We (my daughter and I) are in Florence for two days in June. Unfortunately, we arrive on a Sunday late afternoon and leave on Tuesday afternoon. Our main day of site seeing is Monday which I have learned is the day that many of the museums are closed. What would be a good Itinerary for Monday that includes sites that are open on Monday?
Also, since we want to visit the Uffizi Gallery and the Galleria dell'Accademia we need to catch these two on Tuesday morning ... is it better to get reserved time tickets online or use the Firenze Card as far as dealing with the crowds?
Any and all responses would be greatly appreciated!
Posted by
89 posts
As for the second question. Firenze Card is very useful but also quite expensive considering you are not staying full three days and yet you are there on Monday.
So you should calculate how many of the museums and places covered by Firenze Card you are able to make within your stay and if it is worth purchasing.
Posted by
Chicago
8815 posts
Daniel is right on this -- I would get reserved entry for the Uffizi and Academia rather than the already overpriced Firenze Card. If ever there was a town where you don't need a transport pass, Florence is it.
On Monday -- The Bargello and the Musee San Marco are open on opposite Mondays from each other so one or the other should be open when you are there. Both wonderful. The churches where much of the great art resides are open. The Brancacci Chapel which I think is the best thing in Florence is open on Mondays and closed Tuesdays.
Of course you can make your way up to Piazzale Michelangelo for the great views of the city (and holiday card shot with the Duomo behind you) and then walk up to San Miniato behind the Piazzale. Take the 12 or 13 bus or a taxi up and then walk back down.
Florence is so much packed into so little space that your challenge will be to choose from among them. The Monday/Tuesday closings (true all over Europe by the way) shouldn't be a problem.
Posted by
OP
9 posts
Thank you so much for the responses. I understand that I would save money (and I am all about saving money) by not buying the Firenze card and getting the reserved time tickets, but here are my thoughts on buying the card. The two museums I mentioned (that I want to hit on Tuesday morning will cost me 16 Euros each for both sites (32 euros each) and the tickets will lock us into what time we need to go. For the extra 40 euros each, we can visit whatever museums we want (that are open) on Monday and avoid lines. If I visit a few museums on monday, than I am not losing too much money and I am gaining flexibility. Is this logic flawed.
Posted by
824 posts
It's my humble opinion that you will not be able to do both the Accademia AND the Uffizi in one morning unless your departure is late afternoon. I would pick one or the other. My personal preference would be the Accademia.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
The pass does give you the flexibility and you know the cost of it. Otherwise, pass holders and reservation holders are treated similarly. It's possible to visit both in one day, but depends on your afternoon departure time. For just a quick visit to Michelangelo's David and Prisoners, and a few other things on the same floor, but skipping the upper floor, some people might get out of Florence's Accademia in as little as half an hour. You can make a fairly comprehensive, though not lingering, tour of the Uffizzi in two hours. Look at downloading Rick's free audio tours before you go.