Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
available at kiosks or bookstores around
town. The tourist office publishes a
weekly English-language newspaper, The
Florentine, with extensive events listings,
articles about tourist sites, and important
headlines like “Topless in Tuscany Not
Tolerated.” Many advertising-driven
“information” brochures are available at
the tourist office and hotels, including
the decent Vivi Firenze, targeted at for-
eigners living in Florence.
Pharmacies Twenty-four-hour pharma-
cies are available at Santa Maria Novella
train station ( % 055-289435)—ring the
bell if it looks closed; Farmacia Molteni
( Via dei Calzaiuoli, 7r; % 055-289490);
and Farmacia All'Insegna del Moro ( Piazza
San Giovanni, 20R; % 055-211343).
Police In an emergency, call % 112. For
filing a report, contact the Questura
Centrale (Via Zara, 2; % 055-20391);
English-speaking personnel are on hand
there from 9am to 2pm, as well as at the
main Carabinieri Station (Borgo Ognissanti,
48; % 055-24811).
Post Office The main post office ( Via
Pellicceria, 3, by Piazza della Repubblica;
% 160 or 055-218156) sells stamps and
sends packages—but if they're over 5
pounds you must go to the package office
on Via dei Sassetti 4, in Piazza Davanzati
behind the regular office. Stamps can be
bought at any tobacco store, and for ship-
ping a package probably the best option
is to go with UPS ( Via Pratignone, 56a;
% 055-8825501), DHL ( Via della Cupola,
243; % 055-3080877), or Mailboxes Etc.
( Via San Gallo, 55R; % 055-4630129;
www.mbe.com), which have all the pack-
ing materials you'll need, but charge a
hefty service fee.
Restrooms Florence has recently insti-
tuted the “Courtesy Point” system where
82 bars and cafes were assigned to put a
yellow sticker in their windows to welcome
guests to use their toilets. If you can't
find the yellow sticker, stop in at a high-
end hotel or a local McDonald's. In addi-
tion, Florence has 10 public restrooms
scattered around town (cost to use one is
.60), but it's unlikely you'll be near one
when you need it.
Safety The tourist district is very safe,
but it can get a little dicey around the
edges (the Arno side of Santa Maria
Novella station late at night, as well as
some of the southern parks). There's no
longer the gypsy pickpocket situation of
previous years, though crowds and
tourists will always attract some thieves,
so stay aware of your possessions.
Transit Info City buses leave from the
Santa Maria Novella train station on
dozens of routes going across town and
out to the suburbs. You most likely won't
need one to tour the historical center. The
cost is 1 for a 1-hour ticket, 4.50 for
a full-day ticket, with various other
options available. You're supposed to val-
idate your own ticket by sticking it in the
machine in the bus. They rarely check
tickets, but if they do, you'll pay a hefty
fine if you're ticketless or unvalidated.
The “I'm a tourist, I didn't know” excuse
doesn't work; believe me, they've heard
that one before.
Taxis are available at the train station,
and line up around major piazze. You can
order one to come fetch you by calling
% 055-4390, 055-4242, or 055-4798.
Flag-fall is over 2.50, double that late
at night or on weekends; add extra for
pickups and for luggage. Drivers expect
about a 10% tip. Again, you most likely
won't need one to get around town,
unless you're trying to ferry luggage from
the train station to your hotel.
If you like hills, you might enjoy rent-
ing a bicycle and riding around south of
the Arno, up to San Miniato and Piazzale
Michelangelo. Given the tight traffic in
town, I wouldn't recommend using a bike
as a way to see the city. But rentals are
available at several locations for about
2.70 an hour, including Alinari (Via
Guelfa, 85r; % 055-280500; www.alinari
rental.com). If you're going to be in
Florence for a while, Florence by Bike (Via
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