last month i was in florence just for one day. i enjoyed florence very much but it was EXTREMELY crowded. i thought i would like to go back sometime but not in the summer. recently i was telling someone that and they commented that it was their impression that florence is always crowded with tourist---is this true? the crowds definately take away from my enjoyment.

I have been in early October. I wouldn't call it empty of tourists, and there were still long lines at the Uffizi, but overall quite manageable. I'm sure that like most places in the northern hemisphere, the more you get into colder weather, the less crowded it is, with the possible exception of Christmas and New Year's.

Recommend mid-October to mid-April. In late November and December, you can usually walk right into the Uffizi. My favorite time of the year for both Florence and Venice. I am currently an hour by train from Florence, and I haven't been since May, and I won't return until October. Also, the weather even in late November and December can be glorious--cold but sunny and clear. The rains don't usually come until late January and February.

We have been to Italy several times, the latest this past January......we were there for three weeks and and for the first time I really enjoyed Florence and Rome.......the weather was cold and sunny. Florence was wonderful...no crowds.......we walked right into the Uffizi on a sunday afternoon.......the only down side was that it was too cold to sit on a piazza and sip cappucino (my husband's favorite pastime).

- <BR>Sally: <BR> <BR>Had my first visit to Florence last year (April 19th & 20th, 1999). Busy, busy, busy. VERY glad that I'd purchased my tickets to the Uffizzi online ahead of my visit. <BR>Probably not as thronged as summertime, but still thought there was alot of folks.

It was busy in mid April, and cold. Especially bad on weekends. But go!

I was there two falls ago the week before Thanksgiving and there were no tourists to speak and the weather was sunny, cool and refreshing. No lines at the museums so plenty of time to enjoy the sights without being rushed and crowded. Can't wait to get back!

We were in Florence last March and loved it, slightly crowded, and must admit it was pouring rain and freezing cold... Still breathtaking though, and when it got too cold outside we sat indoors and ate tons of fantastic food!

We were in Florence the week before Thanksgiving last year and the crowds werem'tbad at all. We got in a short line at the Uffizi just before it opened, and it was not crowded once we got in. At the Accademia, the crowd was so light that we could sit on one of the benches near Michelangelo's David and have an unobstructed view for as long as we wanted. No, the city wasn't void of tourists, but neither was it wall-to-wall with people. Pleasantly busy!