Photo by Sam Javanrouh

Ah, Florence, the city that inspires artists, writers, and your everyday girl. Over a million tourists from the US alone come and see this magical city each year. One of the most important things you can do when traveling is to tread lightly, and with so many of Italy’s priceless treasures succumbing to the ills of aging and pollution, it’s becoming ever more pressing that travelers go green. In addition to getting you to and around Florence, the following guide provides some of the best–and greenest–options for accomodations, tours, and restaurants.

Practical Information

Local airports are Amerigo Vespucci (domestic flights only) three miles northwest of the city center, and Galileo Galilei, 47 miles west of the city, near Pisa. Florence is a major railway and bus hub, so wherever you fly to, be it Milan, Rome or Pisa you will have to take public transportation to Florence.

Once you arrive, the city is remarkably easy to navigate. To walk end to end only takes 35 minutes, including stops for occasional espressos. Traffic is also restricted in the city center.

Art and Culture

In Florence, all roads lead to the Great Cathedral del Santa Maria Fiore, the religious and architectural heart of the city, so grab a free map in the bus or train station and start walking, and in about 15 minutes you will come to a grand piazza, dominated by the pink, white, and green cathedral.

You will also notice that there are other sights in or right behind the cathedral. The octagonal Baptistery of St. John , The Bell Tower (campanile), and the Cathedral Museum.

The two art galleries you must visit are the Galleria Academia and the Uffizi Gallery. The Uffizi houses the largest collection of Florentine art in the world and the Galleria, Michaelangelo’s David. Both are large tourist draws. It is advisable to book visits in advance.

Also not to be missed is the Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s oldest bridge, and the only one that wasn’t destroyed by the Germans in WWII. The largest green space in Florenece, the Boboli Gardens, is a great place to relax and people watch, as well as get some shade from the Mediterranean Sun.

Green Eats

The San Lorenzo Market is the biggest market in the city shop for local produce, meats and cheeses in the large, covered Marcato Centrale. You can also find handmade leather goods, paper products and more in the street stalls.

If you’re looking for a sit down place, local restaurants like Arcobaleno ( Italian for rainbow)

Or, for the authentic experience, why not try an agritourismo holiday, living and participating on a working farm? Visit www.goodtravelcompany.com for more details.

There are also a number of travel companies offering eco-friendly tours of Tuscany, so if you’re not a do-it-yourself type of person, these would be great for you:

Eco Touring Tuscany

The Good Travel Company,
and Context both practice responsible tourism.

Unless you live in Italy, you’re probably going to have to fly there. Don’t forget to calculate and offset you carbon emissions by going to websites like www.carbonneutral.com.

One of Matador’s newest contributors, Kelly Lalonde writes: “I get bored with normalcy, love pasta, love watching the city come alive on a long walk in the morning.”

Seoul, South Korea. Photo by Trey Ratcliff, licensed by Creative Commons.

10. Brazil

Brazil’s effort to internationalize yields many opportunities to teach English, in both business and traditional school settings. However, you must have a lot of patience to legally obtain a work visa. CEL LEP and Alumni School are good places to start looking.

9. Saudi Arabia

The Middle East is where you will find some of the highest paying jobs offered for native English speaking teachers. This is not for the faint of heart; you must be interested in life in the Middle East and well versed in cultural differences to appreciate the experience. Bayt Recruiting is a good job reference.

8. Italy

Cheap travel and fantastically inexpensive gourmet food are just some of the benefits of living in Italy. There is, however, an annoying amount of red tape. It is recommended to go through a TESOL online certification program in which the school you are paying guarantees you job placement.

For a list of recommended programs, visit Transitions Abroad .

7. Thailand

Thailand is as close as you get to paradise. The American University Alumni (AUA) Language Center, the oldest and largest language school in Thailand with almost 400,000 graduates, is a nonprofit school with an excellent reputation in the country. The AUA is always looking for TESOL teachers.

6. Japan

Asian nations are practically begging for English teachers and you can find work via the Internet quickly. Most recruit year round, and provide successful applicants with visa sponsorship, apartment, partially-paid national insurance, etc.

The largest schools in Japan are with AEON. You can also find work with JET or The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program.

5. Russia

Old stereotypes of an economic system fueled by vodka and general lawlessness have made native English teachers scarce in Russia. The demand for teachers far exceeds the supply, making it easy to gain employment with the benefits of visa support, accommodations and often airfare reimbursement.

The largest schools in the area are BKC International and English First are by far the best places to find employment.

4. China

With great compensation packages including salary, apartment, visa sponsorship and sometimes airfare, China is becoming a popular choice for English teachers. Journey East offers links to internships, paid positions and other information.

3. Mexico

If you’re looking for sun and comfort, Mexico is the place to be. In general, the minimum academic requirement for English teaching positions in Mexico is a university degree and a TESOL certificate.

Jobs are difficult to find pre-entry, but are plentiful upon arrival. One option is to look for work in a University. If you have any teaching experience, this is the way to go. Visit ESL Employment for more details.

2. South Korea

Offering many perks such as airfare, housing, insurance benefits, decent salaries and a low cost of living, South Korea offers the ability to travel and make good money. A good place to start is the job board at Dave’s ESL Cafe. Contracts are usually for 1 year and a bachelor’s degree is required.

1. Czech Republic

Chosen for its idyllic location, amazing scenery, high demand and relative ease of entry, the Czech Republic—specifically Prague—is the traveler’s dream come true. The Prague Post, a weekly English language newspaper, is the best place to look for possibilities from home.

One final note: if you don’t get the salary, housing options and benefits that you are seeking, politely negotiate, or decline.

Editor’s Note: Since the original publication of this post (9 Jan 2008) we’ve created a new blog Matador Study, dedicated to study and teaching abroad programs and opportunities. Please check it out for more in-depth profiles and resources.