Greetings fellow fodorites,

I would like your opinion on the following Florence schedule. We have 2 and ? days, Monday thru Wednesday. This was prepared by my cousin as I told her she could take care of Florence for us. I would like to know if this is too aggressive. I still need to read up on some of these places to try to figure out how much time might be needed.

I?ve been to Florence before, but haven?t really seen too much. Reenie has never been there before and wants to see it all! I actually added LUNCH to the list since she didn?t. I?ve been to the Accademia, so I plan to spend my time at the outdoor markets while she?s in the museum. I think she?s picked the highlights of Florence, but if you see that she missed something, please let me know!

Thanks in advance! Monica

Monday:

Depart Siena, arrive Florence 10:25am (bus); walk to hotel, check in, drop off luggage and head out for the day!

Palazzo Medici Riccardi
Bibliotech Medicea Laurenziana

LUNCH at Mercato Centrale (I think we should do lunch after leaving the hotel

Mercato di San Lorenzo
Piazza San Lorenzo
San Lornzo Church
Santa Maria Novella

Tuesday

Galleria dell?Accademia

LUNCH Mercato Centrale, or closer to the Duomo area

Cappelle Medicee
Duomo
Dome
OR Bell Tower, which I understand is less crowded and a great view of the Dome and Florence
Baptistery

Depending on the time, visit

Museo dell Opera del Duomo OR
Bargello Museuml

Piazza della Signoria


Wednesday

Walk down Via San Gallo past Piazza della Republica

Galleria degli Uffizi

LUNCH near Palazzo Vecchio?

Palazzo Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio

Pitti Palace
Boboli Gardens
Forte di Belvedere

Thanks again!
Monica

Well, I guess the Fodors does not allow apostrophes or divided signs. We will be in Florence for 2.5 days.

Hi Monica,

Great itinerary for Florence (although jam-packed). Fortunately, Florence is quite compact and you can do a lot in a short time. Here's my input.

Monday - try to see Santa Maria Novella before lunch. When I was in Florence in 2000 I tried twice to see it in the afternoon and it didn't reopen, even though the guidebooks said it has afternoon hours.

Tuesday - Accademia - if you go first thing you'll compete with tour bus loads of people. Try to go to the Accademia in the late afternoon - around 4:30 or 5:00 - smaller crowds.

If you have to choose between the Bargello and the Duomo museum it'll be a tough decision. My vote is for both of them even if you have short times in each.

Wednesday - Since you'll be at the Pitti Palace go a bit farther to the Brancacci Chapel for the magnificent Masaccio frescoes (also a Masaccio fresco in Santa Maria Novella). IMHO this beat the Pitti Palace.

Also try to get to Piazzale Michelangelo for wonderful views of Florence (you can have a drink in the cafe overlooking the city).

Between the Ponto Vecchio and the Pitti Palace stop and take a quick look at Santo Spirito church, designed by Brunelleschi. It's magnificent in its simplicity and you won't vie for space with many other tourists.

In Piazza San Lorenzo is a wonderful shop that sells pillows, fabric, tassels - Passamaneria Toscana. And, there's a great ceramic shop (unusual designs) on via del Proconsolo (near the Duomo) called Ceramiche Arte Creta.

Have a wonderful trip.

Adrienne

Almost forgot - please try not to miss Santa Croce! I know - only 2.5 days and already packed with activity. Just try for a quick look!

If you are doing this, make telephone reservations to get in to Uffizi and Academia. You can call from America, they speak English, and will give you a fifteen minute window on the day/time of your choice. The cost (added to your entrance fee at the time of arrival) is only about 1Euro but this can save a good deal of time. When you arrive, go to the tour entrance and give them your reservation number. Works like a charm.

Thanks Adrienne for your comments. Yes, it is jammed packed, but my cousin wants to see it all. This is her third trip to Europe ever and always has the attitude that she won't go back to a place, but would rather go someplace new. I told her, we'll do the best we can. I also told her if I got too tired, I'd meet her at a nearby cafe or wine bar and I would just sit and relax and wait for her. I sort of wish Florence was at the beginning of the trip, starting heavy and ending light in Southern Tuscany. Since I've been to the Accademia, I plan to drop Reenie off and head to the Piazza San Lorenzo and do some shopping. Her itinerary doesn't leave too much room to window shop! I agree about the tough decision between Bargello and the Duomo museum. We will just have to see when we get to Florence.

Thanks Allanc for the ticket information. I recently read about the phone number and will call to make reservations once we finalize our plans.

Thanks again!

Monica

Monica,
We just returned from Florence and your itinerary looks good, but you really need to squeeze in a half day trip to San Gimignano, you will not be disappointed. It's about 30 -45 minute bus ride on SITA to Poggibonsi the a short ride from there to San Gimignano.
It is the perfect little Tuscan village with many towers and we will be returning there on our next trip... maybe staying there ... check it out ...you will love it.

Mike

Hi monica,

You might like to go up to Fiesole (no. 7 bus from the train station) one evening to watch the sun set over Florence from the terrace of the Bar Blu. You can have dinner in Fiesole.

Mike, we've been to San Gimignano. Florence is our last stop before heading home after visiting Lucca, then a week in Montepulciano with 7 days of day trips to the various southern Tuscany towns; then 2 nights in Siena with a day trip to Volterra and another town; then to Florence. I loved San Gim!

Since Reenie hasn't been to Florence, we really don't want to bus anywhere else, but will keep Fiesole in mind, but with her pack-it-in itinerary, we'll probably relax in the evenings in Florence.

Any suggestions for light lunches in Florence while on our tours?

Hi Ira,
I have read your suggestion about having a drink at Bar Blu. Where exactly is Bar Blu? Is it located in a hotel or is it a stand alone establishment. Also can you suggest a good place to have dinner in Fiesole? Thank you.
Diane P

Hi, Anyone been to Villa San Michelle for dinner? Highly recommended for our 40th anniversary dinner. I know expensive, but is it worth it for a special occasion? I am in the Venice, Florence, Rome thread and have been printing out all the responses and have a mini travel guide right now!!
Ciao

Hi Diane

The Bar Blu is right on te town square right where the bus stops.

monicapileggi, We too are staying in Montepulciano with 6-7 days of day trips. Have you worked out any itinerary? I would be interested in your input -- we are just in the beginning of the planning stages for our mid-September trip. I think I've gotten all the accommodations worked out.

Monica -
Fiesole is actually a hilltop suburb of Florence, so don't write it off too quickly as an evening option. It isn't that far away. I actually think that the itinerary is doable (give your cousin some credit for all of the work she's done), and your first suggestion that you drop off your bags and go straight to an early lunch might not work very well - Italians aren't very good at the early lunch. Throughout your trip you will be forced to get into the Italian pace of life, and part of that is grabbing lunch at noon or a little later when every single touristic option closes simultaneously for their lunches. Good luck and have fun. Any chance you might fill us in on the rest of the itinerary? We'd love to hear about it.

Do not forget time to try out the different gelato shops. Every shop thinks that they have the best, so you will have to sample and decide for yourself

I agree with some other posters...definitely try to fit in Piazza Michaelangelo if you have a chance. Its out of the way somewhat but the views of Florence are magnificant and totally worth it!

I think your itinery sounds great. Although you are planning a lot, Florence is fairly compact and most things on your list are all well- within walking distance of each other.

As for lunches, we didn't have too much problem eating around noon but basically cafe's and smaller snack-bar-or pizza places were the only places open.

Have a wonderful time! We just got back from Italy a couple of weeks ago and are already longing to return!

Hi Budman, We!|ll be staying at the Politian Apartments. For day trips, we want to visit (not necessarily in order): Montepulciano, Montalcino, Pienza, Bagno Vignoni, Asciano, Cetona, Chiusi, Arezzo, Cortona, Trequanda, Pitigliano; whatever we can get in 6 full days. I!|ll post my journal when I return and you can read all about our trip at http://www.luvtotravel.homestead.com/home.html.

Bubludlow, I do give Reenie all the credit! I think she!|s picked the most important places she wants to see and we!|ll do the best we can while there. I hope I didn!|t sound negative !V that was not my intention. As for lunch, we plan to head to the mercato centrale and pick up a sandwich, maybe even make a picnic of foods from the market and find a spot to sit and eat. At that time of day (11:30am?) there should be any problem grabbing a quick bite to eat. There is a pizza place I would love to try to get to with supposedly the best Neapolitan pizza in Florence. So much to squeeze in, so little time. Will read about Fiesole, I promise!

Our itinerary:

Arrive Pisa May 13th (6 more weeks!!!), pick up car, short stop in Pisa on the way to Lucca.
14th Lucca all day.
15th Drive to Montepulciano and spend 7 nights !V day trips to towns as listed above.
22nd Two nights in Siena with a day trip to Volterra and Colle di Val d!|Elsa (can we squeeze in Certaldo?)
24th Three nights in Florence
27trh Fly home ??

Yes, Baligirl, I plan to have gelato every day! In fact I have coupons from the Gelateria Carabe. (you can get them on line). With all the walking we!|ll be doing on this trip (including climbing lots of towers), we!|ll have no problem fitting gelato in with our days.

Tcreath, I agree that the P. Michalengelo has fabulous views. I do plan to get that in on our trip so Reenie can enjoy the views too. (such as this one I took: http://www.luvtotravel.homestead.com...nteVecchio.jpg)

As always, I appreciate your comments and suggestions!

Thanks!
Monica

Monica, that's were we're staying. I've got both apts rented, but my brother may have to cancel out of the trip, so I might only need one. They're both the same price, so I would be anxious to hear which of the two you would recommend.

Thanks for sending your itinerary -- will give me food for thought. I had some of those places on my short list.

I'll try to make the next DC GTG.

Budman, where do you live? The next one is on May 1st. Email me directly for information [email protected].

Have you corresponded with Giacomo at the apartments? He?s been really nice and helpful. His web site shows the rooms. I can't wait to get there!

For a fun lunch near San Lorenzo, stop at Il Porcospino. It's directly across the street from Cappella Medicee (sp?). The manager, Franco, is loads of fun -- it's a tourist trap, but an entertaining one, and the food is good.