Hello. My family of four will be traveling around Europe for 90 days. Our kids are 7 and 9 years old. We are currently planning the Italian part of our trip. We generally like to avoid really touristy areas unless they're worth a visit. We will be in Tuscany for 10 days, and we're spending 6 nights at an agriturismo. Now we're trying to decide what to do with the other few days, and Florence seems like a good option. However, we won't be visiting many museums because our kids won't tolerate long days looking at art/artifacts. So basically what I'm wondering is, is the town of Florence itself interesting and worth a visit?
Posted by
Chicago
8220 posts
Yes many and I think Florence the capitol of Tuscany is interesting visually apart from going into museums. I've been through there a couple of times in 2002 and 2016. It is a lot more crowded nowadays and all you hear is English in the streets. It is a kind of a cliche. It could be better to a person that knows nothing about it, like I did not in 2002.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16687 posts
I'm wondering is, is the town of Florence itself interesting and worth
a visit?
Hi Leslie -
Answers to your question will be all over the place. I dearly loved Florence and think a visit is absolutely of value even if not going to the Uffizi or Accademia. IMHO, exposing young people to art, architecture and other types of cultural is how they will learn to appreciate such things. You can do a lot of that in Italy by popping into free attractions, such as the churches, or via self-guided walks with a good guidebook. Sometimes a tour designed for children can help bring an old city to life for a young mind (or even a not-so-young one) as well.
My parents exposed us to museums and historical sites at a young age, and I figure I owe my love for both as an adult to those formative experiences. :O)
Posted by
1230 posts
I was in Florence with my 9yo two years ago. The Duomo and climb were great for all of us, including her, and she enjoyed the Academia. The Uffizi is probably wise to avoid with kids that young. The city itself is easy to navigate and smaller in scale, and geographically cozier because its in the hills. In short, it had a really nice feeling. We loved Florence (as an aside: I did google outdoor pools, because kids, and there were three in Florence and one looked particularly nice. If all else fails, you could see some of the city walking to and from the pool. Shrug)
Posted by
Portland
3647 posts
A few years ago, my daughter and her husband took my grandson, then 8, to Italy for a couple of weeks. I got them a book with a title something like “Italy With Kids.” I know they found a cooking class for him in Rome, as well as a sight seeing tour, both of which he loved.
I agree that starting children with art museums at a young age is a way to develop their appreciation for art. As a teacher, I have seen how a good, age-appropriate tour can foster interest in art. Why not find a similar book and get some kid oriented experiences for them?
Posted by
OP
Portland, Oregon
2 posts
Thanks, everyone for your advice and for encouraging us to find age-appropriate tours and museums for our kids. Since we're traveling in Europe for three months, we will be going to a lot of museums and historical sights, and by the time that we get to Florence, I have a feeling that the kids will have a little less patience for antiquities. I guess we'll have to see what happens... maybe they'll surprise us and they will have developed a real appreciation for history and art. You really never know!
I think we've decided to spend 6 nights at the agriturismo, 2 nights in Siena, and 2 nights in Florence.
Posted by
44 posts
The walk up to and around Piazza Michelangelo is really lovely, there are some nice garden areas and the people watching is always fun. Same with the Boboli Gardens -- some of the sculptures and fountains are pretty cool.
When all else fails, you could always do a family taste-testing of gelato, making a map of all the places and keeping a scorecard.
The Mercato Centrale food court is a great place to go for a meal, so each of you can have exactly what you want and it's a nice change from more formal meals. We did that a few years ago when my husband and I were visiting our daughter who was studying in Florence for the semester, and after a week of more formal, the same/the same restaurant menus it was perfect.
Have fun!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16687 posts
This might be helpful:
I saw the "Life at Court" tour for families at Palazzo Vecchio recommended on a couple other sites.
The climb up to Piazzale Michelangelo is fun. The view is wonderful and you'll want to puff a little further up to San Miniato and its cemetery (both free). The creator of Pinocchio, Carlo (Lorenzini) Collodi, is buried there, and the church is lovely and very old. There is also a monastery farmacia which sells beeswax candles, herbal products, soap, treats and other items made by the Benedictine monks: busy hands are prayerful hands, or so the website explains. :O). "Open every day from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm, with a break from 12.15 am to 4.00 pm."
There are a couple of outdoor cafes near the piazzale for beverages and resting the heels. There is also a rose garden to explore.
https://www.visitflorence.com/florence-monuments/piazzale-michelangelo.html
https://www.visitflorence.com/what-to-see-in-florence/gardens-in-florence.html#rose
https://www.visitflorence.com/florence-churches/san-miniato.html
Posted by
WPB, FL & Firenze
3112 posts
I find Florence as a city to be very interesting and worth visiting. There are a couple of similar Leonardo museums, one of which the children might enjoy. They display replicas of many of his devices and I believe some are hands-on.
Posted by
India
62 posts
Florence is pretty, but tuscany cities of sienna are far more prettier esp the cathedral there is stunning. Used florence as a base for day trips to tusany and cinque terre. Loved the ufizi gallery in florence. Rest of the city is very crowded and touristy.