Florence vs Sienna
 

My husband and I have never been to Italy. We have our itinerary pretty much set, but there are 3 days which I would like to give to Florence and Sienna. Instead of staying in one town 2 nights and the other 1 night, I was thinking it might be a good idea to stay in either of these two cities for all three nights. What advice can anyone give me? I have read that Sienna is really pretty at night. After this, we go south to Sorrento.

You are right to stay in one rather than divide your time. Which one is probably best decided by looking at pictures and reading up on what each has to offer. They are really very different cities -- and both can be quite beautiful and enjoyable at night.

There is very little auto traffic within the historic walls of Siena, if that makes a difference to you. It's a very well-preserved antique hilltop city with a very medieval feel -- narrow steep streets, walls, treeless squares. Some people find it rather hard and foreboding -- and no surprise, it has a quite violent history and even today, various parts of the city enter into fierce competitions with the other.

Firenze (Florence) by contrast is the home of the Renaissance, its flat, it's walls are gone, its sits beside a river. It's lively, even colorful architecture is filled with light. It's got red tiled domes and a very luminous feel. It is still the administrative and commercial capital of Tuscany, so there is plenty of modern hustle and bustle, lots of fancy shopping, lots of swanky restaurants.

If you have any difficulty climbing hills or grades, stay in Firenze. Otherwise, up to you.

I have been to both cities and would vote for Florence. It has the Ponta Vecchio, the Uffizzi, the Duomo and much more. I found Sienna to be cold and less attractive. I am sure others will disagree so I would recommend that you get a good tour book and decide based on what there is to do. Personally, I couldn't spend three days in either city but then again that's just my opinion. By the way, please forgive the spelling of the attractions as I'm sure I made numerous mistakes.

Me again,when I said I couldn't spend three days in either city I based this on the many other things you could be doing with a day not spent there such as the Amalfi coast, Positano, Herculenium,Pompei, Naples, etc.

Wow, Italy is like a toy shop with so much to see and do! We are going to be based in Sorrento for 4 nights and plan on seeing Naples, Positano, Almalfi Coast/drive, Capri the ruins, etc. We are planning just one day in Venice, as many have said it is smelly and like a big shopping mall, very pricy at that. Sooo, do you think one day in Florence is enough?

I don't know if or for how long you plan for Rome but easily three days there. Four for Sorrento is good. Sounds like you have a good deal of time in Italy so would recommend you see Montacatini Thermi, Pisa. Lucca. The train is very efficient and the auto strada is great if you are driving. We were in Italy for twenty-one days and still did not get north to Venice, Milan, etc.

If you are not interested in museums and religious art, you can safely skip Firenze entirely. Venezia is pricey, and the smell depends on what time of year you are going.

What do you want to get out of your trip? Is it a vacation? What do you enjoy doing? Italy has multiple attractions: fast cars, great fashion shopping, world-class wine, wonderful meals, historic architecture, famous paintings, pretty countryside, charming towns and cities and pretty seaside escpaes.

I would only go to Firenze and Siena if you are interested in historic architecture and famous art. I would only go to Venezia if you don't mind lots of tourists and high prices.

So what do you think you would enjoy?

One can easily spends 3 days in Florence. Even the smaller, less known museums are enjoyable. Plus you can take easy day trips by rail.

Siena is a 1-day, 1-night town for me. But if you have a car, or are willing to take bus, it can serve as a great base for Southern Tuscany.

One can easily spend 3 nights in Siena, even three weeks, and the smaller, less known museums are enjoyable.

I also prefer Firenze -- but I'm not taking this trip. I couldn't easily spend 3 days in Firenze if I wasn't interested in museum-going and religious art -- although some people go for the shopping.

I like Siena and think it is beautiful, but there are more things to see and do, in my opinion, in and around Florence,especially if you like Renaissance art (in museums and churches).

I love Venice too and think you should definitely go at least for a day. The crowds/smell will depend on the time of year you visit. It is true that there are a lot of shops there, but most towns where tourists go have lots of shops; just because they are there doesn't mean you have to go in. I never found it to be at all like a shopping mall, especially in some of the less-frequented areas. Also, it was less crowded in Venice the last time I was in Italy than it was in Florence. Venice was also much less crowded than Prague too when I was there in October, just for comparison's sake.

There is way more to do in Florence than in Siena. I would stay in the former (and see the city at night when many tour groups have left) and do Siena as a day trip.

You don't say when you're going. We were in both last week and I gotta say - they were both PACKED! Florence was especially crowded. The sidewalks were crowded with huge groups following the leader. It ruined Florence for me. (I've been several times and if this was my first I would have not liked it at all). Siena was crowded too but if I weren't going specifically for the art I would choose Siena.

I have been in Venice 3 different times, early May, late June and July and it has never been "smelly." If you are planning on one day in Venice, then like thousands of others, you will be on a quest to see the touristy parts, where yes it will be very, very crowded. Two years ago, we spent 6 days in Venice and did not have enough time to see all that we had wanted to. We stayed at La Calcina and strolled the streets at night after the thousands had left for the day. It is truly magical. One quick day will not do justice to you or Venice. I suggest you either give it at least 3 days or skip it altogether for another trip. And if anyone tells you they saw all of Venice in one day, they have no idea what they are talking about!
dave