Is a day and half good for Florence?

We just returned from Paris/Italy and loved Florence - spent 4 nights and that was not enough... never even made it inside the Duomo. When we arrived in Florence I was not sure we had made the right choice but changed my mind.

The Uffizi Gallery, Pitti Palace & Bobili Gardens, David, watching the sunset from the Piazzale Michelangelo, the leather markets, day trip to Siena (wished we had stayed overnight). Locals were much friendlier than they were in Rome. It has a fascinating history.

We came from Rome so as far as dirty it felt the same in Florence - lots of graffiti but less traffic. I felt everywhere we went in Italy was worth it and felt we needed more time in each place (which means another trip!)

Sonia, I'd budget a third night for a "complete" coverage of Florence. The central, touristy places, can all be reached by walking. Unless you intend to just fly through the museums, cathedral, etc. you will want a second full day. Roaming neighborhoods could take a long time, so that part depends on how much roaming you want to do.

Sure another day would be best, but you could see most of the sites in a day in a half.

This answer comes with some bias....

Yes - that's plenty of time. Florence is a dirty city and full of gypsies. See the big sites and then move on.

However, I have not been to Rome, and for all I know, it's just as dirty and has just as many gypsies. I'll find out this September when I go.

In saying that Florence is dirty, I am comparing it to much more scenic places like the Cinque Terra and Venice (which are NOT dirty at all in my opinion). And, I saw the Swiss Alps just days before seeing Florence, so that probably affected my perception as well.

I'd say no. The must sees alone take a full two-days of fast paced touring.

I'm not a huge fan of Florence, lodging is expensive, the food isn't special by Italian standards and the local population isn't particularly warm or friendly. The art and architecture, however, are not to be missed.

All the more reason to make one complete stop there - next time you can spend your time elsewhere without regretting the things you missed in Florence.

"Florence is a dirty city and full of gypsies."

Many travelers on this site have expressed a more favorable opinion of Florence than the one quoted above. Some even feel that Florence is one of the more interesting places in the world: a pretty good argument can be made that it's where the Renaissance started (if you had to pick one place).

Florence is not my favorite city to visit in Europe either, but not because of dirt or gypsies, which you can ignore. It has my least favorite restaurant I have ever visited anywhere in Europe, while also having two of my favorites. Plus, I think it has more Americans there then Italians, and that can be a strain on the senses. But the sights are the real reason to visit Florence and while it is doable in a day and a half to see them, in my opinion it would not be WORTH trying to see them in a day and a half. Two, even three days are needed.

We just got back from Italy and visited Florence overnight, but we went to eat, not sight-see, as we have seen the sights.

Thanks Folks for replying! We are left with 8 days which I want to dedicate to Rome and then Paris. If I give another day to Florence and include travel time from Florence to Rome and then Paris, I'll be rushing through these 2 cities. I think I'll have to give it what I have for now! May be next time Florence. Not sure if this is the right decision and if I'll regret it later.

Are 4 days for Rome and Paris good? I don't have more days that that anyways..:)

We also just returned - from Venice, Florence & Rome. Florence was our favorite, by far.

We also enjoyed the view from Piazzale Michelangelo and many of the sites from the above post. The shopping is great!

My husband & I can't wait to go back there.

I went to Florence for 2 days last year and saw many wonderful sights, but definately did not see enough (for me). As with other locations, if I were you, I would research what's there to see/experience, and based on what you like and dislike, choose some things and think about how long it might take you to see them. For some people, those 2 nights might be just enough to get the basics and move on.
As far as it being "dirty" and "full of gypsies", I totally disagree. Not only is the city clean and full of breathtaking scenes (natural and man-made), but the so-called amount of "gypsies" in a certain area shouldn't deter anyone from enjoying themselves. I'm not a scholar, but isn't gypsy a race of persons, and not just someone who may pick your pocket or scam you? So when I hear a user post that you should not linger in a place that is dirty and full of gypsies, what's the difference between saying that and telling a person not to go to Harlem because it's dirty and full of black people? Or not to go to San Francisco because it's dirty and full of asian people? I personal don't see the difference. I find them ALL offensive. So I hope some people learn to educate themselves before they post again.
Either way, enjoy Florence for every second, no matter how long you're there!

We were in Florence for 4 nights last month, and could definitely have stayed longer, but that could be because I wanted to see every art museum and church! Poor hubby's feet may never recover....
We had phoned-in reservations for tickets at Uffizi and Academia, which meant not wasting time in huge lines (the hotel got them for us back when I'd made reservations). Piazzale Michelangelo was lovely--take the #7 bus up and walk down.
As for the "dirty" comment, I didn't see it. No mess, pure blue skies, cool evenings (but of course this was May) and, except for the crowded tiny sidewalks, the city was easy to walk around--you just walk on the street and flatten yourself against a parked car if a scooter or car wants to get by.
And what is all the fuss about gypsies? Sure, they exist---there's usually a woman crouched in the doorway of a church, holding out a basket and pleading, but so what? We never saw the hordes of gypsy children so often mentioned on this and other travel forums, and we were in Italy 3 and a half weeks. One enterprising young gypsy woman was opening the door of a church for visitors (this was in Rome), so my husband dropped a coin in her basket when we left. In my opinion, a worse nuisance were the gypsy men who wander through the outdoor seating areas of restaurants trying to push roses on you. My husband (and I) got really good at raising our voices to them, him saying "No", me saying "Basta". They always give up.
Florence is beautiful---I recommend staying as long as you possibly can! On the other hand, I don't know how many nights you have planned for Rome, but we were there for 5, and it still wasn't enough to let us see and do everything on my list! It all depends on you and your interests.

I love Florence. I don't know where the "dirty" comes from. It's old, of course it's gonna be a little dirty! It's where the renaissance started and is a "must see". If you want to see a really dirty city for comparison, go to Naples.

I LOVE Florence and definitely do NOT think it is dirty or full of gypsies. Went in 2002 and spent a day and a half and it was nowhere long enough. Went back again in 2008 and spent 4 nights and didn't repeat anything we did the first time. I think I will always want to spend some time in Florence when travelling in Italy.

You can hit just the major sites in a day and a half if that is all you have. I think you really do need 4 days each for Rome and Paris to do justice by them. How much time do you have scheduled for Venice? We saw all the major sites there in a day and a half. Maybe you might be able to adjust some time that way.

Gypsy is commonly understood to refer to the groups of nomadic peoples in Europe and Western Asia, many of whom happen to be part of the Romani ethnic group. Not all Romani are gypsies, but most gypsies are Romani.

Because they are nomadic by nature, the do not hold down jobs. They sleep in the streets of Florence and beg for handouts in a very aggressive way.

Theirs is a lifestyle. I'm sorry if you are offended by the facts.

Here's Rick's take on it: http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/east/gypsy.htm

As for being dirty, Florence is. It has nothing to do with gypsies - it's simply a dirty city. Very little green space. No trees. Just pavement and buildings.

Yes, it's historic. Yes, it's beautiful. But what I wrote above is also a part of Florence.

Marshall,...just because a city has fewer green spaces than you're used to doesn't mean its dirty. In the several times I've been to Florence, I've actually felt it was relatively clean compared to many other cities I've been to. Your post doesn't offend, I don't think....but it certainly doesn't reflect reality as many of the rest of us see it.
The judgment that because gypsies are supposedly " nomadic, they don't hold down jobs....." perpetuates a stereotype that doesn't hold true. Many Roma families have been in Italy for generations now, have put down roots, and hold jobs or run businesses. I think I've been accosted more times by initerants from eastern and central European countries far more over the past several years than by Roma.
By the way, I've never seen an ethnological or other division between "Roma" and "Gypsies."

I'm not offended by facts. And I do agree as Rick states in your above reference that it would be foolish not to be a little suspicious of gypsies ("Roma") hanging around a tourist area. I am, however, offended when people use those facts as a blanket statement categorizing all gypsies, or any racial group, and use those facts as a deterrent to someone truly enjoying themselves in an otherwise beautiful setting. I've seen several posts on this website that defend the fact that not ALL gypsies are out to con you or steal something. So stating that many gypsies are in a certain area is not a gaurantee that you will be robbed. You could just as easily be pickpocketed on your way to the grocery store in Anytown, USA. You have to be on guard regardless of where you are and who you're with.

Sonia - yes the heart of Florence is pavement and buildings, which some people actually enjoy (i.e. - the millions of tourists who visit NYC), but don't forget in your visit to Florence the hillsides right across the river that offer truly breathtaking views at just one short bus ride away. For example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazzale_Michelangelo

Happy travels!

I wish we had known about that bus... we walked up there with my family complaining all the way but it was worth it!

I spent a week in Florence and loved every minute. The museums, the markets, the art. All wonderful. I never once came across a "gypsy." Either I was oblivious or just entralled with the city. But, having spent my entire life in and around New York City, maybe I'm desensitized to big city life. However, to respond to the original poster - be sure to make advance reservations to the Uffizi and Accademia. You can cover the Uffizi in a little more than two hours. The Accademia even less. The Bargello Musuem is also wonderful. Don't miss the Duomo.

A day and 1/2 is good for Las Vegas.

What itinerary do you have?

Yes there is definately a bus. I want to say it's #13, but don't quote me on that. It takes you across the Arno River up into the hillside, stopping at Piazza Michaelangelo. And when it comes back into the city it goes over near the stadium. It cost the usual 1 euro, except the entire cycle lasts about 1 hour so if you want to get off and explore the Piazza Michaelangelo or other things you will need to pay for another trip so yuor ticket doesn't expire and you don't incur a fee from the bus patrol.
We found this tidbit of info in Rick's Steve's Florence book. Who knew you could get some quality sight-seeing, air-condition and rest your feet at the same time for only 1 euro? Only in Italy...

Just giving the original poster my impressions of Florence. He or she will have to take it along with all the other posts that have been offered by all of you (who make this a great board, btw :) ).

I am not prejudiced and don't judge an entire race or ethnic group by individuals. I didn't say that Florence is full of the Roma, or Romani people, because that would be offensive. Nonetheless, when I was in Florence I was aggressively panhandled by people that I believe would qualify as "gypsies."

I am sorry if what I've written doesn't sit well with any of you. I mean no harm. Happy travels!!!

You're right, Monique...it is the #13 bus (I said #7 earlier, but that's the bus to Fiesole, which we never actually found time to see). As I recall, it's the #13 in one direction, the #12 in the other. We took the bus up but walked back down, after listening to the Gregorian chants in the San Miniato church above Piazzale Michelangelo, and then enjoying the spectacular view from the piazzale and some great people-watching too---such as the antics of a wedding party, I guess waiting for the sun to set and dinner to start---pretty funny, seeing young men in suits tossing the poor groom up in the air. And then there was the martial arts group, putting on a performance--back flips and all--for anyone who cared to watch.
Florence is wonderful.

Dirty and full of gypsies? Yikes! Florence is beautiful - it is also a CITY. If you are in Rome for 4 full days, I would take a day from Rome so you can have a little more time in Florence. Rome was nice, but REALLY crowded and busy. Florence is a more manageable and walkable city. That way you could also squeeze in a day trip to Siena if you like....

I am one of the people Kent mentioned who "feel that Florence is one of the more interesting places in the world". I would add the extra night.

Thank you everyone for your replies! After much thought, we realize that Florence is not going to make it on our list this time. We have a total of 12 days and with baby in tow, we want to stay longer in a place especially Rome and Paris.

I appreciate all the responses.

If you're taking days from Rome for Florence, I wouldn't do it. It sounds like you've made up your mind, but with 12 days, you could spend them all in Rome and Paris, without seeing anything else. With a baby in tow, it helps to not move around much. Stick with Rome for the longer period. Now you have a reason to return!

Sorry but as a resident of Florence I do have to comment on this one.

It is not a dirty city. There is an army of sanitation workers that scrub the streets here night and day, remove trash, etc. etc. Most if not all shopkeepers sweep and or wash their sidewalks daily.

There is graffiti. This does upset some people.

Some things could be in better shape, definitely. Painted more often, etc. - but I just don't think as a city it is "dirty".

The Roma or gypsies do exist here and are one of the many mysteries of Florence. Usually a "no grazie" is no enough to get them to leave you alone, but I have seem them at some points totally harass tourists, which I think is a shame, outrageous, and really have no idea why it is allowed/tolerated.

Although it sounds like you're not going to Florence at all, I still want to add my 2 cents since we just got back. Florence is not dirty and I never saw a gypsy (and believe me, I watch out for them). Florence is a big city and it tends to have gray buildings but they are not dirty. We felt very safe there. We also only had 1.5 days there and hit the streets after training in from Venice about noon. Hotel Nuova Italia had made reservations for Accademia and Uffizi so we based the rest of our time around those. We saw plenty of the top sites and walked our buns off. Even had time to buy a pair of Birkenstocks, the best shoes in the world for cobblestones and touring - IMHO! I continuously saw Italians wearing them, as well as other European tourists.