To use a Guide or Not???-Florence
 

What do you all think about using a guide for one of our 3 days in Florence? I have read about a couple of them and always use my fabulous cousin in Rome to get all the great stories behind the sites. Any opinions?

tamryn, save your money, and buy a good Travel Guide Book, like Fodors. A good guide book will give you all the information you. Don't forget to read up all the library books, etc on Florence before you leave home.

I agree that Florence is very easy to navigate and tour on your own. Rick Steve's guide to Florence also has some great walks in it with detailed directions and descriptions, as well as museum guides.

Sorry, but I disagree. Nothing compares to having a human guide who knows and can give you the various insights about the various locations, etc. This has nothing to do with the ease or non-ease of getting around a city and its sites. Rather, it has everything to do with finding out information which makes your visit much, MUCH more memorable.

I spent over a month in Florence several years back, and did not use a guide. We saw tons of artwork but did not really know what we were looking at. There were no descriptions under artwork to let us know who and when these works were done. A guide may not necessarily know this information but they may be able to identify what you are looking at. We eventually started following other tour groups and bought additional regional & museum specific books, but who has time to search through books when you are touring. Those headphone guides were useful in some areas but some were very slow and not specific enough. (FYI, I did have Fodors guidebook.)

thanks to all of you for your responses! On my own, I am happy to be reading my books, as I am really interested in taking it all in. But I have found that my husband and kids are just so much more interested when more "life" is breathed into the subjects, as my Roman cousins are able to do. I have 2 online recomendations in FLorence-Ann Reavis and Pauline Priore. Anyone know them or know of others???

Tamryn,

A guide does indeed breathe life into what you are seeing; it is SO worth it.
And yes florence is an incredibly easy city to navigate on one's own but given the glorious history there, there is nothing like an passionate Italian to make it so very memorable!

I have the best guide for you!

E mail Simone Gaddini at Florentia at [email protected] or [email protected]. Let him know that Robyn Webb from Alexandria VA recommended you; he is someone I use ALOT! Simone Gaddini is the owner and it is his partner Simone Anichini who you should ask Simone Gaddini forto be your guide. Simone and Simone are partners; Simone Gaddini resides part time in the US and handles all the business side of things and Simone Anichini is a full time resident of Florence. Simone Gaddini can trace his family history to 13th century Florence!

You will LOVE him!!!!

what is so great about Simone is he really explains everything in depth and when you are walking from site to site, he takes you through the back alleyways to not only describe what has happened on these back streets, but he alos avoids the crowds and does not "dump" you into any stores, etc.

His commentary on the David will literally make you cry. I've been through it with him several times and each time I do cry; he makes it so beautiful!

When are you going? I would book asap.

Have a ball!

thanks so much, tripgirl, for the great tip. I have emailed Simone, although the florentia email address has been bumped back to me. Hopefully the pacbell will go through. WE are going in July, so it might be too late, but you never know.
I have gone back and read all your great tips on Florence and made more notes in my messy notebook. Am depending on my weeks at the beach in Forte Dei Marmi to digest all my thoughts!

Tripgirl, I have heard back from Simone G and he has room in his schedule. I think you suggest I ask for him personally, right? And I assume you used him for the David tour and other tours as well. Am thinking of the overview tour at this point, but would love any input. Just want everyone to fall in love with Florence and not overmuseum the family to death!
thanks!

This sounds like a great suggestion. Do you remember his fees? We will be in Florence with another couple and this sounds like something we would like as we are usually the ones who do all the planning---our friends seem to be happy just to tag along. Half of the fun to us is doing all the research for our trips.

Tamryn,

Forgive me for not answering you back; been away!

Anyway, you might have left for Italy by now so I hope you are taken care with Simone.

If Simone Gaddini is there in Florence ( like I said he resides part time in Calif and I am not sure of his schedule), do it with him. If not do the tour with Simone Anichini, his partner.

Do the David with him for sure, but be sure to have him just walk through Florence through his eyes! don't worry you won't be bored one second. Both Simones are young and just terrific!
Let me know how it went.

tripgirl-how great of you to check back in! we are indeed in Forte dei marmi right now and heading to florence soon. Unfortunately we are being handed to one of the fellow guides on our trip to florence, but am placing faith in simone's system! Right now are doing an introductory with him and asking for prep on david which we will see on our own the next day??