Kitty

We are on a cruise, visiting Florence for just one day. We are not really art lovers but would like to visit the Duomo and climb the tower, Santa Croce (just from the outside), Piazza Michelangelo, Boboli Gardens, Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria. Could we realistically do this at a leisurely pace in a day.

Vita

Doable but perhaps not at a leisurely pace. (Sorry. I might have actually suggested this itinerary to you.) I would suggest doing the Duomo and tower, Santa Croce, Piazza della Signorina, and the Ponte Vecchio then guaging however much time you had left to cross the river. I think late afternoon/evening is a nice time to visit Piazzalle Michelangelo anyway.

elaine

Hi Kitty<BR>If you really want to walk through the Boboli Gardens you need to allow at least a couple of hours, if not more.<BR>It's all uphill (one-way, that is), but very pretty. Bring some water and try not to have a heavy totebag as it's a challenging climb.<BR>Sorry, but I don't see the point of going to see only the outside of Santa Croce. The exterior is unremarkable and "unfinished." It's the tombs inside (Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, etc) that are interesting.<BR>The San Lorenzo church is also remarkable, and it has the Medici Chapel and Laurentian Library. Beautiful.<BR>The Campanile (bell tower) is a 414-step climb. It takes a while, and sometimes there's a line. I wasn’t interested enough to climb the whole way, so I stopped at a landing terrace after 157 steps. Even halfway, I had a great view of the dome of the Duomo.<BR><BR>ven if you are not an art lover, I strongly recommend your ordering advance tickets for the Accademia museum to see Michelangelo's "David."<BR>It's beyond "art", it's a miracle.<BR>You can order tickets (with a commission) from www.waf.it<BR>If you do end your day at Piazza della Signoria, you can have a coffee or snack and at least see a copy of "David" in the Piazza.<BR><BR>

Vita

I agree with Elaine about Santa Croce. I didn't notice that you were only planning on seeing it from the outside.

Nancy

Dear Kitty,<BR><BR>If you do only one thing - it should be to see the "David". Try for late in the afternoon, the crowds will be down.<BR><BR>We went at the end of May and the weather was hot! Do you really want to climb all those stairs and be a sweaty mess?<BR><BR>We climbed up to the top of the Boboli Gardens and that was quite a work out. (And we are in relatively good shape and I became a sweaty mess.)<BR><BR>You could take a bus ride to Piazza Michael Angelo for a view back toward the city.<BR><BR>Enjoy.<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Myer

I would leave out Boboli Gardens. Worth seeing but you can see better when in Paris and visiting Verseille.<BR><BR>Too bad you casn't exit the Boboli Gardens at the back. That would probably put you very close to Piazza Michelangelo.<BR><BR>I agree, try to include 'David'. It's about ten minutes past the Duomo but doable.<BR>

Ellen

What, you aren't stopping for <BR>Gelato at Vivolo's? That's a MUST. Pretty near the Santa Croce.

Dayle

Hi Kitty!<BR><BR>I agree with Elaine, seeing the David is a top priority. Also seeing the tombs inside Santa Croce is awe- inspiring.<BR><BR>Piazza Michaelangelo is nice & Boboli Gardens very optional. I like the palace - Pitti - better. In case your are interested, they have a clothing museum there that I really wanted to see, but it was closed for restoration when we were there.<BR><BR>Of course, the Uffizi is incredible, but I don't think you have the time or interest.<BR><BR>Gelatto is MANDATORY...

xxx

David is fantastic whether you are an art lover or not but it will probably be a long line in the summer regardless of time of day. I alway climb the steps in the big churches and the dome of the Duomo is one of the best. If you go for that kind of stuff you should do it. Boboli Gardens is very nice but to hurry is to miss the point. If you have to cut something cut that. Hope this helps