My 16 year old son and I are traveling to Florence for a week next month. He's never been there and my last visit was almost 30 years ago so it will be a nice adventure. I've been reading old posts and reviews and am getting excited.

I have booked one walking tour through artviva and may book another. Since it's low season, I was wondering whether I need to make museum reservations. Does anyone know whether there will be any Carnevale celebrations? We are considering a day trip. Since it's winter, would we be better off going to Lucca rather than Fiesole? If so, we would love a recommendation for a nice trattoria for lunch. Any opinions on the Ferragamo museum?

Grazie.

Millie, quite jealous about your trip.

Have you seen this article, 33 Years Of Amazing Shoes In The Salvatore Ferragamo Museum?

millie,I loved the Ferragamo museum and might just go back again my next trip in October. It's free and doesn't take long to take in, a win-win experience. Fascinating look backk at shoe styles over the years and about the Ferragamo family.

I like Lucca but it's another city setting and not as close as Fiesole. Depends if you prefer scenery or a bustling (Lucca has a lot of tourits too)and very lovely Tuscan city. Either would be very enjoyable depending on your frame of mind.

Last feb in Florence there were short lines at the Uffizi and at the Pitti Palace ticket office (it services the 3 or4 musuems at the Pitti palace).
there was a longer line at the Medici Chapel

February is a magical time to be in Florence...lucky you. Check out the smallest shop in town, that of American lute maker Jamie. right behind Palazzo della Signoria.

Mary Jane, is the shop you referring to Liutaio on Via dei Leoni?

Ciao Millie,

February in Florence, boy does that bring back memories! First, the 16 year old son, is he an artist? Does he like museums or does he like people watching (my favorite past time as a broke GI in the 60’s), allow the trip to full fill his desires also. I took my new wife to my adopted home town of Florence in 2005 so she could see all the art her heart longed for her whole life; I NEVER enjoyed Florence more than that trip. To see her eyes look longingly at every piece of art work as if it would vanish in the next second was worth every penny I spent for that trip.

Yes I did enjoy the citti of my youth but to re-experience it through Karen was to be young at heart again to see the magic of Donatello, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Giotto, Ghiberti, where do I stop….see Florence again through his eyes.

Enjoy your trip, wish we were going with you; February is a great time for slow travel in Florence.

Mac

On most days recently the lines at the Uffizi have been non-existent, especially in the afternoons. The Tribuna is closed for renovation but most of the works are displayed in another room.

There usually is a parade for Carnevale which has a theme of multiculturalism and is celebrated by many local immigrant groups - there is a stage and/or music set up in Piazza Signoria where groups take turns performing - it can be pretty loud, and fun. Not sure of the date of the event this year.

Lucca is a real day (train) trip, Fiesole is 20 minutes on the bus - so maybe you can do both? Lunch on the square in Fiesole is usually good in the few places there on the north side -

The Ferragamo museum is definitely cool - but - it isn't free! It may not be well staffed and you might sneak in but we paid - even for the kids!

Millie,
Fiesole is like a suberb of Florence, I believe the no.7 bus takes you there in about 20 minutes. It might be to cold to eat outdoors in February, but we loved le Cave di Maino (which is a short distance from Fiesole) down the hill in Maino.

Also, be sure to try Buca d'Orafo, about 1/2 block east of the Ponte Vecchio, down the angled street under the portogo. Wonderful old restaurant, reasonable prices, and if they have Osso Bucco as a special, order it!

Thanks you all for your responses. Since I posted we have watched a few travel videos and are both getting excited. My son is very easy going, likes art, food and shopping and I plan to be guided mostly by what he wants to do. I am in the process of booking two more tours through artviva so we get more out of the museums than we would on our own. Weather permitting, we plan to go to Fiesole.

Does anyone have a favorite leather shop they can recommend? My husband and other son will not be joining us because of work and college so we want to bring them nice gifts. My husband wants a brief case - not the hard rectangular type but the type that opens at the top (with a flap/lock) and a kind of accordian bottom that sits on the floor. It's sort of triangular shaped. Any suggestions?

Try "Clamori di Firenze", a tiny leather shop in via Porta Rossa 72r., selling bags made in Fiesole by www.lapa.it

I have a brown bag that looks to be exactly the one you describe, bought last February at the end of the sales season.

Millie: My husband got a beautiful leather briefcase just like the one you describe, in the San Lorenzo covered street market. He gets lots of compliments on it.
I don't know if the outdoor market is open there in the winter though?

We have been in Lucca since mid-November and there are not that many tourists around, but it is still very lively. The streets are quite a bit more quiet between 13:00 and 16:00 but there is a very nice passegiata to be had on Via Fillungo almost every night. It's about 1:30-1:40 from Firenze S.M.N to Lucca and then a beautiful 5 minutes walk to enter the "walls"

The outdoor vendors near San Lorenzo are there every day except Sunday (I think - or Monday - I can't remember!), even in the winter. There has been unofficial talk again recently of trying to move/relocate this market or a good part of the vendors... but it is probably just talk.

Bring heavy clothes it is going to be really cold this Feb---

How cold is "really cold"? I have been checking the weather and the day time temps seem to be between 40 and 50 degrees, if that's accurate. For us here in Northern New York, that's almost balmy for February.

I am from the NE - last Feb. was the coldest weather we have had in 5 years here - and - it was COLD. Single digits to teens overnight and barely breaking freezing (if that) during the day. And the wind, if it is blowing, is tough. Florence is "cold" in the winter in the sense that it is all stone, can be dark, and damp - once it gets cold, even on temperate days (50s) if the sun is not out, it seems a lot colder. We just had the coldest days of the winter last week - I am not sure what Feb. has in store - but at least it has been a little drier until some rain today.

for a crazy fun day- check out the carnevale in Viareggio!!! it is huge- with large floats and kids running around crazy as well as adults-
there is a discount on getting into the PArade area usually with your train ticket.