FLORENCE

PLACES TO SEE

FLORENCE

Firenze (Florence)

We know, you have to go to Florence. There are hundreds of guidebooks to help you decide what to see here. The following are a few notes.

ADVICE: MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR ANY MUSEUMS OR GALLERIES YOU WANT TO VISIT BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE U.S.

REASON: EVEN IN SEPTEMBER, THE WAIT AT THE UFFIZI GALLERY WAS THREE HOURS WITHOUT A RESERVATION.

You'll need to do some researching on the Internet, again. Here are a couple of links to help. One site (there are several) for making reservations for the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery (statue of David) is http://www.goporta.com/tickets/Uffizi_ticket.htm or Google "museums florence." Figure $25 per person per museum, which includes the service fee charged by the sites.

ADVICE: EITHER STAY IN THE CITY IF NOT DRIVING BY CAR OR STAY OUTSIDE THE CITY AND TAKE A CAB IN.

REASON: RECENT DRIVING REGULATIONS MAKE MAPS A MOCKERY AND DECEPTION--- YOU CANNOT GET THERE FROM WHERE YOU ARE BY ANY METHOD SHOWN ON THE MAP.

ADVICE: PLAN A SHORT STAY.

REASON: FLORENCE IS CHOKING ON EXHAUST AND TRAFFIC, BLIGHTED WITH CRIME, AND THE DIRTIEST LARGE CITY NORTH OF NAPLES. AT NIGHT, AS YOU VIEW THE CITY FROM THE SURROUNDING HILLSIDES, BRIGHT STADIUM AND CONCERT LIGHTS OFTEN DESTROY ITS BEAUTY.

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