Making the most of a Firenze Card

[Lourdes]

Yippee, you're here!! Sorry to hear you had delays with layover in Germany, unfortunately that happens way too often.

Thank you for letting me know about the price increase.... actually someone else had just alerted me to the price hike a week ago and I just updated the article on the site about the Firenze Card:
http://www.visitflorence.com/florenc...-worth-it.html
New cost is 72€ per card... which, in my opinion, is now way too expensive and not worth it if you don't visit a many museums in those 3 days. I believe it will be worth it for you and your son, as you do have a full schedule planned but I think for most, it will no longer make sense.... you can buy advance tickets for the Uffizi and Accademia to skip the lines and pay less than the card.

Also a new pass/card that just came out about a week ago: a 10€ pass for all of the Duomo monuments, including the baptistery, the dome, the bell tower, the gallery of the museum. Of course, if you wanted to climb up the dome, then the pass is a good deal because that is what the climb cost before on its own - now you get everything else included! But it is only valid for 24 hours so you have to do everything that day. Can you do me a favor? if you pass in front of the baptistery, can you take a look at whether you can pay to just enter that without buying the pass? because before it would have cost less and as this is a new thing, I am just wondering how things are. Also no news were out about this new pass before I found it by casually going to check something out on the opera del duomo site, haven't been able to figure out whether you can visit the monuments individually or not yet. My impression is you can't so if you just happen to go by and take a look, that would be great... otherwise don't worry about it, I'll go soon to check it out!

The crowds in front of the cathedral are crazy but it is often just people standing around, gazing up, taking pics.... among all of them, you have to figure out what the line really looks like to go in. Even if longish, it moves fast so don't worry about it too much! Its cool inside too, enormous, so you won't feel like there are too many people inside.

Hope you got some rest tonight and are up and about exploring! Have a great day

[Melany]

I just came from the Baptistry, so I didn't see your request till now. I know that the "climb the dome" ticket won't get you into the Baptistry. I had to get a ticket for each - the dome, the baptistry, and the baptistry museum. It would be so much easier if I could just scan my Firenze card instead :-)

The Dome climb kicked my butt! But I got a good cardio workout in. We arrived at 0820 and was in the first group to go up. When we came back, the line to get in was down the sidewalk. It's cooler in the AM as well, I feel sorry for those in line right now. I never imagined it would be THAT hard to climb up (down was pretty easy), I can't imagine doing it in the afternoon heat.

I've started a daily blog, mainly for myself so I can remember what I did each day when I get home. I'm also putting my thoughts there as well, so it's more personal in nature. If you'd like to follow my progress, here's the link: http://fineartamerica.com/blogs/flor...aly-day-1.html (it's where I post my photos, so those will be posted here as well)

Lourdes, I really appreciate your help. Your advise has been invaluable! Tomorrow, we'll tackle the crowds at Uffizi first thing in the morning (maybe beat the crowd again?) Wish us luck!! Tonight - Piazzale Michelangelo and the sunset.

[Lourdes]

wait a minute, you didn't have to pay for the dome, baptistery and museum, right? those are included in the Firenze Card! unless you're waiting to start it until tomorrow.....

duomo is 463 steps, yes, it's a workout! the dome is the highest in the city, the bell tower is shorter with only 414 steps, are you planning to do that one too? then I think you'll need several gelatos every day

Perchè no! is a great gelateria (in via tavolini) - there are many other good ones in the area.... I like Grom (via delle oche) but it has gotten so popular it has long lines, I now skip it.... do try Mordilatte on Via dei Servi, to the north of the duomo.
On via dei Neri there is gelateria dei Neri I like.... the Festival del Gelato on via del Corso is very touristy and gaudy with the neon lights but it's actually quite good. You won't have problems with gelato around here

As for the Uffizi - it used to be mornings were good but everyone has had the same idea lately and you might find lines even then. If you do get there and find lots of people, see if you can move it around in your day and do another museum in the morning - at the Uffizi, there are less crowds at lunch and from 4pm onwards.

Enjoy the rest of the day and view from the piazzale!

[Lourdes]

p.s. checked out your blog - great details, useful to know for me for when I offer suggestions for others.
Also saw your photos - beautiful!! loves the bison shots - and looking forward to seeing some of your shots of Florence and Tuscany, sure they will be amazing!!

[Melany]

wait a minute, you didn't have to pay for the dome, baptistery and museum, right? those are included in the Firenze Card! unless you're waiting to start it until tomorrow.....

duomo is 463 steps, yes, it's a workout! the dome is the highest in the city, the bell tower is shorter with only 414 steps, are you planning to do that one too? then I think you'll need several gelatos every day

Perchè no! is a great gelateria (in via tavolini) - there are many other good ones in the area.... I like Grom (via delle oche) but it has gotten so popular it has long lines, I now skip it.... do try Mordilatte on Via dei Servi, to the north of the duomo.
On via dei Neri there is gelateria dei Neri I like.... the Festival del Gelato on via del Corso is very touristy and gaudy with the neon lights but it's actually quite good. You won't have problems with gelato around here

As for the Uffizi - it used to be mornings were good but everyone has had the same idea lately and you might find lines even then. If you do get there and find lots of people, see if you can move it around in your day and do another museum in the morning - at the Uffizi, there are less crowds at lunch and from 4pm onwards.

Enjoy the rest of the day and view from the piazzale!

No, we didn't have to PAY, but we had to go to the ticket office and get a ticket for each - weird! We just had to show our cards.

We had gelato at Perche No! Last night. My plan, is to try a different geleteria each night, and a different flavor :-D

I had the bell tower on my list, but I'm crossing it off after today's climb LOL. We still have to climb the Tower of Pisa! It was just too much for me.

Thanks for the Ufizi tip! Since marking off the bell tower, we can easily do it in the afternoon if the morning is crowded. I plan to be in line when the door opens ;-)

Thank you for complementing my photos. I hope I get some good ones while here -- my son had his video camera on at the top of the climb this morning. All you see is my feet going up the steps, and heavy breathing LOL. I have another blog ready to post tonight, but we're going to Piazalle Michelangelo and San Minito soon, and I want to add that. Any suggestions of places to eat up there??

[Lourdes]

Ok, got it! weird you had to get tickets anyways, likely their way to keep track of number of people inside by ticket stubs....

As for places to eat, there are a few places up but they tend to be very touristy and expensive.... so I'd head back down to the Porta di San Miniato in the San Niccolo' area (right around that tower you climb by heading up to the Piazzale) - there are several nice restaurants/trattoria in the area. There is an OSTERIA called S. Niccolo' that we ate at a few months ago, with tasty local dishes and good/quality ratio. If you pass by there on the climb up, maybe you can stop and take a look ;-)