Ciao! I'm planning a trip with 4 long-time college friends for Sept. NOW, they tell me that they don't want to go back to Florence again! This is after reviewing itinerary and booking last February!! I'm for keeping hard-to-get Florence room accommodations and exploring things to do outside of the city. Italy is my passion and each town, museum, and turn of the corner appeals to me. But, this trip is for 'them'. Please suggest destinations we can reach by bus or train to/from S. Maria Novella train station. They have already visited S. Gimignano, Siena, Montepulciano and Greve in Chianti. And, no cooking class! Picky! Yes, but I know we can plan a 'wow' for them in this wonderful area. Grazie, in advance!
Linda
Posted by
Rural Georgia
2213 posts
Plan what you want to do. Invite them to either join you or come up with their own plans.
If you haven't been to Volterra and Lucca, I would suggest them.
Posted by
616 posts
Why not see some of the Medicea Villas?
It would be nice to rent a car.
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
By train. Pistoia, Bologna, Lucca, Montecatini (Spa Day) Viareggio (beach day). By bus Volterra.
To get a quick idea of how long it would take to reach the above go to
If these towns don't appeal to them, and I speak from experience, then you're in for an interesting trip.
Edit some info on Montecatini. It's not all spas.
https://www.visittuscany.com/en/ideas/montecatini-terme-what-to-see-and-do/
Posted by
616 posts
Another nice place would be Isle of ELBA, very nice to rent a bike and tour it, have a swim.
CAPRAIA is another little islet which has a fantastic sea.
Tarquinia which has a wonderful Etruscan site and museum is worthwhile and is on the Etruscan coast, so you may also go for a swim after a nice cultural visit.
The Etruscan tomb site is outdoor.
Posted by
616 posts
Bus is also possible, let me know which ones you would like to go.
If you can afford it you can also take a personal driver and share the price between you.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16698 posts
I'll throw in Fiesole (just above Florence) as well.
Yikes, your friends sure waited long enough to pooh-pooh the plan? My sympathies, Linda, and sure wish I could ramble Florence with you. I loved that one!
Posted by
WPB, FL & Firenze
3112 posts
Other interesting towns within easy train travel of Florence are Pisa, Arezzo and Ferrara. Some of the many suggested towns are on the same train line and could be combined as one day trip.
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
1613 posts
You can get to Bologna by train in 34 minutes. Different food (many would say better food), change trains in Bologna and get to Parma and Modena and Ravenna (Florence to Ravenna is 1 hour, 48 minutes from Florence's other train station), amazing food tours, and all sorts of interesting churches, castles, and museums. Fewer tourists in Emilia-Romagna, too.
What DO they like to do? Get them to tell you.
I'm with you about Italy in general and Florence in particular, and I very much doubt that they have actually "done" Florence --- there are dozens and dozens of cool things to see and do in Florence beyond the main sites.
Posted by
227 posts
Lucca and Bologna. Skip Pisa.
Posted by
California
194 posts
How about the Cinque Terre? From Florence, it could be a few minutes less than 2.5 hours one way.
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
1613 posts
Have they been to these places in Florence? I visited them last September and had them virtually all to myself.
Benozzo Gozzoli chapel in the Palazzo Medici Riccardi --- one small room. Possibly my favorite single room in Florence. I skipped the rest of the palazzo.
Palazzo Davanzati --- not really a museum, but a medieval/Renaissance house full of homey stuff and not gigantic like some other places are
Museo Bardini --- not really a museum, more of a collector's collection of ancient, medieval, and Renaissance artifacts and sculpture and architecture all beautifully displayed. It has a big garden too that goes up the hillside and you get aa incredible view of Florence from above.
Museo Archeologico Nazionale (OK, really a museum)
and the nearby, new Ospedale degli Innocenti museum (a museum but full of children's things I've never seen in a museum)
Posted by
New York
320 posts
We spent 10 days in Emilia Romagna in May. We loved it. Bologna, Ferrara, Ravenna, San Marino, Modena and Parma. If you enjoy the food of Italy, it doesn't get better than that. Wednesday is market day in Parma. But there's more than just food.
Posted by
Boston, MA, USA
262 posts
I would highly recommend Lucca. Great walking city
Posted by
San Francisco, CA (USA)
560 posts
Around Tuscanny
- Lucca My favorite Tuscan town and a unique area with arguably better food than Florence.
Pistoia An up and comer that is also laying claim as being Italy's chocolate capitol
Volterra The calmer, less touristy cousin to nearby San Gimignano
Montepulciano, Pienza and Montalcino Small towns perched atop hills with fantastic vistas and in the heart of the famous wine region.
Forte de Marmi Into shopping? coastal getaway for affluent Italians (and others), similar to Santa Barbara, CA; Wed & Sun hosts the Ladies Market where high-end fashion brands sell their overages and end-of-season goods. http://mytravelintuscany.com/an-exclusive-day-in-forte-dei-marmi/
Pietrasanta is near Forte de Marmi, not as upscale as it's neighbor, known more for it's artists, the central courtyard is decorated with various sculptures and one of the streets is covered in colorful umbrellas.
https://youtu.be/2bkiyTyTL2c
Over the mountains
- Bologna Arguably Italy's most underrated city and heart of it's food culture.
Parma/Modena Rivals to nearby Bologna, Parma I thought had a bit more charm and more restaurants; Modena has Osteria Fancescanna, Ferrari and balsamic.
Ferrara Italy's 'other walled town' after Lucca, lots of charm and fascinating history.
Ravenna Another of the underrated 2nd tier destinations, unique for Byzantinne-era mosaics
Posted by
OP
Plymouth
30 posts
All fantastic suggestions! I'm sure we can choose some exciting and new experiences while in this area. I'm certainly going to enjoy it all!! Thanks, everyone, for taking the time to reply--much appreciated!
Linda