Can anyone give me walking directions from Florence to the hamlet where Galileo Galilei was exiled? (I'm told it's a 5-minute cab ride, but I want to walk b/c it's supposed to be scenic) If this helps, there's a restaurant across from it called "Omero" Thanks!

I have been to Florence several times and have never taken this walk - sounds<BR>intriguing. Have you used an internet<BR>map service like ViaMichelin or Mappy<BR>to help you plot your course? Of course<BR>you will need to know addresses first.<BR>

It's apparently on this route to Forte de Belvedere<BR><BR>http://enrico2.firenze.net/forteb.html<BR>http://enrico2.firenze.net/forteb1.html<BR><BR>This could be combined with a trip to San Miniato al Monte, a beautiful church very near Piazzalle Michelangelo. Lovely vistas of the city from here, but an uphill walk from central Florence - you might consider taking the city bus up and walking back.<BR><BR>http://www.florence-concierge.it/earticoli/eacetri.html

That is my favorite part of the city, easily, any walk through there is nice.

No directions but I do know it's across the river from the tourist area and uphill. I'd guess 2-3 miles. The restaurant is among the best I've been to in Florence which is saying a great deal. My Italian friends from Florence like to go there.

Here's the restaurant's website (which includes a map):<BR><BR>http://www.ristoranteomero.it/

I have done the walk in reverse. Once you cross into the Oltrarno, you would be walking uphill all the way. Even though I am a good walker, I doubt that I would have enjoyed the two miles uphill all the way. I was meeting a group of friends for lunch at Omero. We arrived by public bus, which drops you nearby, but you still have a bit of a walk uphill. Others arrived by cab. After a wonderful lunch at Omero, which has wonderful views across the hills back to Florence, we all walked back into town DOWNHILL, enjoying the country scenery, the rolling green hills, private gardens... When you are most of the way down the hill you arrive near San Miniato al Monte and Piazzale Michelangelo. My memory of this afternoon is one of my most special--good friends, good food, good surroundings...

Is there an historic site there marking Galileo's home?

You have to do this. I was with my mom&amp; dad and two sisters when we inadvertently walked this uphill route. We had no idea where it was leading to but once we got a third of the way up we kept telling ourselves it can't be that much farther. It was hotter than hell that day in July '95, I have photo of my family resting on a bench, my mother was so whipped she is fanning herself with a leaf. You will be rewarded with the most wonderful view - it remains one of my all time favorite memories. Now it's a running joke in our family not to let Dad lead!

This is WAAAYY too obssessive-compulsive on my part, but I think that your &quot;thank you&quot; post - - http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34407810 - - repeated here below, is much better placed here, than as a separate post.<BR><BR>Author: TuscanTraveler<BR>Date: 03/20/2003, 09:38 am<BR><BR>Message: The responses I received to my &quot;Florence Walking Question&quot; were immensely helpful. Not only did you all enable me to determine how to get to the place to which I wanted to walk, but in addition, the web addresses that you all sent to me helped me cobble together a day-long outside-of-Florence walking itinerary that will cover many historic structures and overlooks with great views, the existence of which I was previously unaware. Many thanks! I can't wait!!<BR><BR>======================<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>[email protected]<BR>

Thank you, Rex, and you're welcome, TuscanTraveler! This is a beautiful walk with several worthwhile stops. Enjoy Florence.<BR><BR>FYI, I agree w/Rex that it's best to post to your original message rather than starting a new thread. (You can most easily find it by clicking on your own name next to &quot;Author&quot; on any thread to which you've posted - that will pull up every message you've posted on since registration.)<BR><BR>

Hi ellenem,<BR><BR> Which bus do you take to get to Omero. Sounds like a nice way to spend a day.

Sorry, I can't recall. I was with a native of Florence and she did the leading that day. (It was enough years ago that the route number may have changed.) I believe we got on the bus at the Duomo, which then wound its way east, then south and across the river and uphill.<BR><BR>I checked the Omero Web site and their maps shows the route clearly.

To the person who asked &quot;Which bus&quot;? The answer is 38b to get there; 38 and then 12 or 13 to get back. Omero is on the street called Pian de Giuliari. But if you walk instead, you get to visit all kinds of other goodies (including many scenic overlooks, historic homes &amp; villas, charming quaint streets, ancient churches) along the way. I plan to do a loop from Santa Felicita Church/Square to Ft. B, then to all the sights along Via San Leonardo, then south to Omero restaurant for a delicious scenic lunch, then north back to Via Galileo up to the San Miniato Church and Piazzale Michelangelo. Look at the website below and click on each and every one of the MANY links, have the Florence Streetwise map in your hand as you do, and you can cobble together the same walking itinerary<BR>http://enrico2.firenze.net/forteb.html<BR>http://enrico2.firenze.net/forteb1.html<BR>