By Car - Florence is connected... by spartan
By Car - Florence is connected to the north and south of Italy by the Autostrada del Sole (A1). It is about an hour's scenic drive from Bologna (although heavy truck traffic over the Apennines often makes for slower going) and about three hours from Rome. The Tyrrhenian coast is an hour away on A11 West. In the city, abandon all hope of using a car, since most of the downtown area is a pedestrian zone. For traffic information in Florence, call 055/577-777.By Air - The A. Vespucci Airport, called Peretola (tel. 055/333-498), is 10 kilometers (6 miles) northwest of Florence. Although it accommodates flights from Milan, Rome, and some European cities, it is still a relatively minor airport. Galileo Galilei Airport in Pisa (tel. 050/500-707) is 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Florence and is used by most international carriers; for flight information, call the Florence Air Terminal at Santa Maria Novella train station (tel. 055/216-073) or Galilei airport information. Flying time: 8 1/2 hours from New York, 10-11 hours from Chicago, 12-13 hours from Los Angeles. International travelers flying on Alitalia to Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport and headed directly for Florence can make connections at the airport for a flight to Florence, but if the layover is a long one, consider taking the FS airport train to Termini station in Rome, where fast trains for Florence are frequent during the day.
By Bus - There is a local bus service from Peretola to Florence. Buy a ticket at the second-floor café; the bus shelter is beyond the parking lot. There is no direct bus service from Pisa's airport to Florence. Buses do go to Pisa itself, but then you have to change to a slow train service.
By Train - Florence is on the principal Italian train route between most European capitals and Rome and within Italy is served quite frequently from Milan, Venice, and Rome by nonstop Intercity (IC) trains. The Santa Maria Novella Station is near the downtown area; avoid trains that stop only at the Campo di Marte Station in an inconvenient location on the east side of the city. For train information in Florence, call 055/288785** or 147/888088 toll-free.
By Bicycle - Brave souls (cycling in Florence is difficult, at best) may rent bicycles at easy-to-spot locations at Fortezza da Basso, the Santa Maria Novella train station, and Piazza Pitti, from Alinari (Via San Zanobi 9/r, tel. 055/490113) or Motorent (Via Guelfa 85/r, tel. 055/280500).
By Bus - Maps and timetables are available for a small fee at the ATAF booth next to the train station or at the office at Piazza del Duomo 57/r, or for free at visitor information offices (see Visitor Information). Tickets must be bought in advance and can be purchased at tobacco stores, newsstands, from automatic ticket machines near main stops, or at ATAF booths (next to the station and at strategic locations throughout the city). The ticket must be canceled in the small validation machine immediately upon boarding. Two types of tickets are available, both valid for one or more rides on all lines. One costs 1,500 lire and is valid for 60 minutes from the time it is first canceled; the other costs 2,500 lire and is valid for three hours. A multiple ticket -- four tickets each valid for 60 minutes -- costs 6,000 lire. A 24-hour tourist ticket costs 6,000 lire. Long-term visitors or frequent users of the bus should consider a monthly pass, which is sold at the ATAF office.
By Car - Driving is on the right, as in the United States. Regulations are largely as in Britain and the United States, except that the police have the power to levy on-the-spot fines. The use of the horn is forbidden in certain, if not all, areas; a large sign, zona di silenzio, indicates where. Speed limits are 130 kph (80 mph) on autostradas and 110 kph (70 mph) on state and provincial roads, unless otherwise marked. Fines for driving after drinking are heavy, with the additional possibility of six months' imprisonment, but testing is not routine.
Only a few gas stations are open on Sunday, and most close for a couple of hours at lunchtime and at 7 PM for the night. Gas stations on autostradas are open 24 hours.
Parking space is at a premium, if it's available at all. Parking in an area signposted zona disco is allowed for limited periods (30 minutes to 2 hours or more--the limit is posted); if you don't have the cardboard disk to show what time you parked, you can use a piece of paper. It's advisable to leave your car only in guarded parking areas. Unofficial parking attendants can help you find a space but offer no guarantees. Your car may be towed away if illegally parked.
ACI Emergency Service (Servizio Soccorso Stradale, Via Solferino 32, 00185 Rome, tel. 06/44595) offers 24-hour road service. Dial 116 from any phone, 24 hours a day, to reach the nearest ACI service station.
By Motorcycle - Those who want to go native and rent a noisy Vespa (Italian for 'wasp') or other make of motorcycle or moped may do so at Motorent (Via Guelfa 85/r, tel. 055/280-500) or Alinari (Via San Zanobi 9/r, tel. 055/490-113). Helmets are mandatory and can be rented at either place.
By Taxi - Taxis usually wait at stands throughout the city (such as in front of the train station and in Piazza della Repubblica), or they can be called by dialing 055/4390 or 055/4798. The meter starts at 4,500 lire, with a 7,000 lire minimum and extra charges for nights, Sunday, or radio dispatch
