Art, food, and history, with an eye toward budgeting, is the focus of host Rick Steves's tours of the expensive, tourist-clogged cities of Venice and Florence. Having traveled to Italy--alone and with family in tow--for two decades, Steves draws upon his ample experience to guide would-be travelers away from crowds and money drains. In Venice, he takes viewers through the canals, suggesting an alternative to the "ransom" paid for gondolas, and to the standard attractions like St. Mark's Cathedral, all the while dispensing tips on dress code, inexpensive lodging, and gelati. In Florence, he starts with frescoes in a less-visited city across the Arno River and then treks over to the Renaissance Ringleader's ring road to see Michaelangelo's David; its precursor, Donatello's David; and the Uffizi Gallery, crammed with works by Botticelli, Titian, and others, dropping more tips as he goes. This 50-minute offering, first seen on public television, also includes general advice on seeking a travel agent, attempting to speak other languages, and itinerary planning. --Kimberly Heinrichs

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