looking for recommended day trips from florence but they must be accessible by train. thanks.

ciao merrie <BR> <BR>allora, you could do the follwoing (trains are going very often in this directions): <BR> <BR>1. Firenze - Bologna - Firenze. takes you 1 hour by train and bologna is very nice. <BR> <BR>2. Firenze - Arezzo - Firenze. takes you as well 1 hour (maybe even shorter - i do everything by car....). arezzo is famous for gold jewelery, not very touristy and very nice as well. <BR> <BR>3. Firenze - Milano - Firenze. take you 3 hours, milano is hip, you can shop till you drop. <BR> <BR>4. Firenze - Verona (via Bologna, NOT Milano!) - Firenze. as far as i remember it takes you 3 hours as well, trains are not so often but verona is worth a trip! <BR> <BR>5. Firenze - Roma - Firenze <BR> <BR>the fact that you are in firenze means, you stay in centro - nord italia. you will be quite fast to a lot of spots. you even can do: <BR> <BR>6. Firenze - Venezia - Firenze as a daytrip. but have to get up very early and come back very late. but the train (take care there are several ones) must be the fast one and as far as i remember it takes you 3 1/2 hours by train. <BR> <BR>7. Firenze - Lucca - Firenze <BR> <BR>8. Firenze - Parma - Firenze <BR> <BR>hope this gave you some ideas! <BR> <BR>tanti saluti <BR> <BR>christina da firenze <BR> <BR> <BR>

The best and easiest would be Siena and Lucca. Actually, you can do Siena by bus as easy. Another good choice is Arezzo. Good luck !

a) take and early morning train to Pisa (1 hour). After visiting, continue to Lucca (20-25 minutes). Return to Florence in the evening (1:15 hours). <BR> <BR>b) take an early morning train to Siena (1:30 hours) and return in the evening; Note: the SITA direct express bus is more convenient than train <BR> <BR>c) The following cities are easily reached by train from Florence: Arezzo (1 hour), Orvieto (1½ hours), Perugia (2 hours), Cortona (1:20 hours), Assisi (2½ hours), Parma (2+ hours), Modena (1:40hours), Ferrara (1½-2 hours). You may even take a train to the Poggibonsi-San Gimignano station (1¼ hours) and a bus or taxi thereafter. <BR> <BR>Paulo

thanks so much for all the advise, but i now have to be so ungrateful to ask for more. What would be your top choice and why? We like art, culture.

Arezzo is one hour from Florence by train and in the church of San Francesco there are the famous and incredibly beautiful frescoes by della Francesca of the Legend of the True Cross. It's one of the greatest series of frescoes of the 15th century. Don't miss it. Recommend Buca di San Francesco restaurant almost across the street for a nice lunch. Also della Francesca's in the Duomo, della Robia as well. The church of s. Maria has beautiful art as well. A train to Bologna is also a possibility--a little over an hour. Bologna is known for excellent food, two leaning towers,liberal politics, a university and a great art museum, the Pinocoteca Nazionale. Two beautiful churches with great art are S. Giacomo Maggiore and San Dominico which has the tomb of St. Dominic by Pisan and Michelangelo and the wonderful Marriage of St. Catherine by Fra Filippo Lippi, one of the most fascinating Italian artists. Have a great time. Neither of these cities is terribly "touristy" so you will have a chance to explore off the beaten track.

One caveat about these day trips---many of the museums will be closed on Mondays as well as restaurants. Plan to be in a more "touristy" place on that day.

My own top choice is Siena. First, the essentially Gothic architecture provides an interesting contrast to Florence's Renaissance. Somehow, when I'm in Siena I feel like breathing a true medieval air. Piazza del Campo is superb and there's no other medieval square on earth that comes close. Via di Cittą and Banchi di Sopra are lined with a series of palaces of several styles (Gothic, transitional Gothic-Renaissance, Renaissance and even Baroque. The Duomo is outstanding, with several major works of art like it's unique inlaid marble floor, the stalls, the Nicola Pisano pulpit panels, the Pinturicchio's frescoes in the Piccolomini Library and the Museum, with Duccio's masterpiece Maestą and Gothich statues by Giovanni Pisano. Another must is the Palazzo Pubblico with Simone Martini's Maestą, the famous equestrian painting symbol of Siena (that though attributed to him most likely is not) and Lorenzetti's Allegory to Good and Bad Government. Depending on available time one may also visit the Basilica di San Domenico with frescoes by Sodoma and the Pinacoteca, with works by the Lorenzetti's, Sodoma and others. <BR> <BR>Paulo

how is this for a day trip we did in may. 5:50 train to rapallo. boat to portofino. bus to st mar lig. then train to vernazza on the cinque terre. walked to next town and caught late train via la spezia back to florence at night. had a great time and wetted my hunger to back to area for more time in the future. as otheres suggested day trips good on days when museums are closed.

thanks everyone! you are the greatest.