Florence versus Tuscany

[tropicalkerry2002]

I want BOTH!!!

How I wish Mediterranean Tapestry had 2 nights in Livorno, rather than one night there, 1 in Olbia. Nothing I want to see in Olbia, but with 2 nights in Livorno, I could do Florence in one day, Tuscany the other!( I even looked into taking the ferry back to Livorno from Olbia to have another day there...but it's a l-o-n-g way!)
So, if YOU had only one day and wanted to see it all, what would you do?
I have booked the very well recommended Luca from Hills and Roads for the day. In Florence I would like to see David, the Ponte Vecchio, and shop for leather in the market. Do you think a half day in Florence and half day in Tuscany is wise or...should I do one thing right and leave the other for a (wished for) return trip to Italy? Will I have seen enough cities after 4 nights in Venice, 1 in Rome, and after the cruise 3 nights each in London and Paris, OR, will I have seen enough towns with Sorrento, Amalfi, Ravello, Portofino? Your thoughts and suggestions are most welcome!
Thank you, Marian

[cusyl]

You'll just have to go back to Italy again! However, you must not miss the wonders of Florence. We were there 40 years ago and there is just so much to see there.
We went back to Italy last summer so we could see the rest.

[scdreamer]

I haven't cruised Oceania to Italy (not yet ;) - not until next October !), but have traveled in Italy, and I don't think there's any possible way to see Florence in a half day. We stayed there for three days, and still didn't have time for everything, and we were there in the low season (early April) when the crowds were relatively smaller. Even getting in to see the David, we had to wait in line for about an hour, and we had already purchased the entry tickets. I suggest you should try to spend as much time as possible in fewer places, rather than just rushing from one to the next and not really getting to see much of any of them. Florence has so much to offer - you will love it.

[Aussie Gal]

I agree with both posters. You will not be able to do Florence in half a day and it just wouldn't be worth the travelling.

There is so much to see in this city and the queuing to see everything does take time. Besides seeing Michelangelo's David, you will want to see the Duomo and Bell tower, perhaps one of the Art galleries and just to wander around this magical city plus kiss the Boar so that you can return.

I would plan another trip to Italy, (we have been countless times and are returning again this year,) to see Tuscany and all the other wonderful areas of Italy. Two of the lovely towns in Tuscany that you must see at a later date are San Giminango where we have spent 3 magical days and nights and Sienna which is also a beautiful town with the square where they run the Palio each year.

Have a wonderful cruise and try not to overdo seeing too much as you can become exhausted from it all. Take your time and enjoy Italy, it is a fascinating country.

Jennie

[Amicruzer]

We are taking the Insignia excursion to Siena and San Gimignano where my family is originally from. Have you taken this excursion and if so, how much time was spent in San Gimignano. Either way, what do you recommend we do in St. Gimmy and where should we eat lunch as we have some free time.
We would also consider going privately and excluding Siena for more time in St. Gimmy, if you have any suggestions. We are in the Livorno port from 7 AM to 8 PM.

Unfortunatley, we can not due an overnight as the ship is in Corsica the next day. However, we are in Portofino the day before the Livorno stop. I suppose we could get off the ship in Portofino and stay overnight in San Gimignano on our own and meet up with the ship in Livorno. We would appreciate any information you can provide as it is our first trip to Italy.

Thanks

[brian_uk]

We have been to both San Gimmy and Sienna several times and IMO (no H you notice) you can certainly do both in one day but you should definitely spend more time in Sienna. There are several nice restaurants for lunch but we found that a full meal was too much in the hot weather. If you do eat there try one of the places by the wall in the town where the views are fabulous over the Tuscan countryside.

You can walk round the walled town of San Gimmy (cant spell Gimignano) in two hours, very quaint with some interesting shops but Sienna is just fantastic and you could easily spend all day there especially if you seeThe Basilica (we did not). Sit in the square where they have the Palio and marvel how they manage to have that horse race in the cobbled streets. There are very often Concerts in the Square in the late afternoons.

I think it was Bill Clinton who said that the best Pizza was from Sienna and there are pictures of him eating one in more than one Pizzeria. There is a small Synagogue in a back street but it is rarely open.

Just enjoy.

Brian

[tropicalkerry2002]

Thanks everyone.I have decided to give Florence the day, and will just have to return to Italy to do Tuscany another time!

[Aussie Gal]

Amicruzer,

Tony Blair often spends his holidays in Tuscany and has said that the best ice-cream comes from San Gimignano. So you will have to have an ice-cream from the shop which is in the square with the fountain. Our hotel was there also and we had a wonderful suite overlooking the square at the front and the beautiful hills of Tuscany at the rear.

Be prepared for lots of crowds, especially in San Gimignano as the tourists arrive around 10.30am and do not leave until after 5pm. It was so peaceful each day when everyone had left.

There is a lovely historic church to see in San Gimignano which is a must see and just walking around the walls and looking at the wonderful views is what most people come for.

Sienna is a great town, we have been there twice and have also had lunch in the square. We have also visited the Basillica where there are relics of a Saint, I think it is Saint Catherine

Jennie

[merryecho]

Florence is my least favorite Italian city, mostly because it is a small town, and there are 5 american 'students' on their semester in Italy for every native. In summer museum lines are huge and everything is overcrowded.
That said, if you go, don't miss the pharmacy Santa Maria de Novella. It is a tiny marble jewel box of a shop that was started by monks in the 1400's, and still makes the same beauty creams used by the Medici women. They will show you the original ancient recipe books if you ask. It is still a shop, so everything can be bought. Wonderful souveniers.

[Aussie Gal]

That said, if you go, don't miss the pharmacy Santa Maria de Novella. It is a tiny marble jewel box of a shop that was started by monks in the 1400's, and still makes the same beauty creams used by the Medici women. They will show you the original ancient recipe books if you ask. It is still a shop, so everything can be bought. Wonderful souveniers.

merryecho,

Would you mind telling me where in Florence is the pharmacy. We have stayed in Florence a couple of times and have never seen this pharmacy nor did we know about it.

My husband is a Pharmacist and would have enjoyed visiting this historic shop. It could be an excurse to visit Florence again in the near future!

Jennie

[pacoloveschocolate]

merryecho,

Would you mind telling me where in Florence is the pharmacy. We have stayed in Florence a couple of times and have never seen this pharmacy nor did we know about it.

My husband is a Pharmacist and would have enjoyed visiting this historic shop. It could be an excurse to visit Florence again in the near future!

Jennie


Hi Jennie,
The old pharmacy in Florence is located on via della Scala, 16, the street behind the church of Santa Maria Novella. It's not hard to find. Peter would love it. By the way, did you visit Sandra last week? How is she getting along?

Leslie

[Aussie Gal]

Leslie,

Thanks for the directions. We will have to return to Florence just to see this wonderful old Pharmacy.

Sandra was at our house two weeks ago today. She was staying with her son and I picked her up and she had a meal with us. She is well and looks great.

Jennie

[merryecho]

Jennie- it is not hard to find the address, but you walk down a long hallway to get to the actual store. The first time I looked for it I couldn't find it, as I wasn't sure the hallway was open to the public. You will love it- it is a small round room with a tall ceiling, all done in very old marble mosaics, with lots of old bottles full of herbs. I don't imagine it has changed much since the days the Medici family shopped here, although I see you can now buy their products online.

[Aussie Gal]

Thanks merryecho. Now I just have to try and work out a trip which will take us to Florence and perhaps Venice, plus Switzerland and Paris. It probably won't be until 2009 as we are booked up until then!!! Still it is fun planning, don't you agree?

Jennie