Fiesole's two museums and its Teatro Romano archaeological site keep the same hours and use a single admission ticket, costing 10€ adults, 6€ students age 7-25 and seniors over 65, and free for children 6 and under. They all open Easter through October daily from 10am to 7pm, in winter Wednesday through Monday from 10am to 5pm. For more information, call tel. 055-59-118 or visit www.fiesolemusei.it.
A Countryside Stroll in the City -- Take the afternoon to walk back down to Florence from Fiesole. As you exit Piazza Mino, just as the main road makes its big downward curve to the left, look straight ahead where Via Vecchia Fiesolana, the narrow old road linking the two cities, forks right. It's steep, winding, and banked by high walls along many parts over which occasionally peek olive trees or more exotic plantings that are from the gardens of rich eccentrics from the 18th century. A few of these gardens are open to the public; free admission. Among them are the Villa Medici (tel. 800-414-240; open Mon-Fri 8:15am-1pm -- you can just drop by, but it's best to call ahead), the first major entrance on your left; and the Villa Le Balze (tel. 055-59-208; call Mon-Fri 9am-5pm to reserve a visit) at no. 26, now owned by Georgetown University. Every so often along the road is a break in the cypress where a Florence panorama opens before you -- a scene you share only with yourself and the occasional passing nun.
