Hi! I've come up with this itinerary for this year's first week of July:

Day 1. Florence: Arrival at noon.
Day 2. Florence: Visiting the city.
Day 3. Florence: Visiting the city.
Day 4. Florence: Day trip to San Gimignano.
Day 5. Florence: Day trip to Siena.
Day 6. Departing for Campania.

I know that Siena has amazing museums, but, since I only have one day, I am only interested on walking the city center and visit the main sites. My main goal in Florence (in terms of museums) is to walk its streets and visit the galleria degli Uffizzi, Piazza del Duomo, the churches of Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella, San Miniato al Monte, Ponte Vecchio, and Mercato Centrale. Is this itinerary doable? Am I expecting to see too much in too little time? Thanks for the tips and advise!

Abendigo

Yours is one of the more reasonable itineraries I've seen posted here lately. I think you plan is doable and not a stretch at all.

You will be able to see some things in your first day in Florence. The city is fairly compact, and easy to get around on foot. You can also do buses or taxis. We usually take a taxi once or twice per trip in Florence, to quickly get between sites that are not that close to one another.

In Siena, the one do not miss site, IMO, is the Duomo. Wednesday is market day, and at the foot of the market are some nice foodstalls; the rest is fairly humdrum everyday goods.

Make sure you get reservations for the Accademia (David) and Uffizi. Sam Miniato al Monte is wonderful. You can taxi up if you are short on time. Vespers are, I think, at 5:30. Just beautiful.

If I had to choose between Santa Maria Novella, and Santa Croce, I would choose Santa Croce. More to see, and more bang for your time, IMO. But both are well worth your time.

You can be in and out of the Mercato Centrale fairly quickly. Nearby are San Lorenzo monuments, again, well worth seeing. Also can be done fairly quickly.

While you are at the Duomo in Florence, please go in the Baptistry. Most folks stop at the famous doors, but the inside is incredible, and under visited.

Have a great trip.

Abendigo -

I'm confused. Are you going on this trip (to Florence and Tuscany) during the first week of July or to Capri and Amalfi Coast during the first week of July? I just offered comments on your other thread about the Amalfi Coast. Or are you just not sure yet which area you're interested in?

Just wondering.

KC

Thanks! I'm doing Toscana first and then Campania. I made a mistake on writing the dates.

I hope my Campania itinerary is also reasonable and doable. Any comments on that? Thanks!

Should I leave for San Gimignano early in the morning and spend the entire day there or is it enough if I leave at noon and spend half a day?

I would leave at noon at the absolute earliest - S.G. in the middle of the day is one of worst Tuscany experiences, which I liken to Disneyworld on speed - all souvenis stores and hordes of crowds.

This is the one situation where all of the guide books do not exaggerate - before 4 in the afternoon the place is a tourist trap; soon thereafter,it becomes a magical and wonderful experience.

Enjoy!

Thanks Nevertold!

I didn't understand quite well. Should I go to S.Gimignano early in the morning and stay there till noon? I'm confused because you say it is magical after 4 pm.

Is it half a day enough to visit it and enjoy it?