In the Wall Street Journal this morning, James Beck wrote a column entitled, "Renaissance Jewel Is Finally Starting to Show her Age" (You can also find it at Opinionjournal.com. Does anyone have any thoughts? It makes Florence sound like one big tourist stop. We're going in October and I had already been toying with cutting our Florence stay for more nights in Sienna and the surrounding areas, any thoughts?

Hi walter,

First, keep in mind that Mr Beck is waxing nostalgic for the days when only rich people could afford to travel and you didn't have the unwashed masses cluttering up the landscape.

Second, he does think that "...thousands of international students are rubbing elbows with this grand artistic tradition ....their experience is almost always positive and their lives are enriched by the beauty of the art and architecture they encounter".

Your experience should be just as enriching.

Thanks Ira, do you have any thoughts on doing Florence as a day trip(s) from Sienna versus staying in Florence? I've visited Florence in the past but my husband hasn't so I want to make sure he gets the most out of the trip.

He said...

"The most shocking change of all, however, is that Florence has been museumized. Cultural sites now charge admission--even churches."

His perspective may be more from that of his postion of an art history professor(at Columbia) and not from that of practicality.

I loved florence and am going back in Oct. The Duomo is incredible. David is a must see. Go in the off season and you will be fine.

Thanks for the encouragement! We're going in October so I'm not worried about crowds-I loved it last time I was there 7 years ago and don't want a different opinion of it now...

I lived in Florence for a year as a graduate student. I loved it!

Last February, I went back to Florence for a day-trip from Rome. I was amazed at how very commercial (the presence of McDonald's in more than 1 locale, for example) it had become since I was last there. Also, the number of people there (tourists) rivaled the height of the tourist season during the year I lived there. Of course, the point is well-taken indeed that travel is much more affordable than it had been in the past.

Buon Viaggio to all the Firenze-bound Fodorites,
BC

Hi again sw,

My itinerary for Florence covers 4 days in the city, so I am staying there and visiting Siena as a daytrip.

Florence in October is nothing short of fantastic! Great timing. It is simply the most beautiful city I have ever lived in or visited. I was not charged admission to go into any churches in Italy but, you do have to pay ( a few coins)for the lights to turn on in order to illuminate some of the structures. Electricity is very expensive and I guess the Catholic church can not afford to keep the lights on...

OK, I'm leaving my reservations as they are 2 nights in Florence and 3 in Sienna. Thanks to everyone for all your help. I just read Brunelleschi's Dome and now can't wait to see it again. Reading this board has made me extremely impatient for October to get here!

I think that to best experience Florence for the 1st time, it would be best to stay there rather than day trip into town. A good 50% of the tourists disappear when the bus tours pull out! (You also have a lot more choices of day trips from Florence than from Siena, FYI.)