My wife and I are traveling to Rome, Florence and Venice next week, and we would like to exercise each morning we’re there. I was lucky enough to find a moderately priced hotel with fitness facilities in Rome, but as I expected, no luck in Florence or Venice finding hotels with fitness equipment. However, the hotel I booked in Florence recommended the Klab Conti Firenze gym. I tried to contact them via email to inquire whether they allow single day visits and the cost—but so far no response from them. Does anyone on this forum know the answer or whether there are any other gyms in Florence and Venice that allow single day visits? Thanks.
Posted by
752 posts
Florence -- Swan, Via dei Pepi 28, near the Basilica of Santa Croce, central location, ask for day passes, popular with Americans!
Posted by
North Carolina
2467 posts
Le Cascine park has a public swimming pool, tennis courts, and, I'm guessing, various other exercise facilities.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15269 posts
Or you can jog for free all the way to the Cascine park, or along the Arno.
For weight training there are plenty of huge rocks that you can lift near the Arno, especially on the recently collapsed Lungarno Torrigiani, where you can lend a hand lifting the bricks that need to be replaced.
If you like swimming, you can do so also for free, in the Arno river. There is sewage water inside, but my Carioca brother in law assures me that in spite of the sewage water, the Arno is still cleaner than the Guanabara Bay where the Olympic athletes are swimming these days. Just keep an eye on the canoes from the Canottieri Firenze Club, so they don't hit you.
Posted by
Stockholm, Sweden
10 posts
I also recommend jogging in Venice. Early morning or late in the evening, it is very warm and will be even warmer once you get here.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
My husband has never had a problem visiting gyms in Italy. They all have done some sort of variation on a one-time pass, or weekly pass. One thing that might not occur to you - take a padlock for the locker, and bring a towel from your hotel/apartment. And remember that the people at the front desk will likely be able to speak enough limited English to get the transaction done, just don't expect to launch into a conversation with them. That said, we've been pleasantly surprised at how many are fairly proficient in English.
Posted by
OP
New York City
9 posts
This has all been very educational. Thanks for the responses and all the great advice... looking forward to Italy next week!
Posted by
381 posts
My husband runs wherever we are are traveling and also packs bands. He says some of the most amazing runs have been while traveling. Many times he will return with great stories of sights seen along the way and we will return to that area to explore later.