RANK: Cities for Daytrips from Florence
 

Hello all,
I have about 8 days in Florence and after including everything I have to see (Siena, the countryside, Venice), I wanted to know which of these cities you guys would recommend if I had the time: Bologna, Lucca, Arezzo, Prato, or another suggestion.

Some special considerations: My parents (60s), niece/nephew ages 4 and 7.

Thanks in advance for your help!

You''re doing a daytrip to Venice?
Since you have time to spare, I'd recommend an overnight trip there to give you most of at least 2 days.
Keep Siena as well.

Hi Elaine,
Yes, daytrip to Venice. Last time, I planned two days there and found it unneccessary. I took an early train out from Florence and by the time dinner rolled around, we felt like another day would not be useful for us. So this time, I'm not going to bother to stay. Might as well see something else ... :-)

Lucca my vote - incredibly old-looking city studded by dozens of towers extant from Middle Ages when rich families built them as fortified refuges - great walled town and very near Florence by rail, bus or road. Arezzo and Prato have vest-pocket areas of oldness but are modern thriving towns as in Bologna, however it has what some called Europe's largest collection of medieval buildings in its historic center, with many arcaded passageways - but the city surrounding this is anything but appealing. Also university in town center lends a certain nice atmosphere.

Hi S,

In this order,

Bologna, Orvieto, Lucca, Greve

I'd also suggest Lucca considering your traveling companions. It's a very walkable small town with little traffic. The kids might get a thrill from seeing the body of St. Zita in the Church of San Frediano. Lucca is also easily combined in a one day trip to Pisa. If you are going the last weekend of the month, the antiques fair in Arezzo is good.