I know this questions has probably been asked many times before, but I have just found out I am going in April and need this information fast. Also, how hard is it to hail a taxi on the street in Florence? I have bad knees and will be using a cane (I know, good luck) and am hoping to be able to get a taxi ever so often. Any suggestions? Many thanks.
Posted by
Cleveland, USA
61 posts
Hi Glenda, I'm just up the road from you.
I took students to Italy last May, and called ahead to get reservations. It was definitely worth the long distance call. We were able to bypass most of the line. I think we ended up waiting about 10 minutes at the Galleria dell' Accademia (the David) and walked right up at the Uffizi. For the Uffizi, you have to go pick up the tickets at an office across the street and slightly toward the river from the main entrance.
The reservation number for both the Uffizi and the Accademia is 055 29 48 83 and the website for the Uffizi is www.uffizi.firenze.it
As to a taxi, we didn't use them much, but the only time we had a problem was after a night concert at a church located not far from the Duomo. We got out after everything else had closed and few taxis were around. I ended up going in a hotel and asking them for assistance in calling for a taxi. They were very gracious in doing so.
Enjoy the trip. We had a wonderful experience.
Posted by
Cleveland, USA
61 posts
One other thing. In RS guidebook for Italy, he mentions some gelaterias. One of the ones singled out for Florence is near the Piazza di Santa Croce. I don't remember the name, and my guidebook is at work but it was singled out as having a flavor called rizo (rice). We stopped there one very hot afternoon to get gelato and, not meaning to be sacrilegious, had a religious experience. I was the last one out of the shop, and exited to the group standing there with looks of rapture on their faces as they ate the ice cream. It is well worth looking that place up. I think it was one of the best that we had during the trip, and believe me, we tried many.