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What is the most efficient way to visit these two places in Florence

Posted by on

I apologize if this too specific a question to be of interest to other travelers. I will greatly appreciate any help you can provide.

We have less than one day to accomplish the following: We want to see (and take pictures of) a gravestone of a (long dead) relative in Santa Croce and then go to La Specola (next to Palazzo Pitti) to see at least his bust. After that proceed to Lucca. We will be three or four people.

My cousin is coming in from Lucca in the morning and will most likely park at the train station. I am thinking that we have two alternatives which are a combination of bus and taxi. I would be grateful for suggestions that might keep down the (taxi) cost; we can walk some, but not a lot.

Alternative 1: Go to Santa Croce first: Take bus #13 from SMN to stop # 14, turn west to via de’ Malcontenti, walk to Santa Croce.
From Santa Croce, take a taxi (are there taxis there easy to find?) to La Specola, I can’t find a bus solution here.

Alternative 2: Go to La Specola first: Either Bus # 12 from SMN to Porta Romana – Stop # 15, then walk on via Romana towards La Specola OR take Bus D from SMN to stop #10 (near Santo Spirito) and walk to La Specola.
From La Specola to Santa Croce – taxi? Can’t find a bus solution.

Return from Santa Croce: walk via de’ Benci, across bridge to stop#4 (Demidoff), take Bus D to SMN (stops behind the station).
Return from La Specola: Bus D from Piazza Santo Spirito to SMN.

Shall I take four 90-min Tickets for each segment?
Many thanks for any ideas that will help me with this plan.

Posted by
81 posts

I am not sure about all of the logistics, but do your math carefully. Three or four bus tickets against a taxi ride, especially with the time savings and less walking, might make the taxi a pretty good deal.

Posted by
500 posts

Bus D from the station to S. Spirito and walk to La specola. Bus D again to Ponte alle Grazie and walk to to S. Croce. Bus #23 to the station. You could also walk the second segment (Specola to S.Croce), it is closer than it looks and it would take twenty minutes.

Each bus run could be a 4x90 ticket (euro 4,70). A 4x90 ticket is good for four single runs, but can be used by four persons at the same time by stamping it on its four sides and it is cheaper than buying four separate tickets.

Each segment would cost about 10 euros by taxi. While taxis are easy to find at the station, they would have to be summoned by phone at other location, so you need to have a cell phone with you. (Numbers are 055-4390 or 055-4242).

Posted by
8703 posts

These sites are all easily walked. Perhaps take a taxi from the station to the first one and then walk to the second. It is also a beautiful area to walk. Florence is tiny and given the small twisted streets, walking is often the most efficient way to go.

Posted by
11 posts

Thank you for your input. I love this forum, everybody is so helpful (and occasional barbs may be deserved, lol). I often read topics just for entertainment and enjoy the different contributors.

I will definitely weigh taxi vs. bus. I agree that a bunch of bus tickets, plus walking to and waiting for buses, etc, may well be less convenient than a taxi. Thank you for the phone numbers! We'll see how we feel about walking at the time (it will be at the end of September).

Do you have experience with what google tells us about walking distances between points, e.g. Piazza Santa Croce to Gelateria dei Neri being only 290m or 4 mins? Is that roughly reliable? We are not very speedy seniors.

Thanks again for looking at this.

Posted by
2504 posts

A lot of the walking could be right next to the Arno, which would be level and very scenic - 'not speedy' would be a positive!

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