Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Florence

Florence, Italy. Good idea to skip the tourist traps?

kdern — Sat, 23 May 2009 07:16:20 -0800

Visiting Florence, Italy for the first time in June. Should I skip the popular tourist attractions and just explore the actual city? It's my first visit to Italy. I'll be on a business (sightseeing) trip in Rome and Venice for 2 days each, then I'm going to Florence on my own for 2-3 days. I am considering skipping some of the "must see" tourist attractions in the city in favor of more time just exploring the city. I'm also considering a day trip to Siena.

I just don't think it would be a good use of time to spend 2 days among crowds of tourists, standing in lines to see the same attractions every other American sees while in Florence.

I don't know what I would see instead, but the idea would be to explore the city itself instead of hitting specific attractions. If someone asked my advice about NY, I'd recommend they explore neighborhoods rather than wait in line for the Empire State Building.

Does this make sense for Florence?

One other piece of information - I am hoping to go back to Italy for 2-3 weeks next spring with my fiancee.

Italo Disco

sgt.serenity — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:16:16 -0800

Got a week in Pisa, Italy - looking for good places to camp nearby the beach and wonderful metafiltery things to do : ) Yep, I heard about - see the tower and thats it but me and the kochanie are into being by the beach, camping, maybe some good food and how to get to rome or florence by train and quick back would be really helpful - I'm sure there's some beautiful scenery there also thats off the beaten track and someone from mefi would know about as well : ) - some italo disco clubs would be really funny : )

Cheap Hotels in Florence, Italy?

Alterscape — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:09:21 -0800

I need to find a cheap hotel in Florence, Italy during a large conference (April 5-10, 2008). All the conference-affiliated cheap hotels are booked. What are my options? I'm a grad student. I'm hoping to attend CHI 2008 in Florence, but I just got my travel funding situation straightened out recently and I'm discovering that the only remaining unbooked rooms available through the conference organizers are in upscale hotels that cost 200+ euros per night. I'm willing to stay further from the conference venue than the officially-sanctioned hotels, assuming I can get a room for less. I know hostels are an option, but I'm going to be traveling with dress clothes, a laptop and some other equipment, so the stereotypical hostel-as-dormitory-with-no-secure-storage worries me a bit. What are my options for finding a cheap but somewhat secure hotel or hostel?

Oddly enough, I didn't come to Italy for the churches.

twins named Lugubrious and Salubrious — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 03:23:59 -0800

I just landed in Italy. Help me find the Florence and Rome that no one writes about. My family and I will be staying in Florence and Rome for Christmas and New Year's. History, museums, and churches are great, but more their thing than mine. Where can I find what I'm looking for? I want to see the local street scene: where are Florence and Rome's skate shops, the parks where the people are loitering, the secret places to stumble on tags? Where are the best streetwear stores, and the "best kept secret" boutiques? TIA.

And for those of you who celebrate it: Merry Christmas!

Your ideas for nontraditional, off the beaten path, interesting, insightful things to do or see in or close to Venice, Florence, and Rome, Italy?

Askr — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:13:54 -0800

What are your favorite nontraditional, nontouristy, alternative, culturally-insightful things to do in or near Venice, Florence, and Rome? I mean the deeper anthropological kind of culture, not museums, opera, etc. I'm not looking for the usual must-see tourist destinations or the things that epitomize a city. I want the fascinating little finds you accidentally stumbled on and loved, but which few or no tours would have found because they aren't "sights". If it can give me a glimpse of how contemporary Italians see the world, to appreciate a bit more what it's like to be them, that's a turbo bonus. No points off for plain old fun activities either. I've read every Italy thread on here and haven't quite found what I'm after. My parents invited me on a guided package tour of Venice, Florence, and Rome next week and the following week. Italy's not high on my list of travel destinations and I'm not a package tour kind of guy at all, but it's free, foreign, and family, so I'm going and am sure I'll have a good time. I'd like your help in reducing that touristy malaise feeling and replacing some of it with interesting insights and experiences.

There is a lot of the usual museum/monument time on the itinerary. I'm not a museum/monument kind of guy. Paintings paintings paintings, churches, aaagh! Don't care! Don't wanna take all the same obligatory pictures everyone has taken for a century or follow a guide around the whole time as they tell me about this or that set of ruins. For me, travel is about learning about how the world looks through other cultures' eyes. I know some of this can be informed by their history or past cultural products such as art or architecture, but what I want is to get glimpses of what life is like for ordinary people there right now to the degree I can in a very short time - what their big issues are, what their worldview is and how it differs from mine. Optimism, cynicism, assumptions, prejudices, filters, priorities, norms, oddities. A guided package tour of sights is not a great way to do this but it's what I have to work with.

So I want to break away from the tour group at least once per city and go do my own thing - - interesting, educational, insightful, off the beaten path kinds of things, especially any that help me understand what life is like for normal contemporary Italians. I don't want to see sights (I'll already see plenty, e.g. David, Sistine, etc.); What I want is some hint of contemporary cultural anthropology. It could be anything - some interesting local custom, some political event, some unique civic activity, some un-famous piece of history that influences the present in a fascinating way, some cultural fixture (e.g., I wish there were some soccer games during my stay). What have you found in or near these three places that was your special find that people wouldn't normally find on a tour, and which enriched your experience and understanding of Italy and Italians?

One hurdle is that I speak almost no Italian, not having planned to go there. So it would need to be something observable absent language or there would need to be English speakers or literature, a tall order. Below is the itinerary, including what I'm considering skipping. There are a fair number of free afternoons and evenings built in. What is nearby that's not on this list, that you loved, that isn't a "sight" but was a great find? Not looking for restaurant/bar recommendations unless they happen to deliver what I'm looking for. If you don't have anything in the sort of cultural anthro insight category, yeah, just list anything fun or interesting or unusual that's not a major tourist sight. For example I keep seeing recommendations to go to Siena near Florence. But why? What do people like about it?

No need to focus on these knowns in your reply:
-This is a very short time to develop any real cultural insight
-Art and architecture and ruins and history are important
-Don't discount what you can learn from quality guides
-Not speaking Italian limits your options

Grazie!

Itinerary:

Nov 12-14: Venice
-backstreets walking tour (also planning on "getting lost")
-St. Mark's Basilica & Doges' Palace
-Accademia art museum. SKIP THIS
-a free afternoon
-2 free evenings and 1 planned dinner

Nov 15-17: Florence
-Accademia Gallery w/ David
-"Renaissance walk" - Duomo, Baptistery, etc. SKIP ONE OF THESE TWO
-Oltrarno area - walk/talk re Roman, medieval and 19th century Florence. SKIP ONE OF THESE TWO
-Uffizi art museum. MAYBE POP IN FOR AN HOUR OR TWO. (I know it's huge)
-2 free afternoons
-2 free evenings and 1 planned dinner

Nov 18-20: Rome
-Vatican Museum, Sistine, St. Peter's.
-Some free time in Vatican area for crypt, dome, whatever.
-Forum, Colosseum, Pantheon
-Free afternoon near area of Palatine ruins, Mamertine prison, etc.
-A few free hours in heart of city
-Evening stroll through historic heart of city.
-2 planned dinners and 1 free evening
.

Where to go in Venice and Florence?

warble — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 07:51:52 -0800

The boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Italy in late October. We are still struggling with one thing, though: what to do during planned day trips to Florence and Venice. If you had to recommend one or two destinations or experiences that really epitomize the spirit of these two cities, what would they be? So here's the deal. We are going to be in Italy for a week and a half. We will be spending a couple days in Rome, and then moving to Bologna where we have rented a studio apartment for a week. From Bologna, we are planning two day trips to Florence and Venice. We have a good idea of the things we'd like to do in Rome and Bologna - we're just overwhelmed by the number of things available to do in our day trip cities, and we're not sure what to focus on.

I think we are most overwhelmed by Florence. Reading guide books and sites online about the city mention the beautiful art and museums. However, we also read about the long lines at the museums and wonder which ones are worth it, or if we should even be visiting a museum at all.

The same applies to Venice. The only thing we've settled on it taking a ride in a boat down the grand canal, but we've heard differing opinions even on that. In a city with so much history that so many people love there has to be a good way to get a feel for what a unique place Venice is.

We are obviously planning on doing some meandering/walking in both cities, and taking the time to sit and eat some good food and do some light shopping, but we both feel like we want a goal during our day - a place to walk to and visit inside, a tour to attend, a unique experience, something! - and since our time is so short it's hard to figure out what would give us a brief but true taste of these cities.

Any suggestions?

Meeting gellow teachers in Florence, Italy- how?

tristanshout — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:05:03 -0800

we're teachers, going to Florence, Italy, looking for local teachers. what is our best chance to meet them? I teach High School English, and my gf teaches gifted 5th graders. we would love to see Italian educators at work- nothing formal, just watch them, see a school or two, maybe take them to lunch. Our italian is so-so right now. we're learning, but if you know any English speakers...

Where can I buy 4x5 Polaroid Sheet Film in Rome?

Bengston — Sun, 13 May 2007 10:23:18 -0800

Where can I buy 4x5 Polaroid Sheet Film in Rome? I'm heading off to Italy this afternoon for a little over two weeks. Although I don't have much time to do any photography lately I still want to take some photos with my field camera and so I purchased a couple of boxes of Polaroid film, however I figure it is very likely that once I get there I am going to feel compelled to take more than a couple of photos a day. Does anyone know where in either Rome or Florence I can pick up some more 4x5 Polaroid sheet film? I currently have typ 59 and type 54 but I would be interested in other types also (but I don't have any ND filters so they would need to be rather low ISO) Is it going to cost me an arm in a leg more than what I am used to? (I normally order from B&H)

Christmas in Florence?

tristanshout — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:47:58 -0800

As a first-time visitor to Rome and Florence (and Venice?) at next Christmas and New Year's, what can I expect? What is a must-see attraction that might have special holiday hours?

Flying into an unknown situation

amtho — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 21:02:31 -0800

These inexpensive flights from London to Florence - will I really find one after arriving in London? A friend has graciously offered to allow us to stay with him in Florence for a few days in the middle of our otherwise-UK trip in late January. He's told me about fabulous, sub-$100 deals on flights on (I think) an Irish airline, that can be booked only once one is already in London.

Naturally, I fear arriving in London, only to find that it will actually cost $500 or something, or that these flights must be booked three or ten days in advance, or something.

Is this something we can realistically do? We'll be flying into Gatwick from the US, so would prefer to deal with the same airport if possible -- how really does this all work?

And, since we will probably end up spending one or two days in London anyway, bonus if you can tell us how to stay in London inexpensively in case we get stuck there. We've found a promising hotel for not too much $, but are uncertain of the whole dining scene and suspect that guidebooks are written mostly for those who want "nice" meals...

Italian course in Florence?

walla — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 10:14:35 -0800

Recommendations for an intensive, short-term Italian language course in Florence?

7 days in Italy

cosmonaught — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 19:27:23 -0800

How to spend 7 days in Italy? My little sister and I will be traveling through Italy in just over a month. I meet her in Venice on December 8th (she's studying in the area) and we fly out of Rome the morning of the 15th.

Tentative plans are for a whirlwind tour through Florence, Naples (Pompeii), Rome, Pisa, & Lucca-- but nothing is set in stone except the flights in and out. I've been through Venice, Florence, and Rome a couple times, but although she's been in Italy for three months, she hasn't really seen anything in the country, so the big sights in Florence and Rome are definitely on the schedule.

As far as budget goes, I'm a working man, but she's a student, so it can kind of go either way, I can pitch in extra if necessary, but we're looking to do things on the cheap where we can. Hostels are great, hotels in the $60-120 range are ok. Neither of us speaks Italian, though we're both comfortable traveling in foreign countries.

With all that out of the way...

Where should we go/eat/sleep/drink/shop?

Recommendations for sights or cities to visit are greatly appreciated, and even more so, hotels/hostels or areas of cities to stay, and specific places to eat & drink.

And I do think I've read all the questions here tagged with Italy...

Take a tour across Italy or stay in Rome?

atmu — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 15:08:31 -0800

Going to Italy - Stay in Rome the whole trip or take a tour to several cities? My parents and I are going to Italy in mid October for 7-10 days. We plan on staying in Rome primarily, but are also considering whether or not we want to go on a tour which will include Florence and Venice.

Tour info: if we go on one of the tours, it 'll be about 3 nights in Florence, 3 in Rome, 1 in Venice. Or maybe no Venice at all.

If we do not go on a tour, we'll be staying in Rome, unable to visit Florence and Venice because of the distance.

My questions are these: are the tours in Italy worth it? Or would it be better to just stay in Rome for the whole trip and visit the close surrounding areas? If so, are there enough things to do and see in Rome, taking into account that me and my brother are 22 & 27, while our parents are 55+? Are Florence and/or Venice a must-see?

Firsthand stories of your experiences would be great =]

If it's MyAir.com, why can't I book a flight?

Scram — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 19:06:06 -0800

Why can't I purchase a cheap air ticket on Italian MyAir.com from the US? MyAir.com seems to have the only cheap flights from Bologna to Paris--as little as .01 Euro with tax. I have my eye on a 19.99 Euro flight on October 29, but every time I try to complete the purchase through their web form, I get an error message that says "you seem to have entered the wrong credit card details" (which I haven't) and warning me that if I do this three times I'll get bounced out of the system.

So I stopped after two times and called the airline number (0044 2073651597) a couple of times in business hours, but it was always busy.

Then I asked a travel agent in LA if she could make the booking, and she said neither she nor any travel agent in the US could book with MyAir, and suggested an AirFrance flight for $350 instead. This would put quite a crimp in our honeymoon budget, so we said nix.

So, great hive mind, I ask you: Is there an international travel agent I can hire in Italy or elsewhere in Europe? Or can I ask someone in Italy to buy tickets in someone else's name? Are there other cheap airlines flying Tuscany - Paris (Florence would be okay too) that I am overlooking? Can American Express handle this? Or is there an alternate way of communicating with MyAir?

Any suggestions much appreciated. Thanks!

Where can we go from London for a few days in Europe?

k8t — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 14:24:43 -0800

[EuroTripFilter]What European city can we go to CHEAPLY for a few days from London? I lived in London for a year, but now I'm back in the States. I'm going back to London for 10 days [September 8-18]. I'm bringing my never-left-the-US twin sister with me. I know that this may very well be the last time that she ever travels at all. As such, I'd like us to leave London for a few days to see something on the continent. Paris or Brussels via Eurostar is the obvious destination, but I was there just last month, so I'm not all that interested. I'd love to go to Rome, Florence, or Prague. She does want to see Paris though. (And I'm willing to do 24 hours there.) So, Hive Mind, how can we get from London to Paris and then onto Rome (or Florence or Prague) cheaply? Would taking the Eurostar to Paris and then flying or taking the train to the next city work? Should we just skip Paris altogether and wait for cheap flights to other European cities? Which would be cheapest? Advise for cheap travels preferred!

The Honeymooners

thewittyname — Fri, 19 May 2006 11:49:43 -0800

Help me plan a trip to Italy - Rome, Florence and the countryside in Tuscany and Umbria. I'm leaving for Italy next week for my honeymoon. I'll be spending two weeks in Rome, Florence, Tuscany and Umbria. I've made my hotel reservations already, what I'd like to know is - what are some attractions in these places that we can't miss? The only thing we have planned so far is a bus tour of Rome's ancient monuments (Colosseum, Roman Forum, etc...). We're also planning to see the Vatican, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

What else should we see?

My first trip to Europe!

ersatzkat — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 16:21:50 -0800

Travelling to Italy in May - looking for advice on Venice, Bologna, and Florence. We're taking a honeymoon trip in mid-May - flying to Bologna, then planning a couple days in Venice (and seeing Murano), a couple in Florence, a couple-three in Bologna then flying home.

I've looked at older ItalyThreads, and found some useful links for hotel reservations, but I was hoping to solicit additional advice based on personal experiences. Restaurants, hotels, bars you loved? Some clever shopping district a guidebook might not mention? (I love paper, leather journals, glass beads (I make my own jewelry), scarves and shawls.)

Did you find the trains easy to use? I'd like to just rent a car to avoid the schlepping of luggage from here to there, but I understand it's wicked expensive. Anything that you can tell me that Lonely Planet might not, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Milan, Florence, Rome hotel recommendations?

gen — Sun, 19 Jun 2005 17:11:22 -0800

I'm travelling to Italy in late August and am looking for hotel recommendations for Milan, Florence, and Rome. I'm looking for not the most expensive, but not the least expensive. Maybe 3-4 stars? I'm also looking more for an "Italian" experience than a big chain hotel. I'd be happier in something that is smaller and older (if well kept) or more of a boutique-type place. I'll be travelling by train and won't have much more than 2 days per city, unfortunately, so a central location is important to me. If there are any Italians or Italy travellers who might be willing to advise me, I'd really appreciate it!

renaissance florence reading?

amberglow — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 08:05:38 -0800

NovelFilter: I just finished Romola, by Eliot, and didn't love it, but want to learn more about Florence in the era--a very interesting time, to put it mildly--with the Medicis, Savanarola, etc. Any good novels or non-boring non-fiction on Florence in the late 1400s-early 1500s?

I need temporary housing in Florence with internet access

specialk420 — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 11:06:50 -0800

quality temporary living quarters in florence? with internet access? i have a friend who is there and could use some help... thanks in advance.