Florence/Tuscany - September

[drcam]

Dear friends,

I have 2 days in Tuscany this year on my grand trip in mid-September, arriving from Rome and then heading onward to the Dolomites.
I have previously been in Tuscany before and done the Cinque Terre, Florence (only the Uffizi) and Pisa.
I am staying in Empoli, half an hour from Florence, because the accommodation costs are less than half that of Florence (so stingy!).

Do you have any suggestions on where I should go? I plan to probably spend one day in Florence, seeing the Accademia gallery and the Pitti Palace. If you think something else should be higher priority please give a suggestion.

On my other day, I could go to Siena or do a different side trip, again suggestions appreciated. I will be travelling by bus or train, no driving planned at the moment.

What sort of weather should I expect for mid-September? Will it be short sleeves, taking into account global warming? It's 40 this week there but I expect it to be much cooler in a month's time. Are there modesty requirements in the religious sites?

Do you have any suggestions on restaurants/dishes in Tuscany? Is there a good sampler on Lygon Street?

Do you have any ideas on picnic food in Tuscany?

Many thanks

 

[VPS]

Siena is lovely and well worth a visit. The other place that isn't too far away is Lucca which I think is a beautiful place - old walls around the city and very walkable.

Either would be suitable and enjoyable.

 

[Tehu]

A little lazy, but I've travelled to Florence maybe half a dozen times for work and a friend asked me some restaurant tips the other day, so I'll just paste them here.


Do you like tripe?....there are lampredotto street food vendors (Tripperia Pollini probably the best) all over the place but Osteria Tripperia Il Magazzino is a restaurant dedicated to it and it is fantastic...just up the alleyway from Magazzino is an awesome coffee spot called Artiginale which is just ace.

Procacci 1885 for aperitvo, Le Volpi e L’Uva is an awesome wee wine bar as is Fiaschetteria Osteria Nuvoli for vino and wild boar papardelle.

Buca Dell'Orafo, Trattoria Marione, Osteria Vini e Vecchi Sapori and Trattoria Mario are all great old school trattorias.

I really like the Mercato Centrale food hall.... there's a great oyster joint and Arà è Sicilia on the upper level is grouse.

I like Trattoria da Rocco inside the Sant'Ambrogio market too for its noisy, bustling vibe.

Streetfood wise.....Panini at Semel is essential for a stewed donkey, pear, pecorino, and truffle panini.....I Fratellini is good too.

For sweet stuff....Dolci e Dolcezze is bonkers good....definitely get a clutch of budino di riso to take away.

Il Santo Bevitore is great for a candlelit vibe.

Bistecca is everywhere but Antico Ristoro di Cambi and Il Latini do a good one.

For outside dining with a view, Golden view next to the Ponte Vecchio is pretty ace on a nice day.

 

[jb747]

I’m planning a trip for September 2025, but the aim is to actually spend time in a couple of places. I’m not sure that a single day or two anywhere is really much value (too much like a slip from when I was working). I loved Venice, and plan on going back for a week. Didn’t particularly like Florence, though the Pitti was good. Lucca was a great spot, and we stayed for a week.

FWIW, my plan for next year is basically a week in Rome (been a bunch of times, but never had any time), a few days in Pompeii and area, a week in Venice, and perhaps a few days somewhere like Bologna. Basically 3-4 weeks total, with no more than 4-5 moves.

 

[drcam]

Slow travel is wonderful for those who can viably do it. I can't until I'm retired (and no longer need to look after my elderly parents). I wonder if I'll still be robust enough to do that then.