I will be picking up a car in Siena around 8:00AM and driving to Florence, so I really won’t have a full day in Florence. Don't have to back to Siena at any particular time, so can stay as late as we want in Florence. Plan on parking either at the SMN train station or south of the river and walking or busing around. First let me qualify everything by saying that we are definitely not art lovers, so other than what we mention, standing in front of paintings all day is not for us. Yes, I know, I am going to go to hell for saying that. Here’s what we want to see, more or less in order: Duomo, Campanille, Batistero, Accademia (have to see David), Medici Chapels, SMN Church, Piti Palace, Ponte Vechio. Will make reservations for the Accademia and the Medici Chapels, and plan on doing them toward the end of the day. Any opinions on route, or changes?

Driving to Florence is crazy when you can take the bus and avoid the enormous driving and parking hassels.

I agree with X, why drive when the bus stop is just across the street from the train station. <BR><BR>You can actually walk from the bus station to the Ponte Vechio in about 10 to 15 minutes and from there the rest of the sites you mentioned are reasonable walking distances. <BR><BR>I'd take the bus, and then work out a walking intenerary from there. It appears that the only "out of the way" stop is the Pitti Palace which is across the Ponte Vechio and then a few blocks up a slight hill.<BR><BR>Wise decision to not miss David...one of the great sights in Europe.

I agree with others - take a bus. It's not easy to park in florence and the bus station is so easy to walk from. As far as when to do what - get a map of Florence and plot it out so you won't be backtracking and wasting time. If you want to do any shopping you should go to the market at San Lorenzo .

Jim -<BR><BR>Whether you drive in or go by bus, may I suggest you go to the Piazzale Michelangelo (could park your car here) for a fantastic view over the River Arno and all of the Florence skyline. Then hop a cab downhill to your next sight, just for efficiency's sake.<BR><BR>You are right to go to the Accademia to see the David (and to have reservations)..Even if you don't go to the Uffizi, do go see the Piazza della Signoria where it is located. Also, the Piazza della Republica is fun, usually with street entertainment in the evenings.<BR><BR>Lastly, if I had to choose between churches, I'd say you should visit the Basilica di Santa Croce rather than the SNM. The names on the tombs there are reason enough (Michaelangelo, Dante, Galileo, Machiavelli, Medici..) plus there are lovely frescoes by Giotto.

Well, basically I an kinda screwed when it comes to the car. Three day rental, thats the first of the three days. That's why I plan on parking on the outskirts of Florence.

Florence has so many must see museums but with only one day you must be selective. My choices would be the Accademia (if you can go at 7 pm there is usually no line) and the Opera museum located near the Duomo. Both smaller, with great works that give you the flavor of the Renn. For churches, the Duomo, Santa Croce, and San Minitao (on the hill behind Piazzelli Michealangelo). The Piazzelli is a must see for the view.<BR><BR>The rest of the day spend walking, eating, watching, shopping and enjoying.

Just don't go on a Monday. Museums - Accademia, Pitti Palace will be closed.

Thanks Ellen. Don't know how I did it, but believe it or not our train travel days between Rome and Venice and Venice to Siena both fell on Mondays. Happiest accident of the trip.

I agree with Leslie on several points. First of all the Piazzale Michaelangelo is a great place not only to see but to park for the day -- easy to get to by car, we stopped there on our way driving out of Florence to Siena. There is also ample parking south of the river near the Pitti Palace, especially if you get there early, which it sounds like you will. You can start there with your "tour" and cross the Ponte Vechio to see the other sites. Why worry about bus times and being committed to a time to catch the bus to go back to Siena? With your car there, you can stay as late as you want. I assume you have already figured out that you would leave your car in one spot, not try to drive around within Florence from spot to spot.<BR><BR>I also agree to forget the SMN church on your limited schedule but don't miss the Santa Croce -- memorable because of all the tombs. A much better choice in my opinion.<BR><BR>Have lunch or afternoon dessert at Piazza della Signoria.

You should take a look at the visiting hours. I believe the Baptistery doesn't open until after noon, so keep that in mind. I agree with those who said to see Santa Croce instead of Santa Maria Novella, but the latter is nice too and probably under-rated by many travelers. You could consider seeing Santa Croce after the Baptistery and then go on to the Accademia. There was a lot of construction in the Medici Chapels when I visited in October of last year, which did significantly lessen the experience. <BR><BR>You will have a very full day trying to do all of that. I would suggest the Duomo, Campanile, and Baptistery as musts, but you may have to backtrack to see the latter, perhaps after having lunch at Piazza della Signoria (a very good idea with one day in town). Then see Santa Croce, the Accademia, and perhaps Piti Palace, although time may be growing short by then to see much of it. You could then go to Piazzale Michelangelo, which is great in the late afternoon because of all the activity and the beautiful light on the city, and then to Ponte Vecchio and have dinner in the area. All of my information ignores the car issue, which I will leave to others who are more informed about parking.

Michaelangelo is not buried in Santa Croce in Firenze, that is just an empty tomb.<BR><BR>I completely disagree with skipping Santa Maria Novella to visit Santa Croce. The Masaccio fresco of the Trinity, with a bored Blessed Virgin kneeling in front of the crucifix, is worth the trip alone.<BR><BR>I don't know why, Jim, you want to visit the Medici Chapel and the Pitti Palace if you don't like art. The only reason to visit the chapel is to view Michaelangelo's Night and Day sculptures. And the Pitti Palace is nothing but art, tapestry, and furniture.<BR><BR>Unless you like gardens, then you could stroll around the Boboli Gardens in back of the Pitti Palace?<BR><BR>I think it would be best if you stuck to viewing the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, Piazzale Michaelangelo, Piazza Signoria, and Piazza Repubblica. Then maybe go to the Straw Market. <BR><BR>I can't understand why someone who doesn't like art would go to Firenze. It is nothing but art.<BR><BR>

I think that the idea of parking at P. Michelangelo is a great for a number of reasons. Here's a low art-impact tour: You can take the bus down into town from there, getting off near S. Maria del Fiore(the duomo in Firenze), seeing the baptistry, maybe just looking at the campanile. Then go into the little Museo del Duomo and see the Pieta and the really wonderful wooden Donatello statue of Saint Mary Magdelene. Then walk back toward the river and go to the Davanzati house--a real house from the medieval period, you can actually see how people lived. On the way there, you can see the replica of the David in P. Signoria and buy some truly amazing natural perfume in the little shop at the corner of the square. (Dr. Massimo's, I think it is.) By this time, you will want lunch, so go to Il Latini (near p. Goldoni, it's in guidebooks). You will meet interesting people there and have such good food that you will not be in a hurry anymore. Then you can either walk toward the train station and see Santa Maria Novella (which is really quite amazing, incredible frescoes, this was the church in Room with a View), or you can walk down the bank of the Arno to the Ponte Vecchio and get lost in little shops along the way. Just before you get to the bridge, you will need gelato, which is available homemade and in many varieties, at a little shop on the left hand side right past the base of the bridge. Then, if you are not too tired, walk across the bridge and downstream to climb the hill to reclaim your car, or take the bus, and then go all the way to the top of the hill and get your last look at Firenze from S. Minato al Monte, which if it is open is just as lovely inside as out.

Actually, John, I think Michaelangelo is buried in Santa Croce. It is Galileo and Fermi who's tombs are empty. M. was originally buried in a sarcophagus in Rome in Santi Apostoli, but his nephew carried his concealed corpse back to Florence where he is buried in Santa Croce.

I think my guidebook said that Dante was buried in Ravenna. I had assumed that meant that the other tombs were real.

Please keep those suggestions coming!<BR>We will also have a day in Florence, and since it will be our only "free" day from a guided Tuscany tour, I can't afford to miss anything since that day it will be "our" choice--not the tour's.<BR>Where is the best "people watching" in Florence that ou have found?<BR><BR>Thanks

The Italian gov't and tourist industry does not like to publicize the fact that Michelangelo is NOT buried in his tomb inside Santa Croce. Hundreds of thousands of people come to Santa Croce every year to see his grave (and the grave of others) and then make their way to the Leather School of Santa Croce where they spend hundreds of thousands of dollars. Telling people that Michelangelo is not really buried here could hurt business.<BR><BR>This is not a big secret, many people know about it. It is just not publicized, and even guide books and biographies on Michelangelo will tell you otherwise.<BR><BR>My friend, Massimo, who has a PhD in Art History from University of Bologna, and a resident of Firenze told me this bit of "trivia."<BR><BR>If you go to Firenze, just as a tour guide or a caretaker inside Santa Croce. They will probably tell you the truth.<BR><BR><BR><BR>

So John....Where IS Michaelangelo buried?