In another thread a couple of posters recommended against day-tripping to Florence, and talked of parking difficulties etc. I had earlier searched the web site and from Pauline's description of parking in florence thought it sounded doable to leave the car at the outskirts of the City and then hoof it into and around town. Our plan is to spend a week quite near Florence in a vacation rental Casa Pettini at Il Pintello which should be only 10 or 15 minutes' drive from Florence.
My idea was that we'd be close enough to easily get in and out of Florence for a couple of hours at a time or a half a day or an evening at different times, so that the kids could break up museum visits, walking tours etc. with dips back in the pool. (I was trying to avoid the "we have to pack everything we want to see into one (or two) marathon days" syndrome.) Anyway, now I'm wondering if this will be less easy or workable than I'd hoped. Any insight?
Tracy, we stumbled on a parking area on our first visit to Florence 4 years ago, and we have used it successfully every year since. Normally we stay somewhere near San Casciano, so we come into Florence from the northern end of the Siena-Firenze 4 lane, and at the big traffic light near the Porta Romana, take the signs toward the Piazzale Michelangelo, the Viale Gallileo Gallilei. Anyway, it takes you along the northern edge of the Oltrarno, past the Pzle. Michelangelo, turns into the Viale Michelangelo and then down the hill, finally ending at a traffic light where you have the option of going to Fiesole, (don't take that) or along the Oltrarno bank of the Arno on the Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini. Not too far along on the left, there is a tall tower (Piazza Giusepe Poggi) and a small parking lot with an attendant. There is an attendant, who asks you how long you will be, and puts the appropriate number of chits on your dashboard. The lot has never been full, but we usually get there at 9:30 a.m. at the latest. It is a short term lot, but it seems reasonable enough to us and avoids that infernal train station parking lot, which we tried once and NEVER again. You are a 5-10 minute walk from the Ponte alle Grazie, another 5 to the Ponte Vecchio. This lot does close rather early, maybe at 8 p.m., but it's excellent for the day trip. The Lungarno is two-way on that side, so you can re-trace your steps to leave Florence.
Posts: 2054 | Location: Suburban Philadelphia | Registered: 08 July 2002
The site for Casa Pettini has a great map- click onto the one that says "aspetto.." it does take a while to come up. Your route into Florence from there will lead you to many parking possibilities that don't require driving into the center of town, including Carol's suggestion, but will put you within walking distance of the center. You are staying very close to Florence, and multiple day-trips from San Casciano will be very easy. Amy's suggestion of taking the bus might be a great idea for several of the trips.
The place you're staying has a great website, so I'm assuming that they'll be equally as helpful in vivo, and can give the latest updates on traffic, parking, etc.
Maureen
Posts: 4724 | Location: Boston or Florence | Registered: 07 July 2001
I agree take the bus if you can.Earlier post was talking about staying an hour away or so which would make it stressful.Still if you guys were just a couple actually staying in the city allows seeing different things like early morning markets etc,some of which will be missed if staying outside of town.With a family i kind of see your point.But I still feel experiencing the town at various times helps bring out different facets.
Posts: 6524 | Location: Culver City, CA, USA | Registered: 08 November 2002
quote: My idea was that we'd be close enough to easily get in and out of Florence for a couple of hours at a time
I'm rarely intimidated to drive anywhere - country roads or big cities. However, the streets in Florence are a total disaster right now. Streets are one way one day - and one way the other way the following day. Signage for directions, parking, etc. is not necessarily valid anymore.
I drove into Florence this past December to meet Judy, aka Diva, for lunch. I'm fairly knowledgable as to the streets, but it still took me 30 minutes to get to the parking area I wanted to find.
Unless you "have to" drive into Florence right now, I would seriously reconsider and take public transportaion in and out if at all possible.
quote:Originally posted by tracy in portland, oregon: My idea was that we'd be close enough to easily get in and out of Florence for a couple of hours at a time or a half a day or an evening at different times, so that the kids could break up museum visits, walking tours etc. with dips back in the pool. (I was trying to avoid the "we have to pack everything we want to see into one (or two) marathon days" syndrome.) Anyway, now I'm wondering if this will be less easy or workable than I'd hoped. Any insight?
Tracy, I've only visited Florence once when I've not actually stayed IN Florence, and here are the two drawbacks that come to mind. (You already know about the parking situation, so I won't go there. )
1) Not being able to return quickly to our lodgings during the day (our villa was in Lastra a Signa - about 15 kms from Florence) meant that we spent LONG days in Florence. The train between the two only took about 30 minutes, but ... we also had to factor in the walk to and from both train stations. We felt traveling took up too much time. Since you're already planning for only 1/2 days in Florence, this shouldn't be a problem for you.
2) The days that we took the train into Florence, we had to rush through dinner to catch the once-per-hour train back to Signa. If you're driving this won't be an issue, but if you're traveling by bus, keep the bus schedule in mind.
Colleen in California
Posts: 14303 | Location: The Beautiful San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 06 August 2001
Most of the previous posts are actually reinforcing my previous point.If you stay in town for a few days don't have to worry about rushing around to beat the bus or train,if you are tired can get to your hotel for a quick nap,then go out again for dinner etc.If you stay outside makes for either long days (exausting)or missing the full day in town.When you have had your fill of Florence then go to the rural south to relax.
Posts: 6524 | Location: Culver City, CA, USA | Registered: 08 November 2002
Most of our time has been spent day tripping into Firenze and we have never had a major problem doing it. We were in Firenze in October and agree: don't drive into the Centro. But if you are coming from the south, Porta Romana and Pizalle Michangelo are a breeze. They are both open late and not too costly. The drive in from the A1 Certosa exit is trafficy but not excessively so.
If life is an opera by Puccini... I want to be Calaf!
Posts: 4612 | Location: Casa del Fenicottero Rosa, Silver Spring, MD USA | Registered: 06 August 2002
In the Spring, it's hard to resist being outside Florence for the birds, flowers, etc., (except maybe for allergy sufferers) and an escape from the constant crowds. One can do that also in Arcetri, Pian di Giuliani, or Bellosguardo, but the available rentals I have seen there are very expensive. As Dean mentioned, from the south via Galuzzo there is traffic, but not too bad. We have never tried the bus from S. Casciano because the car is so easy (you have to find parking in S. Casciano to take the bus, remember, a problem on market day - Monday), but if Amy has done that with success, we should give it a try sometime.
Posts: 2054 | Location: Suburban Philadelphia | Registered: 08 July 2002
This really helps. Bill Sutherland -- I wasn't planning to drive IN Florence, just TO Florence and then park on the outskirts. We will also look in to the bus schedule -- that might be a good option for at least some of our outings. And Carol thank you for the parking tip!
Robert, if we were going without kids I would definitely spend a few days in Florence itself, for the reasons you mention. I love cities. But for the kids being in the country with a pool will be heaven and a reward for their museum adventures! We will also get the urban experience earlier in our trip as we are spending a week right in Rome.
Thanks all! You are (as always) a font of information and I do appreciate it.
Tracey, like Jeannie we stay near San Casciano as well and always park at the Santa Maria Novella underground lot. We have never had any trouble parking there or finding it for that matter, but if Bill is recommending public transport at this time I would definately heed his advice!
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