Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TRAVELLING WITH
CHILDREN
The oldest gay bar (men
only) in Italy is Tabasco in
Florence's Piazza della
Signoria. There are few
organized venues for women,
but Florence's Piccolo Café on
Borgo Santa Croce is open to
both men and women.
Florence hosts the Queer
Festival, dedicated to the arts
and film, each November
(www.florencequeerfestival.it)
and Pitti Immagine fashion
events also attract a large gay
crowd. The
Arcigay
and
Ireos
associations provide further
information (in Italian).
Tuscany. Camp sites on
the outskirts of some towns
(see p247)
are a good option,
while those looking for
something a little different
could opt to stay in a
convent. Bear in mind that
convents are likely to have
curfews and rules about
unmarried couples staying
together. Facilities vary from
basic to luxurious, with
corresponding cost.
Italians love children, and
while hotels and restaurants
may not be completely
equipped for young visitors,
they will be happy to accom-
modate them. Most restau-
rants have high chairs and
will serve children basic
meals such as pasta with olive
oil or tomato sauce.
It's best to request cribs or
cots at your hotel in advance.
Most hotels do not have a
kettle or other food prepara-
tion facilities for newborns;
short-let apartments
(see
p246)
are an excellent solu-
tion if you need kitchen
access. Negotiating narrow
pavements can be difficult
with pushchairs. Buses in
cities have a reserved seating
area for people with push-
chairs; enter the bus by the
wide centre doors. Most
sights offer a discounted entry
rate for children.
EDUCATIONAL COURSES
There are many language and
art schools in Tuscany. The
British Institute in Florence
is
one of the better known, and
The Learning Center of
Tuscany
offers TEFL certificate
courses. The
Palazzo Spinelli
Istituto per l'Arte e il Restauro
offers courses on art, drawing,
ceramics and painting. The
Centro Internazionale Dante
Alighieri
or the
Università per
Stranieri
in Siena have
courses on Italian culture,
history and cooking. A list of
schools in Tuscany is
available from the Uffici
Informazioni Turistche.
STUDENT AND BUDGET
TRAVELLERS
Travellers on a budget will
find reasonably priced
lodging and meal options
throughout Tuscany, but there
are very few free activities.
Some small churches may be
free to visit, and students with
International Student Identity
Cards (ISIC) are usually able
to claim a discount on
admission fees at museums
and other attractions. The ISIC
card also gives access to a
24-hour telephone helpline
that provides general advice
and information.
The national travel organi-
zation,
CTS
Viaggi
, has
branches throughout Italy and
Europe. CTS can issue student
cards and offers reasonably
priced car hire. They are also
able to organize holidays,
excursions and courses.
Some traditional
trattorie
have inexpensive set menus,
and lunchtime menus tend to
be cheaper. There are
numerous hostels and budget
hotels in Florence and around
SENIOR TRAVELLERS
Special services or discounts
for seniors are few in
Tuscany. EU citizens over 65
can get into state museums
for free and receive a 25%
discount on entry fees to city
museums (valid photo ID
must be shown), but seniors
from outside the EU are not
eligible. There is no discount
on bus tickets. A train ticket
discount of 15% is given to
holders of the
Carta Argento
,
an annual card you can apply
for at train stations. It costs
€30 for over 60s, so is only
worthwhile if you're planning
a lengthy stay in Tuscany. It is
free for over 75s.
TUSCAN TIME
Tuscany is 1 hour ahead
of Greenwich Mean Time
(GMT). The time difference
between Tuscany and other
cities is as follows: London:
-1 hour; New York: -6 hours;
Perth: +7 hours; Auckland:
+11 hours; Tokyo: +8 hours.
These figures may vary for
brief periods in the summer
with local changes. For all
official purposes the Italians
use the 24-hour clock
(eg 10pm = 22.00 hrs).
GAY AND LESBIAN
TRAVELLERS
Certain areas of Tuscany are
particularly favoured by GLBT
travellers, although the scene
remains discreet. Most popu-
lar are the seaside resorts of
Viareggio and Torre del Lago,
which have many gay bars,
and certain beaches in Torre
del Lago and Maremma.
There are numerous gay-
friendly B&Bs in Tuscany,
especially in Florence.
Student relaxing in the sun in Gaiole in Chianti
