huntley

We will be in Florence Sept 8-10 (1 1/2 days). We would like to make sure we can visit the Uffizi, La Accademia and Pitti Palace on Sept. 10 (Sunday). Would it be possible to make the reservations the previous day? Or are they likely to be sold out?

I visited a couple of web sites just now, and there appears to be a very big add-on (some E48 for two tickets for one of the museums, if I recall right.

We leave Thursday for Berlin, our first of a 7-city, 6-country tour. Thanks for your inputs.

Huntley

Cicerone

Do yourself a favour and call the number below TODAY (spend the five bucks or so for the call) and reserve the tickets now. It is possible there may be tickets available the day before, but it is also quite possible that in Sept they will be sold out, so just call and reserve. It only costs the phone call price and 1.60 Euro per reservation (plus the regular cost of admission which you pay even if you rock up and pay at the door.) DON'T use commcerical websites which charge more.

You can reserve Uffizi and Accademia museums by calling 011 39 055-294-883 8:30-18:30 M-F and 8:30-12:00 Sat. Florence time. Florence is 6 hours ahead of EST. You will get an English speaking operator and in 2-3 minutes you'll get an entry slot and a six-digit confirmation number. You don't pay anything at the time of the booking. At the same time, you can reserve in advance for the Bargello, Medici Chapels, and Pitti Palace. If you show up and there is no line, you DON"T have to pay the 1.60, you can just go to the regular ticket office and buy an admission ticket.

ira

Hi H,

Dial 1016868 (dial around number), 011 (U.S. international access code) 39 (Italy's country code) then 055-294-883 8:30-18:30 M-F and 8:30-12:00 Sat. Florence time.

The call will be about 12 cts/min.

If it doesn't go through drop the 0 before the 55.

huntley

Cicerone and Ira,

Thank you both so much for the very helpful tips. I'll act on them.

Cheers!

Huntley

huntley

Thanks again, Ira and Ciceron for your excellent advice. I just called the reservation service (using the 101-6868 dial-around suggested by Ira) and booked the two of us for Accademia, Uffizi Gallery and Pitti Palace.

Since the Uffizi was full on Sept. 9 (Sat), I had to choose times on the fly, we found ourselves booked at the Accademia at 3:30 pm on Sept. 8 (Fri) and at 4:45 pm at the Uffizi (closes at 6:45 pm). Does this make sense?

I called again and booked ourselves for the Accademia for Sat (Sept. 9) for 10 am. Pleased as punch. By the way, the reservation fee appears to be 3 euros or so per person. Still a great deal, compared to the other booking services.

Also, the Uffizi was fully booked on Saturday, Sept. 9.

We leave for Dulles in 3-4 hours. The excitement level is mounting. Watch for our maiden trip-report.

Cheers, all

Huntley