Suggestions for Florence trip?

Eat in the Mercato Centrale, the indoor market, excellent food cheap aswell, must try the Lampredotto (tripe) really tasty and a specialty of Firenze.

We love wandering around Santo Spirito (on the other side of the river) where there are lots of artisan's botteghe (workshops). I remember going into one where a guy was carving the most beautiful, intricate wooden frames whilst listening to his opera loudly. We were chatting to him and he led us out the back of his workshop where he had a beautiful garden, picked a camelia and put it behind my ear. It was one of those amazing Italian moments. I also recommend getting out of the city, up to Bellosguardo for the most amazing views of the Florentine rooftops. If you're feeling cheeky make some excuse to get a look round Hotel Torre del Bellosguardo We had our honeymoon there and it is amazing. Galileo used to observe the stars from the tower and the views over Florence are stunning.

There are 77 state musems in Florence - so its a pick and choose thing.  The one I would never miss (apart from the obvious) is La Specola - a museum below Palazzo Pitti which has the most incredible collection of wax bodies in various anatomical states.  And full of primitive taxidermy - its fab. 

if it's a special occasion (birthday anniversary etc) and you'd like to be treated to something special (and it is) it's not cheap ( actually it's expensive) but it's probably one of the best restaurants not in florence but in the world! enoteca pinnichiori look it up on the net,you may be lucky to get a table in may.it's not just some meal it does for your body what the uffizi does for your head...and it's an art form too..don't get brow beaten into all that cheap cheap talk (vis a vis eating places) you get what you pay for.have a nice trip.

Spend a whole morning or afternoon visiting the Palazzo Vecchio. Go for lunch to Trattoria Bordino, near the Ponte Vecchio www.trattoriabordino.com A beautiful old trattoria full of character with the nicest and cheapest (7€) menu of the day in Florence that changes every day. Their Florentine steak, although a bit more expensive, is excellent. And do not forget to visit the Ospedale degli Innocenti, which marks the transition between the Gothic and Renaissance styles.

http://www.lifeinitaly.it/italiasegreta/Italia_Segreta.htm click on TOSCANA Ugo  

The complex known as San Marco http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Marco,_Florence is one of my favourite Florence places. Beautiful frescos by Fra Angelico are what draw me, (but watch out for hordes of large Americans crushing into Savonarola's small cell). Some quite important art in the museum here too. It gets 5 stars on trip advisor - probably all the US visitors!

After all the hype and "you simply must do Florence dahling" I have to say I've been singularly unimpressed by the place. I guess there's only so much religious artifact one's system can absorb before resistance sets in. The Uffizi is the acme of tedium, a museum, not a gallery, just room after room of dreary religious paintings ad nauseam (the odd Titian excepted). To me the city doesn't feel natural - it's as if Disney had something to do with it. And parking is a nightmare. There, I've said it - I feel better already . TK

whatever Ugo, it's still shameless self publicity....

Ugo's link led me to an interactive map which I was able to click on to show all the best bits of whichever region you chose to click on. Which I thought was pretty good in context with the OP's post, so thanks to Ugo. Now maybe because I'm not into the crap that goes on behind the fake names and mutiple personae of this site, but I found it really useful, as I guess most visitors here would do as well. And because I don't know, and am not interested, in what Ugo (or anyone else here) does for a living, I fail to see why an otherwise informative thread should lapse into childish back-biting between the "regulars". OK, call me old-fashioned, but.............  

Fillide - glad to see we agree - you just put it so much better than me 

I also agree with Fillide; however, we should remember that Florence is the city with the highest concentration of art in the world and this is expected to create enormous problems, particularly keeping in mind that it is an old city, totally unprepared to cope with a large influx of people. On the other hand, I don't think that things are that bad. I frequently go to Florence from our home in Bagni di Lucca, where we stay at least twice or three times during the year. We generally drive, parking at Santa Maria Novella and yes, it is expensive, but we consider it a treat, having the possibility of parking right downtown. We could either take a bus, or a train, but we travel with our elderly dog (17 years old!) and it is more convenient this way. Forence scooterists should be called kamikazes, but by now we are used to them and have managed quite well not to run over anyone. I think that some of the tourists may be really annoying and make you wonder why they are visiting that magnificent city when they seem to be totally ignorant and unattached to all the surrounding beauty, but then...not everyone has had the benefits of a good education and, being an optimist, I think that the visit will alwayys do them some good. And then, as Fillide rightly says, there are times of the year when there are less tourists of the annoying kind and there are plenty of lovely places to see and discover... or revisit.

Ugo, perdi solo tempo a cercare di ingraziarti o dare spiegazioni qui - allora quindi ignoralo.

Io veramente non avevo intenzione di ingraziarmi alcuno , e poi perche' ?

Short answer Ugo.... No !

What was the question Flip? 

   'do not you tink perhaps, that every time you express an opinion , you make a self pubblicity to you and the things you believe in  ?' There we are. Oh and please don't refer to me in the masculine.

Thanks for the helpful posts.  As for the rest, this community never changes!

"Oh and please don't refer to me in the masculine." Flip - I never have - simply because, until now, I had always considered you as asexual.

I think that most of us, including PennyAW who started the thread, would say that the main topic is now closed. If you want to continue quarrelling, may I suggest that you do it through private messages? You could also start a group and there you could have all the arguments, jokes and conversations that you wish without hijacking useful threads. 

Gala - absolutely no one is arguing or quarrelling!  (Although I admit that can change at any moment!) If you consider the topic now closed, please feel free to not comment further in the thread - just move on to another topic/thread and allow others to do what they want without fear of you wagging a disapproving finger in their direction.

The disapproving finger wagging has already been done by the person who initiated this thread. I am only insisting, because it looks as if you do not understand the message. Annoying other members is the name of the game and it looks as if we are the nes who have to tolerate, in silence, silly arguments. No, you , and I mean all of you, never change. What a pain!!!

Ah, if they could only read back through the thread and realise how tedious their display of double-figure IQ actually is. Maybe they think they're "winding us up"? No, it's just mind-numbingly tedious. Another otherwise decent forum besmirched by twats.

You flatter yourself Sir TK (obviously by that moniker) in thinking people actually consider your feelings when posting here. Seems one rule for some and one for others; I'm sure if I or someone else called others 'twats' on here, Gala's finger would wag for a week.

No, Flip. The word I would use is TROLLS.  A very suitable one.

Gala I appreciate that you have learned a new word, but if you get off that high horse for a minute, and see what is actually written, I have only been replying to questions asked of me, aside from one agreement to what Ram posted. Don't say that you have never gone 'off topic' on a thread because you have, and a forum should generate discussion around a topic or issues raised in that thread. We all know you will never be happy until what you perciecve as 'this disruptive element' i.e. people who hold opposing views and values to you, are banned from 'your' Community; but please remember peoples right to freedom of expression on a public forum.

Now look what you've started Gala!  Go sit outside and count the ants for a day or two, you naughty, naughty girl!

Thanks UGO - Lots of useful info on the link. Keep up the good work. Everybody else advertises so any useful info appreciated from ANYBODY. All the useful advertising appreciated too

No point in discussing with you, as you always try to accuse others of the sins you regularly commit. Hopeless caseand big chip on the shoulder. As for the word "trolls", I have used it before to describe your"club's" activities... Once a troll, always a troll. that must be your motto. Esme/karen... what can I say... I think that this is the end of this thread, as far as I am concerned. Ciao!

Gala, I haven't accused you of anything - nor ever used any derogatory names or terms towards you, but you choose to continue with your unrelenting attack against my (non existant) "club" and I. I believe you do this in the hope I will eventually respond to you with the same venom you continuously use towards me. In fact, I'm so fed up with your judgemental, finger wagging, patronising jibes that I will take a leaf out of Sancho's book and satisfy your obvious desire now - so here you are  - STFU - you falsely pious, "Spanish cow". Do yourself (and everyone else) a favour - instead of calling names - and then becoming offended and demanding a banning when you receive the same treatment IN RETURN - just put my (non existant) "club" and I back on your ignore list.

Just popped back for another look. Most amusing if very childish.  We are now going to Rhodes in May, not as a result of above punch up. I will keep the useful tips for the future.  Ciao tutti. 

some things never change Penny, especially some peoples attitude.... hope you have alovely trip.