We found an apartment in a typical building in the historical center of Florence (they describe it very close to San Lorenzo, Piazza San Marco and the duomo and close to many schools SAC, Lorenzo de Medici etc. I found it on florenceandtuscany.com Is that a good area? We want to stay a week and train or bus everywhere (i.e. bologna, Pisa, Lucca,Sienna, Chianti, San G. which ones are doeable as day trips) We will be flying into Venice staying 2 nights, 7 days in a rental apartment in Florence and flying out of Rome after staying 5 nights. How does that sound?

Good morning. I personally wouldn't spend 7 nights in Florence and then "do as many daytrips as possible" from there; what is the point of spending the night in FLorence if you'll never be there? You could save some money by staying outside of Florence if you aren't interested in being there. If you have seven nights in Florence, I suggest staying there the whole time and MAYBE do 2 daytrips if you can't help yourself!

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I would like to spend at least 3 or 4 days in Florence but was wondering what are the easiest day trips to do from Florenc? the other thing is my husband does not want to drive, therefore we need to stay in a place that is easily accessible, otherwise, I would much prefer to stay outside of florence, like Fiesole for instance. Does this make any sense?

Well, I don't agree with Julie on this one. Florence makes a good base for some of the palces you named, especially the towns of northern Tuscany which are all connected by railway (from west to east, Pisa, Lucca, Pistoia, Prato, Arezzo), while Siena can be reached by bus. in one week you can daytrip to 2-4 of these places and use the other days to visit Firenze when there are less tourists around (it may be a good idea to visit less touristed destinations like Pistoia and Arezzo on Saturday and Sunday, to stay off the crowd). During the day Florence is literally packed with tourists , while it gets absolutely magical after 8 pm.

I agree Florence is a great base just because it is a such a great city, but to stay in Florence for 7 days only to take as many day trips as possible doesn't make sense to me, Alice--not to you! . Sure, if you have 3 weeks, no problem. It is one of the most expensive cities in Italy for lodging. Sure, great train connections, if you are visiting towns with train stations...anyway. Most of the places you mention are close. Bologna is about one to one and half hours via train from Florence.Lucca about the same. Training to the Chianti area will be more difficult. If you go to the trenitalia website, you can see schedules ahead of time and figure out how many places you want to see and when you'd likely have to leave and return, etc. Have a great trip!

PS--I think that area in Florence is safe, if that is what you meant by good.

The area that you have mentioned in Florence is very central, very close to the train station and the central market. What street is the place you booked on? Is it an apt or a hotel?

Okay, that clarification helps.

Bologna, Pisa and Lucca are all easy by train. Of these, I'd choose Lucca (but I haven't been to Bologna yet so it's not a fully informed choice).

Siena and San Gimignano are best reached by bus. Of these, I'd absolutely choose Siena.

Chianti, as it is a region not a single place, is probably best visited either by car or on an organized tour that can take you to several spots (Castellina, Radda, Gaiole etc.).

I have done the following easy daytrips from Florence: Bologna (1 hour by train), Arezzo (1 hour by train), Greve (this was part of a school trip by charted bus but I think it was only a half hour and is an easy bus ride). I have been driven to Siena but it is also an easy 1 hour and 15 minute bus ride. The SITA bus page offers a bus tour of both Siena and San G for 47 E a person. This might be a good option for you as there is not a direct bus to San G, you have to connect through another town I believe.
I loved all these towns but Siena is my favorite with one of the most beautiful Campos and Duomos in Italy INMHO. There is certaintly plenty to do in Florence but a few daytrips are also nice to get a different perspective of the beautiful countryside and take a breather from the crowds of Florence.

this is great information. I do not know what street it's on, but it's a gorgeous apartment inside for 550E per week in Florence. I will find out and let you know. My next question would it be better to buy a rail or buy tickets at you go considering the amount of trains I'm using. And once you buy the rail pass do you have to pay extra for seat reservations or is it included in the price. The trains would be from Venice/Flo...Flo/bologna....Flo/Lucca...Flo/Rome...etc.

Most of the palces you naed are on smaller, local lines and don't even allow reservations, so there's no reason to buy tickets in advance. For Lucca, Pisa and Pistoia you just walk to the newwstand and ask for a ticket (which must be stamped). Bologna, Arezzo and Rome (long daytrip, I'd rather concentrate on norther Tuscany towns) are on major railway lines, and some of the trains that connect them are Intercity or erostars. Even for these the best solution is buy as you go, so that you get issued the ticket for the first train available in the right format and price. There's absolutely no need to get a railway pass, since most destination's stickets will cost you about 5 euro one way. For instance, the ticket to Lucca costs 4.60 euro, Pisa costs 5 euro (second class, first class, when availble, costss 7.50), for Arezzo prices range from 5 euro (Regionale second class) to 9.71 euro (Intercity first class).
One train daytrip I suggest you is the railway that connects Florence to Faenza (not via Bologna, the direct one). This railway crosses the Casentino area, a heavily wooded area between on one side the provinces of Florence and Arezzo and on the other side Romagna. The whole trip lasts 2 hours and one way tickets cost 5.73 euro. bveside the regular service, on this line ther are special historic trains, check them out at Railtour Italia.

It is probably on via Faenza, near me!
I have been here in this neighborhood for 18 years..
the only thing I would alsk about.. is are the bedrooms on the street,
In this area, the outdoor market of San Lorenzo sets up early AM and the stands are kept in garages all over adn you can hear them opening and closing the garages and then rolling the carts in and out!