What To Do Around Florence

In article <t0g_b.52247$5W3.32239@nwrddc02.gnilink.net>, John Keiser
<john.keiser2 RemoveThis @verizon.net> wrote:

 > Been to the museums/churches before.
 > Will be there for 4 days in May.
 > Any ideas for interesting day trips? Unusually sights? Interesting food?
 > Thank you.

I went on a day trip each to Pisa and Siena. These were very nice.
Both have theirs pros and cons, but if I had to pick one it would be
Siena, because its cathedral floors has relief sculpture, and it is in
a more rustic town. But Pisa has the leaning tower and a really cool
Baptistry - and the view from the Tower is awesome.

If you go to Pisa, it is easier to find your way to the cathedral/Tower
area. This is much harder from Siena. From Siena, I'd actually
recommend taking a taxi from the train station to the city center area.
I must have walked for hours because I found the Campo main square.

--
Dan Stephenson
Photos and movies from my 3-month European vacation and Wales 2003 at
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda" target="_blank">http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda</a><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What To Do Around Florence 

In article <230220041253175485%stephedanospam@mac.com>,
Dan Stephenson <stephedanospam.RemoveThis@mac.com> wrote:

 > In article <t0g_b.52247$5W3.32239@nwrddc02.gnilink.net>, John Keiser
 > <john.keiser2.RemoveThis@verizon.net> wrote:
 >
  > > Been to the museums/churches before.
  > > Will be there for 4 days in May.
  > > Any ideas for interesting day trips? Unusually sights? Interesting food?
  > > Thank you.
 >
 > I went on a day trip each to Pisa and Siena. These were very nice.
 > Both have theirs pros and cons, but if I had to pick one it would be
 > Siena, because its cathedral floors has relief sculpture, and it is in
 > a more rustic town. But Pisa has the leaning tower and a really cool
 > Baptistry - and the view from the Tower is awesome.
 >
 > If you go to Pisa, it is easier to find your way to the cathedral/Tower
 > area. This is much harder from Siena. From Siena, I'd actually
 > recommend taking a taxi from the train station to the city center area.
 > I must have walked for hours because I found the Campo main square.



the way to get to Siena from Florence is by bus -- the bus leaves you
right at the edge of the historic center of Siena and it runs frequently

MUCH more convenient than taking the train<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What To Do Around Florence 

In article <jenn-4AAF63.13121423022004.DeleteThis@news.vanderbilt.edu>, Jenn
<jenn.DeleteThis@hmplc.com> wrote:

 > In article <230220041253175485%stephedanospam@mac.com>,
 > Dan Stephenson <stephedanospam.DeleteThis@mac.com> wrote:
 >
  > > In article <t0g_b.52247$5W3.32239@nwrddc02.gnilink.net>, John Keiser
  > > <john.keiser2.DeleteThis@verizon.net> wrote:
  > >
   > > > Been to the museums/churches before.
   > > > Will be there for 4 days in May.
   > > > Any ideas for interesting day trips? Unusually sights? Interesting food?
   > > > Thank you.
  > >
  > > I went on a day trip each to Pisa and Siena. These were very nice.
  > > Both have theirs pros and cons, but if I had to pick one it would be
  > > Siena, because its cathedral floors has relief sculpture, and it is in
  > > a more rustic town. But Pisa has the leaning tower and a really cool
  > > Baptistry - and the view from the Tower is awesome.
  > >
  > > If you go to Pisa, it is easier to find your way to the cathedral/Tower
  > > area. This is much harder from Siena. From Siena, I'd actually
  > > recommend taking a taxi from the train station to the city center area.
  > > I must have walked for hours because I found the Campo main square.
 >
 >
 >
 > the way to get to Siena from Florence is by bus -- the bus leaves you
 > right at the edge of the historic center of Siena and it runs frequently
 >
 > MUCH more convenient than taking the train

I think a car rental in Tuscany is one of the most worthwhile rentals
around.

jay
Mon Feb 23, 2004
mailto:gofig@mac.com<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What To Do Around Florence 

In article <230220041346290824%gofig@mac.com>, Go Fig <gofig RemoveThis @mac.com>
wrote:

 > In article <jenn-4AAF63.13121423022004 RemoveThis @news.vanderbilt.edu>, Jenn
 > <jenn RemoveThis @hmplc.com> wrote:
 >
  > > In article <230220041253175485%stephedanospam@mac.com>,
  > > Dan Stephenson <stephedanospam RemoveThis @mac.com> wrote:
  > >
   > > > In article <t0g_b.52247$5W3.32239@nwrddc02.gnilink.net>, John Keiser
   > > > <john.keiser2 RemoveThis @verizon.net> wrote:
   > > >
   > > > > Been to the museums/churches before.
   > > > > Will be there for 4 days in May.
   > > > > Any ideas for interesting day trips? Unusually sights? Interesting
   > > > > food?
   > > > > Thank you.
   > > >
   > > > I went on a day trip each to Pisa and Siena. These were very nice.
   > > > Both have theirs pros and cons, but if I had to pick one it would be
   > > > Siena, because its cathedral floors has relief sculpture, and it is in
   > > > a more rustic town. But Pisa has the leaning tower and a really cool
   > > > Baptistry - and the view from the Tower is awesome.
   > > >
   > > > If you go to Pisa, it is easier to find your way to the cathedral/Tower
   > > > area. This is much harder from Siena. From Siena, I'd actually
   > > > recommend taking a taxi from the train station to the city center area.
   > > > I must have walked for hours because I found the Campo main square.
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > > the way to get to Siena from Florence is by bus -- the bus leaves you
  > > right at the edge of the historic center of Siena and it runs frequently
  > >
  > > MUCH more convenient than taking the train
 >
 > I think a car rental in Tuscany is one of the most worthwhile rentals
 > around.
 >
 > jay
 > Mon Feb 23, 2004
 > mailto:gofig@mac.com

seems a shame though to pay Florence hotel prices in order to drive
around Tuscany -- if that is the goal, then rent on the way out of town
and pick up cheaper country or small town hotels -- which also have
parking which is unlikely in Florence<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What To Do Around Florence 

Let me recommend a beautiful walk in Florence - about 2.5 hours or so.
Cross the Ponte Vecchio (going south). Walk down the Via d. Guicciardini
and Via Romana to the Porta Romana. Turn east on Via Machiavellie and walk
to the Piazzale Galileo. Stay on Via G. Gaililei and walk to Piazzale
Michlangiolo. The walk will then bring you back to the city. You will see
parts of Florence that are well out sight of most visitors (villas and
vineyards) and as the walk brings you up into the hills, it provides a
dramatic and breathtaking view of the city. I have found memories of the
walk to be more enduring than the artwork and museums.
 >> Stay informed about: What To Do Around Florence 

Re. the bus suggestion. The bus company you will need is called SITA and
their bus station is across the road to the right of the main railway
station steps when coming out. Ignore the bus stands in the street - these
are city buses. The bus station is down a side street and is badly
signposted. The SITA buses are blue. This is also the firm that run to San
Gimignano for which you will probably have to change at Poggibonsi. This
info correct as of last October.
Personally i would rate Siena far pleasanter than Pisa because of its
elevated setting and surrounding landscape (vineyards versus swamps!)

"Jenn" <jenn.DeleteThis@hmplc.com> wrote in message
news:jenn-D68698.16002723022004@news.vanderbilt.edu...
 > In article <230220041346290824%gofig@mac.com>, Go Fig <gofig.DeleteThis@mac.com>
 > wrote:
 >
  > > In article <jenn-4AAF63.13121423022004.DeleteThis@news.vanderbilt.edu>, Jenn
  > > <jenn.DeleteThis@hmplc.com> wrote:
  > >
   > > > In article <230220041253175485%stephedanospam@mac.com>,
   > > > Dan Stephenson <stephedanospam.DeleteThis@mac.com> wrote:
   > > >
   > > > > In article <t0g_b.52247$5W3.32239@nwrddc02.gnilink.net>, John Keiser
   > > > > <john.keiser2.DeleteThis@verizon.net> wrote:
   > > > >
   > > > > > Been to the museums/churches before.
   > > > > > Will be there for 4 days in May.
   > > > > > Any ideas for interesting day trips? Unusually sights?
Interesting
   > > > > > food?
   > > > > > Thank you.
   > > > >
   > > > > I went on a day trip each to Pisa and Siena. These were very nice.
   > > > > Both have theirs pros and cons, but if I had to pick one it would be
   > > > > Siena, because its cathedral floors has relief sculpture, and it is
in
   > > > > a more rustic town. But Pisa has the leaning tower and a really
cool
   > > > > Baptistry - and the view from the Tower is awesome.
   > > > >
   > > > > If you go to Pisa, it is easier to find your way to the
cathedral/Tower
   > > > > area. This is much harder from Siena. From Siena, I'd actually
   > > > > recommend taking a taxi from the train station to the city center
area.
   > > > > I must have walked for hours because I found the Campo main square.
   > > >
   > > >
   > > >
   > > > the way to get to Siena from Florence is by bus -- the bus leaves you
   > > > right at the edge of the historic center of Siena and it runs
frequently
   > > >
   > > > MUCH more convenient than taking the train
  > >
  > > I think a car rental in Tuscany is one of the most worthwhile rentals
  > > around.
  > >
  > > jay
  > > Mon Feb 23, 2004
  > > mailto:gofig@mac.com
 >
 > seems a shame though to pay Florence hotel prices in order to drive
 > around Tuscany -- if that is the goal, then rent on the way out of town
 > and pick up cheaper country or small town hotels -- which also have
 > parking which is unlikely in Florence<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What To Do Around Florence 

When I was in Siena, it was a long walk from the lot where we parked our
car, but we didn't have any problem finding the Piazza del Campo. I stopped
in the first hotel I came to and asked for a city map. All the hotels, (at
least that I've tried) have free city maps, marked with their own name for
advertising purposes and the convenience of their guests. The maps in guide
books, even in the Michelin red guide, are not adequate for more than
getting a general sense of where things are. Same thing in France and I'm
sure most other European destinations.

"Dan Stephenson" <stephedanospam RemoveThis @mac.com> wrote in message
news:230220041253175485%stephedanospam@mac.com...
 > In article <t0g_b.52247$5W3.32239@nwrddc02.gnilink.net>, John Keiser
 > <john.keiser2 RemoveThis @verizon.net> wrote:
 >
  > > Been to the museums/churches before.
  > > Will be there for 4 days in May.
  > > Any ideas for interesting day trips? Unusually sights? Interesting
food?
  > > Thank you.
 >
 > I went on a day trip each to Pisa and Siena. These were very nice.
 > Both have theirs pros and cons, but if I had to pick one it would be
 > Siena, because its cathedral floors has relief sculpture, and it is in
 > a more rustic town. But Pisa has the leaning tower and a really cool
 > Baptistry - and the view from the Tower is awesome.
 >
 > If you go to Pisa, it is easier to find your way to the cathedral/Tower
 > area. This is much harder from Siena. From Siena, I'd actually
 > recommend taking a taxi from the train station to the city center area.
 > I must have walked for hours because I found the Campo main square.
 >
 > --
 > Dan Stephenson
 > Photos and movies from my 3-month European vacation and Wales 2003 at
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda</font" target="_blank">http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda</font</a>><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What To Do Around Florence 

On Mon, 23 Feb 2004 05:16:09 GMT, "John Keiser"
<john.keiser2 RemoveThis @verizon.net> wrote:

 >Been to the museums/churches before.
 >Will be there for 4 days in May.
 >Any ideas for interesting day trips? Unusually sights? Interesting food?
 >Thank you.

From Florence you've got places like Pisa, Bologna, Siena etc at your
fingertips - each around an hour away on train.

Bologna seemed out of the tourist trap when I visited last Summer.
Climb up the hill to the Monastery if you can - it is a steep walk but
is an amazing view once you reach the top. Amazing. Oh, and the best
Gelato I've ever had was in Bologna!<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What To Do Around Florence 

On Mon, 23 Feb 2004 05:16:09 GMT, John Keiser wrote:

 > Been to the museums/churches before.
 > Will be there for 4 days in May.
 > Any ideas for interesting day trips?

You can go to Pisa, it's only one hour away by train (tickets can be bought
at the station).

Or to Lucca.

Also nice are Siena and San Gimignano.

Regards,

Frank<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What To Do Around Florence 

Hallo John,

You'll find plenty of new things to see and restaurants, etc. on
TheTravelzine. Look at this travelogue (non-commercial site):
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.thetravelzine.com/it_w2003_3.htm" target="_blank">http://www.thetravelzine.com/it_w2003_3.htm</a>

Bye, Joh


 > Been to the museums/churches before.
 > Will be there for 4 days in May.
 > Any ideas for interesting day trips? Unusually sights? Interesting food?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: What To Do Around Florence