Train tickets - Florence into Cinque Terre, and David+Uffizi time

You can see David in 30 minutes because that is really all there is -- David plus a couple of side exhibits but not much. A 15 min walk to Uffizi. Unfortunately it could take a couple days if you visited every room. So it is just the amount of time that you want to spend. Personally I would save Uffizi for another trip when you have the time for it and spend the balance of your time in Florence. Since it is a regional train that never sells out, no reservation, no discount, just buy it when it is convenient. You buy one ticket to Reiomaggiore and change trains in La Spezia.

Hi Eric. To add a little add'l info - for your Florence to Rio trains, check the schedules online at trenitalia.com. You likely will change at both Pisa and La Spezia and take all regional trains. If so, you can buy your ticket anywhere in Italy; it'll be the same price (10 euros) no matter when you buy it; it can be used any one day; just stamp it in the yellow machine before you board the train. However notice on the schedule that some of the Pisa - La Sp trains are ES trains which would be more expensive and require you to buy a ticket for that specific date and time. Enjoy your trip!

You may be able to get a train directly from Florence to La Spezia Centrale. I was last in the C.T. in July 2009 and we were able to get a direct train to L.S. It would not be difficult at all for you to purchase these tickets in the station. As far as the Uffizi is concerned, we spent close to 3 hrs. here and could have been longer. Had been to the Accademia/David before but went again. There was a special exhibit at Accademia when we were last here in 2009, Mapplethorpe, which then they charge you more for admission. We quickly walked through this special exhibit and checked out Michelangelo's unfinished prisoners but the majority of our time was spent admiring David. I made reservations for both of these museums. I am psyched too as will be heading to Rome and surrounding area in Mid-Oct! Buon Viaggio!

Frank, Bob (again!) and Janet thanks so much for the replies. Sounds like it's easier than I thought. I think we're going to try to pop into the Uffizi for a little bit and make that "museum day." Later in the trip we'll have car and we'll be in the area, so we can always come back to spend more time walking around Florence. Thanks again. E

p.s. Janet, I know the feeling ;-) I'm sure you're going to have an awesome trip!!

Eric,
We went to the Accademia and Uffizi galleries today. I would recommend reservations, even though I forgot to make them before we left the US (I followed Rick's advice in his guidebook and bought tickets at the Orsanmichele church which had no lines). I agree with the others; David is about the only thing really worth seeing in Accademia, but it is very much worth it. We spent abbot 45 min in Accademia. Uffizi, on the other hand, can be quite overwhelming if you are not an art critic or art scholar. We used Rick's audio guides and they were great. He gives the history of the art, covers the must see pieces, and keeps you moving through the gallery without getting bored. Rick's guide is about 45 min long, we spent 1hr 45min in uffizi. As far as your train goes, I can't help you there. I myself am trying to get to cinque terra this Sunday, but I might have to deal with a train strike. From what I know, the responses above are correct, as we are planning to go to La Spezia first too.

Thanks Oscar for all the info about the museums. I hope everything goes okay for you with the train strike. Or maybe I'll see you at the station :-)