sherburf

We are going to Italy. I am wondering if there are any day trips from Florence. We will have a rental car. But walking a great distance is hard for me, as I have severe arthritis in my knees. Can you suggest a couple cities to visit?

Belinda

Do you have a handicap plackard? If so, bring it with you. You'll be able to park more easily.

Pisa is not difficult... very flat. Take taxis. Minimize your walking.

Sienna and San Gimignano are so beautiful but very hilly. But you can stop and take breaks at cafes.

aliced

I have very arthritic knees also but did a month in France in September with hundreds of stairs. Bring Ibuprofen in the least and take it. Bring elastic braces for both knees, available in national drugstore chains. They will help deter twisting. Most of all, wear 'good shoes' -- I put this in quotes because what good shoes for me arent for you, but in Europe, they must have alot of cushioning but have a pretty stiff sole. On the cobblestones you dont want a shoe that can be folded in half. Yes, those "Go Walk" shoes feel fabulous, but do not hold up for hours per day. You need support. Have a fabulous time. If your knees hurt, stop and rest somewhere. I'd also pack ziplocks just in case you want to ice them (good luck finding ice in Europe.....).

immimi

Lucca is a lovely town...and flat.
Before I had a knee replaced I had a cortisone shot before I travelled to Italy...helped for a month.

tower

Moving fast toward a big 88, I've had knee problems for many of my 70 travelng years and 85 countries. VA Cortisone shots helped just before a trip and then I shifted toward meds like Aleve and some Australian Emu products. I have avoided knee replacements and it's too late to even consider now even if I wanted to (which I don't).

Last time I went to my primary, for a semi-annual check up...he had a serious look on his face, saying, Stu, you have arthritis in both knees...I looked right back at him in disbelief and said..."No sh--, Tim! That's shocking."

Then he gave me his usual wasted pitch to have a replacement. Once again I responded..."Tell you what Tim, OK, let me do you first!" Somehow, he never seems to agree with that!

Don't wish to minimize your pain, Sherburf, but if you pick your battlefields properly, keeping on the flats, no big stair climbing, plenty of rest through the day, you can put up a good fight...and still enjoy your trips. My wives and I did, immensely. They're both gone now. Bless you for many more years of satisfying travel.

Keep on truckin' !!

stu

greg

I see you are asking for cities to visit. However, the visit hinges on certain assumptions which is not clear if you have already incorporated into your plan.

Since you mentioned renting a car, do I presume your assumption visiting "couple cities" hinges on being able to drive from Florence to "cities?" All the cities in Italy has ZTL limited traffic zones in the center. All the cities mentioned above have them. Although I have never had to do it, I have seen on the web that it is "possible" to go through bureaucratic procedures usually written in Italian unique to each city to obtain temporary permits to enter these zones.

That brings back to Florence. Does the place you are staying in Florence have a parking space? Is it inside the ZTL zone? If it is, do you know what it takes to get there? If you go to other cities and you have to park well outside the ZTL zone, how will you be getting to the destinations from the parking lot?

Ackislander

"But walking a great distance is hard for me, as I have severe arthritis in my knees."

I have a lot of sympathy!

It would help to know what you mean by "a great distance." Is that measured in yards and meters or by hours and minutes.

Does your endurance vary by the type of walking? I find standing around, walking through museums, and especially shopping to be much harder on my skeleto-muscular issues than strolling or walking.

I second Lucca as a destination: it is flat, has an amazing layout, and lots of good places to eat. Pienza is small, beautiful, and has parking steps from the historical center. The center of Greve in Chiant is only a block from streamside parking. The amazing Abbey at San Antimo is easy to get to from parking.

Some great places are tough: Siena (long walk from parking), San Gimignano (ditto and all uphill), Montepulciano is very hilly. Could you rent a wheel chair and have a companion push you? Hire an aide or assistant to push the chair?

In addition, you have be prepared everywhere to walk on irregular stones -- not round cobblestones like Nantucket but stone setts about 4" square set in patterns in streets. Don't wear fashion shoes and give yourself permission to sit down whenever you can.

IMDonehere

I am glad you are not going to France, as they only allow tourists with osteoarthritis, as they consider rheumatoid arthritis declasse.

Ackislander

Huh?

bvlenci

Montalcino and Pienza are two beautiful Tuscan towns that are easy for walking. Montalcino is on top of a hill, but the center of town is pretty flat.