LiveSlow99

We are traveling to Italy May 1-12 of this year and will be spending 4 nights in Venice and 6 nights in Rome (my first time, DH's 2nd time). We entertained the idea of trying to squeeze a Florence stay into our trip but decided to save it for a future trip we are planning to Tuscany. We didn't want our trip to be rushed.

In any event, I am trying to decide if we should spend a few hours in Florence when we travel from Venice to Rome since we will be routed through there. We are changing locations on a Monday so most of the main museums will be closed but we could still take a stroll and visit a few places. There is a train that leaves Venice at 8:30ish so we should have 6 hours or so in Florence before we would need to head to Rome.

What are your thoughts? Would it be worth the hassle? I am not certain about how much time we would burn with the left luggage, etc. Thank you for your expert opinions!!

danon

If you have a place to leave the luggage- do it. The train stations is 10 min. to the center.
Just walking around and crossing the river would give you a bit of an introduction.

ellenem

I think this makes a nice stop-off, as long as you have a realistic idea of what can be accomplished. Take a walk from the station through the center to the Duomo, then to the Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio, then to the Ponte Vecchio. Have a nice unch. Strol through the San Lorenzo markets on your way back to the station.

As you walk off the train platform at Firenze SMN, the main Florence train station, walk to the left to find the Deposito Bagagli, the left luggage room. Do allow some time to retrieve your luggage before you board your Rome train.

SusanG

I totally agree. And you can easily follow the advice of the previous posters and get a nice sense of this part of Florence. You could also add another sight seeing visit to the above, such as the Duomo. It is all within easy walking distance.

LiveSlow99

Thanks for the quick replies! I was hoping this idea would be feasible. I understand we will only have time to walk around and window shop but I think it will be worth it!

cathies

Yes definitely, plan out a walk that is feasible. You can easily stroll to the ponte de Vecchio, and around the city centre. You could visit the duomo and see the baptistery doors and then wander through the open air market on the way back to the train station. Our first two trips were day trios and we saw a lot in those few hours.

It will probably be crowded but don't let that put you off.

cathies

Day trios = day trips!

kybourbon

You will have to book separate train tickets. You can't book Venice/Rome and just get off midway. The tickets for the faster trains are train/seat specific.

>>>I understand we will only have time to walk around and window shop but I think it will be worth it!<<<

The historic center is only a 30 minute walk side-to-side.

Santa Croce is worth a visit.
http://www.santacroceopera.it/en/default.aspx

So is the nearby science museum.
http://www.museogalileo.it/en/visit.html

LiveSlow99

Thanks for the tips! 2 questions:

1) I was going to book my train tiks from Venice to Florence in advance. Should I book the trip from Florence to Rome in advance as well?

2) I guess I really won't have time to go in the Duomo or bapistry, correct? We are traveling through on a Monday so these sights would be extra crowded. If we are only there for a day, I don't want to spend hours in a waiting line.

Thanks for all your help. You are always so helpful. I am finishing up my itinerary for Venice and Rome. I will post it for your feedback just to be sure we are utilizing our time most efficiently

KTtravel

I think you may well have time to go in the Duomo or baptistry.

kybourbon

1) If you know what time you want to travel. You can often get discounts by booking in advance (as cheap as 9€ on the fast train, but more likely 19€ on these busy routes). You might want to leave the Florence/Rome ticket and buy walk up since you don't know how long you want to stay in Florence. I would spend the day and book one of the latest trains to Rome, but you might not want to arrive Rome that late. Last fast train leaves Florence about 10 pm and arrives Rome 11:30 pm. Your hotel might not have check-in that late.

2) I've been to the Duomo on a holiday weekend on Monday (Easter Monday - major holiday). We really didn't have to wait long. Also visited Santa Croce that same day. There might be longer lines to go up in the Dome or climb the Bell Tower. If you don't like the looks of a line, move on to something else. Everything is so compact, it would be easy to walk back by later and see if there were still lines.

Luggage storage Florence:
http://www.grandistazioni.it/cms/v/i...003f16f90aRCRD

Allow time to retrieve your luggage in case there is a line.

hollywoodsc

Definitely allow time to retrieve your luggage. It's a storage room, not lockers so you have to stand in line, wait your turn, hand in your ticket, wait for someone to find and bring your bags back.
You might be in a hurry but the luggage room attendants certainly aren't!

Timing got a bit too tight for comfort for me last time and I ended up running for the train.