Hi everyone, <BR> <BR>I am going with my husband and my mother to Italy. We will be in Florence for five full days. Five days seems to be the perfect amount of time to see all of the major museums, churches, sights. However, I have heard that taking day-trips to Piza or Siena would be a great idea. What do you think? Should I see all of Florence, or cut the list and take a day trip? If so, which would you choose, Piza or Siena, or both in one day? <BR> <BR>Thanks for the advice! <BR>Mary

Mary, Everyone will have their own favorites but I preferred the charm and beauty of San Gmignano over Siena. There are not trains there so that will require a bus or renting a car. I think driving around Tuscany for a day would be wonderful,especially since there are three of you. Four days will be fine in Florence.

Definately Siena. It's a beautiful walled medieval city, and is an interesting contrast to Renaissance Florence. Well worth a day trip. <BR> <BR>Pisa is actually a rather ugly, fairly industrial town where the only thing to see is the Leaning Tower, and this is spoilt by the fact that you can't go up it anymore, and it is surrounded by ugly metal railings and souvenir stalls. <BR> <BR>There is so much beauty in Tuscany that Pisa would really not do it justice. <BR>

Definately Siena. I lived in Flornece for a year and I still think four days is enough if it means you can also do Siena. I agree with the other poster about Pisa, the Leaning Tower is great, but the rest of the city has little to recommend it. Siena is a wonderful smaller city - I took my husband their on a trip around Tuscany and it is the one place he really wants to go back to.

Mary <BR>since it sounds like you and your <BR>companions are dedicated sight-seers and <BR>museum goers, I have to vote for Siena as well. The streets are full of people going about their business, they just happen to live and work in a place <BR> that has preserved most of its medieval architecture and heritage <BR>The Duomo and museum of the Duomo are awesome, you will never confuse the inside of the Duomo with any other church that is filed away in your brain. <BR>The sight of the Campo is also unforgettable, the largest open public space in Europe I believe. <BR>4 days in Florence broken up with one day in Siena will be a wonderful trip, and on the way to Siena you can get glimpses of the Tuscan countryside <BR>(vineyards, olive trees) that will make you want to plan a longer visit.

You can get to San Gigmigniano by taking an express bus to Siena from Florence and then another bus from Siena to S.G. Or, take the train to Empoli ( 30 minutes, en route to Pisa) and change there for the 30 minute train to Poggibonsi. At Poggibonsi either take a 20 min bus or grab a cab to San G.

Mary, <BR> <BR>I would definitly take at least one day to tour Tuscany with Siena and San Gim being top on the list. <BR> <BR>I have seen posted in the past, information on one day driving tours of northern Tuscany. That may be the best use of your time. You can see several towns (and vinyards) in one day. <BR> <BR>Have fun! <BR>Aileen <BR> <BR> <BR>

Hi, <BR>I wanted to post something other than Siena and Pisa. Two towns that I personally heard were compltely worth a visit were Feisole and Lucca. Both are very easy to find information about on the web and one easy way is this website: http://charmingflorence.com <BR> <BR>enjoy!