
Our journey to Florence began with an easy and scenic train ride. The Italian rail system made the trip smooth and stress-free, offering us a chance to relax and take in the Tuscan countryside. Traveling by train in Italy is cheap and easy, with comfortable seating 3 level trains made it simple to get to Florence.
Once in the city, we made our way to one of the highlights of our visit: the Vinci Interactive Museum. This hands-on experience was a fantastic way to delve into the genius of Leonardo da Vinci. The museum is packed with reconstructions of his incredible inventions, offering interactive displays where you can truly get a feel for the brilliance of his ideas. Georgia and Dotty both loved exploring the museum. They got to play with models of da Vinci’s machines, testing out pulleys, gears, and other fascinating contraptions. Watching them engage so enthusiastically made the experience even more special for us .
Later in the day, we decided to visit the Boboli Gardens, one of Florence’s iconic outdoor spaces. Unfortunately, we were disappointed to find that the gardens closed at 3:30 PM and we arrived at 3:31, American tourists who arrived at 3:29 were expressing a dislike to Italian time keeping, we walked away, sadly we had hoped to spend some time wandering through the beautiful landscape, but the early closure meant we missed out on that experience. It was a letdown.
While in Florence, we also made time to explore the historic streets and enjoy one of the highlights of any trip to Italy—gelato! Georgia and I treated ourselves to some ice cream and while it was nice it wasn’t the best we’ve had on our travels it was far better than the UK ice cream, Dotty does not enjoy ice cream so was happy to snack on the cone. The gelateria was a charming little spot, and the creamy, rich flavors were the perfect treat. We also took a ride on a beautiful carousel, which added a touch of joy to the day in the main square and Georgia loved it, and Dotty was thrilled to watch the horses go round and round.
That said, while we enjoyed our time in Florence, it didn’t quite have the charm or magic we found in Lucca. Lucca’s quiet elegance and pedestrian-friendly streets had captured our hearts in a way Florence couldn’t match or even compare too, Florence, for all its grandeur, felt a bit overwhelming / underwhelming at times—dirty and run down and busy and bustling with people shoving which was a stark contrast to Lucca’s tranquil charm. But that’s not to say we didn’t have memorable moments there.
In the end, while Florence didn’t steal our hearts like Lucca, it still offered a day full of learning, exploration, and family fun. The Vinci Interactive Museum was the clear highlight, and despite the occasional hiccup, we left Florence grateful for the opportunity to experience its run down beauty and history.
Planning your own trip to Florence or Tuscany?
We’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve visited Florence—did it live up to your expectations? Or are you more enchanted by quieter spots like Lucca you visited?
If you’re planning a trip to Florence then we highly recommend adding the Vinci Interactive Museum to your list (and double-checking park hours at the Boboli Gardens!). Let us know in the comments or share your own Tuscan travel tips—we’re always looking for new adventures to inspire us!