[Travel] Recommendations for Florence and Pisa

[Baldrick]

Afternoon all,

This summer my other half and I are heading to Pisa and Florence. Due to health reasons we will be staying within those cities only and not venturing to the wider area. We're planning on seeing the Leaning Tower, Uffizi Gallery and the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore, but wondered if there was anywhere else within the two cities that people would recommend?

Also, any places that you'd recommend to eat would be gratefully received!

Thanks,

Z

P.s. Apologies in advance - I have a vague memory that I might have asked this before but couldn't see it in my thread/post list!

I don't know whether you have booked your trip to Florence yet for this summer, but if you have bear in mind it will be packed. As mentioned on another post, you will difinately need to prebook visits to the Uffizi and Accadamia. Your channces of getting into the Basilica will be slim unless you are prepared to queue for at least a couple of hours. It's quicker to go to a religious service lasting around an hour, then hang around inside the Basilica afterwards.

The quietest time of the year to go to Florence is between December and February. Accomodation is cheaper and there are less (sometimes no) queues to visit the galleries and museums. Worth bearing in mind if you haven't already booked.

 

[Snowflake]

Florence is fabulous. Pitti Palace, Santa Croce, Ufizzi and if you can make it up the Duomo. All excellent.

 

[Yes Chef]

We had lunch in a place called Il Capodaglio in Pisa after the post Roma Friday morning train schlep.

The food was very nice, but our waitress was an absolute WORLDIE

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Afternoon all,

This summer my other half and I are heading to Pisa and Florence. Due to health reasons we will be staying within those cities only and not venturing to the wider area. We're planning on seeing the Leaning Tower, Uffizi Gallery and the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore, but wondered if there was anywhere else within the two cities that people would recommend?

Also, any places that you'd recommend to eat would be gratefully received!

Thanks,

Z

P.s. Apologies in advance - I have a vague memory that I might have asked this before but couldn't see it in my thread/post list!

My immediate thoughts were Zeberdi (loves Florence) and swansman (loves ....you can guess the rest).

 

[Beach Hut]

City wall walk at Pisa was magnificent with the added Brucie bonus of finding out it was closing early due to the Pisa v Brescia game being on so bought tickets for that.

 

[zeetha]

Thanks everyone for all the recommendations etc - most helpful

We know its going to be busy at the time we've booked, so will try and get tickets for what we want to see in advance. Can't dash around places or queue for too long as wife has chronic fatigue, so main plan is just to have a break away and soak up the architecture/atmosphere

 

[Super Steve Earle]

Always ask the price before you buy a gelato in Florence. They'll rip you off given the chance.

 

[Bakero]

Cornetto e caffè for breakfast, lampredotto for lunch, aperitivo in the early evening, then bistecca alla fiorentina for dinner. Bit of wandering around in between.

 

[maffew]

1) Florence and the Machine
2) With pineapple

 

[aftershavedave]

Florence is stunning, Pisa, the leaning tower aside is a bit of a dump, heavily built over. I'm sure it's lovely but we struggled with its charm

 

[BluesRockDJ]

Are they a new "pop" duo ?

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

Afternoon all,

This summer my other half and I are heading to Pisa and Florence. Due to health reasons we will be staying within those cities only and not venturing to the wider area. We're planning on seeing the Leaning Tower, Uffizi Gallery and the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore, but wondered if there was anywhere else within the two cities that people would recommend?

Also, any places that you'd recommend to eat would be gratefully received!

Thanks,

Z

P.s. Apologies in advance - I have a vague memory that I might have asked this before but couldn't see it in my thread/post list!

Pisa, apart from the Tower and the Duomo is a bit of a nothing town. 2 hours there maximum is enough. A train trip up the coast to the Cinque Terre area may be worth thinking about for a day trip from Pisa. Train from Pisa to La Spezia (1 hour?) and then a local train to one of the towns there. It is known as a walking area but you could easily do a day trip in one day.

 

[Jesus Gul]

Decent Florentine sarnies from the original All'Antico Vinaio.

Il Menu – Generale – EN – All'Antico Vinaio

www.allanticovinaio.com

Very successful now in other parts of Italy and the US.

I queued 30 mins for one in Rome - it was worth it. Great value too

 

[Krafty]

Afternoon all,

This summer my other half and I are heading to Pisa and Florence. Due to health reasons we will be staying within those cities only and not venturing to the wider area. We're planning on seeing the Leaning Tower, Uffizi Gallery and the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore, but wondered if there was anywhere else within the two cities that people would recommend?

Also, any places that you'd recommend to eat would be gratefully received!

Thanks,

Z

P.s. Apologies in advance - I have a vague memory that I might have asked this before but couldn't see it in my thread/post list!

I would recommend Piazzale Michelangelo, viewpoint in Florence, and Tuttomondo (Keith Haring) in Pisa. My recommended eatery is Trattoria Giovanni in Florence.

Enjoy your time in Florence and Pisa, two beautiful cities.

 

[Machiavelli]

Would hugely recommend seeing the maps created in late 15C and early 16C in the town hall in Florence.