Day trips from Florence to smaller Tuscan towns
Feb 15th, 2010, 05:23 PM
#21
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Okay, so I'm just catching up on this one - haven't been reading the boards in a while.
My husband and I spent six weeks this fall in Florence - we honeymooned in Italy a couple years ago and it was by far our favorite place to be. Now, I agree, the crowds are crazy - people EVERYWHERE. If you're staying in Florence for an extended period of time, it's easy to move around the crowds - the town is wonderful in early evening. There is nothing like sitting in the Piazza della Repubblica after the sun has gone down and listening to the street musicians. We often brought books there during the day to sit and people watch (we liked to watch the security guards tell people that they weren't allowed to have food there - amazing how a whistle and a wagging finger cuts through all language barriers).
We did several day trips - the best was Lucca. The park on top made for a great walk (or you can rent a bike and ride around) and dinner there was fantastic (Trattoria Da Leo). We talk about our day in Lucca more than anywhere else (it was incredible to walk around there after dinner - it was like the town was ours!).
We also did a bike tour through Chianti through Tuscany-bike tours. A beautiful ride with friendly tour guides (beward of the hill at the end - they give you the option to ride in the car - I wish I had taken it!) and a decent lunch in the middle. And you'll tour a castle with a winery and olive oil press (buy the olive oil - it's fantastic and they really do give you a better price than the stores in Florence).
Go with your gut when planning this trip - you won't go wrong in Italy!!!
My husband and I spent six weeks this fall in Florence - we honeymooned in Italy a couple years ago and it was by far our favorite place to be. Now, I agree, the crowds are crazy - people EVERYWHERE. If you're staying in Florence for an extended period of time, it's easy to move around the crowds - the town is wonderful in early evening. There is nothing like sitting in the Piazza della Repubblica after the sun has gone down and listening to the street musicians. We often brought books there during the day to sit and people watch (we liked to watch the security guards tell people that they weren't allowed to have food there - amazing how a whistle and a wagging finger cuts through all language barriers).
We did several day trips - the best was Lucca. The park on top made for a great walk (or you can rent a bike and ride around) and dinner there was fantastic (Trattoria Da Leo). We talk about our day in Lucca more than anywhere else (it was incredible to walk around there after dinner - it was like the town was ours!).
We also did a bike tour through Chianti through Tuscany-bike tours. A beautiful ride with friendly tour guides (beward of the hill at the end - they give you the option to ride in the car - I wish I had taken it!) and a decent lunch in the middle. And you'll tour a castle with a winery and olive oil press (buy the olive oil - it's fantastic and they really do give you a better price than the stores in Florence).
Go with your gut when planning this trip - you won't go wrong in Italy!!!
Feb 16th, 2010, 06:55 AM
#23
Well, we haven't gone on our trip yet and we'll have to see about Florence.
We've been to Italy about a half dozen times and Florence twice. In those days (a while back) we used to spend 2-4 days in a location, pack up and move to the next place. All travel is done by train.
As we get older, we've decided to try it a bit different. While we're still quite active, we don't want to drag around luggage.
The trip we've planned is to be based in Florence for 10 days.
The daytrips planned are:
Arezzo/Cortona
Some Medici Villas (Petraia, Castello grounds, Poggio a Caiano), Prato, Pistoia
Fiesole although I'm not really counting that as a daytrip
Also, 2 overnight trips (as a convenience we're keeping our room in Florence and just taking with a small backpack of necessities) to Pisa (little interest but train goes right by) and Lucca (greater interest), sleeping over in La Spezia and spending the next day in Cinque Terre.
The second overnight trip will be to San Gimignano, sleeping over in Siena and spending the next day in Siena.
Museum day for the Accademia and Uffizi as well as markets and some wandering will be on a Sunday when many things are closed in the towns.
That will leave about 2 1/2 (arrive in mid-afternoon) days in Florence other than Museum Sunday. I'm wondering if that's even enough.
We've been to Italy about a half dozen times and Florence twice. In those days (a while back) we used to spend 2-4 days in a location, pack up and move to the next place. All travel is done by train.
As we get older, we've decided to try it a bit different. While we're still quite active, we don't want to drag around luggage.
The trip we've planned is to be based in Florence for 10 days.
The daytrips planned are:
Arezzo/Cortona
Some Medici Villas (Petraia, Castello grounds, Poggio a Caiano), Prato, Pistoia
Fiesole although I'm not really counting that as a daytrip
Also, 2 overnight trips (as a convenience we're keeping our room in Florence and just taking with a small backpack of necessities) to Pisa (little interest but train goes right by) and Lucca (greater interest), sleeping over in La Spezia and spending the next day in Cinque Terre.
The second overnight trip will be to San Gimignano, sleeping over in Siena and spending the next day in Siena.
Museum day for the Accademia and Uffizi as well as markets and some wandering will be on a Sunday when many things are closed in the towns.
That will leave about 2 1/2 (arrive in mid-afternoon) days in Florence other than Museum Sunday. I'm wondering if that's even enough.
Feb 16th, 2010, 08:41 AM
#24
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The Florence tourist office has a very inexpensive (subsidized) day trip to Chianti:
http://www.firenzeturismo.it/en/in-f...l-chianti.html
Most reviews I've seen have been raves.
http://www.firenzeturismo.it/en/in-f...l-chianti.html
Most reviews I've seen have been raves.
Feb 16th, 2010, 12:30 PM
#25
Zerlina, both of those day trips to Chianti sound great, and the price is a STEAL! I wish they'd offer one itinerary on, say, Tuesday and the other on Thursday. Having both only offered on Thursday would be a tough choice, for me anyway.
Thanks for the info!
Thanks for the info!
