Travel by: [ Road ] [ Rail ] [ Air ]
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Italy has an excellent network of motorways (autostrade), designated by the letter ‘A’. The main north-south link is the Autostrada del Sole, which links Milan with Reggio Calabria in the toe of Italy. Speed limits on motorways are 130kph (81mph) for cars of 1100cc or more and 110kph (68mph) for smaller cars. All motorways are tolled. Visitors on a budget may prefer the strade statali (designated by ‘SS’), which are toll free and are often fast, multi-lane carriageways. The speed limit on these roads is 110kph (68mph) - too slow for the speed obsessed Italians and therefore a more leisurely drive for the rest of the world. Strade bianche, small country roads, abound in the countryside around Florence and are well worth exploring for their picture postcard views of the Italian countryside.
By law, both driver and passenger must wear their seatbelts, if fitted, or face an on-the-spot fine. Dipped car lights must be switched on at any time outside built up areas. Random breath tests can be imposed and the penalties for drink driving are severe - the maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio is 0.05%. The minimum age for driving is 18 years old. All those without an EU licence must carry an International Driving Permit. EU nationals taking their own car will need an International Insurance Certificate, also known as a Green Card (Carta Verde). It is compulsory to travel with a warning triangle in the car, and wear a reflective jacket if anyone leaves a vehicle stopped on a carriageway at night or in poor visibility.
Autostrade (tel: (06) 4363 2121 or 800 269 269; website: www.autostrade.it) provides information on motorway traffic in Italy, while Automobile Club Italiana (ACI) (tel: (02) 6616 5116 or 803 116; website: www.aci.it) provides general information for drivers.
Emergency breakdown service:
ACI 803 116
Routes to the city: The central road artery of Italy, the A1, links Florence to Milan, Bologna, Rome and Naples. Depending on the direction of approach, access is via the first exit marked ‘Firenze’ (Nord or Sud). From there, signs for the city centre are marked (centro). There are tourist offices along the A1, north and south of the city, if navigation proves tricky. The Autostrada del Mare (A11) is the main road to Pisa and the coast, linking the city to Tuscan towns such as Lucca, Prato and Siena.
Approximate driving times to Florence: From Bologna - 1 hour; Rome - 2 hours; Milan - 3 hours.
Coach services: International coaches depart from Lazzi Station, Piazza Adua 1 (tel: (055) 351 061; website: www.lazzi.it), next to the train station of Santa Maria Novella. In collaboration with Eurolines (tel: (055) 357 110; website: www.eurolines.it), the station operates an extensive coach service to major European cities, including Antwerp, Barcelona, Brussels, London, Paris and Prague. The station shares facilities with the nearby train station, Firenze SMN (see Getting There By Rail).
For domestic travel, the blue SITA (tel: (055) 294 955 or 800 373 760; website: www.sitabus.it) coaches arrive and depart from the Sita Bus Station, Via Santa Caterina da Siena, west of the train station. The fast service to Siena is the most direct way for travellers to reach Florence’s medieval neighbour. There are also services to Arezzo, Poggibonsi and the wine towns of Chianti (Castellina, Radda and Gaiole). |
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The Italian state railway is Ferrovie dello Stato (tel: 892 020 or (199) 166 177; website: www.trenitalia.com), which is reliable and fairly priced, although hefty supplements can be added depending on the type of train (Diretto, Inter-Regionale or InterCity and InterCity Plus). By law, passengers must validate their train tickets, by stamping them in the yellow machines on the platform before boarding - failure to do so can result in a large fine.
Services operate from the central train station in Florence, Santa Maria Novella or Firenze SMN, 1 Piazza Unita’Italiana, which is known as Piazza della Stazione (tel: (055) 892 021). Situated in the north of the city, the station takes its name from the nearby church and provides a good orientation point. Facilities include an all-night pharmacy, a bureau de change, left-luggage and an accommodation booking service. The squat building at the far end of the station complex is a tourist information office.
Rail services: Florence is on the main Rome-Milan line, which ensures a fast service to Italy’s most important business and tourist centres. Services include the EuroStar Italia, with links to Milan (journey time - 2 hours 45 minutes) and Rome (journey time - 1 hour 40 minutes) and the express service, which links the city to Naples (journey time - 3 hours 40 minutes). Services are subject to supplementary fares. For rail access to ports, there are regular direct trains to Venice (journey time - 2 hours 50 minutes) and to Genoa, changing at Pisa (journey time - 3 hours 41 minutes). International train services link Florence to more than 40 other European destinations, including Paris, Zurich, and Munich. |
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Galileo Galilei (PSA)
Tel: (050) 849 111 or 849 300 (flight information).
Website: www.pisa-airport.com
Pisa’s airport, Galileo Galilei, is the international gateway to Florence. Situated 80km (50 miles) from Florence, it provides easy access to the city by road or rail. As one of Italy’s busiest airports, Pisa handles around 1.1 million passengers per year.
Airport facilities: Facilities include a bank, bureau de change, ATMs (bancomat), nursery (situated on the ground floor) and a selection of restaurants. La Corte mall offers a wide range of shopping, as well as a hair salon. Tourist information, a post office and car hire operators, including Avis, Europcar, Liberty Rent International, Maggiore and Sixt Rent a Car, are available in the arrivals hall.
Business facilities: There is a dedicated business centre, the Galilei Business Centre (tel: (050) 849 200) which has fully equipped rooms available to be booked for small meetings and seminars. Business-class travellers also have access to the Galilei VIP Lounge, which offers on-the-spot check-in for passengers carrying hand luggage only. Refreshments and travel information are also available.
Transport to the city: The most hassle-free and commonly used way for arriving tourists to travel to Florence is on the train. The station, Pisa Aeroporto, is just a short stride from the airport and tickets are available for purchase on the concourse. Trains (see Getting There By Rail) depart more or less every hour, between 0641 and 2220 (journey time -1 hour 20 minutes). On departing Florence, visitors can check in at the railway station’s Air Terminal in Florence (platform five) from 0730 to 1530. Passengers with luggage must check in 20 minutes before the train departs and arrive at least 35 minutes before flight departure.
There is a Terravision shuttle bus (tel: (050) 26080; website: www.terravision.eu) that stops in Florence (by the station). It runs daily from around 0840 to 0020, depending on Ryanair arrival times (journey time - 1 hour 10 minutes).
If you wish to take a taxi to Florence (an unusual choice, given the excellent train service), these are to be found outside the main exit or ordered by telephone (tel: (050) 541 600). The journey time would vary greatly depending on the traffic and prices would be extremely high - at least €130.
Amerigo Vespucci (FLR)
Tel: (055) 306 1300 .
Website: www.aeroporto.firenze.it
Florence City Airport underwent modernisation in 2006. Situated just 5km (3 miles) from Florence city centre, the airport is steadily increasing in capacity, with regular flights to major European cities as well as domestic destinations.
Airport facilities: Tourist information, banking and exchange facilities are available during office hours and there is a cafe and snack bar. Avis, Europcar, Hertz, Italy by Car, Maggiore and Winrent provide car hire.
Business facilities: There is no dedicated business centre but the Masaccio Lounge on the first floor of departures has a self-service bar, newspapers, satellite TV and telephones, as well as a computer with Internet connection.
Transport to the city: The ‘fly by bus’ Vola in Bus (tel: 800 424 500; website: www.ataf.net) shuttle service departs approximately every 30 minutes between 0600-1400, then less frequently to 2230. Tickets are available for purchase on board. The shuttle drops passengers off at Florence’s central bus station (journey time - 15-30 minutes).
Taxis (tel: (055) 4242 or 4390) to the centre cost approximately €16-20 (journey time - 30 minutes, depending on traffic).
Approximate flight times to Florence: From London is 2 hours 15 minutes; from New York is 12 hours 30 minutes; from Los Angeles is 18 hours 50 minutes; from Toronto is 12 hours 50 minutes and from Sydney is 21 hours 25 minutes.
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