For 20 years, savvy travelers have trusted Sandra Gustafson for real finds and great value abroad. Completely revised and updated, this beloved guide offers in-the-know counsel on the best deals for your money and most unique places to eat in Florence, Rome, and Venice. Both first-time and veteran visitors will find plenty of invaluable tips in these pages, thanks to the author's painstaking research. For this edition, Sandra revisited each of the recommended restaurants, and searched high and low for great new finds.

Great Wine Bar behind Ponte Vecchio -

1. Le Volpie l'Uva - small, serves cold plates of cheese & meats and 40 wines by the glass and bottle. Outside seating, plus bar.
2. Trattoria Garga on Uva del Moro - Innovative, creative Tuscan food that makes everyone want to come back for more. Worth the outlay of lira.
3. AVOID: I Latini - over rated, over priced, over crowded and serving terrible food. Don't believe other guide books. This place has gone down hill fast and is now a tourist trap.

Great Sleeps: Florence

Instituto Suore di Sant' Elizabetta
Uiale Michaelangelo, 46
Tel: 055-681-1884
A holy hotel run by an order of nuns located on the far side of the Arno. It's next to a 3-star hotel that charges 4 times the price, plus parking. Rates at the Instituto are 60,000 lira per person in a room with a private bath, including breakfast and parking, And - it's nice! The sisters are wonderful. It's the best hotel buy in Florence - especially if you have a car. If you're willing to share a bath - the price goes down! Some rooms have private terraces.

Great Chic: Florence

Gucci & Prada Outlets outside of Florence where the savings start at 50% below retail on via Tornabuoni in Florence. If $100 for a beautiful Gucci bag or $65 for Prada shoes doesn't your credit card in action - I give up! By the way - these outlets have current stock - not has-beens or shop worn junk. This is the real stuff - and patronized by locals in chauffeur driven Mercedes!

Ristoranti:

PICCOLO ARANCIO - Trevi Fountain
Part of a trio of restaurants owned by a hard working extended Cialfi family. All the food is seasonally fresh, well executed and nicely served. the menus are almost the same at the other locations - but for my Great Eat in Rome - this is my favorite.
Price: 40,000 lire per person w/house wine.
Addr: Vicolo Scanderberg 112
Tel: 06-67-86-139
Closed on Monday

BUCCONE - It's a gourmet shop, Wine store and Great Eat in Rome near Piazza del Popolo. Inside this 17th century palazzo is a beautiful enoteca with wines clearly displayed into regions and priced to hit every budget. Go for lunch and sample several glasses of wine accompanied by a plate of regional hams & cheeses, or go on Thursday - Saturday nights for dinner.
Addr: Via di Ripetta 36
Tel: 06-36-12-154
Open Daily

Hotels:

Fraterna Domus (a Holy Hotel) -Overall best value, great location, absolutely spotless and run by nuns with a sparkle in their eyes, always a smile - and friendly on top of it all. Enlarged and redone for the Jubilee, this 15 room bargain-to-be-hold is my number one "Great Sleeps in rome" for anyone on a budget - or not. It is run by an order of nuns who also serve lunch & dinner. Their small church - St. Lucia - is over 1000 years old and in dire need of restoration. If you want to give to a worth cause and be the "Guardian Angel" for these lovely sisters, please do so! If you don't stay here - you can come for Lunch or dinner, but please reserve.
Note:The church is only open to the public on sunday for 11:00 a.m. Mass. If you're staying here, you can visit the church anytime, the sisters will let you in through "the secret door."

Fraterna Domus
Via dell'Cancello 9
Tel: 06-688-02727 / 688-05475 Fax: 06-683-2691

Hotel Celio - Most Stunning addition/renovation
This hotel has always been tasteful and well done - but wait until you see Marcello Quatrini's new wing, the new dining area and the knock-out suite on the top floor. Trust me - it's a sensation..... views/double bathrooms, each with jacuzzi - and all the extras.

Addr: Via dei Santi Quattro 35-C
Tel: 06-704-95333 Fax: 06-709-6377

For enlightened walking tours in and around Rome, Venice and Florence, the following superb guides lead private full and half-day tours in the cities they know and love. Time spent with either, will enrich your experience and knowledge by enabling you to see the cities from the inside out.

Rome:

Scala Reale is a network of architects, historians, and archeologists who are studying or based in Rome. These experts lead smal private, or semi-private full or half-day walking tours in Rome, as well as excursions by car or minivan outside Rome. These tours are both fascinating and fun and enable you to see Rome as you never would on your own. www.scalareale.com

Florence:

Frank Peters PHONE: 055 234 4747 FAX: 39-055-248-0954 Note: Both Tom Rankin and Frank Peters give Historical, and Architectural Tours.

Venice:

Samantha Durell FAX USA: (212)873-1964 FAX Venice: 39-041-523-2379 Samantha will guide you to the hidden, back streets & Canals of Venice for a fabulous peek into how Venetians live, work, play - even die. Please - don't miss Samantha in Venice!

Rates are reasonable for all three and available upon request. All tours given in English.