Florence on a Monday?

[NAJNLA]

Our ship will dock at Livorno on a Monday, and it was just brought to our attention that all the museums in Florence are closed on Mondays.:( Any suggestions on anything else to see or do in Florence when the museums are closed?:confused: Or should we just go to Pisa and/or walk around the port city of Livorno?:confused:

[GSPLover]

Go to Florence as there is plenty to see. This subject has been pretty well hammered out on an earlier thread (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=757256 ). Suggest that you go to the official Florence web site - http://english.firenze.net for a treasurer trove of info on this absolutely beautiful and wonderful city.

[John&Betty]

Hi,

 

We will be renting a van for 6 people in Livorno on Sunday April 27th to drive to Florence for the day. We did this with another couple in a car in May of 03 and had no problem finding a place to park in Florence.

 

We use Microsoft's Auto Route on a laptop with a GPS to get around. If you look at the lower map on this page it shows the garages as little purple squares with 2 cars in them. I count 14 of them in this picture. http://home.mchsi.com/~jbglenn36/flor.html

 

Again, last time we were there we drove up to one, left the car there and went on our way. Now you've got me a little worried that we will have a problem finding parking this year. I understand you have lived near Livorno and spent a lot of time in Florence. Do you know something we should know about the parking thing?

 

John

[GSPLover]

The parking places that you see are for (a) Everyone who lives in Florence and has a car (but no garage or parking space - most people) plus (b) Everybody who wants to visit Florence by driving a car plus © cars that are being worked on as most parking garages double as repair garages. 12-14 garages may seem like a lot but it really is not.

 

Not much unlike trying to find a parking place in New York City (Manhattan.)

 

You could get lucky. I would, however, plan on walking further than you think that you probably will have to. Do not, whatever you do, try parking on the street unless you read Italian extremely well. Keep in mind that the signs pertaining to street parking may be many, many meters from the spot that you have your eye on.

 

Parking fines are not cheap (especially for tourists.) Good luck. Hope that you get lucky. Enjoy Florence.:)

[John&Betty]

Maybe we'll just stay home and pull the covers over our heads. :eek:

[cck0000]

our cruise will be in Florence on a Monday too.

I saw some discussion on this also on the tripadvisor forum as well.

We are using a private guide that day (Romeinlimo) so I will trust their judgments for us that day.

Happy planning:)

[genni]

Florence on a Monday - not a nice day for a few museums (may change, but...) Look just a bit above and view "Florence - is it all that?" - but read all pages - OP leela14...then ask questions - personally, this brings to mind a very important question - booking through ship excursians or not - ? We happened to be in Athens on a Sunday - free admittence to the Acropolis, we had planned to take the train, but took a taxi...in 4 a great saving...BUT IF ONE CHOOSES TO TOUR ON ONE'S OWN - DO HOMEWORK TO KNOW ALL ABOUT WHAT ONE IS SEEING ...

Back to Florence - much depends on interests...

[GSPLover]

Genni.

 

Read down in this thread a few posts. Perhaps I was too honest about parking in Firenze. Can you give us your point of view please?

 

Grazie

[jesse]

We had the same situation-itinerary-so went to Cinque Terre for the day-absolutely fantastic! you can go private tour, or ship tour-it is a magnificent place.

[genni]

Florence on a Monday - ...there are other threads - will look into the new program of the new government, what is or not open during 'tourist season' - to cut short - if the city of Firenze/Florence is for you - private tour or DYOT ('do your own thing', accept, be elastic, relax, don't think everything will come out like other CC boards or the 'S. Reeves' thing - just a shade different from DIY, planning things by public trasnsit, 15 minutes to here, 20 to there...not the best way of planning)...So - line too long here, Florence really offers alot more for a day...nothing is obligatory (the David/Ufizzi...it's YOUR vacation!). Go by train/bus and, if open minded, and history/art history prepared...or just looking to wander...fine.

There is no examination about what one has or not appreciated, learned or confirmed upon boarding a cruise ship after a day in Florence.