Help! Is Florence just museums??
May 14th, 2013, 10:10 AM
#21
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No - Florence has way more to see and do. If you tell us your and your kids (and their ages) special intersts, people can make recos.
Are the teens old enough to hang out with local students at cafes and pubs? - they will find much more to do than museums.
Are the teens old enough to hang out with local students at cafes and pubs? - they will find much more to do than museums.
May 14th, 2013, 01:23 PM
#22
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@dukey1- lol. Don't worry, I'll tell them to suck it up either way ;-)
My kids are 14, 14 and 15. Does it make any difference if I tell you that we will be going to Sorrento for 4 days after Florence?
There's another option I'm considering (but not too seriously), we could take a train to La Spezia Saturday morning and stay at a hotel there (to see the Cinque Terre). The next day (Sunday) on our way back to Florence (have to go back since we reserved train tickets from Florence to Naples already) we could stop by Pisa and then sleep the night again in Florence.
Or, I could just stick with the original plan. If they get sick of Florence, there's the day trips-- Siena, Fiesole, Pisa/Lucca, you don't think that'll keep them happy? Plus, bribes in the form of gelato.
My kids are 14, 14 and 15. Does it make any difference if I tell you that we will be going to Sorrento for 4 days after Florence?
There's another option I'm considering (but not too seriously), we could take a train to La Spezia Saturday morning and stay at a hotel there (to see the Cinque Terre). The next day (Sunday) on our way back to Florence (have to go back since we reserved train tickets from Florence to Naples already) we could stop by Pisa and then sleep the night again in Florence.
Or, I could just stick with the original plan. If they get sick of Florence, there's the day trips-- Siena, Fiesole, Pisa/Lucca, you don't think that'll keep them happy? Plus, bribes in the form of gelato.
May 14th, 2013, 01:37 PM
#23
a few years ago we took our kids, then about 15 & 18 to Florence for a week, and saw very few museums as such, though we all enjoyed out stay a lot.
no trip report, but from memory we climbed the campanile and the dome and explored the Cathedral area, spent a day in Siena, one day around Santa Croce and the san ambroglio market, another up in Fiesole, a day around the San Lorenzo market and the medici chapel, a day trip to Pisa, another seeing the Uffizi and Accademia, visited the Bobolli and Oltrarno - we easily filled a week so you should have no trouble finding things to do in 4 days.
no trip report, but from memory we climbed the campanile and the dome and explored the Cathedral area, spent a day in Siena, one day around Santa Croce and the san ambroglio market, another up in Fiesole, a day around the San Lorenzo market and the medici chapel, a day trip to Pisa, another seeing the Uffizi and Accademia, visited the Bobolli and Oltrarno - we easily filled a week so you should have no trouble finding things to do in 4 days.
May 14th, 2013, 02:59 PM
#25
tuscan - they do enjoy food [like their mum, perhaps a little too much?] in fact italian food turned our rather faddy DS, then about 10, into a much more enthusiastic eater. by the time we took him to Florence, he was much easier to feed than he had been years before, not in small part due to our visits to Italy.
May 14th, 2013, 03:10 PM
#27
there are some other interesting things in the Accademia - the musical instrument collection for example. but the pictures are also worth a look, and we would always take the opportunity to view whatever there was, if only for a short while because you never know what you might find.
a certain [in]famous fodorite flamed me for this, and perhaps your kids are a bit old for it, but as we were going around galleries and museums, we made looking at the pictures into a game by trying to find the ugliest baby. [believe me, there are some corkers]. this isn't as puerile as it sounds - it leads to all sorts of interesting questions such as how artists have depicted Mary and Jesus over the years, how they drew children and adults, perspective, art history, etc. etc.
I'm sure you can think of your own way of peeking their interest.
a certain [in]famous fodorite flamed me for this, and perhaps your kids are a bit old for it, but as we were going around galleries and museums, we made looking at the pictures into a game by trying to find the ugliest baby. [believe me, there are some corkers]. this isn't as puerile as it sounds - it leads to all sorts of interesting questions such as how artists have depicted Mary and Jesus over the years, how they drew children and adults, perspective, art history, etc. etc.
I'm sure you can think of your own way of peeking their interest.
May 14th, 2013, 03:22 PM
#28
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check out the large covered market - actually in a market building two floors high - no only great local fruit and veg but some snack bars for cheap local down-home florentine foods. Right in the city center between Duomo and Santa Maria Novella train station. Note the boar's head that has a shine from being stroken so much in hopes of good luck!
May 14th, 2013, 04:17 PM
#29
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Five nights is not too long in Florence IMO. DH and I spent 5 nights in Florence with our teen sons, ages 16 and 14 last summer. Surprisingly, they really enjoyed the Uffizi, Accademia, Bargello, Pitti Palace, San Marco monastery, and also wanted to see other museums. I think the secret was a private tour through the Uffizi the first day. It was through Freya's Florence, and really gave all of us a deeper appreciation for the art. While I had toured the Uffizi that way before as well as without a guide on a couple of other trips, I still learned more. DH and sons really enjoyed it. Afterward, my sons would refer to information from the tour when viewing other works in different museums throughout our trip.
Before visiting a museum each time, we'd ask if they wanted to do that, and they always said yes. Frankly, I was pleasantly surprised! I think it depends on your own children's personalities; my kids truly enjoyed seeing the museums and churches everywhere we went. We did sprinkle in a lot of other things around them though.
So much of the fun of Florence takes place at night in the summer. Wander through the Piazza della Signoria and you're almost sure to see a musical performance every night. The Ponte Vecchio has great street musicians, and we enjoyed just sitting on the bridge and listening.
The shopping is world class, so if your teens enjoy that you have another thing to do. My sons enjoyed picking out some clothes that they can't get at home. Your teens might also enjoy the markets.
We also spent several days in Siena and used that as a base for touring nearby towns. It is equally delightful, although there is less going on at night there. The Campo is a great spot for people watching, but that seemed to be where all the action was.
BTW, we finished our trip with a week in Positano, and that was a great way to end it. Ferry rides to Amalfi and Capri were a highlight of our trip. We also fit in a visit to Pompeii, and if you have time, I'd recommend that as well...but be sure to get a guide. We didn't and I think we missed a lot.
Have a wonderful trip!
Before visiting a museum each time, we'd ask if they wanted to do that, and they always said yes. Frankly, I was pleasantly surprised! I think it depends on your own children's personalities; my kids truly enjoyed seeing the museums and churches everywhere we went. We did sprinkle in a lot of other things around them though.
So much of the fun of Florence takes place at night in the summer. Wander through the Piazza della Signoria and you're almost sure to see a musical performance every night. The Ponte Vecchio has great street musicians, and we enjoyed just sitting on the bridge and listening.
The shopping is world class, so if your teens enjoy that you have another thing to do. My sons enjoyed picking out some clothes that they can't get at home. Your teens might also enjoy the markets.
We also spent several days in Siena and used that as a base for touring nearby towns. It is equally delightful, although there is less going on at night there. The Campo is a great spot for people watching, but that seemed to be where all the action was.
BTW, we finished our trip with a week in Positano, and that was a great way to end it. Ferry rides to Amalfi and Capri were a highlight of our trip. We also fit in a visit to Pompeii, and if you have time, I'd recommend that as well...but be sure to get a guide. We didn't and I think we missed a lot.
Have a wonderful trip!
May 15th, 2013, 10:08 AM
#30
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cybertraveller I think your post does illustrate something.
Your kids enjoyed museums everywhere you went ( you said).
My kids generally do too.
Some kids do not enjoy museums. I personally don't understand that completely, I love museums.
I have a friend who went to Paris for a week. She said they saw FOUR museums in one day, she said she only let her bf have one "museum day" so that's why they were all crammed in. I asked ( somewhat baffled) which four museums she saw. She could not remember the name of even one of them, but said one had "that pyramid" outside. She does not like museums. Strange but true, lol ( I still love this friend but know I will never go to Europe with her even though she often suggests it) .She is no kid but well in the middle years.
If OPs kids really don't like museums they don't like museums, BUT , I do think your suggestion of a tour was a VERY good one though, I am sure my private tour of the Louvre at age 13 was what started my love affair with museums.
I think many teens /kids, even adults, view museums as passive and boring, ,, just walking through and looking at "stuff" that means nothing really to them. A little background and information can make most exhibits fascinating.
Your kids enjoyed museums everywhere you went ( you said).
My kids generally do too.
Some kids do not enjoy museums. I personally don't understand that completely, I love museums.
I have a friend who went to Paris for a week. She said they saw FOUR museums in one day, she said she only let her bf have one "museum day" so that's why they were all crammed in. I asked ( somewhat baffled) which four museums she saw. She could not remember the name of even one of them, but said one had "that pyramid" outside. She does not like museums. Strange but true, lol ( I still love this friend but know I will never go to Europe with her even though she often suggests it) .She is no kid but well in the middle years.
If OPs kids really don't like museums they don't like museums, BUT , I do think your suggestion of a tour was a VERY good one though, I am sure my private tour of the Louvre at age 13 was what started my love affair with museums.
I think many teens /kids, even adults, view museums as passive and boring, ,, just walking through and looking at "stuff" that means nothing really to them. A little background and information can make most exhibits fascinating.
May 15th, 2013, 10:08 AM
#31
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cybertraveller I think your post does illustrate something.
Your kids enjoyed museums everywhere you went ( you said).
My kids generally do too.
Some kids do not enjoy museums. I personally don't understand that completely, I love museums.
I have a friend who went to Paris for a week. She said they saw FOUR museums in one day, she said she only let her bf have one "museum day" so that's why they were all crammed in. I asked ( somewhat baffled) which four museums she saw. She could not remember the name of even one of them, but said one had "that pyramid" outside. She does not like museums. Strange but true, lol ( I still love this friend but know I will never go to Europe with her even though she often suggests it) .She is no kid but well in the middle years.
If OPs kids really don't like museums they don't like museums, BUT , I do think your suggestion of a tour was a VERY good one though, I am sure my private tour of the Louvre at age 13 was what started my love affair with museums.
I think many teens /kids, even adults, view museums as passive and boring, ,, just walking through and looking at "stuff" that means nothing really to them. A little background and information can make most exhibits fascinating.
Your kids enjoyed museums everywhere you went ( you said).
My kids generally do too.
Some kids do not enjoy museums. I personally don't understand that completely, I love museums.
I have a friend who went to Paris for a week. She said they saw FOUR museums in one day, she said she only let her bf have one "museum day" so that's why they were all crammed in. I asked ( somewhat baffled) which four museums she saw. She could not remember the name of even one of them, but said one had "that pyramid" outside. She does not like museums. Strange but true, lol ( I still love this friend but know I will never go to Europe with her even though she often suggests it) .She is no kid but well in the middle years.
If OPs kids really don't like museums they don't like museums, BUT , I do think your suggestion of a tour was a VERY good one though, I am sure my private tour of the Louvre at age 13 was what started my love affair with museums.
I think many teens /kids, even adults, view museums as passive and boring, ,, just walking through and looking at "stuff" that means nothing really to them. A little background and information can make most exhibits fascinating.
May 15th, 2013, 10:25 AM
#33
When I was younger every time I visited Florence I was invited to big, rave- like parties. Lots of students there, lots of opportunities to meet and mingle.
But I think your kids are too young for that.
Boboli Gardens, climbing Giotto's tower, hanging out on piazze, shopping, staying up late and sleeping in, a few churches, Accademia and ( maybe) Uffizi. A day trip or two and your time has flown by.
But I think your kids are too young for that.
Boboli Gardens, climbing Giotto's tower, hanging out on piazze, shopping, staying up late and sleeping in, a few churches, Accademia and ( maybe) Uffizi. A day trip or two and your time has flown by.
May 15th, 2013, 11:35 AM
#34
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Not sure if anyone else has suggested the many Florence Walking tours but they are usually 2-4 hrs long and while they overlap, there are many differing themes. There are some in the evening as well as mornings and they are not terribly expensive but very informative.
May 15th, 2013, 12:28 PM
#35
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Great advice thanks so much! I didn't mean to suggest my kids hate museums. We went to Paris two years ago and they loved the louvre, orsay, Rodin, war museum with Napoleon. We mixed it up though with the notre damn, Eiffel Tower, gardens, etc, etc.
I like the idea of a tour. Is that something we should plan ahead or we can do when we get there?
I like the idea of a tour. Is that something we should plan ahead or we can do when we get there?
