Is Florence safe??
 

My 20 year old daughter is in Greece for the summer and will spend a week in Italy at the end of the month. An acquaintence recently told me that Florence has become unsafe after 9/11 because it is overrun with African immigrants (no offense to Africans, just repeating his comments). He said it is not safe for a 20 year old girl.
Is this true? I hate to rely on one person's negative experience, but of course do not want to put her in an unsafe position.

Is there another Tuscan destination for a college kid travelling by train?

Please. No offense to Africans?

Do people ever consider that immigrants are less likely to take chances that might land them in trouble with the law than other people?

And what happened to the days when people wouldn't dream of letting a 20 year old girl be on her own in Italy because of the way she'd be treated by ITALAIN men.

Your daughter is old enough to go where she wants to go.

The truth is that Florence is sometimes overrun by American idiots. Hope your daughter doesn't take after you.

Nessundorma, LOL!! And soooo true!

getmeoddahere, Florence is filled with lots of young people. I can't imagine why your daughter would not be as safe in Florence as in Greece.

I believe that I heard recently that there are over 50,000 students in Florence at any given time and the second highest concentration outside of the Bologna schools. I fly to Rome everyweek for work and the only thing that you have to worry about in regards to the North African immigrants in Italy is that you will buy too many of their "knock off purses"!!!

I can't remember seeing higher numbers of itinerant immigrant peddlars in Florence then any big city in Europe in summer. I would say Florence is as safe as Greece and as long has your daughter has had her innoculation of common sense she should be OK.

I have been to Florence twice. Once alone and once with my DH. I felt equally safe each time, although when I was there by myself I did exercise good judgement as I would when traveling alone in any city.

I agree with the above that as long as your daughter uses common sense she will be fine.

I agree that Florence is as safe as any other city. The only time I remember feeling a little uncomfortable was walking near the station area late one evening . But I guess most station areas late in the night are places to avoid.

I read something similar before going to France and my dark husband was scared to leave the hotel room for fear of being falsely arrested. Like the others said, the only thing I noticed were people trying to sell you goods. 20 years old and female anywhere alone is a bit scary...any USA city would be scary.

(I knew this would happen.) Please let me clarify my post and apologize to anyone I have offended. I did not by any means intend to suggest anything negative about Africans. I do not generalize about groups being a Berkeley type liberal. I was repeating a comment made to me and the reason I wrote the post is because I did not want to rely on that person's opinion. Personally, I love people of every origin and would particularly love to travel to Africa.
I am truly sorry for posting anything offensive or that could be so easily misconstrued.

Florence is like any city safetyways.

Ah, this board is so entertaining. This was a bit surprising: "Florence has become unsafe after 9/11 because it is overrun with African immigrants"

Europe has huge amounts of illegal (and legal) immigrants from Africa. But what has 9/11 to do with it?

Getme, I am sorry that some Fodorites are so rude and judgmental. There is some truth to what you write about African immigrants in Europe. For example, it is well documented that gangs of African immigrants rob people on the train between Lisbon and Sintra in Portugal. I don't think it is racist to point out the TRUTH. Does this mean that all Africans in Europe are thieves? Certainly not.

I have never had problems with African immigrants in Florence. On the contrary. I have had very bad experiences with GYPSIES, however. Therefore, I would be more likely to watch out for Gypsy children who travel in packs. They will fleece you if the oportunity arrives. Tell your daughter to BEWARE!

I eschew designer clothing.

getmeoddahere,

I believe that your acquaintance showed very poor 'situation analysis' skills. On one hand, 9/11 has nothing to do with African migration to Europe; on the other, Florence is hardly 'overrun' with African immigrants. Did your acquaintance have a bad experience with them? Did they overprice a knock-off purse at San Lorenzo?

Jokes aside, I'm sure your daughter will have a wonderful time. Florence is one of the world's most beautiful cities, even when overrun with tourists (dumb or otherwise).

I was told this by a judge I was chatting with after court (I am a lawyer). I don't know him very well. Again, I was quoting him and his sentiments. If I agreed with his sentiment and prejudice against Africans, I would not have checked his judgment on this site. Why the 9-11? I don't know. That is just what he said. I'm glad Florence is fine. I have been there before and would not like her to miss it.

well there you go! These we golden bon mots from the lips of a JUDGE!

I work in the field too...judges still "put their pants/panties on one leg at a time" ... the world tho cowers before them. The judges not their pants or panties... mmmm... I'll have to reconsider this point too!

I'm a 27 year old female, and when I was in Florence a few years ago the only time I felt a little uncomfortable was walking around the train station in the evenings, as its a little seedy and filled with men loitering around the area, but most people don't travel to European cities to hang around the train stations so she should be fine. As noted above, there are tons of students living in Florence; she should fit right in.

Tracy

The entire world is safe if you practice a little common sense.

I wonder how safe Iraq is, even if you "practice a little common sense"?

Judging from the number of soldiers who go there and come back unharmed, apparently it is pretty safe … if, as previously noted, one uses common sense.

Every country in which it is possible to make a decent living is "overrun" - you're making it sound like locusts - with immigrants from parts of Africa where the standard of living - even for those who are multilingual and educated - is very low.

Her biggest risk in Florence is buying too much stuff from someone selling goods unofficially on the sidewalk.

Nice to know that judges are so unbiased and well informed in their views

Weren't most of the 9/11 people Saudi? That's more Asia that Africa according to the last atlas I saw. How interesting that a judge, who is supposed to be well-educated, does not know that.

My best friend and I spent several days in Florence when we were 22 years old (summer 2002). We were backpacking through Europe and Florence felt much safer than certain areas we happened upon in Munich. Just tell your daughter to be aware of her surroundings, especially after dark. She also might want to avoid the train station after dark. I'm sure she will have a fine time! You might clue her in to the leather shopping market outside the Medici Chapels if she likes to shop

My 20 year old daughter spent last semester in Florence. No problems at all. She took care to use good judgement regarding walking alone at night, carrying too much cash and credit cards, etc. Same precautions anyone should take in any city in any country. Just tell her to keep her wits about her and she'll love it there.
Biggest danger in Florence comes from the narrow streets and cars going too fast IMHO!

Florence was totally safe for me, and I don't see what African immigrants have to do with anything.....I will keep my comments on that remark to myself.

I traveled solo, and florence was fine and safe. No one bothered me or harassed me or anything like that. I openly used my map, and pretty much did look like a tourist. I had a wonderful time.....as long as your daughter is street smart she should be fine.

The daughter of a friend spent a semester in Florence last year and had no problems of any kind. She was part of a group of students, however, and not simply traveling by herself. I think in any city that young women should be very alert and cautious, but no more so in Italy than anywhere else.

and don't apologize to the rude know-it-alls; it's like giving an addict a heroin injection :)

Suzie-"tho the world cowers before them"

We do, we do, know the truth of what you are saying (oh, if you only KNEW how I echo these words!)

(Sigh!) Judges can be incredibly narrow-minded and ignorant, see only what they want to see, believe only what they want to believe, in the face of all contrary evidence before them, and I shall leave it at that.

Getme-I would not take a JUDGE's word about things of this nature that happen overseas-judges do not tend to be, in general, terribly knowledgeable about the world and international goings-on. (and I'm talking both state and federal court trial judges)

I have studied in Florence, and find it to be, for students, one of the most beautiful (not just physical) places in the world in which to spend time -it would be my first choice for an overseas study program, for example.

The so-called "African immigrants" (there are other names for them-"vu cumpra" being one racist term) are not treated very well in Italy-most of them are just trying to make a living selling goods on the street-and Italian law enforcement keeps quite good tabs on the immigrant population within its borders.

Simply stated, she will love Florence.

I shouldn't but can't help it. Not wanting to pile on but at the same time....here goes. 9/11 had nothing to do with Africans...period.

There. I have been to Florence several times, been all over the city and never felt uncomfortable. I agree with a previous post....use your head whereever you are.

I think this thread underscores a basic lack of knowledge about the African colonial histories of some of the major Western European destinations and how some of these Africans - sometimes highly educated - are in their former "host" nations trying to eek out a living. I'll be the first to admit surprise that I could get very good Italian cooking at an Eritrean restaurant in Oakland, my dining buddy then feeling compelled to explain how France, Italy, Spain, Britain, etc., had all occupied various African nations (this part I did know). As to the Africans in Florence and Italy, they seemed to be very busy doing their street vending thing (unauthorized, or not) and were not menacing in any way. My few experiences with pick-pockets in Florence make me giggle now - these guys were almost wearing a uniform... designer jeans, t-shirts and aviator-style glasses - replete with what I started to call the "bowling shoes"... but the same could be said for every Italian male between the ages of 16-35. Now who can you trust?