Hi,

I am planning a visit to Florence, can you please review the itinerary and see if its Ok.

Day 1: Travel from Cinque Terre with a 3 hour stop in Pisa arrive in Florence in the evening and then walk around and have dinner in Piazza della Signoria.

Day 2: Visit Academia, Medici Chapels and Church of Santa Maria Novella. Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo.

Day 3: Visit Uffizi, Giotto's Tower and then just wander around.

Day 4: Visit Duomo Meuseum, wander and then taken the night train to Zurich.

Can you recommend if the guided tours for Uffizi are worth it, they are quite pricy.

I am staying at Hotel Torre Guelfa, has anyone stayed here before?

Very good - especially the 'just wander around' part...

Hi K,

If you do a bit of research on what's available in the Uffizi, you won't need a guide.

On Day 1, you might want to take the no. 7 bus from the SMN station up to Fiesole to watch the sun set over the city from the terrace of the Bar Bleu. You could have dinner in Fiesole.

Hi Ira,

Thanks for the tip, I will definitely visit Fiesole. Also was able to find the number to make direct reservations for Uffizi and Academia with the museums, the number is +39-055-294883.

Should I make reservations for Duomo or Medici?

IRA....on your suggestion of the Bar Bleu...do you recommend dinner there of another place in Fiesole? What is the menu there and since you recommended...I'm sure it has a scenic view/dining outside? thanx

Your plans sound lovely. The Medici Chapels and San Lorenzo are one of my favourite places in all of Italy. Santa Maria Novella is beautiful, and so simple.

You can rent an audio guide for the Uffizi, not sure if a tour guide is really worth it. You can always "listen in" to the other guides leading people too and fro.

Have a lovely time. When are you going? Just talked to my friend who lives in Florence and it's hot AND busy.

But...it's still Florence....sigh

Hi C,

I will be in Florence b/w June 5th and 9th. I am sure it will be hot, but its all part of the fun.

We are going from Turin to Pisa early morning by train and then on to Florence in the evening. Any idea if there is a luggage room at the Pisa train station where we can dump our bags while we walk around Pisa?

This is what I got from a website:

On the far right side of the first platform (right side with your face towards the station building) you find the left luggage department. First you see a row of luggage lockers, but these are sealed, you can not use them. Why ? Maybe for security reasons after September 11th. But behind the corner, you can leave your luggage. The price was 3 euro per piece and this for 12 hours. You also needed to give your passport for identification; they make a copy of it and hang the copy on the stored luggage.

I lived in Florence for several years, and worked in tourism there. Your plan sound pretty good. Also, do leave some time to just relax and take it all in. I often find that people miss out on really seeing the place that they're visiting b/c they program every second.

I would suggest crossing the river and seeing a bit of the Oltrarno. Many tourists don't and they're really missing out on a rich and authentic part of the city.

I wouldn't have dinner right on Piazza della Signoria, it's all tourist traps, Go a little bit further back and you'll find better restaurants.

Also, you've left out Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens (set on a hill - from the top you'll have a magnificent view of the countryside that spreads out south of the city , definitely worth seeing. They're on the Oltrarno side of the river so that's a opportunity to do a little exploring there.

Do make reservations for the Uffizi and the Accademia, they will be extraordinarily crowded. Keep in mind that both are closed on Mondays.

Hi Karore,

thanks for the reply, extremely helpful.