I got the following warning: ALERT IN EFFECT:
Strong possible of a national strike occurring throughout Italy, October 24.03. Strike will effect - stoppage of service involving museums, transportation and other related public services.

:: Strike will not affect either Vatican Museums or Vatican Garden tours, however transportation services maybe disrupted.

This was my one day to see Florence so I'm sort of scared. Will the churches still be open assuming that we can get our bodies there?

Any thoughts on whether or not this will occur?

The strikes usually only last about 8 hours in Italy. Some trains still run. Churches are usually open. When they plan ahead they usually tell you the times of the strike. You can contact the hotel and ask them what the particulars are. Plan around it. It's usually in the papers.

Thanks, Ann1.

We were in Florence last year during a strike. We could not get in to the Medici Chapel which was a huge disappointment. Most of the churches were open, but most of the Museums were closed. Actually no one advised us ahead of the strike, and I was on Fodors daily, we only found out when we showed up at the Chapel! Good luck.

"Sciopero`" (Shaw peh ROWE), which allegedly means "strike" in Italian, really means "Avoid the train station on October 23rd."