I just want to get your expert opinion. In planning to stay 3 days in Florence in late September and I want to do a day trip to one of the nearby places. Where would you go and why? Pisa or Siena? I will move around by train. Which route has a best scenic view from the train?

Thanks for any ideas.

I don't think the views are all that great from the train to either city.

Pisa has better train connections to Florence. Siena has better bus connections to Florence.

I like Siena; I like its churches (lots of them, and they are good); I like its pedestrian streets; I like its food, its shops; its bakeries; its art and architecture.

Pisa: well, there is just about nothing that compares to the Campo di Miracoli. The church there is more spectacular than, IMO, the tower. But Pisa has, to me, a less intimate feel. It has wider streets, not intimate. Food seems more formal and more expensive. It's flat. There doesn't seem to be a charming little view of shop around every corner.

These are purely my opinions, of course. I like Siena.

IMHO, with only three days in Florence, I would skip both of these cities and spend the time in Florence. There is so much to do and see. I found Pisa disappointing however, I did enjoy Siena, but would not travel there again.

Clea

I also think 3 nights in Firenze is less time than you imagine. But you should read up on the other two cities, including paying a visit to the Slow Travel website where a Pisa native has written a short guide to Pisa. They are very different places.

People have very different reactions to both places. I don't care for Siena and others dislike Pisa -- and there are even people who dislike Firenze! It's like asking a roomful of Republicans and Democrats to advise you how to vote.

If you read up on both places, you can decide on the spur of the moment whether you want to leave Firenze at all. By the way, others my disagree, but I think Firenze looks pretty in any weather, whereas both Siena and Pisa need sunshine to look there best.

If you choose to go to Siena, it is best to go by bus. The train station stop for Siena is too far from the historic center to walk there, but the bus takes you all the way.

I've also heard that if if you take the train from Firenze to Pisa that it's best to get off one stop early if you are going first to the Campo dei Miracoli because it's shorter walk -- but double check me on that.

Nessundorma: I think this only applies if you take the train to Pisa that goes via Prato, Priano and Lucca (I could well be wrong). The station is San Rossare, and it is much closer to the Campo dei Miracoli.

I really like both Siena and Pisa, but if I had only 3 days in Florence, I would stay there. If I needed a half day trip, then I would take the number 7 bus up to Fiesole for the Roman theatre, the museum, but mostly for the spectacular views back across Florence.

I agree with the responders above. With three days I would stay in Florence. But, if I had four days and had to pick, I would pick Siena which I feel is much more interesting than Pisa. It is worth repeating that good weather is essential to the enjoyment of either place.

My above post should of course read &quot;Via Prato, <u> Pistoia </u> and Lucca

Just FYI...in the past, most people here have decided that THE way to go to Siena from Florence is by bus. This seems to be because the bus deposits you in &quot;town&quot; whereas the Rr station is located below the &quot;town&quot; and you either have to walk up the hill or take a short taxi ride or public bus.

the train ride to Siena itself may, or may not require a change of trains in Empoli (there are a few direct trains per day, or at least there used to be).

The ride itself is through the countryside; lots of fields and farms, small little-used stations along the way, etc. I don't think anyone would call the scenery 'spectacular&quot; and I suspect it is even less so as seen from a highway.

The train to Pisa Centrale only takes an hour and you can easily get a cab or a bus from the RR station to the Tower and environs.

Yes, Florence offers &quot;more&quot; but if this is your only chance to see the Tower and the other buildings on the Field of Miracles then I would go for it.

Siena is a whole different experience; much smaller than Florence and seems a bit more medieval (at least it did to me).

I do not regret taking time out from Florence to see both of these places and the only way you will EVER know is to do or not do it. Just don;t be sent on any guilt trips by others who didn't pay for your vacation or your experience.

Whoa - who is trying to guilt trip whom? Most of us who expressed a personal preference for staying in Firenze didn't say it was the only way the enamorada would EVER know what he or she was missing by leaving.

We were asked for any ideas and gave them.

Another idea I'll add: You may very well go back to Italy as many of us do. Siena and Pisa will still be there, so don't have regrets, whatever you choose.

Wow!! That's why I like to ask questions in here. I always get a lot of helpful advice. Thanks a lot for your responses. I now have a lot to consider... which is good. I'm staying the three days in Firenze, so, for sure I'll be there, but since this is my first trip to Italy (and I don't know when I could go again) I want to get an idea of some of the best of Italy. That's why I want to do a daytrip. But I have more time to think about it. My husband always wanted to see the tower since he was a child. But I'm more inclined to visit Siena because of the art and architecture. I guess at the end we'll have to flip a coin. LOL!

Flip a coin! And then - no, don't follow the result blindly. Think about it again. How do you feel with this decision? Does it feel right or completely wrong? Seriously, this method often helps me to make up my mind.

Back to your original question. With only 3 days I'd rather stay in Florence, too. But I understand your wish to see another place. If you really want to do a day trip, I'd choose Siena. The cathedral and tower in Pisa is a miracle, but I didn't find the rest of the town too spectacular. In Siena, however, the whole town centre is a miracle.

To get to Siena, don't take the train. Take the SITA bus, which is much faster and arrives next to the gate of the old town instead of faraway down in the valley where the train station is.
The buses depart at the SITA bus station just round the corner from Santa Maria Novella, the main train station of Florence. There are Express buses which go along the highway (fastest) and &quot;normal&quot; buses that travel along country roads. (At least there were a couple of years ago, haven't been in the area for a while.) The &quot;normal&quot; buses, which are still much faster than the train, allow you to see more of the countryside, so I'd not go both ways on an Express one.

Some more info:

Siena - http://www.tuscanweb.com/news/?ID=121

Pisa - http://www.tuscanweb.com/news/?ID=115

Where else did you go in Pisa, quokka, other than the Campo dei Miracoli?

My husband, who had been to Pisa before, suggested several times while we were in Firenze that we take a day trip to Pisa. I kept refusing, having heard people say Siena was better. We went to Siena, and I found it claustrophobic and unpleasant and overrun with tourists. The Campo is a sight, but it's my least favorite piazza of all I've seen in Italy. While Sienese art has a certain fascination, it's perhaps my least favorite Italian style. To top it all off, the day was very overcast, so it felt positively dungeon-like to be there. I quite admired the Piccolomini library.

By contrast, two or 3 years later I finally gave in to my husband's idea that I see Pisa. We went on a beautiful sunny day, and I was stunned by the gorgeous momuments, in particular the Duomo. I really enjoyed walking around town, because once we got away from the Campo, there were no tourists and instead it was a real Italian city, full of Italians.

So based on that, where should enamorada go?

I think the pros and cons are getting spelled out pretty well.

Pisa is a modern small city -- the Campo di Miracoli is absolutely stunning (visit the other buildings besides the famous tower), and the university area is nice to walk around in. There is also a lovely arcaded shopping street with some wonderful shops (the chocolate store was especially memorable). Go to Pisa by train; the scenery along the train route is rolling fields.

Siena has a wonderful old midevaal center, and a stunning piazza/town hall and duomo, with narrow cobblestone walkways. It can be way overcrowded at times, but not always. Go to Siena by bus (its an air-conditioned double-decker). The scenery along the bus route is dramatic hills.

I say toss the coin...as is in the air, think about how you are hoping it will land.

Just read about the Pisa/Siena decision. For a day trip, I think I would choose Siena--I've been there several times and think it has much more history and the Campo is spectacular. Lots to see. We stopped in Pisa for an hour on our way to San Gimignano and saw the tower but that was all--it was OK--didn't have time to explore the city. If you get a chance someday, stop in Montegreggione--a very small fortified village--maybe 1/2 hour from Siena. We were going to stay in Siena for the night but could find no hotels. On the way we stopped in Montereggione, went into the tourist office and found a room without a problem. Then we spent the next afternoon in Siena. Got the best of both! But I digress...I'd go with Siena--hopefully it won't be too crowded at that time. Just my 2 cents! Enjoy your trip, Sept. is a lovely time to go to Italy...

reading all your posts I wish I had 5 days instead and a car. God... I can't wait to get there.