Florence’s marathon is as tough as any, but there are plenty of tourist distractions en route.

(TRAVPR.COM) UK - November 2nd, 2011 - Tours of the city of Florence in Tuscany tend to be leisurely, giving time to appreciate the countless medieval and renaissance wonders here. But not so for six thousand competitors taking part in the Florentine Marathon on Sunday 27th November.

Since 1984, this annual race has followed a route past iconic architecture and the famous skyline, dominated by the Duomo cathedral, the Campanile di Giotto cloud-scraping bell tower, and hundreds of the city’s fashionable and cultural attractions.

Starting south of the Arno at the Piazzale Michelangelo, the course snakes away to green outlying districts over great distances along tree-lined avenues that double back on one another. This gives the runners the exhausting sense of having covered many miles whilst not actually travelling very far!

This late in the year, heat-exhaustion is unlikely to trouble the competitors as crisp, cool weather is typical in November, but throngs of spectators are certain to attend, and shorter, family courses run adjacent to the main route.

Although this is a relatively flat course sections of old, cobbled streets make it an arduous one. Towards the end, the long loop round the riverside Cascine Park separates strong finishers from the crowd.

Crossing the river at the famous Ponte Vecchio runners finally pass the finish line in the glorious Piazza Santa Croce, the winner’s name becoming one more in Florence’s long history.

Find out more about the Florence Marathon at http://www.firenzemarathon.it

Cottages to Castles can provide high quality villas in Tuscany for anyone coming to this amazing city to witness or take part in this fabulous event.

About Cottages to Castles
Cottages to Castles is an independent British company, founded over 28 years ago to specialise in providing high quality self-catering holiday villas in Italy. The company is owned and operated by father, son and daughter team Claudio, Jonathan and Daniela Magoni, who between them inspect and handpick every property.

Cottages to Castles operate a team of sales consultants based in the UK with detailed knowledge of every property. In addition, the company employs a number of permanent representatives on the ground in Italy to ensure a smooth and trouble free holiday experience for their customers.

With a large collection of properties in the inland, countryside, lakeside and seaside regions of Italy, Cottages to Castles is one of the leading specialists in Italian villa rentals in the U.K., U.S., Australia and New Zealand.

###