Itinerary question: Regarding Florence...

Stay inside. Wander around in the early morning and evening people watching. Most tourist miss the museum of precious stones (around the corner from the Academia). It's not about gold and diamonds. It's about the mosaic arts. We walked though it going "that can't be a mosaic it's got to be a painting" and we said that a lot. Rick says this is one of those "unappreciated gems" (ha ha). Small museum. As for WWII history there's can't be much or it must be minor if my husband, Mr. I have a hundred books on the subject didn't drag me to see anything WWII related in Florence. It was occupied by the Germans for a long time and they did blow all the bridges but that's all been fixed.

the Germans didn't blow up the Ponte Vecchio. You might be interested to know that it has a secret passage which was used during the war

If you're not huge art fans, three days should be plenty. You can do some day trips as well if you are interested in wine. I stayed at a very inexpensive hotel, Hotel Medici, a couple of blocks from the Duomo but far enough to be quiet. The hotel (like many in the area) has a rooftop terrace and from there you can see the people who've climbed the Duomo and the bell tower, plus nearly 360-degree views of the city.

stay in the city give it at least 3 days, if you are going to day trip from Florence than add days lots to experience in Florence besides "art"
see TA hotel/B&B reviews

Thanks for your help - we just go back and forth on whether to stay in or out. In reading the other posts, I get the feeling that some people find Florence to have a a "cold" feeling to it. As with all places, everyone has their own preferences! Zoe, thanks for the info on the Hotel Medici. I'll check it out!

If you are interested in a WWII-related site, check out the nearby Florence American Cemetery (http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/fl.php). From the website: " The Florence American Cemetery and Memorial site in Italy covers 70 acres, chiefly on the west side of the Greve "torrente." The wooded hills that frame its west limit rise several hundred feet. Between the two entrance buildings, a bridge leads to the burial area where the headstones of 4,402 of our military dead are arrayed in symmetrical curved rows upon the hillside. They represent 39 percent of the U.S. Fifth Army burials originally made between Rome and the Alps. Most died in the fighting that occurred after the capture of Rome in June 1944. Included among them are casualties of the heavy fighting in the Apennines shortly before the war's end. On May 2, 1945, the enemy troops in northern Italy surrendered."

I would second the recommendation for the Florence-American Cemetary. It's a beautiful, peaceful place, well worth the time, and a reminder of the sacrifices made by WWII soldiers and vets.
Anne-Marie

Thanks to all for your help. We've decided to stay outside of Florence and found a place we think will work very well. Thank you also for your great advice on the Florence/American cemetery - we will definitely check it out! Susan, I've heard of the passage in the Ponte Vecchio... I believe it is only open at certain times though. Maybe we'll get lucky and it will be open next June! T\hank you again for all your help!

I want to third the suggestion of the American Cemetery near Florence. I haven't gotten to visit yet, but my husband did about a month ago and really enjoyed it.

People watching/room on a piazza - you have to be careful as the piazzas here can be very loud and boisterous at night (especially Santa Croce and Santo Spirito). As to WWII - if you look closely and can read any Italian you can find some WWII history in the center. There are several buildings with plaques and or markers on them about battles fought, etc. I don't know of a specific resource for info on this, but I bet they exist - either a book or website if you searched around. There was heaving fighting here and as was mentioned all the bridges were destroyed except the Ponte Vecchio. There is a plaque on the bridge about the German who was instrumental in saving it - The Florence American cemetery was mentioned and that is really a special place to see - never been prouder to be an American than visiting there and seeing how many people sacrificed to save Europe. Have been several times, once during the ceremony on Memorial Day - moving experience. It really illustrates the devastation of the war. There is another Commonwealth (UK, Canada, Aussies, etc.) cemetery on the via Aretina, and if you have a car and want to see something that you would usually never hear of, visit the German cemetery near the Futa pass. Indescribable. Over 30,000 Germans buried there, most of them teenagers who were probably conscripted near the end of the war.

How many days? I'd say 2 nights, since that's my minimum for any town I visit in Europe. I've been to Florence several times, and I just can't get my head around it. Now, the art is spectacular, and that never lets me down while I'm there, but the city itself just doesn't do it for me. It's dirty, smells like sewage, is covered in grafitti and feels like an American college town. English is spoken in Florence more than any other town that we usually visit (Venice is close). I don't know, it's just not for me. My wife has vowed to not go back (she really doesn't like it), but I keep trying every time that I visit Italy. So far, no luck. People watching is good on most piazzas, and I second the American Cemetary. Careful, since "busy piazza" in florence usually means loud. Make sure to visit the Duomo Museum, and you might stand in a room ALONE with a Michaelangelo. Nobody goes there for some reason...