My husband and I are going on an escorted tour in Italy. We will spend only one day in Florence and Venise. Would it be worthy to buy our pass on line for the Uffizi or Academia or would that take away too much of our precious time? We intended to skip the glass blowing factory and do the Doge Palace in Venise. Again, is it worth while? Do we skip the line if we buy tickets on internet? there is sooo much to see in so little time.
We need advice, Thanks
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23666 posts
What is the escorted tour providing ticket wise in Florence and Venice? Of course, the Doge's Palace is far superior to a glass blowing demonstration.
Posted by
Tulsa, OK
355 posts
My very first trip to Europe was to Italy on an escorted tour. Our tour guide was able to get us tickets to both the Uffizi and Academia. Due to the short time in Florence, we would have been unable to see both without advance tickets. If you aren't certain your guide can/will do this for you, I think ordering them online ahead of time would be a good idea. I didn't regret spending the time that first trip in either museum - especially the Academia.
Just another unsolicited bit of information. My favorite experiences on that tour were when we went off on our own to visit museums, etc.....
Posted by
San Jose, CA
1994 posts
It depends on your interests. You're talking about what are probably my two favorite cities in the world. For Florence, if you really want to see a specific piece of art, certainly reserve tickets for the Uffizi or the Academia to minimize (probably not eliminate) time waiting in line. But with only one day… If you really want to see David, I'd suggest looking at the copy that is near the Uffizi rather than waiting in line for the Academia. (I know that many will find this statement a sacrilege, but that would be enough for me since I'm not a particular fan of David). And even a quick sprint through the Uffizi will take you a few hours. I would suggest finding a good photo-based travel book at the library (the DK Eyewitness guides are good, as are the National Geographic guides), and spend some time with it. Then look at the detail of what your tour group will take you to, and pick one or maybe two additional things that are really important to you. Alternatively, depending on your travel style, you could book a local walking tour that covers the things that particularly interest you. I've used Context Florence many times, and I can assure you that they would make good use of your time.
In Venice, if the Doges palace really interests you, then I'd also reserve a time at that. The secret itineraries tour of the palace is good but it will take you a few hours. I don't know if you have that much time. The Rick Steves audio tour of the Grand Canal by vaporetto provides a nice overview and can be a pleasant time if you do it early, before the vaporetto is too crowded. Context Venice also does nice walking tours. But I'd suggest the same approach as in Florence… Review the guidebook, figure out what your tour is going to take you to, and pick one or two other things. And Venice is a wonderful city for simply walking and enjoying, taking a vaporetto ride around the city, and wandering and getting lost.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
No copies of David, ever!
In addition to the David, there are several other sculptures by Michelangelo in the gallery leading up to the David - bound captives and Saint Matthew, all in different stages of completion. You can see the artist's process in the work. Upstairs (and elsewhere on the ground floor) is a good picture gallery of 14th-16th century religious art.
Posted by
Huntington Beach CA
1170 posts
My first trip to Italy was also on a Trafalgar guided tour with one day each in Florence and Venice as well. Typically, your tour guide will give a 1-2 hr orientation tour when you get there, then you're either on your own or you go on one of those optional tours they offer. Those optionals do add up but if you look at your limited time, it may well be worth it. Have you looked at the location of your hotels? Are they in the city center or out of it? You can easily strike out on your own (but I would definitely at least attend the orientation tour) and if your hotel is in a great location, you wont have to worry about catching your tour bus to go back to your hotel at the end of the day. My friend and I did a combination of buying optional tours and striking out on our own with our trusty RS guide. The glass factory in Venice is definitely skippable, I saw a much better demonstration at the Laguna Beach Sawdust Festival. It was merely a ploy to get you to the showroom to buy. Same in Florence, I bet they take you through a leather factory. I hope this helps!