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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

We're going to Florence, and....

58 replies

PeachesMcLean · 24/03/2007 22:40

want to know everything you know about it. I'm soooo excited!

We're staying near there with opportunities for a couple of day trips. Going in June with our 6 year old son who is well used to being dragged round "places of interest", and can occasionally be appreciative, but does anyone have any tips / advice / comments at all about the place. Food / places to see / what to avoid. Anything.
Thanks in advance.

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PeachesMcLean · 25/03/2007 16:27

Surely someone has been to Florence?

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tinkerbellhadpiles · 25/03/2007 16:31

Don't bloody drive there - it's a nightmare. We went on honeymoon last March - I was in the first trimester and vomited everywhere.

Oh and book gallery tickets online in advance unless you want to get up at 8am and go, the queues are a nightmare.

Avoid eating on the main squares - about 40% more expensive than the back streets.

Pisa airport is really dull too. Florence airport is new and no-one uses it apparently.

Everyone speaks english but they tend to do it in a really surly way so it's a good idea to learn a little Italian if you can. In restaurants if you try to speak a little they will really appreciate it.

The chianti is nice.

That's about it really.

Rosa5 · 25/03/2007 16:33

wtahch out for gypsies especially round station ..pickpockets!
Lovely place , But can be hot hot as in a basin. Good day trips into the countryside, chiantishire, san gimignano, Siena. I would hire a car to get out and see the rolling hills of Tuscany they are beautiful , . Maybe do some wine tasting and don't forget the superb olive oil.. Leather markets are fab, some you can bargain with others is no way. But have alook round to make sure that you get the best price as some stalls sell the same thing. Oh and the shoes ! On the outskirts there is a Prada outlet ( if you fit size wise). 6 yr old might like tower of Pisa if you are flying to Pisa you could possibly combine. Its not worth a seperate day to go there unless you maybe continue to the coast / beach.

Rosa5 · 25/03/2007 16:34

Agree with booking in advance .Uffizi especially .

treacletart · 25/03/2007 16:39

I was told of an American tourist who went through Florence 3 times on a train before realising it was called Firenze.

brimfull · 25/03/2007 17:00

Buy leather in florence,don't assume it's cheaper anywhere else like I did.
We has a lovely lunch in a main square,didn't find it too ££ considering where we were and the atmosphere.
ds4 found it all a bit much because of the crowds but we were there in august.
There are virtually no seats at the train staion so don't plan on going to the station early for a train because you are exhausted and ds is whingeing like we did.
I second the advice to hire a car.
San gimignano ,Siena,Luca all lovely places to visit

PeachesMcLean · 25/03/2007 17:36

this is good stuff, anymore?

We've got a hire car and plan to do lots of touristing but it was Florence itself I really want to plan. We won't be driving into Florence though, will get the train. I like the tip about booking tickets for museums - I wouldn't thought of that.

Which were the best places you saw? I'm guessing there's too much to see in one or two days in the city itself so I'm trying to narrow it down a bit.

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keeplaughing · 25/03/2007 17:45

Florence is one of may fave places, also went there on honeymoon. there's a great view point it would be worth checking out - can't remeber what it's called - but it's south of the river and you get an amazing view of the city (might be Boboli Gardens?) Statue of David is worth a look, definitely. 6 yo might get a bit fed up of all the culture but vvv good takeaway pizzas in bars etc (go off route a bit) and ice creams might work. We had hire car, drove up from near Siena. Really seriously watch it on the m-ways they are absolute nutters. My DH loves driving and not fazed by it all usually - even he found it nerve wracking. If you or dh like a bit of driving excitement, florence itself was pretty special! will think of morre, am jealous!

tinkerbellhadpiles · 25/03/2007 17:45

It's not entirely kid friendly, san marco is good though - dead monks cells etc. Uffizi for adults. They get cross if you yodel in the cathedral though

tinkerbellhadpiles · 25/03/2007 17:45

It's not entirely kid friendly, san marco is good though - dead monks cells etc. Uffizi for adults. They get cross if you yodel in the cathedral though

keeplaughing · 25/03/2007 17:46

oh, and if you've seen a room with a view, go check out that piazza

Itsthawooluff · 25/03/2007 17:51

Forget Uffizi with small children - huge queues and lots of paintings with no appeal whatsoever for children under 15! My girls 8 and 6 enjoyed Palazzo Pitti instead, which had great gardens, and much more varied exhibitions.

Between Florence and Pisa there is Green Park, pretty much a park, lake with pedaloes, swimming pool, crazy golf + a bit which is like a mini funfair where all the rides were ideal for children under 10 - bumper boats / caged trampolines / mini quad circuit / Air bazookas where you get to blast your parents with spongy balls. Can't remember exactly where, but should be on web somewhere. We found it very useful to bribe children round yet another duomo, so went twice in a two week holiday.

If you do make your way to the coast, most beaches are private, but parasol is absolutely essential as mid day sun makes sand scorching.

Second comment about learning a bit of Italian - they really do seem to appreciate it. I used to apologise for not speaking Italian in Italian, and that went down really well - oddly! Mi dispiace, ma sono Inglese, e non parlo Italiano, (for I'm sorry, but I'm English and I don't speak Italian), - Lei parla Inglese? (Do you speak English).

tinkerbellhadpiles · 25/03/2007 20:10

Phonetically - say 'per favorrraaayy' (please) lots.

Oh and 'I'm sorry but I'm english' works just as well because once they realise you are english they just assume you won't speak Italian because we are an ignorant lot generally

You might also need (again phonetically) : 'me key-arm-mo (your name) - (my name is)

Hot chocolate is very good in Florence for the kids - phonetically 'chiocaaa-la-ta-per-favorrraaay' or for the parents 'veen-ooo-ross-ooo-per-favorrayy' (red wine please) - or just 'chianti per favorrayy'.

The Boboli gardens are good for kids.

tinkerbellhadpiles · 25/03/2007 20:11

Oh and the public loos are (a) rubbish; (b) infrequent and (c) tend to be only in museums with paid entry - the locals use the restaurants. Pretend to ask for directions at the bar while your kids nip in to stop the restauranters getting annoyed

Rosa5 · 25/03/2007 20:13

Keeplaughing its Piazzale Michangelo..If my memory serves me right with the great views.

tinkerbellhadpiles · 25/03/2007 21:19

Oooh I have just remembered the traditional italian squat toilets. Basically it looks like a shower base which you stand over and well do the business. Niceeeeeeee

ipanemabunny · 25/03/2007 21:33

peaches, if you go onto the guardian unlimited website, you have to register but it's free, you can search for Florence and there are some quite good articles about places to go. Also one article said go to things early in the day as soon as they open and don't go in the main part of the day if you can avoid it.

I inter railed to Florence in the 1980s with my then boyfriend and camped. It was so so so gorgeous, I loved the churches, they are cool places to hang out in the heat (we used to have to be suitably dressed don't know if you do any more!) and the uffizi was extraordinary. The ice cream is wonderful and the Italians love kids don't they?

Have a fab time!

PeachesMcLean · 25/03/2007 22:24

This is all great and I'll spend the next few weeks checking all this out in more detail, especially the Guardian link - that sounds great. Forewarned / forearmed and all that with the loos! I wondered if some would be the "squat and hope for best" type.

Isthawooluff - tell me more about Green Park. I've tried googling Green Park tuscany but I don't think I'm getting very far. Sounds useful, and as you say, a good bargaining position re Play Park Versus Duomo. Hadn't thought of yodelling in the latter but now am sorely tempted. Hmmm....

Has anyone been to the Pinocchio place? Is it any good?

Any more from anybody?

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PeachesMcLean · 25/03/2007 22:25

Oh, and I'm even MOOOOOOORE excited now. Very happy.

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ipanemabunny · 25/03/2007 23:48

peaches - I meant the Travel section of Guardia unltd - was that obvious?!
Also have you googled Florence for kids? I've just googled and there's a few websites that might be good.

I'm so jealous... I love Italy so much it is just heaven to me. sigh............

JanH · 25/03/2007 23:59

The original statue of David is in the Galleria del'Academia (sp?) or it was in 1970, but there are copies everywhere.

The big square with the view over the city is Piazza Michaelangelo.

That's all I can remember! But agree that Siena and Lucca are worth a visit, and Pisa, and Viareggio for a bit of seaside.

KatyH · 26/03/2007 00:02

I would highly recommend Siena for a day trip. Can't quite put my finger on why I loved it so much but it just has a lovely tranquil feel to it. Spent ages sitting in Piazza del Campo watching children chasing the pigeons...sigh

Ellbell · 26/03/2007 00:12

Lucky you, Peaches. Florence is just beautiful.

However, in June it will be HOT. Places like Siena and San Gimignano (which are on hills, as opposed to down in the valley) are much more manageable heat-wise, so I'd bear that in mind when planning days out in Florence and not try to fit too much in.

You get wonderful views of Florence from either Piazzale Michelangelo or the Giardini dei Boboli (check out the fat naked guy on the tortoise... should appeal to 6-y-o ds!). Haven't been to Florence with my kids (or, at least, last went when dd1 was 5 months old, so doesn't really count), but would perhaps give the Uffizi a miss and go for smaller museums. Where is it that has the Michelangelo slaves? That's fab, and again I think that sculpture is probably more appealing than painting to a 6-y-o. You can go up the bell-tower and/or (depending on heat/how much you like heights) the cathedral dome.

IME, bars tend not to mind if you go in and use the loos (you'll need to buy drinks anyway, as it'll be hot!) and especially not if you have kids with you.

Ooh, have just remembered a fun place where a friend took me once. There is a (relatively little known, I think) Ferragamo shoe museum. I think it's in one of the big department stores.

Otherwise, I recommend just moseying about and browsing. I particularly like Oltrarno (i.e. on the other side of the river from the city centre) which is a bit less 'shiny' and touristy than elsewhere. Stayed on Piazza Santo Spirito the last time I went and there was a nice market there on the Sunday morning.

Have fun!

Ellbell · 26/03/2007 00:34

Here's the guy on the tortoise!

Galleria dell'Accademia This is the place with the original of the David, and also the Michelangelo Prisoners (not slaves, as I said before - I got confused by all the stuff in the news atm about the abolition of the slave trade ... anyway, they are worth seeing!)

Ferragamo shoe museum
{http://www.cibreo.com/cibreo.html\This is supposed to be the best restaurant in Florence.} As well as the 'main' restaurant it also has a Trattoria and a Caffe'. It's on Via de' Macci which is near Santa Croce.

Ellbell · 26/03/2007 00:35

Sorry Cibreo