You surely are not married and traveling with your wife. I spent 2 weeks in Italy in November, Rome, Florence and Venice and haul luggage up flights of stairs(budget hotels) on and off trains was a major upper body workout. Oh I forget on and off Valporetto's in Venice. Now for lower body I walked in museums and shopping about 8 hours a day plus curls with bags of olive oil, ceramics about 3 to 4 hours a day while carrying my wifes purchases. After 8 to 10 food courses a day and gelato 3 times a day, plus wine consumption that could pickle mere mortals. Lets put it this way after all that caloric fun I gained no weight.
Oh exercise is not a problem.

One more thing, take a really heavy camera after 800 photos it feels like 20 lb. free wieght.

Ha ha ha. But it never fails, every time someone asks a legitimate question about finding a gym while on holiday, the responses are "all the walking will be plenty exercise." I think everyone who says that must be couch potatoes at home, because those of us who work out regularly know that nothing can substitute for continuious cardio or weight resistence regimens. To John, I know there are gyms in Florence but I don't know the specifics, you might want to do a search for "palestra" (gym) and Firenze. Good luck!

John,

My Cadogan guide lists the following in Florence:

Body's -- Via Leonardo Bruni 11 (www.bodysgym.com)
Tropos -- Via Orcagna 20A (www.troposclub.it)
Palestra Ricciardi -- Borgo Pinti 75 (this is in the historic center of the city, whereas the other two seem out of it)

Thanks Amy. I looked at the 2 websites you provided, although they are in Italian I at least have the address to check them out when I'm there.

Also thanks to Steve, I'll keep looking for one in Venice. I searched Google for health club, gym, fitness center etc, and Venice/Florence, and all I got was that some nice hotels are equipped with health clubs and gyms, not something that I'm looking for.

For people who do weights (even just 2-3 times a week), we all know how horrible it feels if you don't exercise for 1-2 weeks because you get that muscle soreness + guilt, which no shopping, sight-seeing, galleries or fine dining can compensate.

John, I was looking at the info this morning for my trip in March. I hear you though, I'm not sure just walking is going to be enough for me for the duration of vacation. If I visit any of them, I'll let you know. (Also, the Venice guide didn't list any gyms, so I don't know what to make of that)

Amy

John
We also go to the gym often, and in certain areas appreciate a gym. But, while on holiday, running is a GREAT way to see the city in a different eye. Try it.

We run, walk EVERYWHERE WE CAN and are going to start bringing our rollerblades with us on vacation.

Hi!
I am really not sure if the Italians know about the concept of gyms, I heard there might be one in Rome just for a trial period........
They have TV though!

By the way I am travelling to the States in a months time and was wondering if it is possible to make phonecalls abroad from there? Can you buy croissants in the coffeshops ?(if there are any coffeshops)
enough intelligent questions for now I think............

you guys are weird.

i hope i never become so addicted to working out that i have to do it even when on vacation.

sleep in, for god's sake!

To those who question why one would work out on vacation - - yeah, anything can be obsessive, but if one thinks of exercise like brushing your teeth or washing up, it isn't so crazy. Pity more in this nation don't realize that -- given our heightened rates of obseity and adult-onset diabtes (which increasignly hits younger folks).

And as for walking - no doubt that it a great thing to do, but to truly see a cardio benefit, one has to do it a pace that your heart rate is getting up consistently for at leats 30 mins. Strolling down the Via Veneto while stpikng to window shop and dine ain't gonna cut it.

Strongly agree with the running instructions - just make sure to have a good map and find out where the locals do it so that you don't wind up in some abandoned area. A city is a city.

Wow!

I am surprised at the number of "non-response", humorous responses and sarcastic responses when I was simply asking if there are gyms in Venice or Florence that one can easily access in order to keep up the daily exercise routine even on vacations.

It is also somewhat disappointing to NOT being able to find information on whereabouts of "Physical Fitness facilities, Gym or Health Club" on many of the travel websites and travel books.

We get information in these guide books on where to sleep, to eat, to drink, to shop, to sight-see, and very few/nothing on where to exercise
(best bike path/route, best gyms, best swimming pools etc.). I think that would complement a travel guide. Hope some publishers out there are listening.

John,

On a practical note, the "Time Out" guides provide good, specific information on gyms and other recreational facilties in both cities, including how much they cost, closets metro/bus stops, etc. I don't have 'em with me, otherwise would gladly share the info.

Hi John,
I was researching the same thing for an upcoming trip and found a promising one in Venice.
(Link below)

Also, from my experience in other cities I've been too, I've found that some of the nicer hotels with gyms and pools will sometimes offer a day pass to their facilities.
Worth calling and asking.

Hope this helps.
www.palestranovafit.com

If you're going to run in Venice, you better get up v-e-e-e-e-r-y early.