FLORENCE
 

WE WILL BE IN FLORENCE FOR ONE WEEK IN OCTOBER AND ARE CONSIDERING A SIDE TRIP TO SIENA.DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY RECOMENDATIONS?THANKS, AVIVA

We're consdiering the same in early December. We thought of Siena because you can get there by train. I've done some web searching and here several hotels in Siena that looked interesting and were pretty close to the center. <BR>http://www.venere.it/siena/athena/ <BR>http://www.emmeti.it/Arte/Toscana/Pr.../index.uk.html <BR>http://www.emmeti.it/Arte/Toscana/Pr.../index.uk.html <BR> <BR>In Florence we've been looking at Pendini and Casci, but are open to other suggestions in the central area.

I took my last trip to Siena from Florence by bus, which my guidebook recommended as being more convenient. It is well worth the trip, either way. I recommend staying overnight to appreciate it fully after the daytrippers have left for the evening.

Hi <BR>good website about Siena <BR>www.turismoverde.com/english/enhome.htm includes bus schedules <BR>also <BR>www.comune.siena.it <BR>Frequent poster Paulo once posted a wonderful walking tour of Siena, including sights and restaurants. You can search for it <BR>on this Forum, or you can email me because I copied it (with all due credit) into my notes for Florence. <BR>Siena is wonderful!

Siena is great! I've taken the train and the bus from Florence and the bus is better. The bus station in Florence is right by the train station and in Siena, the bus stop is within walking distance of wherever you might go. The Siena train station is out of town a bit, so you have to take a taxi or bus. We wanted to take a taxi, but so did dozens of other people and there were no taxis around. The bus into town is do-able but it's sorta a pain. Take the bus from Florence! <BR>Also, in Siena there's a restaurant called the Black Rooster (but the name is Italian, so it's something Nero) near Il Campo. It was recommended by my guidebooks and was wonderful! It had a cool atmosphere and divine food at excellent prices. Maybe someone reading this can give the name of the place?

Hi <BR>I don't know the restaurant, but could it be Gallo Nero? That would be the same name as the Chianti wine consortium in the area.

Sarah, once you're travelling early December, you should also look at the 4-star Hotel Ritz in Florence. The published rates for a double are the same as the 3-star Pendini (Lit 190,000) and only Lit 40,000 more expensive than the 2-star Casci. <BR> <BR>Some 6 years ago, in late July, we had booked the Pendini. When we got there, we learned about the Ritz (sort of a sister hotel). Once it was running at half capacity (the Pendini was booked up) the rates were actually lower than at the Pendini and after a night there we moved. There are no terms of comparison. The Ritz is very romantic, with beautifully decorated rooms with a balcony overlooking the Arno. Perfect service and in all respects more upscale than the Pendini. The only possible disadvantage: it lays very close to Santa Croce, which is at the southeast corner of the old town center, which is a 5-minute stroll longer to Piazza della Signoria. The old town center is a 1.2 km square, with the train station in the northwest corner and the Palazzo Pitti in the southwest corner. The Pendini is at the very center of this square. I can only think that this, plus the fact that it's recommended in many guides explains why we ended up paying less at a much better hotel. <BR> <BR>http://www.venere.it/firenze/ritz/index.html <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR>

Thanks Paulo! That's just the kind of information I was looking for:) I was looking at Pendini because it was so central and we will be there in mid December. But I will look closely at the Ritz. Do all the rooms have a river view or do you have to ask ?

No, Sarah, there are rooms without a view. You should ask. I know they have rooms of all sizes (and quite a few bigger ones overlook the river), there are rooms with windows and other with balconies. We didn't visit any other than the one we were staying. Once the hotel was half empty, I don't even know if we got a "standard" double. The room was big, with two twins put together and room to put other two beds. The sooner you decide, in better shape you'll be. Even for December, IMO the published rate of Lit 190,000 is a gift. I would guess that if people start "discovering" this gem, the rates should go up considerably. <BR>Paulo <BR>

Oops, Sally ... where did I get Sarah from? <BR>Paulo <BR>

Because it's my legal name? *grin* Thanks again Paulo!