Thank you for the reply. We are there full days Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. the food tour we are interested in is actually offered Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30. I hear what you are saying about the distance to Siena and Lucca. And I like your idea of hiring a out a tour for a day. Keep ‘me coming please. Thank you again and happy new year!

With four full days in Florence, I would plan for only one trip out of the city area. There is so much to see just by walking and exploring Florence. Personally I tend to overplan day trips to places away from major cities like Florence and once there decide to not do the day trips in favor of seeing more of where I was. Keep an open mind to doing that. A worthy half day morning or late afternoon trip out of Florence is to bus up to Fiesole. There are some interesting Roman ruins, nice restaurants and lovely views of the city below.