We used to think Venice was crowded until we spent a week in Florence. The great thing about Venice, especially at this time of year, is that you can step off the main thoroughfares and get lost in peaceful (and often pretty) backwaters. In Florence, the areas that aren’t crowded are often empty for a good reason.
The best way to see the popular spots in Florence, we discovered this morning, is to do it before about 8 a.m.