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Florence: Overpriced Admissions & Dud Attractions

Florence: Overpriced Admissions & Dud Attractions

Old Apr 23rd, 2006, 03:40 AM
  #21  
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Good to hear from you, Polly.

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Old Apr 23rd, 2006, 04:02 AM
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I also felt Florence was expensive - but not necessarily "overpriced". Look at it as making a donation to keep all that precious art available to the public. But it did seem that every church and museum charged at least €5, and that does add up. But I also can't think of any that I felt were not worth it.

Save money other ways. I got a great deal on a hotel room (€45 for a single in July), so if you conisder that lots of people (even me sometimes) spend closer to €100 then you can look at it as having all that extra money for the admissions. You can also skip some sit down dinners and eat pizza. I'd much rather do that then not see all the beautiful art (and I felt the best stuff was in the churches, not the museums).
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Old Apr 23rd, 2006, 04:31 AM
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Santa Croce was charging admission in 2003. I can't remember how much, maybe a few Euro, but we were surprised because it had been free when we were there a few years earlier.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2006, 04:37 AM
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Frommers lists the admission price for Santa Croce at 4E.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2006, 05:16 AM
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mcnyc - There was a 3 day pass you could buy for Pitti Palace that covered all the museums and the Boboli Gardens. I think it's 10 Euro.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2006, 05:19 AM
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If I remember correctly, most churches started taking admissions in 2003, when I was there as a tourist. The Church of Santa Maria Novella was then €2 per person, as was the Duomo. The Medici Chapel was then €8, and the Palazzo Vecchio I think was about the same price.

All worth going into considering most art during the Renaissance was commissioned or inspired by either the Church or the Medicis.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2006, 05:31 AM
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do any of you know if these downloadable ipod tours can be put on any mp3 player or strictly ipods????
 
Old Apr 23rd, 2006, 06:18 AM
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Entrance fee to Santa Maria Novella was 2.50 E. last month.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2006, 06:39 AM
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Cato, as a fellow "budget" traveler, and I DO mean budget, I did a fair amount of research before I went to Florence a couple of years ago and decided on the museums and sites that were definitely important to me.

IMHO, the Uffizi, Accademia and Bargello should not be missed. Even if one is not a Michelangelo fan you are going to be absolutely astounded by David at the Accademia. Pictures do not do this piece of sculpture justise!!! I sat there for probably 45 minutes thinking to myself that there is no way on earth someone could have don this! But that's me! I also went to the Duomo Museum as well as the Bapistry but that was because I was extremely interested in the doors to the Bapistry, and the original panels are displayed in the Duomo Museum.

I DID however make reservations for both the Uffizi and Accademia ahead of time and judging from the line at the Uffizi the day I went, it was well worth it!!! To me there is nothing more frustrating than spending my valuable vacation time standing in line waiting to enter a museum so paying perhaps a few extra $$ for the reservation is worth it to me. Gives me more time to wander the streets and explore which is something I dearly love to do.

Happy planning!!
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Old Apr 23rd, 2006, 06:40 AM
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Can't spell this morning!! Make that "justice" and "done". Good golly, think I need more coffee!
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Old Apr 23rd, 2006, 06:49 AM
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Thanks Holly, for updating the price on Santa Maria Novella. Still very cheap to see an original Giotto, Masaccio and all the pre-renaissance art, and a beautiful historic church where Galileo first came under attack for his idea that the earth revolved around the sun.

As for the iGuides, yes, you can burn as an audio file. The easiest way is to download the zip file, open the folder and use Real Audio to burn your own copy onto your CD.

Enjoy.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2006, 06:58 AM
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Polly -- yes, it's required if you want to see the art. If memory serves me, they had a separate 'free' entrance for pilgrims/worshipers, but the area they were sent to was roped off and away from the art that folks were paying to see. So bona fide worshipers get in for free, but they did fix it so someone couldn't claim to be worshiping but really intended to see the art.

I was pretty shocked to walk up to Santa Croce and see a ticket booth! Still, both Sta Croce and Sta Maria Novella have had restoration projects going, so the funds probably are badly needed. I don't mind paying for that reason.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2006, 08:20 AM
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I've not been to the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, but friends have told me they felt it was over-rated.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2006, 08:32 AM
  #34  
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Thanks for posting the iPod guides link. I've downloaded them for the cities I'll be visiting soon, and plan on listening to them on the plane! Great idea, thanks, mcnyc.
 
Old Apr 23rd, 2006, 08:49 AM
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Degas,

In the larger scheme of Renaissance masterpieces, the Gozzoli chapel in the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi may perhaps be considered overrated, but it is so jewel-like and lovable!

And how much of the High Renaissance masters' output would you qualify as lovable? For me, it's a very welcome change of pace.

But I didn't put it on my list for Cato; it's not really a must-see.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2006, 09:05 AM
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Eloise, good points.

And you know, timing often plays a big role. I try to put the lesser sights first and build on the experience so my expectations are not dashed. Think of the music in the movie JAWS.

Still, that requires you to have done much research so you have a good feel for what you will most likely appreciate and enjoy.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2006, 02:52 PM
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I will skip the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, but have the following on my list so far (still a work in progress):

Accademia

San Marco Museum

Bargello

Medici Chapels

Oranmichele Church and Museum

San Miniato al Monte

Santa Croce

Pazzi Chapel

San Lorenzo

Santo Spirito

Ognissanti

Palazzo Vecchio Exterior & Courtyard

Ponte Vecchio

Pitti Palace

Boboli Gardens

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Old Apr 23rd, 2006, 05:17 PM
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Cato, m'dear! Surely la galleria degli Uffizi is going on the list??
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Old Apr 23rd, 2006, 05:22 PM
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DejaVu, call us crazy, mad, fools, but we will not go!

All that somber religious art seems to blend together and leave us in a dazed stupor after awhile. I also heard the layout of the rooms is poor and crowd control is an issue.

Will be chased through the streets and stoned if word gets out?
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Old Apr 23rd, 2006, 05:26 PM
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Oh, if you've never been before, you should consider. It's not all somber and religious. Botticelli's Birth of Venus is there! But you would want to get tickets in advance because you will NOT want to waste time in line. Yes, it gets very crowded there but it's just SUCH great art. If you're in any way an art fan, it's a not-miss, in my opinion.

I actually didn't go to the Uffizi myself last visit because I was only there for a day and I hadn't gotten an advance ticket. And then I was sad and drowned my sorrow in tiramisu gelato.
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