We (2 couples) are leaving October 2nd for Italy. We just heard about I Bike Italy and the 2 guys are cancelling one tour day for biking trip to Fiesole. <BR> <BR>With only 1 full tour day, will this work: <BR>Start Accademia (earliest possible admission) <BR>V. Cavour to Palazzo Medici <BR>San Lorenzo to tour Duomo area <BR>V. dei Calzaiuoli to Orsanmichele <BR>To Mercato Nuovo to Plazzo Vecchio <BR>Rest or day Uffizi <BR> <BR>Any observations? What is minimum amount of time in Uffizi and Accademia? Anybody know what time Ponte Vecchio closes for evening? Appreciate your comments.... <BR> <BR>Duck

Duck, <BR> <BR>I don't know if your full tour day will work out but I wanted to say that cancelling the other day for the bike tour was a great idea. It's such a unique way to absorb the splendors of Toscana. My husband and I went on that bicycle tour to Fiesole with I Bike Italy last October ... definitely an exciting and memorable day, one of the very best. Everything about that bicycle tour was wonderful .... the scenery, the charming little trattoria where we had a delicious lunch, the tour of the grape/olive vineyard... the people ... I could go on and on. Bill was our guide for the day - he was great and shared a lot of knowledge about the area with us. We're going back in November and plan to take the walking tour this time. I hope that you all enjoy this tour as much as we did. You're going to love Firenze. Buon Viaggio. <BR> <BR>Ciao, <BR> <BR>Diane

Diane My husband and I are going to be in Florence in mid-October. Can you tell me more about this Bike tour and Walking Tour. Thanks. <BR> <BR>Teresa

I think yout plan will work. Rick Steve's book "Mona Winks" has a one day tour of Florence he calls the Renaissance walk. I think it covers most of what is on your list, starts at the Accademia and ends at the Uffizi. He calls it an 8 hour tour with 1 hour in the Accademia, 2 or 3 hours in the Uffizi and an hour for lunch. we did something similar too, only we started at Capelle Medicee and ended at the Uffizi. We spent about 2 1/2 hours in the Uffizi. Fortunately its open pretty late. About the only possible issue with your plan is there could be a long line for the Duomo. We never actually went inside the Duomo or the Baptistry because I didn't want to wait in the line.

Teresa, <BR> <BR>First of all, check out their website: www.ibikeitaly.com. If you have any specific questions you can e-mail me. <BR>Buona Fortuna! <BR> <BR>Diane