Trip Report - Florence
Sep 14th, 2006, 10:37 AM
#21
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modglila,
On our first visit to Florence, we had a similar experience. It was packed, loud, and unpleasant.
Our hotel room had a nice balcony, but we couldn't use it because of the noise.
On subsequent trips we skipped Florence and explored from Siena and the Cinque Terre.
Then about six years later, we were traveling with friends and went back to Florence. This time we had a delightful time, and several memorable meals.
The second trip was in February; the first was in November. Both times we had good weather.
Florence is, I think, worth a second try. I hope you will try it again sometime.
Byrd
On our first visit to Florence, we had a similar experience. It was packed, loud, and unpleasant.
Our hotel room had a nice balcony, but we couldn't use it because of the noise.
On subsequent trips we skipped Florence and explored from Siena and the Cinque Terre.
Then about six years later, we were traveling with friends and went back to Florence. This time we had a delightful time, and several memorable meals.
The second trip was in February; the first was in November. Both times we had good weather.
Florence is, I think, worth a second try. I hope you will try it again sometime.
Byrd
Sep 14th, 2006, 11:09 AM
#22
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It is a matter of personal likes and circumstance. I've been to Florence several times--only once of my own volition. Didn't enjoy it at all any of the times I was there--high season, low season, shoulder season doesn't matter. I just don't like Florence. I'm also not a big fan of Renaissance art.
Mrs. Fly likes the art and architecture, but not the city itself. She only had to be there once, so I consider her lucky.
And perception is really a funny thing--on one of our trips to Italy, one reason we enjoyed getting to Rome was that we could chill out and recover from the hustle and bustle of Florence!
Mrs. Fly likes the art and architecture, but not the city itself. She only had to be there once, so I consider her lucky.
And perception is really a funny thing--on one of our trips to Italy, one reason we enjoyed getting to Rome was that we could chill out and recover from the hustle and bustle of Florence!
Sep 14th, 2006, 11:33 AM
#23
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Modglila, for me the timing of my visits has made a huge difference. I LOVE Florence. I was there Apr. 3 to 11, 2004 studying Italian (including Easter) and I didn't find it crowded at all, even staying right off the Piazza della Signoria. So I went back in October to study another week and it was similarly glorious, classes in the morning and museums etc. in the afternoons, beautiful weather. BUT I decided to take my brother to see what all the fuss was about in June and we were just appalled. Garbage strewn everywhere in the Piazza della Signoria, wall to wall people trying to cross the Ponte Vecchio, etc. My brother couldn't wait to pick up our rental car for 10 days in the Tuscan countryside. Bottom line, I think Florence is worth a second look in the shoulder or off-season.
Sep 14th, 2006, 11:53 AM
#24
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"one reason we enjoyed getting to Rome was that we could chill out and recover from the hustle and bustle of Florence!"
Rome doesn't hustle and bustle?
"I'm also not a big fan of Renaissance art."
The sculptures of Michelangelo like David and the Piata(sp?),your not a fan of??
Rome doesn't hustle and bustle?
"I'm also not a big fan of Renaissance art."
The sculptures of Michelangelo like David and the Piata(sp?),your not a fan of??
Sep 14th, 2006, 12:38 PM
#25
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I am advicing friends on their 1st trip to Italy. These differences in opinions is what makes me nervous about recommending an itinerary for friends. What DH and I love may not be what others would enjoy. We have been to Italy 3 times and love Rome and Florence. We visited Venice for the 1st time this year, and while we were glad we went, I don't think we would go back. It's a good thing people don't like all of the same things/places. It would make for very crowded and very empty places !
Sep 14th, 2006, 01:10 PM
#27
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"This is why people aren't honest with their trip reports. Some people think you are trying to discourage others. I'm not.
I never said Florence was horrible. I never tried to discourage anyone from visiting. I never said everyone should dislike Florence. I simply said that I was disappointed and preferred Venice. Of course other people are going to feel differently."
Lisa, I don't think anyone suggested or implied that you were trying to discourage anyone from visiting Florence. If anything, many of the posters seemed to have the same sentiment about Florence as you.
I never said Florence was horrible. I never tried to discourage anyone from visiting. I never said everyone should dislike Florence. I simply said that I was disappointed and preferred Venice. Of course other people are going to feel differently."
Lisa, I don't think anyone suggested or implied that you were trying to discourage anyone from visiting Florence. If anything, many of the posters seemed to have the same sentiment about Florence as you.
Sep 14th, 2006, 06:30 PM
#28
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I got some feeling from reading that someone was worried someone would think less of Florence because of what I have said. Maybe I'm reading more into it than I should. I did notice several with the same sentiments. I'm probably being too sensitive.
You really have to take what anyone says with a grain of salt. I'm not talking about these posts in particular. I just mean everyone enjoys different things and different places. Some of the problems we had can be accredited to taking things read on the Internet (not necessarily here) too literally or as Gospel so to speak.
You really have to take what anyone says with a grain of salt. I'm not talking about these posts in particular. I just mean everyone enjoys different things and different places. Some of the problems we had can be accredited to taking things read on the Internet (not necessarily here) too literally or as Gospel so to speak.
Sep 15th, 2006, 01:55 PM
#29
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Regarding Florence being beautiful:
I've been messing with my photos of Florence in PhotoShop today and it really is beautiful, especially from the outside looking in. I guess I couldn't see that from the streets themselves. The photos I have from Michael Angelo Piazza are very lovely and the photos I took at night of the Arno are beautiful. So, it wasn't really fair for me to say that Florence isn't beautiful because it is. The hustle and bustle must have been too much for me on this trip.
I've been messing with my photos of Florence in PhotoShop today and it really is beautiful, especially from the outside looking in. I guess I couldn't see that from the streets themselves. The photos I have from Michael Angelo Piazza are very lovely and the photos I took at night of the Arno are beautiful. So, it wasn't really fair for me to say that Florence isn't beautiful because it is. The hustle and bustle must have been too much for me on this trip.
Sep 15th, 2006, 02:54 PM
#30
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Hi modglila, the hustle and bustle plus if it is hot and humid can get to one when visiting Florence. My late husband loved Florence and so always wanted to stay there at least 5 nights or so. Fortunatly we had lovely hotels so that was a help. But the only times I have felt ill in Italy were the times we were in Florence. Again due to the heat, humidty and the crowds.
Now that I am on my own and am able to "escape" to a quiet residential area in Florence at the end of the day where friends live I have actually enjoyed Florence more.
We all have cities and areas that we enjoy or not, and others have complete different experiences and viewpoints.
There is one very popular small city in the region of Veneto that I really and truly don't like for various reasons but obviously many travellers do. Tis what makes the world go around, yes?
Now that I am on my own and am able to "escape" to a quiet residential area in Florence at the end of the day where friends live I have actually enjoyed Florence more.
We all have cities and areas that we enjoy or not, and others have complete different experiences and viewpoints.
There is one very popular small city in the region of Veneto that I really and truly don't like for various reasons but obviously many travellers do. Tis what makes the world go around, yes?
