DianeP

Planning a trip to Italy in Sept 04 and would like to know why Florence?? Can anyone shed light on this subject. Some people love it and others say they don't understand the hype. Other than the obvious art what else it there to see and do?? I am trying to decide if we should travel from Rome to Florence and then day trip to small Tuscany towns from Florence or should we rent a villa for a week in Tuscany and then day trip to Florence....

bobthenavigator

The latter, but give Florence a good day--perhaps using public transport.

Surfergirl

If you have no interest in the art, then as bob says, do the latter.

My take on it is obviously subjective. I think Florence is a beautiful city in itself, art aside. But as a teen, I remember reading Irving Stone's The Agony & the Ecstacy, and there was no way after reading that book that I was going to miss Florence!

ira

Hi Diane,

We recently spent six days in Florence, enjoyed it and will go again.

Here's my trip report. It might help you decide

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

amc

DianeP,
I thought that Florence was amazing. It's such a beautiful city, different from the others in Italy that I visited. Wish I could be more descriptive in saying why.

Ponte Vecchio is a beautiful bridge that you must walk over, day or night. While there, I bought a painting of this ancient bridge and had it framed back in the states. It's now in my living room reminding me of the night I was standing on it, looking at the stars. That night, I had called my parents back home in Georgia and said, "You can't believe where I am." Of course, they couldn't, but it was so lovely that I had to share the moment.

Bobthenavigator had a good suggestion. You will not be disappointed if you go, promise.

mamc

We visit Florence each time we go to Italy. The "obvious", as you put it, is spectacular. The David, the Cathedral, the Uffizi, the art and architecture of the Medici - all are amazing. The Piazza della Signoria is one of my favorite spaces in the world on a warm fall day. I think the food is among the best is Italy. Florence is a beautiful city with beautiful architecture. The views from Fiesole and from the Piazza Michangelo are wonderful. You are going at the very best time of the year to see Florence at its best. I wouldn't miss it!

Lorac1127

Florence is a city filled with many of the most amazing art treasures. Seeing Michelangelo's David in person is beyond words. The Ufizzi, Santa Croce, St. John's Baptistry and Santa Maria del Fiore are not to be missed...

Having said that, my husband and I were extremely disappointed with how noisy Florence is and also how the city is overrun with peddlars...even on church steps. The magnificent art far exceeded my expectations but the city of Florence did not. After a few days, we were ready for the quiet of the countryside in Tuscany.

Sue_xx_yy

Diane

You cannot skip something on the basis of other people's opinions, not if it's Florence. You must play your own detective, spend at least a day there, and decide for yourself.

JonJon

If Sue's logic above is correct, then you obviously cannot GO to Florence based on other people's opinions, either.

Personally, I love the city and its many world-famous art works and architecture. But if you have a limited amount of time to spend and feel there are other, more important places for you to visit, then do so...and do so WITH NO REGRETS and no need to feel as if you are some sort of cretin because you don't share the views of some people who post here.

Wayne

What JonJon said makes sense to me. It means you need to do your homework (and your inquiry is obviously part of that) and then make up your own mind. Don't let lavish praise or stinging criticism faze you; glean the facts from the words, filter out the emotion, and then decide what YOU want to do. You won't regret it. Good luck.

JandaO

imho, seeing David is a MUST. It is one of those magical moments in life

swalter518

I agree with the others that Florence is not my favorite city in Tuscany but that being said you must go at least once and judge for yourself. If nothing else, see David, walk the Ponte Vecchio, see Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novello and of course the Duomo. Stay in Tuscany, plan a day trip and then decide if you want to go back for another day if you don't see everything you want.

Steveboy

What an amazing group of people populates this forum. The above responses are unusually thoughtful, informed and balanced. My personal view echoes several others: Florence can exceed and disappoint at the same time, depending on preferences and expectations. There is probably no city that possesses a higher concentration of the great masters. But if an abundance of medieval and renaissance art and architecture brings you diminishing returns, then Florence may not be your bag (leather or otherwise). In fact, it may even overwhelm you. My wife and I far preferred Venice, which is one of the few cities in the world for which the word "unique" is singularly suited. Venice is a virtual state of mind, and simply walking its streets and narrow alleys can transport you. But, of course, others complain of crowds and the stench of the canals. We visited in December and experienced neither.

There are plenty of reasons to see Florence, but in the end all of us have to order our priorities and move on. Decide what you want from your vacation. Measure that against what the posters above have told you about Florence. You will make the right decision.

TheOriginalBob

I've been to Florence once and have to say that I didn't much like it. There just wasn't anything about the city that appealed to me.

Except, the Uffizi, the Bargello, Cappella Medici, the Accademia.

So I'm going back in a month to find out if I was wrong. Will let you know then.

craisin

Surfergirl, you took the words right out of my mouth! I loved that book!!! But, also, it's the quirky Florentines, the little surprises, the special places, and memories.

I think the reason some people may dislike Florence is because they may think of it as a long list of things to check off: David-Michelangelo, David-Donatello, Duomo, check, check, check!...etc.

I think it's better to not see it all and really appreciate and understand the significance of what you are seeing and experiencing rather than go through it all just to say that you've been there, you've seen it, and "I have the pictures to prove it!"

Peep

Even if you think all art is quite useless, go see David at the Academia Museum in Florence. To me, it's one of the greatest works of art, ever.

Peep

By the way, if you go, prepare yourself for the overwhelming number of very noisy mopeds! If you can get past the noise and crowds, there's something wonderful in Florence for you. Not to mention the incredible food!!!

Sue_xx_yy

Rather than "you can't skip something on the basis of the opinions of others" I probably should've said something like "by accepting the negative opinions of others, you give up such chance as you had to test your own hypotheses about a place in the field, as it were. Whereas if you do the opposite and accept the positive opinions of others and go there, you will still have the opportunity to conduct that test." (Any better?)

Meanwhile, DianeP, given that you're going to be in Tuscany anyway (and thereby handy to Florence regardless) you will be able to make up your mind at the time.

Oh, and by the way, regarding Jonjon's implication that you should feel like a cretin if you failed to share the views of at least one person on this board, I will go a lot further and say that you shouldn't feel like a cretin even if you fail to share the opinions of literally all (not just some) others on this board.

A declaration that will win me your undying gratitude, no doubt.

rbrazill

Replies like these are usually reserved for a thread about Venice, for which feelings on this forum run high. You are right, it's a matter of taste. I was in Florence in 2000, and perhaps because I did not come with particularly high expectations, I found myself unexpectedly enthralled. It is not simply the art, which is truly a humbling experience. Everyone has gone on about David, but there's also The Birth of Venus and literally hundreds of other works which can overwhelm. Then there are the outdoor sculptures, Brunelleschi's Duomo, the Bapistry and Santa Croce. Then there are the restaurants and the gelaterie. And there is the Arno and its bridges. There are places I've been to which I was happy to see but probably won't re-visit, but Florence is a place I will definitely see again. It would be a shame to skip it. If you do rent a villa in Tuscany and daytrip to Florence, try to give yourself more than an afternoon.

Giovanna

I always marvel at these kinds of inquiries. I particularly dislike those that ask if something is "worth it." The ability to travel is a wonderful gift and we find something positive about everywhere we have gone.

We have been to Florence twice and wouldn't hesitate to return. But you don't know us, our likes and dislikes, nor we you so how can I advise you?

I too suggest you do a lot of research and make your decision based on your findings, not what the rest of us think.