And, Franco, you've clearly written MY thoughts about visiting Florence, including most of my personal highlights. I've seen too many people wandering the Uffizi in a daze--too many Madonnas for the uninitiated and so ill-lit, ill-labeled, and ill-hung. Every time I visit Florence, Santa Felicita, the Baptistery interior, and the Spedale degli Innocenti are MY must-sees. Original art in its original setting in manageable doses.

Well, Franco, if you're tall, striking, have a flair for fashion but are always understated in everything but scathingly expressed opinions -- we might very well be twins!

In defense of the Uffizi, it was badly bombed in a terrorist attack, which is the reason why the paintings are encased in thick layers of glass.

If Franco is correct and people go to the Bapistery in Firenze but do not step inside to look at the mosaics ----

mamma mia.

It's a beautiful thing that Florence can be enjoyed on so many levels. For me, the Uffizi is lovely and I wouldn't have wanted to miss a visit to it. Personally I like the structure and the views if affords from the windows at the Arno end. I was thrilled to see the originals of so many paintings that I had read and heard about.

The Uffizi is not a huge gallery and if you make reservations ahead of time,it doesn't take such a large chunk out of your day. I couldn't tell anyone to avoid it or very purposefully delete it from their itinerary. But then it goes without saying...this is my not so humble opinion.

Zeppole:


>>>In defense of the Uffizi, it was badly bombed in a terrorist attack, which is the reason why the paintings are encased in thick layers of glass.<<<

That certainly brings back a scary thought/memory....we stayed at the old Quisisanna E Vecchio, smack next door, where we had booked "the room with a view"...just one month later, the collateral damage from the Uffizi bombing was so severe, the hotel had to close its doors...that was in summer-1993...I understand a new hotel has been built on the same spot.

stu t.

Unfortunately, I am right. I've witnessed it this year, and since I got really curious about it, I watched people for quite a while: many, many stepped in, noticed the ticket window, realized they had to pay some huuuuge amount like 3 Euros or so, and turned back immediately. The same thing for the Spinello Aretino fresco cycle in S. Miniato's sacristy, where there isn't even a person at the ticket window - just an offertory box and a sign: admission 1 (!) Euro. People turned around in a heartbeat, without even considering to pay THAT much money for "an old church".

Tall, yes. Striking? Hm. Flair for fashion, no. So no twins, I guess?

Right. So mom was telling the truth after all.

Yeh Firenze is another ABC place

always Another Bloody Church to see

Be sure you eat at Trattoria Za-Za in the Piazza Mercato Centrale area.

I still talk about the meat combination plate I had there.

Hi

My wife and I spent 4 days in Florence last year. Check out my trip report with pictures and links on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com/florence_italy_travelogue.htm . I hope that it can give some ideas

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

As others have said, Florence is so full of wonderful art and architecture it is almost overwhelming. Of the many things to see there I would put in votes for some personal favorites: the climb in the dome of the Duomo, the Bargello, San Marco, the Foundling Hospital, Santa Croce and San Miniato al Monte

I'd also recommend an outing to Fiesole with its Roman theater, Convent of San Francesco and great view of Florence. Fiesole is very close and reachable by bus. I would read up a little on Siena and Pisa in case you feel that you have time to take a longer side trip but I am one of those who thinks you will find more than enough to see and do in Florence during your four days.

Good reading in preparation for the trip would include Brunelleschi's Dome and Mary McCarthy's The Stones of Florence