We will be taking our 3 kids (12, 11, and 9) to Italy in November. I have planned two days in Florence and two days doing day trips (1 to Pisa/Lucca and 1 to Siena or San Gimi). We have four full days and five nights. What sights are good for kids to enjoy in Florence? I've heard Accademia and Uffizi might be too much for kids. Opinions? Thoughts of Galilleo Museum? Any tours we should consider? Should we consider a different day trip from Florence rather than Siena and/or San Gimignano of should we spend another day in Florence itself? Sounds like Pisa and Lucca are for sure a one day excursion combined (weather permitting). I've heard not much going on in Pisa other than the Tower but that seems like a no brainer since the kids have all seen pictures of it. Thinking I will put San Gimi or Siena as a "maybe" depending on mood/energy. The torture museum (San Gimi) would likely be a hit. Any other places there to see or restaurant recommendations? Thought about Cinque Terre but seems like the weather will make this not a great option. Are either of the palaces Pitti Palace or Palazzo Vechio an interesting ideas for kids wanting to see the lifestyle of the rich and famous in Reanissance times? As for churchs in Florence, the Duomo and/or Santa Croce Church? Other ideas?
Posted by
Catadupa Alamere, CA
515 posts
I am sure that I am going to violate numerous pc rules but it might be helpful to know whether your kids are all boys, all girls or a coed team. It's been a while since I was a 12 year old boy - although I still behave like one occassionally - but back then there not enough gelato in Florence to bribe me to tour the costumes and interior decor of the Pitti Palace but my little sister would have spent hours. same comment pari passu for your accompanying posts for other cities
Posted by
OP
huntington beach, california, usa
30 posts
Ahh, good point. My 12 (and most vociferous) child is a boy as well as the 9 year old. My 11 year old is a girl and very easy going. Sounds like the Palaces may not be so good!
Posted by
Atlanta
800 posts
Surely you wouldn't go to Florence without seeing the David though! I don't remember anything else that was in the Accademia except this masterpiece and we all (kids included) spent quite a bit of time looking at it. My son also liked the Uffizi (he was 10 at the time and daughter was 13). Now that I think about it - he and his dad went to a museum that had either natural history or geology while my daughter and I went shopping. They both liked Siena very much - especially the church that houses St. Catherine's head and finger...Also liked climbing the tower in Sienna. Pisa was truly a one-hour stop for us, but we didn't got up the tower. We went to San Gimignano and Lucca when my son was older (17) and he liked Lucca much more - walking around the wall and getting truly lost in the walled city.
Posted by
St. Paul, MN, USA
12 posts
Hi Lisa, I am just completing 3 days in Florence with my 7 year old daughter, mother and aunt. We easily filled two days walking from sight to sight in Florence. There are many piazzas, large and small museums, churches and people to enjoy. Also, my daughter (and the rest of us) loved the Mercado Centrale and San Lorenzo Market! Between 9-1pm we walked from our hotel to the market, looked around, and ate lunch at one of Rick's restaurant picks. Florence is a fantastic place to roam and explore. Definitely follow Rick's suggestions for places to eat. We chose 5 over 2 days and loved each one! One element that can be enjoyed in Italy, especially Florence, is unstructured time spent walking, viewing sights and eating. Have a great time!
Melissa
Posted by
Kamloops, BC, Canada
405 posts
Anyone will enjoy the view from Piazzale Michelangelo. Public transit will take you there. If you have time, there is a church, San Miniato al Monte, which you can easily walk to from Piazzale Michelangelo, and it has an even more spectaular view of the Arno and central Florence. The Uffizi will probably not be too interesting for the children, although you might want to bribe them w/gelato so that you can at least see some of Botticelli's most famous works! buon viaggio! Palazzo Vecchio would probably be more interesting / manageable for your group. buon viaggio!
Posted by
Londonderry, NH
3 posts
We will be visiting Florence in late November as well w/ our 2 boys and plan to do a mix of outdoor activities w/ museums / churches, as well as a day trip or two such as a wine tour out in Chianti or truffle hunting in the San Miniato area (provided there is good transportation to these places). For the museums, I think exposing them to the art will be good, but I don't have high hopes for their interest to be long lived - thinking an hour or two maximum at the Uffizi. When I visited Florence when I was younger, I don't remember anything other than the statue of David at the Accademia. I loved the churches - Santa Croce and the Boboli Gardens in Oltrarno. We are also planning on visiting the Duomo and doing activities that involve climbing steps - it will be good excercise as well as offer terrific views. When we travel, we often like taking the kids to the outdoor markets and see the different types of food and other items they offer. It's a great way to expose them to other cultures, and does not require an entrance fee!
Posted by
Catadupa Alamere, CA
515 posts
Your kids might see the nutria swimming the Arno near the Ponte Vecchio. A nutria is a 3ft long swimming rodent that Pres J Carter famously swatted with an oar. There are none (pres carters or nutrias) here on the West Coast. When I saw them it took way more Italian vocabulary than I had for the locals to tell me what they were. Friends who stayed at a posh hotel just downstream, altro Arno, tell me that the critters haul out at that hotel. Unrelated I hope: hot choccolate in the cafe (forget the name) in Signoria is really good, and big. So are the pastries.