What to do in Florence in winter. Winter in Florence

The cultural capital of Europe, the abode of artists and poets, Florence is located in the Tuscany region, the central region of Italy, on the outskirts of Emilia-Romagna. Erected on the banks picturesque river Arno, the city is surrounded by olive groves and vineyards. In this article, Tour-Calendar will tell you why the best time to relax in Florence is considered to be the end of spring and the beginning of autumn.

Tourist season in Florence

Florence has something to offer completely different categories of tourists. The former epicenter of the Italian Renaissance inherited hundreds of museums, art galleries and many Renaissance-style palaces. Magnificent Tuscan dishes and wines are so wonderful that their taste is impossible to forget. From here you can enjoy stunning views of green hills and majestic mountains, entire fields of yellow sunflowers and a bright blue sky, as if straight out of a painting by a skilled artist. Unlike other cities in Italy, the tourist season in Florence lasts from February to the end of October.

High season in Florence

The high season in Florence is summer months when the weather is hot and stuffy, and queues at museum ticket offices reach several tens of meters. Hotel prices in Florence are as expensive as in Rome and Milan, and in July and August the cost of living in them increases fabulously. You hardly see local residents at this time; they go on vacation to the sea. Despite the fact that the bulk of the population of summer Florence are visitors, many shops and restaurants are closed. All in all, you should think twice before going here during high season.

Low season in Florence

The main interest of tourists in Florence is the cultural layer of the city. And since the treasures of museums and art galleries can be viewed in any weather, it has long been the case that people come here almost all year round. Therefore on low season There are only three months: November, December and January.

It's festival time in Florence

The cultural sophistication of Florence is clearly reflected not only in architectural and artistic masterpieces, but in the holidays and festivals of our days. On January 6, Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Magi "Festa de" Magi" or "La Befana", on Easter Sunday on the day of "Scoppio del Carro" in the main square of the city they blow up a cart in honor of the liberation of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, in which the Italian Pazzino took part, in International Exhibition takes place in March at Palazzo Pitti fashionable clothes, on June 2 they celebrate “Festa della Repubblica Italiana” / Day of the Proclamation of the Republic of Italy, on June 24 they honor the memory of the patron saint of Florence, St. John the Baptist, for 8 weeks in summer period The Florence Music Festival takes place with concerts and performances, on September 8, on the birthday of St. Virgin Mary, the paper lantern festival Festa Della Rificolona, ​​and in December it performs under the auspices of the art of cinematography at the Festival del Popolo.

Sale season in Florence

Florence is, of course, not Milan when it comes to shopping. But here you can buy very valuable things. For example, a designer fur coat or a good leather accessory. Remarkable is the fact that discounts from 30% to 70% in Florence are observed during all year round. However, as throughout Italy, there are two main sales seasons. The summer season lasts from July to the end of August, and the winter season from January to early March. So, winter sale 2013 runs from January 5 to March 5.

Climate in Florence

Florence, located at the foot of the Northern Apennines, experiences a humid subtropical climate. This leads to a clear delineation of seasons with a fairly large range between summer and winter temperatures. This is, first of all, due to the internal location of the city on the “Italian boot”, which means that it is inaccessible to sea winds that change the climate coastal zones Tuscany is softer. Tropical characteristics The Florentine climate is caused by a river flowing along the entire territory of the city, causing high humidity.

Florence in spring

Spring in Florence is a wonderful time. It is especially beautiful since we are talking about the Tuscan region. Mass flowering begins, and lush greenery returns to numerous parks in the city. It is warmed by the warm sun, which lingers in the sky even longer - up to 7-8 hours. If in May it is quite cold with 11°C-16°C during the day, then in April and May there is no doubt that spring has fully come into its own. The maximum temperature this season is 23 °C.

Temperature and weather in Florence in spring

Florence in summer

Summer in the city is hot and humid with a maximum daytime temperature in July and August of 32 °C, dropping to 25 °C in the evening. The sun shines about 10 hours a day. The only summer month, June, boasts pleasant weather: during the day - 27 °C, at night - 15 °C. Summer in Florence is relatively rainy. If at the beginning of the season the city experiences about 7 cloudy days, then by the end of it only 5 days will be marked by precipitation. In August there may be thunderstorms, which are also typical for the first autumn month. If you nevertheless come to Florence in the summer and stay here for more than a week, there is a high probability that you will begin to suffer not only from high temperatures, but also from the hum of tourists, and you will also feel tired from visiting all these museums. In this case, leave the city immediately and head to the green Tuscan countryside with its vineyards and picturesque rolling hills.

Temperature and weather in Florence in summer

Florence in autumn

Autumn in Florence is different. September is still a fairly warm month with 27 °C during the day, like at the beginning of summer. However, there is an increase in rainfall intensity. In October temperature maximum is 21 °C, while by night the air cools to 11 °C. Just right to get it warm jacket. You also can’t do without an umbrella, since there are about 11 rainy days this month. In November it gets significantly colder, and precipitation reaches its annual extreme. At night it becomes frosty - up to 5 °C.

Temperature and weather in Florence in autumn

— 04.05.2015 — Trips What to see in Florence if you only have a day?

Is it worth going there in winter? Where does the most luxurious evening view of the city center come from?
Where to go for a walk and have a delicious lunch and dinner? Today is about this and much more!

Of course, one day is not enough to get to know Florence.
We didn't visit the main museums and whatnot. But if you have only one in this city (and especially if this is your first time here), ours with Katya pepela25 a relaxed walking route with some recommendations may well come in handy.

This post will be delayed while I'm back in Italy.
My new travels can be watched in real-time here: @elena.stogova. Benvenuti!

The report was made based on our walk at the very beginning of February. All the photos are winter, yes, but they have not lost their relevance.
So you can and even need to go to Florence in winter: no crowds of tourists, no heat. But most importantly, yes - almost no tourists.

The other day, at the end of April, I was in Florence twice. After all, this is a very tourist city :) It also rained all two days in April and I had to kill myself with shopping :)

Let's start from the very beginning: on that very February day I came to Florence to warm up from Milan, where it snowed. He fell out and lay there. This was the view from the train window, pichalka:

By high-speed train (la freccia) from Milan to Florence is only an hour and a half.
I dedicated this big post to routes, tickets and the choice of trains in Italy.

Katya met me at the station - a long-awaited de-virtualization after 13 years (yes, yes) of online dating.
And we immediately went to drink cafe numero uno.

Bar Alinari is a Sicilian place just near the station. Luxurious interiors, which, alas, were not included in the frame.

After coffee, we wake up our eyes and begin to relax culturally :)
Basilica di San Lorenzo is one of the oldest churches in Florence. The first temple appeared here at the end of the 4th century, and the modern church building in the Renaissance style appeared in the 15th century thanks to the famous architect Filippo Brunelleschi.

Opposite the Basilica is Palazzo Medici Riccardi, the palace of the Medici family.

And here comes Katya pepela25 ! In less than five minutes she is a professional guide, receiving (for the third time or so) her education in Florence.
At the very beginning of the 2000s we met on the same forum. Then we met by chance on LJ - I recognized her by her nickname.
We communicated online for many years.

Both knew for sure that one day we would meet in Italy, where Katya has been living and studying for several years. And so it happened! Although not right away :)

The carousel on Piazza della Repubblica fascinates people like me - people from the land of pink unicorns :)

We drink café numero due at Gilli, one of the oldest bars in Florence.

Gilli is located here, on Republic Square.

Umina Italian sisters.

Hello Duomo! This structure can be viewed endlessly.
If only to see La Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore - the cathedral in Florence - it is worth coming to this city. Be sure to climb onto the dome, even if you have to stand in line to do so, and you will have to.

Facade details

Not far from Piazza Duomo there is Dante's house. Nearby on the tile is his profile, which I even highlight with water to make it easier for tourists to find :)

We go out to Piazza della Signoria, where the Palazzo Vecchie is located.

This square itself is an open-air museum.
Sculptures and fountains create a very festive mood at any time of the year!

Perseus by Benvenuto Cellini.

Katya showed an unusual landmark of the square - a human profile scratched on the stone of the Palazzo Vecchie. According to legend, Michelangelo bet that he could carve a portrait of a criminal (who was going to be hung in the square) with his back turned to the wall.
You can find this portrait to the right of the entrance to the palace.

On the way to lunch we saw a line at the most famous sandwich shop in the city - Antico Vinaio.
They say this place has the most delicious sandwiches that you should definitely try.

There is always such a great movement near Antico Vinaio :)

Initially, Katya wanted us to have lunch at Trattoria Palle D'Oro. As a person who knows Florence very well, she assures us that it couldn’t be more original. Take note!

But Golden Eggs was closed on Sunday. Take note too :)
And we decided to have lunch at Tavernetta della Signoria. I like it!

After lunch, we walked towards the Arno River embankment.

The famous Ponte Vecchio, better known as the "golden bridge".
The bridge was built in 1345 and still retains its original appearance.

Today there are jewelry shops here, but once there were meat stalls. With all the consequences - straight into the river.
I'll show you the bridge in the evening :)

On the other side of the river is Pitti Square with the palace of the same name, the main residence of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany, the Medici.

But our goal is the Boboli Gardens (Giardino di Boboli), with which Katya and I have so much connection :)
I'll tell you now!

Please note that in winter the gardens are open until 16.00, that is, you will only be allowed in until 15.30.

Hooray! Completed the gestalt!

I'm telling you.
Katya moved to study in Florence from Moscow just when I left Florence after finishing my studies.
We missed each other by a little bit and never saw each other in real life.

And now I see Katya’s photos on Facebook incredible photos Florence! It seemed to me that after living here for three months, I knew the city quite well. Phaphapha!

And we agreed: when I come to Tuscany again, we will definitely go for a walk in these very Boboli Gardens from those very photographs of her!
How many times have we remembered these gardens in online dialogues and comments, jokingly.

Who would have thought: more than five years passed from the moment the word Boboli became a household name for us until this photo :)))

February is nice, isn't it?

Villa Casino del Cavaliere, home to the Porcelain Museum. She is on the very top tier of the garden.

Let's add to the luxury of Giardino di Boboli (one of the most famous works of landscape art of the 16th century) no less luxurious panoramic views of Florence and its surroundings, which will open to you from all sides of the garden.

And I have a ladder!

I doubt that in just a month it will be so sparsely populated.
And this is a definite plus of winter trips to Italy!

Villa details.

“I’m sitting at the bottom of a fountain, a dry fountain. A stone monkey is looking at me stubbornly.”
(c) Nikolai Pinigin, from a book of youthful poems.

A few more Tuscan species that you want to eat through your eyes :)

Entry to the Porcelain Museum is free. The entrance ticket to the Boboli Gardens also includes access to the Costume Gallery and the Silver Museum. We didn't have time. Well, never mind, another time.

The collection contains mainly porcelain dishes that belonged to the families that ruled in Tuscany.
All exhibits, without exception, are real works of art.

There are Italian products, there are foreign exhibits (for example, Viennese, German and French). There is even porcelain given by Napoleon to his sister Eliza, Grand Duchess of Tuscany.

Magic ladies

The head that most often appears under the gettag "Boboli Gardens" :)

In winter, the gardens are well warmed up by the sun, and it is especially pleasant to be here.
In the old town there is little sunshine due to the narrow streets.

We walked in Italian: 15 minutes - not late, 15 minutes after closing - no one will die.

After the gardens, a café numero tre was required.
“We have WIFI, but communicate with each other.”

For some reason, at markets and vintage shops my eyes widen... At first I want a lot of things. But in the end I may not buy anything.

pay attention to stylish look this lady - even from under the neck of her warm sweater, the corners of her silk scarf, perfectly selected and just as neatly tied, peek out.
Now imagine her, but without this scarf. Just a sweet grandma :)

As always, in the image of Italian women, everything is decided by such details.

Dachshunds love vintage shopping too:)

Oh, it's beautiful!

There are whole deposits of vintage Louis Vuitton bags (and not only) in this field of miracles.

Meanwhile, it’s getting dark in Florence (it’s winter after all), we walk back to the center.

The sky resembles blueberry-raspberry-blueberry ice cream

Wonderful Ponte Vecchio!

We have dinner at a place that I have always liked - Ghibellini. Coincidentally, this is where Katya wanted to invite me for dinner.
Katyusha ordered pizza, and I ordered osso buco, veal shank. Where the most important thing is the bone marrow, located in this very buco - bone hole. The hole was the right size, about five centimeters in diameter. And there was a decent amount of brain there, about the size of a walnut :)

The day before, in one of the Minsk establishments, I was served osso buco, where even two tines of a fork could not fit into the hole. It was impossible to get anything out of there. And there was nothing to get. It was just a piece of veal with a bone. The Minsk dish (designed for dunno, or something) cost twice as much as nastya ossobuca in Florence, and the portion was half as large.

After dinner we climbed to the top floor of the Rinascente shopping center.

It turns out there is a small open terrace with amazing views of the city. The Duomo (second photo in the post) and Piazza della Repubblica are especially visible.

After which Katya took me to the station, and an hour and a half later I was in Milan :)

Of course, this report contains a small percentage of what we managed to do during the day. And what Katya told me about the history of the city. These are his “tales” and the Medici family legends.
We walked through the places of Tchaikovsky and Tarkovsky, saw Dostoevsky’s house. We also visited the Church of St. Margaret, where at the tombstone of Beatrice, Dante’s beloved, there is a large basket with notes. And it's all about love :)

On this day, I once again realized that a good guide is an irreplaceable person! Thank you, Katyusha!

If you're interested, here are Katya's contacts. Perhaps your guide to Florence.

Venice is beautiful and unique. But you just become convinced that the landscapes that you have seen a thousand times on photo wallpapers, in guidebooks or on computer desktops are not created in Photoshop, but really exist. Moreover, they look exactly the same as in the mentioned photographs.Rome is amazing. Venice - no.

Day three

(7.01.10, Florence)

Florence has two main stations where long-distance trains arrive. The central one has the romantic name Santa Maria Novella (Firenze S.M.N.), the second - Rifredi (Firenze RIFR.). Eurostars arrive at S.M.N., located very close to the main attractions of the city.

But Rifredi, where our train arrived, is just one stop from S.M.N., and you can get there by any train in about five minutes. To do this, you need to buy a ticket from Florence to Florence from a machine (don’t let the anecdotal nature of the request bother you), paying 1.10 euros for it and not forgetting to validate it in the yellow box on the platform.

One day is enough for a quick tour of Florence. From the station to the interesting places You can walk there even without a map. And the main “feature” of the city, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, is located very close to the station. Climb to the roof of the cathedral spiral staircase It’s a must, even though the walk will take a long time and you’ll have to pay 8 euros.

From here you can see Florence, cut up with streets like a shortbread cake and so different from Rome. But before going to the roof, it’s worth stopping and studying the paintings on the ceiling of the cathedral’s dome. The Last Judgment is depicted here in every detail. The righteous, as expected, ascend to heaven with honor. Sinners pay for their sins. For example, the devil sticks a trident in one’s butt.

Everyone recognizes the battlements on the high city hall of Florence soviet man. It’s not surprising, since the Moscow Kremlin was also built by Italians. Next to the town hall is the Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi), near which the most famous natives of Florence are immortalized in marble. Having studied this “board of honor”, ​​you involuntarily ask the question: which famous Italian was not a Florentine? Think of any name you know, from Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo to Niccolò Machiavelli and Dante Alighieri - they are all from here.

We crossed the Old Bridge (Ponte Vecchia) to the other side of the Arno and climbed to piazzale Michelangelo. From here there is a beautiful view of Florence, which compares favorably with the panorama from the roof of Santa Maria del Fiore in that the cathedral itself is visible from this hill.

At the foot of the hill, a large artificial rapid on the Arno rumbles. Lovers of romance can climb the stone tower on the embankment and imagine themselves on the bow of a ship cutting through the waves.

The story with food in Florence is the same as in Rome. Without knowing local restaurants, it is better to approach food pragmatically, and certainly not buy wine. In a randomly chosen establishment not far from the town hall, our friend was served a downright shmurdyak.

Day four

(8.01.10, Venice)

Only heroes travel to Venice from Rome for one day folk proverb“Seven miles is no detour for a mad dog.” The Eurostar drives fast, it’s comfortable to sit in it, but the ride still doesn’t give you any special sensations.

Venice is located much north of Rome, and after the Roman +10 degrees, the Venetian +2 with wind and cold rain looked bleak. And in Bologna there were patches of snow.

Venice is distinguished from most European cities by a clear division into a tourist and residential part. Residential areas are on the mainland called Mestre. There is also a train station of the same name. Mestre is connected to the “historic” islands by the long railway-road bridge Ponte della Liberta.

The railway bridge ends at Santa Lucia Station (Venezia S.L.). The road bridge leads to the square adjacent to the station - piazzale Roma. This - the only place where vehicles are allowed. Further - only on foot or by water transport (gondolas, taxi motor boats or vaporetto shuttle boats). And not because it’s impossible, but because it’s impossible: in Venice, built several centuries ago, there are simply no roads for cars. You need to leave your car in the 10-story parking lot for 24 euros.

In Venice, we met with friends who were vacationing at a ski resort near the city of Brunico. This is 3000 meters above Venice, and therefore it was not raining there, but snowing. Our friends barely made it through the drifts in their SUV, driving no faster than 40 km/h. Cars got stuck even with chains on the wheels.

The well-known guidebook Lonely Planet advises not to build a route around Venice, but simply get lost in its narrow labyrinths. It's hard to disagree with this advice. Moreover, the entire city is covered with yellow signs to the most famous attractions: San Marco Square and the Rialto Bridge.

The simplest one-day walk in Venice is to walk through the labyrinths to the Rialto Bridge, cross the Grand Canal, then walk to Piazza San Marco, go to the cathedral of the same name and return to the station or parking lot by vaporetto. A trip on a shuttle boat, which makes many stops along the way, will cost 6.50 euros. Having completed such a walk, we, soaked to the skin, returned to the station to warm up, and our friends returned to their car.

If we talk about personal impressions, there are none. Yes, Venice is beautiful and unique. But you just become convinced that the landscapes that you have seen a thousand times on photo wallpapers, in guidebooks or on computer desktops are not created in Photoshop, but really exist. Moreover, they look exactly the same as in the mentioned photographs.

Rome is amazing. Venice - no.

Perhaps you need to go to this city for several days, wander around its various islands, and not just the popular places. But what you definitely shouldn’t do is go to Venice in January. If you are vacationing at a ski resort nearby, spend an extra day practicing your skiing technique. And if in Rome, go somewhere closer.

Day five

(9.01.10, Rome)

We decided to partially devote the last day to shopping. But on the Roman shopping streets via Cola di Rienzo near the Vatican and via del Corso, leading from piazza del Poppolo to piazza Venezia, there were mainly shops of expensive brands, the prices of which, even after the discount, bite.

Locals say that you need to catch sales in shopping centers on the outskirts of Rome. The most accessible of them, Parco Leonardo, is located near the railway station of the same name on the road to Fiumicino airport.

After finishing shopping, we went for a walk in the Trastevere area. When in Rome, this is definitely worth a visit. There are none of the city’s famous attractions here, and the local streets themselves could well be part of the urban landscape of Lublin or Zurich.

But here more life: real, Italian, not tourist. In Trastevere you are much less likely to be fed a burnt pizza for 10 euros. Therefore, if the goal is not only to walk, but also to eat, this is the place for you. Well, if you also have a drink, then even better here.

IN Trastevere has wonderful beer gardens (Birreria). Italy is not Germany or the Czech Republic, and bottled beer here, to put it mildly, is not a fountain. This is not the case with birreria. The owners brew their own beer. As a rule, there are few varieties, or only one. Variety is ensured by adding the most various additives: from fruit to coffee.

In this case, the result is not the swill that we call beermix, but really worthwhile beer with completely different tastes. Birrerias are popular establishments, but small, so it is often crowded here, and you have to drink beer while standing.

But on this January evening there were almost no visitors, so we sat freely at an outdoor table in a birreria with the witty name “bir&fud” (v ia Benedetta 23). A glass of beer here cost 5 euros, and the sociable bartender guessed what country we were from (he guessed pretty quickly). There is another birreria nearby, but we didn’t go into it.

From Trastevere we walked up via Garibaldi to the Gianicolo hill to the Acqua Paola fountain and the Garibaldi monument. It was already dark, but still the panorama of Rome opening from here was impressive. However, it is worth going up here before dark.

Day five

(10.01.10, Rome)

Although the plane departed at 10:40 (PS 306, FCO 10:40 - KBP 14:50), we left for the airport very early. This is Italy, and therefore even a harmless train ride can bring surprises. And she presented it: the ticket machine for Roma San Pietro chewed up 15 euros, and there was no live cashier at the station at 7 a.m. on Sunday. A piece of paper with the inscription ricevuto credito was exchanged for tickets only at the Roma Trastevere transfer station.

If you are leaving on Saturday or Sunday and plan to get to the airport by train, carefully study the train schedule, which is available at each station. Many of them do not go on weekends and holidays, so there is a risk of being late. In addition, according to locals, a long line at security control is the norm for Fiumicino. True, when we went through control, there was almost no line.

Hopes for duty free were only partially justified. For example, the Primitivo di Manduria wine we liked was not available in any of the stores. And in general, the choice of alcohol was very meager. We bought a Sicilian Corvo and a bottle of grappa. I recommend buying the latter only for lovers of national exotics: after all, it is moonshine, albeit grape and refined. It’s better to stock up on wine at a regular city supermarket. Yes, you will have to check it in as luggage, but the choice will be much richer than in duty free.

Rome saw us off with the sun peeking out from behind storm clouds, Kyiv met with dense fog and melting snow.

conclusions

1. You should definitely go to Italy. And then - go again.

2. You can’t see all of Italy in one go. The country is big and beautiful.

3. Not only popular places like Venice or Rome are interesting. In Italy there are many beautiful, and most importantly, not similar friends on other cities.

4. It is advisable to go to Venice for more than one day. Well, going to Rome for one day is completely useless - the city is large and very different.

5. Fans of budget travel in Italy will have a hard time. The country is expensive.

6. It is important to plan your route carefully and look for savings options. A frontal approach to buying tickets, booking a hotel or choosing a cafe will cost tens, if not hundreds of extra euros.

7. Winter - no best time for traveling around Italian cities. The weather is capricious, from frequent heavy rains Even an umbrella can't save you.

8. Italy is still not Germany. Always be prepared for southern sloppiness. But - within reasonable limits. Italy is still Europe.

In general, the Florentine climate is mild, like throughout the Mediterranean. In winter, temperatures here rarely drop below zero, and summers are hot and humid. Let's see, when is the best time to go to Florence? Tourist season in Florence lasts from January to December, but some climate features should be taken into account in different times of the year.

The warmest and sunniest are the summer months with June to August. Temperatures during this period reach more than 30 degrees during the day and about 25 degrees at night, however, due to the high humidity, the heat is difficult to bear. June and July can be rainy, while August is usually dry and warm. During this period, it is better to combine a trip to Florence with sea ​​holidays, because the heat, crowds of tourists and long lines at museums are exhausting. Also in August Many family shops, restaurants, bars and workshops close for the holidays, and you risk being left without a souvenir or a delicious Tuscan lunch.

In my opinion, one of the most comfortable months to visit Florence is September. The tourist flow is already subsiding, local residents are returning from vacation and opening their shops, the temperature is becoming more pleasant and remains around 25-27 degrees during the day and 18-20 degrees at night. October is also a good month to travel to Florence. Although in October the temperature is slightly lower than in September; like September, it is characterized by a fairly low amount of precipitation. Therefore, these months are the most favorable for walking around the city and visiting museums. November It is usually one of the rainiest months of the year, so the tourist flow decreases during this period. However, in November the olive harvest takes place, and if you are lucky, you will be able to taste the real thing. olive oil Extra Vergin with its specific tart taste.

December, January and February are the coldest months of the year. The temperature during the day usually does not rise above 6-10 degrees, and at night it drops to zero. However at the end of December The city is in the pre-Christmas mood, and visiting Florence during this period is a special pleasure. The streets of the city are decorated with garlands, a Christmas tree is placed in the main square near the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, brand stores also decorate their windows in Christmas style. The city truly has an atmosphere of celebration and magic. Despite the fact that the tourist flow in winter months is significantly reduced, the city streets are still filled with tourists, and shops offer attractive discounts, since around January 3, sales begin in Florence, which last until the month of March.

The spring months, in my opinion, also seem to be good times for visiting Florence. In March-April the temperature in Florence is still quite low: about 15-17 degrees during the day and about 5-10 degrees at night. But this temperature is quite comfortable for travelers who want to experience culture and tour the cities of Italy. In addition, during this period you will not find long lines at museums and churches.