Help! Tuscany, Rome and Florence!!!

[Debs Hill]

We are going to Italy for the first time in August 2008 (me, hubby and 7 yr old son) and need some advice! We are staying in Tuscany but were thinking of taking trips to Florence and Rome......................would love to hear from anyone who has been there with some advice! What are the must sees in each city? In the summer would we have to book tickets in advance? What is there to hold the attention of a 7 year old boy?!! How is the shopping? Does anyone know how far the train station is from the centre of each city?!!
Sorry for all the questions, hoping you can help!!!
For those of you who have been to Tuscany would also love your suggestions for things to do and see!
Debsxx

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

We are going to Italy for the first time in August 2008 (me, hubby and 7 yr old son) and need some advice! We are staying in Tuscany but were thinking of taking trips to Florence and Rome......................would love to hear from anyone who has been there with some advice! What are the must sees in each city? In the summer would we have to book tickets in advance? What is there to hold the attention of a 7 year old boy?!! How is the shopping? Does anyone know how far the train station is from the center of each city?!!
Sorry for all the questions, hoping you can help!!!
For those of you who have been to Tuscany would also love your suggestions for things to do and see!
Debsxx

I did go to Rome Florence and Pisa this summer off the Disney Magic, I pre booked tours and private guides, for example the Vatican is a must and if you have a private tour guide booked you can get in early, we were in before 9.00am , the mass crowds came in at 10am, we had a head start but they caught us up by the Sistine chapel. You were like sardines in there, the catacombs of the popes under St Peters was also great to see, the usual stuff Colosseum of Rome ( tour guide got us in in 10 mins the regular lines were 1 hour plus)and a tour of the government buildings, by a small car, tour coaches find it difficult.

I booked Pisa in advance to climb the tower, they reserve times that was a must, I arrived and non booked people couldn't get in before 6.30pm,

Florence was very very busy, lots of crowds again, a private tour again is best advice to book in advance they all know the best routes.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

PISA

FLORENCE

ROME

 

[Debs Hill]

Thank you so much for all your wonderful pictures!! Florence looks beautiful!!!
I noticed your lovely children in the photos, as we will be travelling with our 7 year old son I would be interested to know what your son enjoyed most and what kept their attention!!!
Did you book your tours through Disney?
Debsx

 

[Astrid]

We went to Florence for a week last August and had a wonderful trip. It's a beautiful city and wasn't as hot or crowded as I'd told it would be.

I found a really great tour company that we used to take a walking trip of Florence and also a day trip out to Tuscany - Sienna & San Gimignano - absolutely gorgeous!

Here's their web site: www.italy.artviva.com

Hope that helps If you'd like any more information just ask.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thank you so much for all your wonderful pictures!! Florence looks beautiful!!!
I noticed your lovely children in the photos, as we will be travelling with our 7 year old son I would be interested to know what your son enjoyed most and what kept their attention!!!
Did you book your tours through Disney?
Debsx

My kids were with me all the time, I booked my own private tours at all of the ports, I think the Rome one was ROMELIMOSINE you can internet search Rome ours, and there was a different company for Florence.

We did the Dumo and had a climb up pisa and toured the vatican my kids loved it, but it was very hot They liked Pisa best.