Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Hello, I am in Florence right now, and just found out that there is going to be a strike tomorrow - all state museums will be closed due to the strike.
While disappointed, I am glad I got to see the Uffizi and the Accademia already...on my way to visit one more museum before they all close tonight.
My question: since my planned Florence museum visits are not going to happen tomorrow as planned, I think it makes sense to do a day trip somewhere. I might even be able to do two half-day trips to small towns. What do you all recommend?
I'm thinking of the following possibilities:
Venice - only two hours each way by train. I don't really have a great desire to see Venice, so a day trip seems like a good option. Worried about transportation though; don't have a lot of time to learn how to get around (walking, boats, etc.)
Piza
Siena
Lucca (or Piza/Lucca)
Bologna - seems like a bigger town (I prefer bigger towns to smaller towns, surprisingly), and is only 37 minutes by train. But I don't know if there is anything worthwhile to see there
Milan - not sure if I could get in to see the Last Supper, though, and I'm not sure that there is much else to see there.
Strikes don't always last the full 24 hours so you could luck out but you won't know until it's happening - trial and error.
IMO Venice will be too much of a pain for a last minute, first time day trip.
Milan - you won't be able to see the last supper. Those tickets are few and far between and reserved well in advance.
I'd skip Pisa because the strike is nationwide and what you'd want to see there might be affected by the strike.
Personally, I'd do the Rick Steves stroll through Oltrarno (or just meander on your own) - or take the bus up to Fiesole like someone else mentioned on your other Italy thread.
Hope you're having fun and will be able to post a trip report when you're back!
ETA: The churches should still be open and many have fabulous art in situ. Have you seen the duomo yet? Maybe walk those 400 or so steps!
Venice is absolutely magical and may be disappearing. You can catch a boat to St Marks Square right from the train station. From there you can just walk around until it's time to go back. That would be my first choice from all the others mentioned. It's like no other city on earth.
Well, it looks like the strike might be a transport strike, either instead of the state workers or in addition to the state workers. So I probably will not be able to go on a day trip after all.
I will ask people at my hotel what is going on and will venture out on my own to see whether I can go to some museums in Florence or whether I can catch a train or bus somewhere. Looks like it will be an interesting day
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
