Pisa/Florence - Page 2 - Italy, Rivieras and Islands Discussion Forums, Holiday Forums

Pisa/Florence

PaulaS

2005-03-25 10:04:06

Hi chix1,
You will find alot of tourists wearing their shorts in the cities, but May is not really warm enough for the Italians to wear them and of course they will all be working at that time of the year and shorts are not really accepted in the workplace, which would also not be accepted here in the UK.

You will need to spend at least 2 days in Florence, there is quite a lot to see and it would also depend on whether you will be in a car or using the public transport. Piazza Michelangelo and Piazza di Fiesole are situated on the hills above Florence and are a must to see. Piazza Michelangleo is well known for its stunning views across the city, where as Fiesole is a very ancient town with several monuments excavated and a theatre which was carved out of the hills.

The city of Florence has a lot to see, I would suggest you buy a little guide book and then decide whats worth visiting and what not...obviously the Ponte Vechio is a must, Piazza Duomo and Piazza Signoria.

Siena is a medieval city which is pleasant to walk around, the Piazza del Campo and the Piazza del Duomo are the main attractions.

San Gimignano is also a must to visit for the day with its beautiful medieval towers. The medieval town is situated on a hill dominating the Val d'Elsa, full of narrow and shady streets. There was at one time 72 towers, but now remain only 15 in tact.

I hope this information is of help to you, if you need more info, I will gladly help.
Paula

chix1

2005-03-25 11:57:37

Thanks Paula, that will get me started with my planning. I get a little notebook and make all my plans long before I go. I hate just wandering around not knowing where I am going when time is limited. I particularly want to go to San Gimignamo so I will be allowing for that. We will be using public transport though so I will have a look at timetables etc.

Julie

lesley74

2005-03-25 16:06:58

hotels

If you're thinking about staying overnight or whatever in Florence, the Holiday Inn Florence (not 'North'), is nice, has a pool and is about 100 euros per room per night. It's on the other side of the Arno, but easily accessible by bus. I'd go back there in a minute. Some cafes and shops etc nearby also.

chix1

2005-03-25 20:18:03

Thanks Lesley, I will look into that as well. I might go again later in the year and stay in Florence for the week.

lesley74

2005-03-26 09:59:58

hotels

The holiday inn florence is really good value compared to others, and had good facitilies too. Easy bus ride to city. 1 euro each way I think.

http://www.hiexpress.co.uk

(it's not a holiday inn express though)

Sliema2

2005-04-11 17:42:38

Florence- Zona Archeologica

Hello, can anyone please tell me where in Florence this is, according to my book there is a Roman Theatre here ( Teatro Romano) it says that it is in Fiesole is this far from Florence and is it accessible by train or bus ?.

Regards
Sliema2

lesley74

2005-04-13 09:27:43

florence

Does the book give you any other info...

I'm thinking it could be in the 'historical centre'.....'altrarno' which is over the river. Look at a map (if you have one) and this is south of the river. Altrarno means over the river arno.

Don't know if you're meaning a hotel here or what. We stayed in Holiday Inn Florence (not north), and it was nice, had a pool too. 10mins on the bus took us to the centre.

Great trip, and good prices. Actually you just spurred me on to check out flights!

Sliema2

2005-04-13 10:17:33

Hi Lesley, I have found it thanks, it is in a place called Fiesole which is an archelogical area outside Florence, but many thanks for your interest.

Regards
Sliema2

lesley74

2005-04-13 14:56:42

florence

We'd been looking at a weekend break in Cologne or Paris....but I think we're going to go to Viareggio now and visit Pisa! Got good flight prices, but still enquiring about hotels!

Sliema2

2005-04-13 15:32:07

Hi Lesley, we were in Cologne two weeks ago it was very nice and well worth a visit.

Regards
Sliema2

lesley74

2005-04-13 21:24:20

cologne

Just throw a spanner into the works why don't you!

I've still not booked anything.

We could go to Viareggio for about £190 for 2 nights, in a 3* basic but nice looking hotel. Good idea to see it, want to see pisa, and we might like Viareggio for a summer holiday another time.

We could go to Cologne for about £235 staying in a Crowne Plaza (west of city, but looks central). It has an indoor pool too.

Never been to Germany, but spent 2 weeks in Italy last year (Rome/Florence/Rimini/Milan), then 2 nights in Rome just before xmas, 3 nights in Venice Previous year, 1 week in Rimini year before that........

Guess what I'm saying is that I love Italy....but maybe I should try Cologne....argh....I'm confused again! This is getting stressful!

I love Malta too by the way. Went to Sliema 2 years ago and would go back. Stayed in the Crowne Plaza and had fun! Loved Valetta too!

chix1

2005-05-26 19:36:32

I am in Pisa just now

Cant say I like Pisa too much. I wish I had booked in to stay in FLorence for the week. However I have managed to visit Florence, Sienna, Lucca and Viareggio so far, so I am doing well so far. Tuscany has beatiful countryside, I wish I had time to visit San Gimignano but I am going back to the UK tomorrow. Thanks for all the help with my trip.

lesley74

2005-05-28 11:11:33

Pisa

I've not been to Pisa, but love Florence. Glad you had a good time, and saw lots. Do update us on your return. I'm keen to hear about Viareggio.

chix1

2005-05-28 22:00:07

Hi all, got back tonight. Got caught up in an ATC strike and after boarding the plane, we were taken back off and delayed for 4 hours. it was a rather sour end to a great week. We stayed in Pisa (100yds from the Tower) for the week and spent one day in Florence which was not nearly enough. We also visited Lucca, Sienna and Viareggio using trains and buses. The buses were great in that we got to see some of the countryside which was stunning. Viareggio is beautiful and clean and well worth spending a whole week there at the beach if you like the sun. On the down side, I think I tried to do too much........I have 'Duomo Fatigue'!!!! and after a while the works of art all resembled each other. When I go back, I will spend more time in Florence and visit San Gimignano. Thanks for all who helped in planning my trip.

Julie

lesley74

2005-05-30 16:56:02

Italy

Glad you had a great time. You're making me want to visit Italy again now. Won't be this year though, have too many other plans, but it's definitely on the list for future. Quite fancy Viareggio. Is there any nightlife?

chix1

2005-05-30 21:29:56

Lesley, apparently there are a few massive clubs in Viaraggio that people come to from all over. It's a very classy place. The promenade is a whole street of designer shops selling extremely expensive clothes. The promenade is also packed with beautiful restaurants, coffee bars and ice cream parlours. Everything was so clean, I was amazed. If I were a 'beachy' person, but I am not, I would definately go there. It would be good for a base as you can reach almost anywhere by train or bus.

Julie

Harriers9

2006-05-07 19:46:02

Just bringing this back from the dead.

We are looking to go to Florence in September but all the flights seem to go into Pisa. Is it far from Pisa airport to Florence?

chix1

2006-05-18 13:06:09

We went from Pisa station to Florence and it was about an hour I think.

holidaylover

2006-05-18 17:12:52

It is an hour from Pisa airport to Florence town centre by car.

Aslemma

2007-09-13 08:02:14

A friend and I are thinking of going to Florence next year and Harriers9 has asked the question I needed the answer to, so thanks to chix1 I now know. :lol:

Just one more please - is the station far from the airport at Pisa?

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