We fly into Milan at 8:35 AM on 4/2, then will take train to Florence. I know we will be tired. Most people recommend doing something outside in the afternoon, get an early dinner then a good nights sleep. Would it be a bad idea to schedule tickets to Accademia to see Statue of David for that afternoon, say before dinner. Whenever we do it, we do only plan a very brief stay as we mainly want to see David.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15582 posts
Personally, I'd appreciate it more after a night's sleep. You could walk to the Duomo, then to the Piazza della Signoria (lots of sculpture there, including a copy of David) and around the outside of the Uffizi, then to the Ponte Vecchio.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23267 posts
The reason for the outside activity is that sunlight is critical to resetting our internal clocks and reducing jet lag. However, David is an hour or hour half at most so you could schedule it for the afternoon. From our experience we now find that a two hour nap between 3 and 6 is very helpful.
Posted by
OP
141 posts
I am afraid if I nap I won't want to get up!
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23267 posts
We set an alarm for two hours. Most of the time we wake up around an hour and half. At one time we tried gutting it out till early evening but then were often awake around 3, 4 AM. Now we find that a short nap recharges the batteries enough so that we can have a pleasant dinner and normal bed time of about 10 or 11. Next day is pretty good.
Posted by
roswell, ga, usa
1501 posts
Agree with the poster who recommended Piazza della Signoria for the first evening. The statues are breathtaking. I take a nap as soon as I check into the hotel - and make sure I have a wake up call. That allows me to stay up a little later, and by day two I'm back on schedule. I wouldn't do anything big the first night other than get acclimated to the time/city/country and have a nice dinner.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Also agree, stay outdoors the first afternoon, visit Piazza della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio, take the bus up to Piazzale Michelangelo for a pricey drink and your second copy of Michelangelo's David, and views of Florence at sunset. Take the bus back down, have dinner, go to sleep and wake up to see David. (There are other noteworthy sculptures by Michelangelo there as well.)
Posted by
Lawrence
32 posts
Double-check to find out if the Accademia is displaying David right now - I feel like I read somewhere (the online newspaper The Florentine??) that this is undergoing repairs. Good luck - have fun! xo
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
I have indulged myself with naps and then missed dinner! Must not have set an alarm. As a happy medium, you can usually get a seat on the bench behind David, to enjoy that angle for a while. http://www.accademia.org/news/ does mention a structural upgrade coming, but no specific construction date and no warning when you click through to book tickets.
Posted by
OP
141 posts
I couldn't find anything on-line anywhere stating that David isn't being displayed. Anyone know of this? We will be there next week.