Things to do in Florence besides museums.

[cruisingusa]

So we are going on a 12 day cruise and will have a lot of museum/tour centric stops and decided to do a more just wander around the city and take in the sights, local culture, ect. in Florence. What kinds of things are there to do in Florence besides museums as ive heard that is a big selling point for Florence. Are there a lot of little shops/cafes/gardens to roam in? Thank you!

[slidergirl]

Florence is a great city to just wander around. Walk along the Arno River. Walk over the Ponte Vecchio, window shopping at all the jewelry in the shop windows on the Ponte. Walk to the Duomo and the Piazza there. Walk to the Piazza della Repubblica and take photos of all the statues (and the horse-drawn carriages). Walk through San Lorenzo Market and the Mercato Centrale behind it (the Centrale is the indoor food market - fantastic sights and smells). Go to Santa Croce and walk through the Scuola del Cuoio (the leather school) and admire the gorgeous purses and jackets (maybe pick up a wallet there). Sample some gelato at SEVERAL different spots for comparison ;). Be sure one of them is La Carraia, across the bridge from the Westin hotel (go across and turn left a block) - amazing ricotta and pear gelato!!!! Go up to Piazza Michelangelo and admire the view.

 

So many things you can do!!!

[hazeleyez3]

We did a tour in Florence earlier this month, and didn't go to any museum.

 

We spent time in the Piazza (mostly around Loggia dei Lanzi), visited the Basilica, Baptistry, Ponte Vecchio, found a local market and watched them make homemade pasta, and "discovered little side streets". It was a wonderful day.

[euro cruiser]

Very near the Mercato Centrale, which should not be missed, is the Medici Chapel, which is over the top and well worth seeing: http://www.museumsinflorence.com/musei/Medici_chapels.html

[cruisingusa]

Wow thanks for all the ideas everyone! I really value the opinions of people that have actually been there so I can know what is actually worthwhile. :)

[Cathykim]

Went on a tour called 'Florence for Foodies'. It was great go to restaurants, markets, learn to make pizza, do tastings.....

[Maine Coon]

Leather market.

 

Best leather on this planet.

 

Made in Florence, Italy, not China :D

[slidergirl]

Leather market.

 

Best leather on this planet.

 

Made in Florence, Italy, not China :D

 

That's the San Lorenzo market. Also, it's a good place to pick up lots of scarves, belts, and handbags. Bought a leather jacket there the beginning of May, along with 2 more scarves. But, be aware that you need to be about a women's size 12 at most to find a coat. Anything larger than that, and it gets pretty tough.

[mcpot]

2 senior couples would like to fly into Rome or Florence and find a cruise that would take us to ports of call around Italy rather than stay inland moving

from place to place. Any recommendations?

[cruisemom42]

2 senior couples would like to fly into Rome or Florence and find a cruise that would take us to ports of call around Italy rather than stay inland moving

from place to place. Any recommendations?

 

You do realize that the ports for some of the most interesting cities (e.g., Rome, Florence) are more than an hour from the actual cities?

 

Also that visiting by cruise ship will only offer you, at most, around 10-12 hours in port (translating to 8-10 hours actual sightseeing time...)

 

If you are still interested, there are occasionally cruises offered on some of the smaller ships that call on a lot of Italian ports. I'm not sure you'll find an "all Italy" itinerary as I believe Italy, like the US, requires a foreign port of call.

 

Look at itineraries of lines like Oceania and Azamara, for example. Or for even smaller ships, look at Voyages to Antiquity or Swan Hellenic, which sometimes do a specialized Italian itinerary -- these lines have ships of about 300 passengers and offer excellent guest speakers on the history of the area, as well as including most shore excursions in the price of the cruise.

 

I'd also look for ships with overnights in some ports, like Civitavecchia, Livorno, Naples (or Sorrento), and Venice.

 

Personally, much as I enjoy cruising, I'd recommend a land tour for seeing the best of Italy.

[mcpot]

Thank you for your quick response. I guess that is why I cannot find any

reviews on such a cruise! I don't want to do the "seeing Italy" 9 day tour

where you take pot luck on where you stay and where you eat, the tour

telling you where that will be. Would love your suggestion on a 10 day

visit to Italy on where to stay with as little movement as possible - maybe

5 days in southern Italy and 5 days in northern Italy. Have considered

renting a VRBO or just stay in a hotel. Would love to see the sites, but

also experience the people, places, and foods that is the real Italy.

Any help appreciated.

[FTLcruisers]

2 senior couples would like to fly into Rome or Florence and find a cruise that would take us to ports of call around Italy rather than stay inland moving

from place to place. Any recommendations?

 

Check Celebrity Cruises...we are going on the Silhouette in November - leaving Civitavecchia (Rome) stopping in Ravenna, overnight in Venice, Catania, Naples also Corfu Greece, Kotor Montenegro and Dubrovnik Croatia.

 

While you see more on a land trip, cruising makes it a little easier if you are not someone who is comfortable driving from place to place. It also makes it convenient since you only have to unpack once!

 

Marianne

[mcpot]

Thank you so much. Gosh, you guys are helpful. Will look into Celebrity.

[buggins0402]

Thank you so much. Gosh, you guys are helpful. Will look into Celebrity.

 

With the itinerary mentioned above you could stay a few days or more in Rome before and perhaps take a train to Florence for a few days. This would allow you more time in cities that are difficult to do in just a port day. If you can find a cruise that starts in Venice and ends in Rome (or vice - versa) that would be ideal. Just add some time in Florence (and possibly Tuscany) on your own.

[lalawgirl]

relax in the Boboli gardens...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boboli_Gardens

[cruisingusa]

2 senior couples would like to fly into Rome or Florence and find a cruise that would take us to ports of call around Italy rather than stay inland moving

from place to place. Any recommendations?

 

 

its not just around Italy but I am doing a 12 days cruise on the Carnival Sunshine that goes to many ports throughout the Mediterranean. it starts in venice and goes to dubruvnik in croacia, izmir turkey, athens greece, rome, sicily, florance, marsalles and ends in barcelona, many different interesting ports. I appologize for misspellings of cities im too lazy to look it up ;)

[iancal]

We have been to Italy many times. We have also done a few cruises.

 

In our opinion, cruising is not the way to see Italy. As others have pointed out, many of the ports stops are one hour or more from the sights. You spend an awful lot of time travelling to and from and very little in those towns. You miss out on more than you see plus you do not get to see the towns at night, experience the life, etc. I cannot imagine only spending a few hours in Florence, Cinque Terre, Rome, etc. when you have travelled so far.

 

You might want to consider what we now do. Pick one area in Italy and spend a week in the area-perhaps split between two hotels/pensions/agritourisms.

 

The only upside to cruising at the present time is that prices have never been lower. That is the only reason why we have included Med cruises in our land trips over the past two years.

[kuldalai]

There is a great Leather Market in the street near the Baptistry and between there and railway station Fierenze SMN .

 

Boboli Gardens at Pitti Palace are magnificent .

 

Nice day trip by train to Siena .

[ksps cruise fan]

I don't want to do the "seeing Italy" 9 day tour

where you take pot luck on where you stay and where you eat, the tour

telling you where that will be. Would love your suggestion on a 10 day

visit to Italy on where to stay with as little movement as possible - maybe

5 days in southern Italy and 5 days in northern Italy. Have considered

renting a VRBO or just stay in a hotel. Would love to see the sites, but

also experience the people, places, and foods that is the real Italy.

Any help appreciated.

 

To experience the "real Italy" you'll need to stay overnight when the tourist crowds thin. That means a land vacation. To deal with your concern about Pot luck on hotels and restaurants, I recommend you contact a travel agent and tell them exactly what you've told us. They will create a custom itinerary the lets you stay in the hotels you choose and omits all meals except from breakfast in the hotel. That way you'll be in control of where and when you eat.

 

If you don't have a travel agent who has personal knowledge of Italy, I recommend you look at the recommended Italian-specialists on web sites like Conde Nast Traveler or Travel and Leisure. I also recommend you develop a list of the sites/places you'd most like to visit before you ever visit a travel agent.

 

When my husband and I visit Italy -- thus far always as part of a land vacation -- we tend to spend 10 days in one region of Italy alone. At most, we'll combine two adjacent regions. To understand why I and others are recommending a land visit in a limited area, you could visit Rome only for 10 days and depart with a list of things to see/do that's every bit as long as the list of the things you have seen/done!

[Cornishpastyman1]

Wow thanks for all the ideas everyone! I really value the opinions of people that have actually been there so I can know what is actually worthwhile. :)

How about climbing the Duomo ? At 2.40 in this

 

It cost €8 in 2011 and takes about 20-30 minutes to go up. All the best, Tony

[Keith1010]

You can shop in Florence and enjoy a fabulous meal and just walk around.

 

Keith

[iancal]

You could take a local bus up the hill to Fiesole. A small, charming town with great views of Florence and the countryside. As I recall, it is about a 10 minute bus ride on the local transit system.

[cruisingusa]

How about climbing the Duomo ? At 2.40 in this

 

It cost €8 in 2011 and takes about 20-30 minutes to go up. All the best, Tony

 

Ill definitely look into this thank you.

[Mimi21]

Have you ever been to Florence? Of all the cities, even my NON museum husband enjoyed seeing DAVID. Walking around the Boboli Gardens at the Pitti Palace was a quiet, and beautiful hour or so. the market is fun, and the food and Gelato was amazing.

[sweetpea222]

Thank you for asking this. We booked the Florence on your own excursion with NCL, but my hubby is more interested in exploring the city that inspired the gorgeous artwork, than spend his time in the museums.

 

After the craziness that will be Rome the day before, I'd enjoy a relaxing day in the city that sparked the Renaissance.