If you had 2 days in Florence...
Mar 9th, 2001, 07:01 PM
#2
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The Boboli Gardens are absolutely beautiful, acres and acres on a hill behind the Pitti Palace. Full of sculptures, arbors, etc. If you have nice weather you should go. Also the statue of David by Michealangelo is at L'Accedamia (not sure of spelling) you can order tickets on-line and skip the 2 hour wait. The best web site on Italy is Initaly.com you can find out about museum tickets there. Have fun it's a beautiful but noisy and bustling city. Have coffee or a drink in the Plaza outside San Stefano Church. If you really, really like lots of paintings of aristocracy and religious events, spend just an hour or two at the Uffizi. Don't know about the aiport issue, we took a train from Venice.
Mar 10th, 2001, 01:23 PM
#6
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Buy a leather keepsake: You can find wonderful Italian leather (jackets, briefcases, anything...) in many of the outdoor markets in Florence. Be prepared to bargain. I found the most exquisite leather gloves lined with cashmere. They were so inexpensive (around $20), I should have bought more.
My favourite memory of Florence is climbing to the very top of the Duomo to view the city from above. Breathtaking.
Take a tour of the Santa Croce (with a guide, if possible). It holds the tombs of some of the greatest thinkers, artists and historical figures of all time. It's almost overwhelming that they're all in one place.
Last suggestion: Don't miss the Piazza Navona.
Have a wonderful trip!
My favourite memory of Florence is climbing to the very top of the Duomo to view the city from above. Breathtaking.
Take a tour of the Santa Croce (with a guide, if possible). It holds the tombs of some of the greatest thinkers, artists and historical figures of all time. It's almost overwhelming that they're all in one place.
Last suggestion: Don't miss the Piazza Navona.
Have a wonderful trip!
Mar 10th, 2001, 02:45 PM
#7
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- DAVID (of course!)
- UFFIZI GALLERY (and for both Uffizi, as well as the Accademia (David) so purchase your tickets online. Worth the few extra dollars service charge to avoid standing on long lines --- for online purchase, go to
http://www.weekendafirenze.com/up00.htm
- BOBOLI GARDENS (IF the weather is good --- might get some rain while there --- don't worry, the umbrella salesmen will be everywhere ready to sell you one)
- SANTA CROCE
Also, when touring the Santa Croce Church, if you go towards the back turn right & (may be a sign?) you can reach the Leather School. I've priced their goods and they're competitive with other stores. Although lots of folks suggest the outdoor markets, I've found that you can also negotiate a bit on prices in the stores.
For a nice variety of smaller leather goods (gloves, wallets, purses, keychains, wastebaskets, eyeglass cases, small jewelry boxes, you name it they can make it in leather), there's a couple stores in the Piazza outside of Santa Croce. As you face the church, on your left is 'Luciano's' --- or if you're interested in leather coat/jacket there's several other stores in same area. I bought mine coat at 'Pokers' (opposite side of piazza from Luciano's). Another reason for buying in store is to be able to have them provide you with paperwork for VAT tax refund (if you're planning to spend sufficient amount).
FINALLY, after you've toured Santa Croce, stocked up on your leather items, then go to VIVOLI's --- gelateria that's on Via Stinche, a short walk from there.
- UFFIZI GALLERY (and for both Uffizi, as well as the Accademia (David) so purchase your tickets online. Worth the few extra dollars service charge to avoid standing on long lines --- for online purchase, go to
http://www.weekendafirenze.com/up00.htm
- BOBOLI GARDENS (IF the weather is good --- might get some rain while there --- don't worry, the umbrella salesmen will be everywhere ready to sell you one)
- SANTA CROCE
Also, when touring the Santa Croce Church, if you go towards the back turn right & (may be a sign?) you can reach the Leather School. I've priced their goods and they're competitive with other stores. Although lots of folks suggest the outdoor markets, I've found that you can also negotiate a bit on prices in the stores.
For a nice variety of smaller leather goods (gloves, wallets, purses, keychains, wastebaskets, eyeglass cases, small jewelry boxes, you name it they can make it in leather), there's a couple stores in the Piazza outside of Santa Croce. As you face the church, on your left is 'Luciano's' --- or if you're interested in leather coat/jacket there's several other stores in same area. I bought mine coat at 'Pokers' (opposite side of piazza from Luciano's). Another reason for buying in store is to be able to have them provide you with paperwork for VAT tax refund (if you're planning to spend sufficient amount).
FINALLY, after you've toured Santa Croce, stocked up on your leather items, then go to VIVOLI's --- gelateria that's on Via Stinche, a short walk from there.
Mar 10th, 2001, 03:12 PM
#8
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you guys are great! i am going to each and every one of the places you all have advised. i leave first week in april. please keep the suggestions coming.
this is a wonderful forum. i've decided to "give back" and started posting (hopefully helpful) responses to tourists' questions on new york city.
this is a wonderful forum. i've decided to "give back" and started posting (hopefully helpful) responses to tourists' questions on new york city.
Mar 10th, 2001, 05:41 PM
#9
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First off, someone mentioned Piazza Navona. Don't spend a lot of time looking for it in Florence; it's in Rome. I would ditto most of what people have already said--Duomo, Santa Croce, David, Uffizi, Vivoli for gelato, and one more place: San Miniato al Monte across the river (on the same side as the Boboli Gardens). At sunset every evening the monks chant.An unbelievable experience. And the view over the Arno to the domes and spires of Florence is just fabulous. And don't try to do everything in two days. It's not possible. But have a great time anyway.
