Italy Forum - Quick Visit to Florence
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DianaMorales
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From: France
6/10/2002 10:34
Hi,
My husband and I are thinking of spending a couple days in Florence this August on our way to visit friends in Carrara. Anyone out there who really knows the city well that can make suggestions - what to visit, where to EAT!, what to avoid.
Or, if anyone out there can suggest a good web site or other resource for Florence it would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Diana
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Clu13
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From: United Kingdom
6/12/2002 06:57
Definitely go the Uffizi Gallery. It has some amazing paintings, but get tickets ahead of time online or your in for a five hour wait in line.
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whidden39
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From: NULL
6/12/2002 13:03
If you haven't picked out a place to stay, I would highly recommend the Pensione Bencista in nearby Fiesole. Don't let the name fool you though; this is an elegant 15the C. (?) family-run villa run. The rates are very reasonable and it includes1/2 pension (breakfast and either lunch or dinner. If you're lucky , you'll get one of the several rooms with spectacular views overlooking Florence and the Arno. Very romantic too! I'd especially want to be on this airy hillside during the hot month of August. The Bencista will also be in quiet contrast to the tourist throngs in Florence. (If you search the internet, you'll come across information on this special place). Although I had a car, I preferred to take the convenient bus into the city. It stops regularly right outside the villa's gates! It's a short ride (10 minutes?). I would take Florence and its crowds during summer at a leisurely pace to include the Duomo, the Palazzo Vecchio, and the Boboli Gardens. The fountains at the Boboli will be refreshing and I especially enjoyed coffee there in a delightful garden structure called, (what else?), the Coffee House.
But also walk outside the tourist sites to witness artesans working in their small shops -- you'll find shopping cheaper in the places where everyday Florentines live. I saw great values on leather goods (wish I hadn't passed up those hand-made sandals!!). A restaurant I enjoyed right near the Ponte Veccio was Buca dell'Orafo. The home cooking is very good and unless you're decisive when ordering, the owner or waiter will take control and bring you out a procession of what's good that day in the kitchen. Don't resist because you'll remember it forever! Find it and make reservations in advance.
Finally, the great Italian wine family, Antinori, maintains a wonderful wine bar in their palazzo in Florence. The light food products they serve with a wide selection of wines (by the glass if you like) come from their lands in Tuscany.
Two ful days is just about enough to get a taste of Florence. This city is truly a unique experience if you enjoy it on yor won terms. You'll probably return one day to savour the subtler aspects of his great city.
Buon viaggio!
Tom
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DianaMorales
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From: France
6/15/2002 04:16
Thank you so much for the suggestions. It sounds like we have some of the same tastes on what we like to do on vacation. Will try to find that b&b on the web and will keep an eye out for that great sounding restaurant and wine bar when I'm there AND the handmade sandals!
Will also reserve those Uffize Gallery tickets in advance. With only 2 or 3 days, I certainly don't want to waste 1/2 day on line. And though I want to see those tourist things like Uffizi (really, how can you miss those things?) I do want some time to see how the locals live.
Always open for more suggestions, but thanks for all of this already.
Diana
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