

Lungarno Suites Hotels

Member of the international network Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Lungarno Suites is the place where you can treat yourself to a unique romantic weekend getaway in Florence, experiencing unforgettable moments and panoramas in the intimacy of a home directly facing the Ponte Vecchio.

Hotel Montebello Splendid

A higher level of luxury and elegance, in a peaceful up-scale neighborhood, nestled in an oasis of calm and beauty in central Florence, Hotel Montebello Splendid is an icon to luxury and elegance typical of 5 star and luxury hotels in Florence, within walking distance of Ponte Vecchio.

Hotel Montebello Splendid opens into a courtyard garden with a fountain and a little neoclassic temple that will constantly calm and inspire you during your days in Florence–a corner full of peace and serenity for your afternoon cocktails and Al fresco dinners.

Thinking about things to do in Florence and you have a “sweet tooth” the Fiera del Cioccolato Artigianle is just what you are looking for. Chocolate lovers from all Italy gather in Florence to meet in Piazza di Santa Croce.

This event is home to the most famous chocolate makers in the world – an opportunity to “taste” the best chocolates and chocolate related products.

Tuscany is home to many chocolate artisans as I mentioned in a post last year – Chocolate tasting & Making in Florence Tuscany

Opening hours are from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM and entry is free. Opening date is February 4^th and will remain open to the public until the February 7^th.

Hotel Relais suggests a stay in one of the best hotels in Florence:

• Lungarno Suite
• Hotel Bernini Palace

Inaugurata ieri a Siena, con un concerto in Piazza Jacopo della Quercia, con la Nona sinfonia di Beethoven, la 66esima settimana musicale senese durerà fino al 17 luglio 2009.
Nel fine settimana:
- al Teatro dei Rozzi di Siena un grande prima: la rappresentazione italiana L’imbalsamatore di Giorgio Battistelli, al debutto alla regia (venerdì e domenica)
- nella Chiesa di Sant’Agostino l’Orchestre des Champs Elysees e il Collegium Vocale Gent e Accademia Chigiana Siena diretti da Philippe Herreweghe eseguono l’Elias di Mendelssohn (sabato)

La musica prosegue martedì nella Sala del Mappamondo di Palazzo Pubblico, con il concerto della violinista Lisa Batiashvili, vincitrice della 26ª edizione del Premio Internazionale “Accademia Musicale Chigiana” 2008, insieme a Yumiko Urabe al pianoforte.

Mercoledì e giovedì sempre al Teatro dei Rozzi un’opera di Haydn, su libretto di Pietro Metastasio: L’isola disabitata, realizzata dall’Orchestra della Toscana.

L’Accademia Musicale Chigiana sarà di nuovo presente con la 78esima Estate Musicale Chigiana dal 29 luglio al 26 agosto in varie ambientazioni: chiese, abbazie e teatri, e con il programma “Maestri Chigiani in terra di Siena” (20 luglio-23 agosto), con grandi concerti a Chiusi, San Gimignano, San Quirico d’Orcia, Sovicille, Pienza.

Biglietti in vendita online sul sito dell’Accademia Chigiana >>

Per un soggiorno in provincia di Siena vi suggeriamo:

- Relais Villa Arceno (San Gusmè – Siena)
- Hotel Borgo Pretale (Sovicille – Siena)
- Castello di Velona (Montalcino – Siena)
- Castelbigozzi (Monteriggioni – Siena)
- Hotel Certosa di Maggiano (Siena)
- Tenuta di Ricavo (Castellina – Siena)
- Castello Banfi il Borgo (Montalcino – Siena)
- Relais il Vignale (Radda in Chianti – Siena)
- Villa San Paolo (San Gimignano – Siena)
- Relais della Rovere (Colle val D’Elsa – Siena)
- Borgo Scopeto Relais (Siena)
- Hotel Relais La Suvera (Casole d’Elsa – Siena)
- Villa Poggiano (Montepulciano – Siena)
- Campo Regio Relais (Siena)

There is excitement in the air and great expectations from the forthcoming Opera festival 2009 which will soon take place in some of the most beautiful and exclusive locations in Florence, Tuscany. The festival blends ballet and music at the highest levels and a breath taking location: Giardino di Boboli with a privileged access from Palazzo Pitti.

Here are highlights of the most important events for you to review and attend while visiting Florence:

Aida – Giuseppe Verdi

• Monday June 15, Florence, Giardino di Boboli begins at 9:15 PM
• Thursday June 25, Florence, Giardino di Boboli begins at 9:15 PM
• Thursday July 9, Florence, Giardino di Boboli begins at 9:15 PM
• Tuesday July 21, Florence, Giardino di Boboli begins at 9:15 PM

MaggioDanza

• Wednesday July 1, Florence, Giardino di Boboli begins at 9:15 PM in the framework of the 72^nd edition of Maggio Musical Fiorentino

ZUBIN MEHTA, Messa da Requiem di G. Verdi

• Thursday July 2, Florence, Giardino di Boboli begins at 9:15 PM

Carmina Burana di C. Orff – di M.Ravel

• Tuesday July 14, Florence, Giardino di Boboli begins at 9:15 PM

Roberto Bolle and Friends

• Wednesday July 29, Florence, Giardino di Boboli begins at 9:15 PM
• Thursday July 30, Florence, Giardino di Boboli begins at 9:15 PM

More information on Opera Festival can be found here.

Here are some of our fine Hotels in Florence to make your stay both comfortable and enjoyable at competitive rates !

- Montebello Splendid, offers private parking near porta a Prato
- Lungarno Suites at Ponte Vecchio
- Hotel Bernini Palace near Palazzo Vecchio
- Plaza Hotel Lucchesi on the lungarni.

If you are visiting Tuscany and seeking tips on things to do in and around Florence, Il Genio Fiorentino is an initiative you won’t want to miss.

Genio Fiorentino started this past week end and will continue until may 24^th

Events organized for this edition of Il Genio Fiorentino are listed here.

(Italian Chocolate on Flickr by Soundless Space)

Like Chocolate ? Can’t resist sweets ? If you’re in Tuscany visit the Fiera del Cioccolato in Florence starting next week. From January 22^nd Florence celebrates chocolate for 3 days in Piazza di Santa Croce from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Fiera del Cioccolato offers free chocolate tasting along with the opportunity to learn how to make chocolate.

Another event featuring chocolate made in Tuscany is CIOCCOLOSITÀ in Monsummano Terme, Pistoia organized by Slow Food Tuscany. This year CIOCCOLOSITÀ hosts artisans from other regions and celebrates it’s 10^th birthday (January 30, 2009 – February 1, 2009).

The traditional appointment known as “cioccolatiere in cucina” this year features Corrado Assenza from Caffè Sicilia a Noto on January 30, and Roberto Catinari, Master Chocolate Maker, and Chef Giuseppe Argentino.

During the holiday season, Hotel Montebello Splendid, in the heart of Florence, is organizing a new year’s eve dinner in the heart of Florence. Hotel Montebello Splendid is a 5 star hotel with a higher level of luxury and elegance, located in a peaceful yet central up-scale neighbourhood in downtown Florence, within walking distance of Ponte Vecchio.

Hotel Montebello Splendid is an icon to Florentine luxury and elegance.

Located in the area of embassies and the Florence Opera theatre, this 19th-century villa has repeatedly hosted international ambassadors, opera singers, artists and intellectuals, and this year offers an exclusive event on new year’s eve:

Awaiting midnight in the magic atmosphere of Florence

To celebrate the new year Hotel Montebello Splendid is hosting a new year’s eve dinner, a heart warming moment of relaxation and intimacy, away from the confusion.

Here you’ll enjoy aperitifs and fine foods:

• Al caminetto” Ilvano’s cocktails and the Chef’s appetizers
• Crispy artichoke
• Artichoke and pistachio with steamed prawn and aromatic herbs sauce and pistachio with steamed prawn and aromatic herbs sauce
• Chicken liver strudel with selection of salads and mustard zabaglione
• White Tuscan beans soup with mussel, hand made pasta topped with dried tomatoes and basil
• Champagne risotto topped with fillet mignon and Brunello wine sauce
• Fillet of beef topped with citrus and chicory sauce with thyme flavoured potatoes pie
• Panettone and Pandoro, typical Italian yeast cake, with hot chocolate and vanilla sauce
• Cup of Spumante
• Coffee with chocolate cookies

from 20:45 to 21:15 aperitif near the Fireplace in the lounge

Cable radio music

€ 110,00 per person.

Beverages are not included

For further information and bookings:

Hotel Montebello Splendid, 5 star hotel in Florence
50123 Firenze, via Garibaldi 14 – Tel. +39 055 2747.1 – Fax +39 055 2747700
Email: info@montebellosplendid.com – www.montebellosplendid.com

Florence is a top travel destination in Tuscany. We walk the streets of the city centre and can only try to imagine what life has been through the centuries in this cross way of political and cultural events.

Today Florence is mostly known as the “culla del rinascimento” or the cradle of renaissance. Today Monuments, churches, and building are the skyline of a city that was once the intellectual heart of Europe, but there is yet another historical era dating back centuries, known as the Roman Florence.

Florence was founded by Julius Caesar in 59 BC as a settlement for veteran soldiers. Recent archeological activity has surfaced new and exciting discoveries dating back to this ancient historical period, leading to Palazzo Vecchio built on the ruins of an ancient roman theatre.

Today it’s possible to visit Florence in a different way and discover the past by taking a guided tour that starts in Via dell’Oriuolo where a model of Florence called Firenze com’era is located.

The historical itinerary walks through Piazza San Giovanni where the Duomo di Firenze is located and continues on to Via Roma (once known as l’asse viario del Cardo) leading to Piazza della Repubblica, and finally Palazzo Vecchio.

Guided visits are scheduled on the first Sunday of each month and last approximately 1 1/2 hours.

Guided tour timetable:

• 10:00 – 11:30
• 11:00 – 12:30
• 12:00 – 13:30

Tickets are € 7,00 and children under 8 years of age are not admitted in the excavation area of Palazzo Vecchio.

Further information and bookings: +39.055 2768224 – +39.055 2768558

You can also book tickets online.

Florence pays a tribute to Catherine and Maria de’ Medici with an art exhibition in Palazzo Strozzi inaugurated last Friday.

After 400 years Florence celebrates the myth of 2 of her most powerful ladies of the past with a unique collection of monumental tapestries displayed in Paris in the Galleria dei Gobelins in the Castle of Chambord.

15 spectacular masterpieces (some 5 meters high) dedicated to the legendary Queen Artemisia. The event depicted by the tapestries was inspired by the epic poem Historie de la Royne Arthemise (1561-1562) by Nicholas Houel, a tribute to Queen Catherine de’ Medici where Houel combined the events of 2 Artemisie d’antan, both queens of Caria, a region of todays Turkey.

The event is taking place at:

Palazzo Strozzi, piazza Strozzi, Firenze
Hours: Every day 9:00-20:00. Thursday 9:00-23:00. Visitors are allowed in up to 1 hour prior to closing time.
Tickets: Full fare € 10; reduced rate € 8,50 – 8 – 7,50; schools € 4.
Information: 055.2645155, www.palazzostrozzi.org.

Hotel Relais is proud to suggest any one of the following hotels in Florence while visiting this fine art exhibition:

5 star hotels:

• Villa Olmi Resort at Bagno a Ripoli
• Montebello Splendid in central Florence

4 star hotels:

Lungarno Suite in central Florence

UNA Palazzo Mannaioni at Montaione

Hotel Bernini Palace in Fiorence

Plaza Hotel Lucchesi in Fiorence

Historical Residences

Residenza del Moro in Fiorence

The Metropolitan Opera opens its 2008-09 season on September 22 with a gala performance that kicks off its 125^th anniversary starring Renée Fleming in three fully-staged scenes, including some of her most acclaimed portrayals.

The Met’s 125th anniversary season kicks off on September 22 with the Opening Night Gala starring Renée Fleming in fully staged excerpts from Verdi’s La Traviata, Massenet’s Manon, and Strauss’s Capriccio.

Costumes for Fleming have been specially created for each of the scenes in the Opening Night Gala by three of the world’s legendary fashion designers: John Galliano, Christian Lacroix, and Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel.

The opening night performance will be transmitted live to multiple giant screens in Times Square, with free seating for 2,000 people. Screens that will carry the transmission include the Astrovision (Panasonic), Reuters, Nasdaq, and MTV screens. Gala performance to be transmitted live in HD to 600 theaters in North and South America as well as to Times Square and Fordham University’s Lincoln Center Plaza, and broadcast live on Metropolitan Opera Radio SIRIUS channel 78.

In this occasion Met launches the italian co-management of the restaurant, that will be given to the florentine restaurant Le Murate, for the whole Season. An exhibition of Dante’s portraits by the renowned photographer Oliviero Toscani, opens at Met on the same day.