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Lose a day in Florence for a day in Bologna?

Posted by (New Zealand) on

We are heading via train from Florence to Venice. Currently, I have us in Florence for 3.5 days. However, since Bologna is on the way (and I hear the food is very good), I'm wondering if I would be better splitting up the train journey and spending a night in Bologna.

I can conceivably, cut a day down in Umbria on the other end to put my total days in Florence back over 3. Thoughts?

I'm interested in walking Florence and enjoying its architecture. If I do not get to all the main tourist spots, I am okay with that, though I do want to spend a day looking at paintings.

Posted by
17 posts

Bologna is worth a visit. Also, both Venice and Florence are quite touristy - i.e. there are quite lots of people around, so a day in Bologna might be the perfect decompression chamber.

Florence is a great place to walk around - I'm guessing you'll see the Uffizi, the Duomo, etc.

I'd also make sure you visit the church of Santa Maria Novella, close to the station - you can see the crucifixion by Masaccio there, one of the very early paintings to use perspective to reproduce the viewers eye. Across the river, see the Cappella Brancacci - the seen with Adam and Eve crying as they leave heaven is touching (and is also by Masaccio, if memory serves).

If you go to the Pitti Palace (and you should) make sure you also explore the Boboli gardens behind - they're wonderful - I spent many happy hours there as I went to Art School for 5 years and the gardens were our hangout spot... it used to be free to get in.

Lastly, hike up to the Piazzale Michelangelo and then a little further, to San Miniato a Monte, one of my favourite churches...

have a great time!

Posted by
3300 posts

...and I hear the food is very good

Where in Italy isn’t the food very good? 🤔 As much as I enjoyed visiting Bologna, I think that stopping for just 1 night would be wasting valuable time. Florence has so much to see that you could easily spend a week there. I would consider a day trip to Pisa and Lucca instead of a stopover in Bologna. BTW I felt the food in Parma was better than in Bologna!

Posted by
245 posts

Although I very much wanted to go to Bologna on my trip to Italy last fall, and was unwilling to give up one of my 4 days in Florence to do so, and I'm not sorry I made that choice. I kind of wish I had more time in Florence. and I almost wish I hadn't gone for a day trip to Siena (almost). While I'm sure Bologna is wonderful and I hope to spend 3-5 days there on a future trip, I'm not sorry I kept my time in Florence - I enjoyed it more than Naples, Rome, or Venice.

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