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Via Santa Reparata, 27, Florence, 50129, Italy
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of people enjoy staying here
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Getting ready to enjoy a great meal
Our son dwarfed by the doorway
Santa Croce
Window shopping on the bridge !
Hi everyone - my friend and I are leaving behind our hubby's and kids for a 3-day break in Florence, October 10th. There is SO much info on the net about Florence, this seems to be the most helpful forum. We'd like to take in some culture, eat well/drink well and even have a night on the town, without breaking the bank! Any suggestions? We're staying in the One World Apartments which seem to be pretty central. I've already got details of the trains from Pisa into Florence (thanks to this site) - any information or suggestions for museums, tours, excursions, boat trips etc. greatly appreciated. Thanks, Ruth
I have a tip on a great local restaurant on my Florence page
BUT....3 days absence is not enough to make the hubby and kids understand how valuable and wonderful you are so I suggest the following:
Turn the 3 days into 3 weeks and spend a week in Florence, a week in Venice (I can recommend a nice inexpensive [for Venice] apartment with two beds), and a week in Rome. Buy the hubby a nice t-shirt that says something like "My Wife went to Italy and this is all I got".
If you want to visit the Accademia or Uffizi, it will be worthwjhile buying a ticket online (otherwise you'll waste time queuing). Look at www.tickitaly.com
Get the bus to Fiesole (takes about 15/20 minutes) and see the sity from the hills. This is where the priginal Etruscan settlement was, and there is a site and museum (worth a visit). It's also a lovely place to wander around (and maybe have a meal?).
Go to San Miniato al Monte just before 5pm: you'll hear the monks chanting at the shrine of the saint within the church, just as they have done for nearly a thousand years. wonderful experience.
Just enjoy wandering the streets of Florence, especially the Medieval Bargelo area with its narrow alleyways. Plenty of places to eat, lovely ice-cream (especially at Vivoli): one needs a gelato every couple of hours, in my opinion!
There is a good restaurant in Piazza Mercato Centrale (by San Lorenzo), popular with locals (always a good sign): I had an excellent (and very reasonably-priced meal there when I visited). It's called Za'Za (I have a tip on my Florence page).
If you are looking for a daytrip (or are willing to miss Pisa) the taking the bus to Siena is highly recommended. It takes less than an hour, there are regular buses and Siena is absolutely lovely. In fact, I'd go there instead of Pisa to be honest: much more to explore and enjoy. Bus info here (click 'Linea Firenze-Siena' for a PDF timetable). The Sita buses go from the Sita garage near SM Novella station.
http://www.sitabus.it/wps/portal/DovePartire_Toscana
You'll have an excellent time!
Hi Kathy - I'm not sure our finances (or our husbands!) would stretch to 3 weeks! But I'll have a look at your tips and add them to my list. Thanks for your help, Ruth x
the market near the Duomo has some really gorgeous stuff, leather coats and bags, scarves etc. Some of it is quite classy - and pricey of course. (nearly typed curse)
the accademia is quite small - not like the Uffizi - do the Uffizi when you are fresh and pop into the accademia as an afterthought as it were
husband enjoyed his climb up the tower of the duomo and there is also one on the other side where you climb up into the roof (both 6 euro)
The Duomo in Florence, located in the city center, is a great work of architecture. This one is not to be missed. The area surrounding the Duomo has other great architecture including churches and buildings. In general, it's hard to miss great architecture in Florence. You will likely see it if you're near the city center and the museums.
In June, Florence can be quite warm although usually dry so dress lightly although if visiting some churches, shorts, tanks tops and sandals may be prohibited, although not at most tourist destinations. Bring good walking shoes as cobble stoned roads are still used and wearing dress shoes or sandals are not very comfortable for walking on Florence roads. Runners, although comfortable, will make you stand out as a tourist, so best to wear comfortable walking shoes.
This is a lovely sweet shop. They have all sorts of local and Italian treats that you can purchase, like biscotti and Panforte, coated almonds and an awful lot more. When you go in there are little trays on which you can put eat of the little bags of sweets that you wish to buy, like a shopping cart! They also sell gift bags at 4 Euros to present your sweets if they are a gift, and they tie it with ribbon.
they also do pre packaged boxes of sweets and others in boxes that are shaped like the Duomo if you want to take presents home. Very helpful, large selection of items. from 4 plus Euros per bag. Some are a lots more expensive though.
There is no one on the bus to actually take your ticket. It is an honor system to put it into the little machine on the bus that stamps your ticket. Sometimes you are tempted to skip it, and you could easily do so, and save your ticket for the next time. DON'T DO THIS. There may be a checker (or whatever they are called) on the bus and if you are caught you will have to pay a pretty stiff fine. You might even have to go to the police station.
even though a lot of tourists eat here, the food and the waiters are fabulously authentic. very very reasonable prices. i and my friends have had everything on the menu and they're all buonissimi!
say hi to niccola, maurizio, and anton for me :)
try the after dinner drink called limoncello, you might be able to get it for free :)
You can get a primi, secondo, dessert, coffee, table wine, for about 20 bucks. pasta - pasta all' anita is soooo good and tastes like home cooked goodness. . .
secondo - entrecote alla griglia - rare steak is the norm, so if you dont like your meat mooing at you ask for it ben cotto
dolce - all good, particularly the cheesecake, carrot cake, tiramisu .. . except the chocolate cake isn't very chocolatey
wine - the house wine is fabulous
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