Grandmother travel to Italy

My best advice for a stay of that length would be to buy a Friends of the Uffizi museum pass. It is good for entrance to the Uffizi Gallery and the State Museums ( Accadamia, Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens, San Marco, Bargello, Medici Chaples, etc.) Check the Uffizi web site, or www.slowtrav.com In the slowtalk Italy forum use the search function to find out all the information you would want about the pass. It allows you to enter without waiting in line and to enter as many times as you wish. I spent a month in Florence last year and would be happy to share information. It would help if I knew what area of the city your apartment was in.

A month! how wonderful. Maybe you could take a short course in Italian language, art, cooking or culture? Some centres have very short courses with lessons in the mornings, and some schools organise special tours on aspects of Florentine art and culture. Will you be driving around Tuscany?

Thanks to you three who responded. No, no car. I am a believer in public transportation and my feet, even here at home. Perhaps someone who comes to visit will want to explore by car....and we can do that.

The museum pass and idea of taking a class are really helpful, as is the suggestion of Rick Steve's book. I enjoy his DVDs and have played them many times. Part of what I hope to get from the travel community is suggestions from women of a certain age traveling alone who may know things I haven't considered...or asked about. Sometimes the best question is "what didn't I ask that I should have."

Vickie, I am close to your age, but not a grandmother, unless you count my 'grandkitties.' I will be in Florence next month and will keep my eyes open for things I think you might enjoy-restaurants, etc. In Rick's Italy book he does tell you where the open air markets are and that is one of my favorite aspects of Italy. In addition to Rick's guide, I also recommend Lonely Planet and I love the DK guides with all the photos and building diagrams. Go to Barnes and Noble and check them all out! I have traveled in Italy alone and have always felt safe, but I take the normal precautions as in any big city. Biggest problem for me is the uneven surfaces and the stairs as I have bad knees, but as long as cortisone shots exist I will continue to return to Italy every year. I am so envious; you will have a wonderful time.

You are SO right about uneven surfaces. Lately I see myself walking like my grandmothers or my mom later in life.

I am most appreciative of the information and hints from the community out there.

Being a grandmother does not define me, but I think it helps others to know that I'm no spring chicken and my needs/wants are different from the "young".

Hi Vickie,

You are going to have a great time.

Start by reading "The Agony and the Ecstasy" by Irving Stone, a biographical novel of Michelangelo. About half of his works are in Florence, as well as much of the art and architecture that inspired him.
At the back of the book is a list of all his works and where they are.

While they are not day trips, consider going to Ravenna for an overnight. It's about 3 or 3.5 hours by train, but it has the most amazing Byzantine (6th century) mosaics and is a charming little town as well. You can also get to Rome (where most of the rest of Michelangelo's works are) in less than 2 hours, so it's easy to go there for a 2 or 3 day visit also.

Pisa, San Gimignano and Siena are all great day trips. Orvieto - maybe? Haven't been....yet.

Pack a couple pairs of really comfortable walking shoes with thick soles - many of the side streets in central Florence are in terrible condition.

Download Rick's audio tours and use them.

Fun? Every minute in Italy!

I enjoyed a daytrip by train from Florence to Arezzo. The train is slow and stops several times between the towns. It's a good way to see the countryside at a reasonable speed. Arezzo itself is a hillside small city (the movie, A Beautiful Life, was made here). There are a few interesting things to see in the town, including a beautiful hilltop park and archaeological site, a Roman arena.

BTW, it is very common to see people using hiking sticks (not canes) in Italy. I don't hear in your question that you have any walking problems, but for hiking you might want a stick.

Vickie, check out TheFlorentine.net. It's and English newspaper about Florence, has articles about Italy, things going on in Florence etc.

Hello, Vickie;
I know you will have a great time!
This site is a good resource, but even better (Sorry, Rick.)is www.slowtrav.com.
Look for the Italy section, and go from there.
They have many trip reports for Florence, and lots of "How-To" articles for "living" temporarily in Italy.
Don't miss their Italy forum for asking your questions.
I am there in September for 10 days out of my 3 week trip, and have rented an apartment up FIVE flights of stairs!!!
I'm at school there for a week.
Good luck!

Also, if you're a churchgoer, google American churches Florence, or English churches in Florence. I know there's an English speaking Baptist church in Florence.