Hi all, We've got most of our itinerary planned out, but I'm wavering on one piece. We have 3 nights dedicated to Tuscany, with our only plans being a market and cooking class on one of those days. I think my preference would be to stay at an agurismo (sp?) with an easy commute into Florence, as we are not looking to rent a car. We could certainly hire a car for the commute. I found Salvadonica, which seems like an ideal option for what we are looking for. We're not looking to travel Tuscany, but to stay in one place within with local flavor for the experience. We;d like to visit Florence to perhaps see the Accademia and do a bit of exploring, but after reviewing a few guidebooks, I'm feeling like we would prefer to stay outside of Florence. We are heading to Tuscany from CT, and then moving onward to Rome. Any comments would be greatly appreciated, as we're really unsure of what to do. I debated dividing it up, but I feel like that's a fair bit of moving around.
Posted by
Minneapolis
1223 posts
Hi Laura. Of course it depends on what you like. Florence's main attractions are museums. We are not into museums; we were there a couple of weeks ago for four hours between travel connections and that was just the right amount of time for us. City is easily walkable, were able to see the Duomo, Ponte vechio, and walk up to the Michaelangelo viewpoint overlooking the city. Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
Ann Arbor, Mi
3696 posts
I would definitely vote for the countryside. When I dream of going back to Italy it is for the villages, the vineyards, the hilltop towns, and never do I long for the cities. I am happy to spend enough time in them to see the highlights and then return to the countryside. If you had a few more days I might suggest one nite in Florence just so you could get up early and experience it before all the chaos of the day, but with so few days I would stay out and do a day trip in, have a nice dinner there and retreat. In total I have spent about 6 days in Florence, but could see most of what I wanted to in a day. It's beautiful and not to be missed, but so is Tuscany.
Posted by
roswell, ga, usa
1501 posts
Hi, Laura, but disagree with the previous posters! I've spent weeks in Florence and maybe months in Italy.......my vote would be to stay in Florence....the Piazza della Signoria, at night, (the big "David" statue,) all lit up, as well as all the other statues.......along with acapella (sp) opera singers, and other street musicians...the lights, the charm... the romance!!.......not to be missed! I cannot describe how lovely that particular piazza is at night..... Visit the Ufuzzi during the day, and in the afternoon, take the bus up to the top of the town to the Piazzale Migelangelico.........look over the city of Florence and the surrounding entire Tuscany as the sun sets. Buy a too expensive drink up there and drink in all of Tuscany. Take day trip to Sienna, a day trip to Fiesole ........both of these do-able by bus are wonderful. I just simply wouldn't miss Florence, and even though I enjoy the countryside via a wine-tour.......I always stay in Florence. Also, the Mercado Centrale......a three story building near the train station with three floors of unbelievable produce, and the out-door vendors.......bought leather every time!! JMO Whatever, you will have fun, but if you don't have one lovely night in Florence, you will be really missing the essence of the whole region!
Posted by
TN, USA
2115 posts
I think staying that first night in Florence would not only be logistically practical, but also nice experience-wise. Use the Rick Steves' guidebook to select a hotel with character. We enjoyed the Hotel Torre Guelfo, which has a wonderful small roof-top terrace (tower) with some of the best views in Florence. If you stay there, ask for the room with the bathroom that encompasses the "foot-print" of their tower. This hotel was an old castle-type home at one time. Nicely situated on a quiet street, within easy walking distance to everything. Nice breakfast and common areas. For a more agricultural/village experience, I'd suggest calling Europe Through the Back Door (Rick Steves' company) and asking which agriturismo his company has used previously (or may still use) for their guided tours. Seems I recall one or two of his tours used to stay overnight at one in Tuscany.
Posted by
OP
Fredericton
130 posts
Thanks for the responses everyone. We are starting to think the best option may actually be to split it up, since our train arrives in Florence anyhow. We arrive in Florence September 4, and our cooking class starts there the next morning- so it doesnt make much sense to have to day trip back in, and it gives us an afternoon/evening to explore Florence. Then, after the class we will move out into Tuscany to relax a bit. If anyone has an agriturismo recommendations, would love to hear them! I've searched the archives, and have been looking up.contacting them.
Posted by
San Francisco, CA
166 posts
Laura, I think you have the right idea in staying a night or two in Florence, and then moving out to the countryside. We've done the same in the past. Florence itself is best experienced early in the morning and late afternoon into the evening, when the air is cooler and the heaving crowds are gone. There are many smaller charming villages with a slower pace and great beauty. Agrtourismos are a good way to experience that. Cheers, Mathew