weird question about Florence, Italy

DH and I are not at all artsy people ... we don't like museums or looking at art or whatnot ... will we like florence?

we're thinking maybe Rome is more our kinda place (we like sightseeing and seeing new / cool things) and maybe we should spend all of our time in Rome rather than traveling between the two cities.

What do you gals think, is it a good idea or a bad one?

TIA

Re: weird question about Florence, Italy

I would stick more with Rome. Florence is a beautiful city.. the Duomo is gorgeous... but you have 4 days... you could do an 'in depth' Rome experience and save Florence for another time.

You can do a day trip up to the Florence/Pisa area... but IMO - I'd spend the time in Rome.

Re: weird question about Florence, Italy

Thanks ... i think we might stick with rome

we're getting so damned greedy though and want to see everything!!! ... i wish it were possible!

Re: weird question about Florence, Italy

I Love Florence

Rome is more like NYC very busy with lots going on.

Florence is beautiful, just a different atmosphere.
maybe you can take 2 days for Florence, it's beautiful and there are things to see I climbed to the top of
Giotto's Bell Tower because I did the dome at st peter's in rome, the The Ponte Vecchio is something to see, there was great shopping at the pig market.

don't get me wrong, Rome is AMAZING but I think Florence is something to see.

Re: weird question about Florence, Italy

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Posted by mariedsgn

I Love Florence

Rome is more like NYC very busy with lots going on.

Florence is beautiful, just a different atmosphere.
maybe you can take 2 days for Florence, it's beautiful and there are things to see I climbed to the top of
Giotto's Bell Tower because I did the dome at st peter's in rome, the The Ponte Vecchio is something to see, there was great shopping at the pig market.

don't get me wrong, Rome is AMAZING but I think Florence is something to see.

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we were originally going to do 2 days in Rome & 2 days in Florence ... but i'm just not sure because it requires travel time and from all the websites i've seen with 'things to do in florence', everything seems meh (i mean, i'd like to see those things, but i'd be just as happy if i don't get to see them).

I'm just not sure if spending all 4 days in Rome would be better for us (it would def be cheaper since we wouldn't need trains)

Re: weird question about Florence, Italy

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Posted by mariedsgn

I Love Florence

Rome is more like NYC very busy with lots going on.

Florence is beautiful, just a different atmosphere.
maybe you can take 2 days for Florence, it's beautiful and there are things to see I climbed to the top of
Giotto's Bell Tower because I did the dome at st peter's in rome, the The Ponte Vecchio is something to see, there was great shopping at the pig market.

don't get me wrong, Rome is AMAZING but I think Florence is something to see.

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ITA I LOVED LOVED LOVED Florence. There was just something about it... the cobble stone streets, the shops, the Ponte Vecchio, getting to see the David!! But there is a ton to see in Rome and you could absolutely make 4 days of it... but if you're not big art people I would skip the Vatican... no one shoot me but basically it's a giant museum and by the end you're basically just shuffling through the masses to make it to the Sistine Chapel.

Re: weird question about Florence, Italy

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Posted by GR2010

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Posted by mariedsgn

I Love Florence

Rome is more like NYC very busy with lots going on.

Florence is beautiful, just a different atmosphere.
maybe you can take 2 days for Florence, it's beautiful and there are things to see I climbed to the top of
Giotto's Bell Tower because I did the dome at st peter's in rome, the The Ponte Vecchio is something to see, there was great shopping at the pig market.

don't get me wrong, Rome is AMAZING but I think Florence is something to see.

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ITA I LOVED LOVED LOVED Florence. There was just something about it... the cobble stone streets, the shops, the Ponte Vecchio, getting to see the David!! But there is a ton to see in Rome and you could absolutely make 4 days of it... but if you're not big art people I would skip the Vatican... no one shoot me but basically it's a giant museum and by the end you're basically just shuffling through the masses to make it to the Sistine Chapel.

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I have to disagree- its worth the whole annoying shuffle (think IKEA) to get to the sistene chapel.

Florence- well- I could easily say do Rome 4 days. I understand what you mean about museums and I love Rome. BUT the duomo in FL is amazing. the ponte vecchio is gorgeous. the food was eh for me. also, you probably need to see David. I think the train's 3 hours from Rome. Do a marathon day trip if you feel you NEED to go to florence. Dont even do a overnight. My roomates when I studied abroad would bring their visitors to florence for the day and were fine.

Re: weird question about Florence, Italy

I personally love Florence. The first time I went there, I didn't even go to the Art Museums. I had a great experience just going to the Duomo Catherdral & walking around the cobblestone streets. Florence also has great shopping & good restaurants (not in a piazza...go off the beaten path.)

Re: weird question about Florence, Italy

I love Florence, but it might only be because I studied abroad there for a semester. I am not into art and museams so much either and even though I lived there I never made it to the Ufizzi (which apparently has a lot of nice art).

There is so much to do! ponte vecchio, shopping in the market, climbing the duomo, going to santa croce (where galileo is buried) and the leather school (to buy great leather goods), shopping, eating, siting in piazza della republica, going on a wine tour, visting the bobili gardens, seeing the david, etc.

Day trip to pisa, lucca, or bologna (where bolonese sauce originated - its delicious there!)

Its an awesome city, and very old and well maintained. Rome was very overwhelming for me when i went there. We were there fo 2 days and didnt feel like we missed anything.

Re: weird question about Florence, Italy

I don't know anything about any of the cities yet (still have to do my research!), btu this weekend I was just talking to DH's cousin about Italy, since she studied there, and she LOVED Florence the best. Just sitting in cafes and the atmosphere, she said she loved it. Then again, she had great things to say about Rome and Venice as well.

If based on your findings, there isn't anything you feel like you would miss about Florence, then maybe you don't make it a priority for your trip.

Re: weird question about Florence, Italy

thanks for all your advice & suggestions! i'm even more confused now though

Re: weird question about Florence, Italy

My vote is for Florence as well. Also did a semester abroad there and was just there in March for work. The culture is amazing, as is the shopping and just general overall atmosphere. I love Rome too, don't get me wrong, been there at least a dozen times, but we skipped it on our honeymoon. It is an overwhelming city and last time I was there for work in 2005, I wasn't feeling it. If you only have 4 days, I would just do Florence. I do love the food there (have to respectfully disagree with Cate) and can give you lots of good recommendations. On our HM in Florence we stayed at the Lungarno Hotel (a Ferragamo hotel) and did a day tour to the Chianti region, which was SO MUCH FUN. FM me if you want to chat about it!

Re: weird question about Florence, Italy

I wouldn't miss out on Florence. I took an inter-session course in Italy we stayed in Rome for 5 days and Florence for 13 days and took day trips all over. Sorry to confuse you, but Florence is so worth the trip.

Re: weird question about Florence, Italy

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Posted by CappyGirl
If you only have 4 days, I would just do Florence

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i def don't want to do that ... the thing DH and I are most looking forward to is the colisseum ...

Florence just confuses me because when i look it up, all i see are things i don't really care much about like museums and churches and artwork ... i'm not sure if i'm focusing to much on the overly tourist-y things though - should i go for something less popular?

Then again, we def want to check out the leaning tower of pisa (though many of you girls have said it's a waste of time ... it's still on my 'to do' list)

Re: weird question about Florence, Italy

The colisseum is cool, but I wouldn't day that it was jaw dropping!

IMO: The most Jaw dropping things were climbing to the top of St. Peter's Dome in the vatican. The mosaic tile work is AMAZING on your way up and the Views are Stunning!!!! The Sistine Chapel will take your breath away – if you are going to the Sistine Chapel, go early there is a side door that you can wait on line to get in and go straight to the Sistine Chapel (this is how I did it) and there were only about 20 people in the room when I saw it – COMPLETELY AMAZING!!!!! I walke throug it later in the day and it was to crowded.

You can climb to the top of Giotto's Tower in Florence or the dome and those views are AMAZING!!!!

Re: weird question about Florence, Italy

thanks Marie!

Re: weird question about Florence, Italy

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Posted by GR2010

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Posted by mariedsgn

I Love Florence

Rome is more like NYC very busy with lots going on.

Florence is beautiful, just a different atmosphere.
maybe you can take 2 days for Florence, it's beautiful and there are things to see I climbed to the top of
Giotto's Bell Tower because I did the dome at st peter's in rome, the The Ponte Vecchio is something to see, there was great shopping at the pig market.

don't get me wrong, Rome is AMAZING but I think Florence is something to see.

---

ITA I LOVED LOVED LOVED Florence. There was just something about it... the cobble stone streets, the shops, the Ponte Vecchio, getting to see the David!! But there is a ton to see in Rome and you could absolutely make 4 days of it... but if you're not big art people I would skip the Vatican... no one shoot me but basically it's a giant museum and by the end you're basically just shuffling through the masses to make it to the Sistine Chapel.

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ALL OF THIS!

If I ever went back and had to choose one city, I'd pick Florence over Rome hands down. Rome is amazing, don't get me wrong, but like I've told a few people it's like seeing an ancient version of NYC (if there was such a thing). For me, Florence/Tuscany was like nothing I've ever seen before.

Re: weird question about Florence, Italy

Crashing-

I studied abroad in Italy 5 years ago (Where I met FH ) We were there for one month. We stayed in Venice and did weekend trips to Rome, Florence, Milan, Pisa/Sienna, and other small islands off Venice.

I absolutely LOVED Florence. The Duomo and Ponte Vecchio were amazing and just the whole experience of walking through the streets was amazing. We even did a tour through Tuscany. I was there for 2 days and we got ot see everything.

We did Rome for 2 days and I have to say, didn't love it. It's very busy, and many students in our group got robbed while there. We saw the main sights- Colliseum, Vatican, etc., but 2 days in each place was definitely enough.

HTH!

Feel free to FM me if you have any questions!