We will be coming from a 2 day stay in Lugano. We are heading to Rome but wanted to visit a town beforehand. Realistically the trains from Genoa to Rome are a little bit more trying but the coastal city would be beautiful. Would it be better to visit Florence then, although perhaps not a long enough to do it justice?.... Or perhaps just a day in Milan would make more sense.
Thank you in advance for any advice. We of course are travelling by train.
Skip Genoa it is a large industrial port town mostly. Milan is ok for a day and very convenient on the rail rte. cathedral and adjacent emporia center, la scale , reservations imp for last supper. yes Florence warrants more an a day but it is special and gives u a broad idea of why u should return another time.
Have not visited Genoa, but I have visited Milan and Florence. Even though you won't have time to do it justice, I would stay in Florence. Then you will definitely plan to return, because you will want to see more of this fabulous city! But a taste of it is still wonderful!
Bologna may be a more manageable if we are talking about a single night stay. It's an easy stop on the train too..
As a previous reply mentioned, Bologna would be a nice stop. Florence would also be an easy stop en route to Rome. If you are stopping for just a few hours, you are probably planning to leave your luggage at the train station in the Deposito Bagagli which is quite efficiently run at the Florence station. Be sure to get off the train at the Firenze S.M.N. stop which is in the centre of town. Of course, as you mention, a few hours is not enough time to do much, but since you are already aware of that, then maybe just plan to grab lunch at a cafe' and stroll over the Ponte Vecchio and along the Arno a bit or see one major site (but not the Uffizi or Accademia which will require buying advance tickets or lining up to get tickets.)
I agree with skipping Genoa. Florence is wonderful, and it will make you want to return.
Are you going to Rome to fly home or to visit the city. If visiting the city, for how long? If just to fly home, how much would it cost to fly out of Florence or Milan. Probably less than traveling to Rome. Florence is a fascinating city with so much to offer that it deserves at least a couple of days. With some smart planning you can buy and coordinate online entrance reservations to the Academia and Uffizi museums and stop at the Duomo and its Baptistery in between, all within 4-5 hours. There is much more to see that will make you wish you had more time, and most certainly want to return.
Florence. Not even close.
Of your 3 choices, I'd pick Florence any day. Much more to see and enjoy, everything very close to the train station --walking distance to the Duomo, the market, the David, Ponte Vecchio, etc.
Milan doesn't offer much but the Duomo and the Castle...it's mostly about shopping and people watching. Genoa - big city, not a lot there, and you've been by water for 2 days, so go inland to Florence.
Get a Top 10 list of sites to see in Florence, and you can do most of it in one day. If you skip the museums (unless you are into art) you have time to see most of the important things. Make sure you walk across the bridge to the Alto Arno and find your way up to Michelangelo piazza for the wonderful vista of Florence roof tops, churches/towers and synagogue
