Florence Travel Forum

I'll be meeting friends in Florence later this week...I'm arriving by train and they're coming by car.

My friend had heard that there is a tax or fee for driving into the city (he says it's over 100 euro). I've driven into Florence in the past, but not for a while, and don't remember anything like that. I've done a search or two here and on the internet in general and can't find any mention.

Can someone clear this up for us? It will make a big difference regarding where I meet them.

Thank you in advance!

I would like to purchase a toy from bartolucci in Via dei pastini. I dont know how to get through to the web site. Can you help.

We(family of 4)will be traveling from Florence next July to the Amalfi Coast. Should we fly to Naples and bus it to Positano? If so, should we purchase air tickets locally, and approx cost if bought locally. Or should we take the train to Naples and then local train to Sorrento, then cab or bus to Positano? I am worried that train travel will take to long. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I am trying to reach Luciano's, it is a store with beautiful merchandise and is located at p.za santa croce 9/R. Can you give me an email address to contact them?

I think that is the name of the the store. They sold enameled jewelry. Very bright colors of pendants and bracelets. I can't find it on the internet. Do I have the name wrong. I know it was in Florence.

Hi there,
I remember someone posted a pizza restaurant that's been in the family for 4 generations and it was good.Where is it?Does anyone know?
thanks,
lengleng

I will be in Florence for a very short time, but would love to find some stores selling old books and antiques.
Any addresses?

Why is it I never read about the problem of mosquitos in Florence?We were so unprepared upon arriving and got attacked so badly in a farmhouse to a point we stayed up ALL night watching my 3 year old and killing all the mosquitos in the room.Needless to say we checked out the next day to go to a different bed and breakfast and thank god they are more responsible and took measures to oust those blood thirst suckers out of the room by spraying it before hand.Are we the only ones?
lengleng

Hi everyone,

I'm planning a weekend in Florence and am having no luck getting in contact (directly) with the Luna Rossa hostel. Perhaps someone has stayed there and still has the email address? Or a phone number?

(I've found this number: 328 6251017, but there's no answer.)

Thanks in advance!

Hi all,
I'm in FLORENCE WOOHOOO!!! Thanks to all your input and help on getting here :-)Please help with the decision of choosing Como or Venice as we only have time for one day trip that far.
I'm staying in this amasing villa just outside of florence http://www.poggioaimerli.com/english/index.htm
Service is impecable,the setting and location can't be beaten!
lengleng

We have a very early flight out of Florence on our last day in Tuscany, and I was wondering if anyone knows the closest hotel/place to stay to the airport.

Thanks!

Hi, am coming to Florence for a couple of days. My first time in Tuscany and I feel I should see a vineyard since I enjoy wine so much. Only problem is I don't know the area and will be relying on public transport. Are there any vineyards that do tours/tastings that are accessible by buses? Or is that too much of a long shot?!

I've already booked a room with settemerli.it but read some reviews that's it's not really the country side experience if I was looking for that.The surrounding area and town is not charming like most towns in italy?
I'm looking for the perfect farmhouse and beauty of contryside in the heart of tuscany.Any suggestions?
Sally I looked at your suggestion but somehow my husband wanted to look for other options :-)
lengleng

We will be travelling from Rome to Florence byrail and I wonder whether anyone has travelled on to Montecatini Terme by train. If so, are there many connections from Florence and how long does the trip take? Thanks

Hi all,
I have gotten some results on my vespa tour search for my husband's birthday.Here's what I got :

Leaving from Florence at about 9.30 and arriving in Siena at about 10.45.

About 4 hour stop to visit the town and at about 14.45/15.00 you will leave towards Florence arriving there at 16.00/16.15



The price is Euro 230 and the best date could be October 9.

Any other suggestions based on your experience? Is the price reasonable?

Thanks,
lengleng

Hey all,

I'm heading to Florence tomorrow and will arrive on Friday the 18th. I read on the weather page that it's supposed to be rainy. Do you think i'll need an umbrella or will a raincoat suffice? I'm bringing very little luggage so if I can save space that'd be great. However, I don't want to be caught in torrential rain with no umbrella...

I am at the beginning of trip planning for Apr 2010, first trip to Italy, surprise 40th bday for my husband. We are plannning to be there for 2 weeks. I'm contemplating 3 days in Rome, 1 week in or near Florence, and potentially the last few days in or near Venice.
My main question is about Florence. We are equally interested in Tuscany as we are Florence. Should we stay in Florence, taking a couple day trips to Tuscany cities/wine tours, or should we stay somewhere in Tuscany and make day trips from there? The main issue is that we'd like to have a home base for about a week vs. moving hotels every couple nights. Although if it's necessary we could stay a few days in Tuscany and a few days in Florence if that makes more sense.

Thanks in advance for your help! Any hotel, villa, BB recommendations will gladly be accepted.

Do I need to buy tickets in advance to see David and the Birth of Venus? Will I be able to get in without advance tickets?

How do you book the Palazzo Vecchio Wedding Hall? Also, can anyone provide a email address or telephone number.
Regards,
Esther Amadeo

Hi all,
Does anyone know if there's a car rental company near or in the florence train staion.Or can anyone recommend a good car rental in Florence.Thnak yo in advance,
lengleng

We will be staying close to the Santa Maria Novella train station while in Florence. What kind of transportation is available to go and hear the Gregorian chants and visit the Romanesque church of San Miniato and return to our hotel around 7:00 pm? Do the buses run past 7:00 pm? ARe they easy to catch on returns?
Thank you so much.
Helen

is it too complicated to drive from Rome to Florence?I know train is easier but just thought it would be good to see the sites by car too?

Hello all,
I'm looking for an agriturismo villa near Florence that provides home cooked meals.Does anyone know of any to recommend.It will be a dream come true to eat it from someones mum :-)lengleng

Is it possible to get a walking map to visit the following places:
Piazelle Michaelangello;
Duomo/Baptistery/Campanile;
Ponte Vecchio;
Bargello area;
Pitti Palace.

Also, any bus runs among those places? How to get it (i.e bus line #; the name of bus stop to start)

Thanks

hello,
will stay 2 nights at the hotel Metropole ar montecatini area.Its about 50 km away from Florance what makes me very upset.How i will get to FLORENCE in the evenings? is there a bus going from Montecatini to Florence center? any train? please advice me..what would be a price for the taxi? think too hig of 50 km distance.

Hi all,
I'm thinkkin of arriving in Florence from Rome by train and I was wondering if there's a car rental company I can arrange a rental car?Thank you in advance :-)

Does anyone know of an excelent guide for Florence/Tuscany and a good local authentic Tuscan home cook meal? i always dream of being invited to an Italian family for a good meal cooked by their grandmother.hahah

Hello all,
I'll be staying at this lovely villa (as attached )october 8th to the 14th,

Villa Poggio Ai MerliVia Giogoli, 5, 50018 Scandicci (Firenze).

Can someone tell me if it's easy to get to center of florence and where to park once there?
What's the weather like in October?I'm nervous thinkking about having to bring winter clothes!Thanks all :-)
lengleng

My family will be on a cruise that stops in Livorno. We want to go to Florence and Pisa. Could someone give us advice how to do this using public trnasportation.

Thanks

We have bought two clocks in the shop in Rome. We will be in Florence at the end of November. Does anyyone know if the selection in the shop in Florence is as good as the one in Rome?