Florence

Today I will like to share with you some tips from Florence. I have lived in this city for 2 years and I have returned twice and it will not be the last one!

I hope you find useful and love it!

A brief of history

Known as a roman city, it was the birthplace of the Renaissance art and the home of the Medici families.

The language spoken since the 14th century in this city came to be accepted at the current Italian language, but Florence has also his own dialect as many other italian cities.

It also became capital of Italy in 1865 but finally the capital was stablished to Rome.

Where is it?

Florence is a city in Central Italy and it’s the capital city of the Tuscany region which is famous for its wines and its landscape of vineyards.

How do we get to?

Surely we will arrive in Florence by plane or train.

Travel by plane

We can land to Florence by plane from Pisa Airport, Bologna Airport or Florence Airport.

• Aeroporto Internazionale Gaileo Galilei – PISA [PSA; LIRP]

OPTION 1- It’s 80 kilometers from Florence which it means an hour by car approximately.

OPTION 2- Taking a train from Stazione Ferroviaria Pisa Centrale to Stazione Ferroviaria Firenze Santa Maria Novella (SMN), but for this you have to take a bus shuttle from Pisa Airport to Stazione Ferroviaria Pisa Centrale.

The bus takes about 15minutes and covers a distance of 4Km. It’s a quick and cheap way to get around. The schedule can be consulted on Internet.

Once you arrive to the train station, we have to buy the ticket in the machines for Florence.

It’s important to validate the tickets in the machines that are close to the train tracks because the are train inspectors who constantly fine. It is not necessary if you buy the ticket online.

OPTION 3- Choose for a direct bus that will stop in the train station of Florence named Santa Maria Novella.

OPTION 4- Taxi service which could cost around 80-100€.

• Aeroporto Internazionale Guglielmo Marconi BOLOGNA [BLQ; LIPE]

OPTION 1- At 110 kilometers from Florence, so it will take an hour and thirty minutes by car. As Bologna belongs to Emilia Romagna region and Florencia to Tuscany region, there are tolls in this itinerary that not exceed the cost of 10€.

OPTION 2- Taking a train from Stazione Ferroviaria Bologna Centrale to Stazione Ferroviaria Firenze Santa Maria Novella (SMN). For this choice you will have two options:

The first one (fastest) consist on taking a Express Train called Marconi Express from Bologna Airport to Stazione Ferroviaria Bologna Centrale. It is an electrical train which takes about 10-15minutes with an intermediate stop in Lazzaretto. The schedule can be consulted on Internet.

The second one (cheapest) is to take an Urban Buss which should have its bus stop outside the airport. There are few bus lines so it is recommendated to check online which one takes less time to reach the train station.

Once you arrive to the train station, we have to buy the ticket in the machines for Florence.

REMEMBER: It’s important to validate the tickets in the machines that are close to the train tracks because the are train inspectors who constantly fine. It is not necessary if you buy the ticket online.

OPTION 3- Choose for a direct bus that will stop in the back of the train station of Florence named Santa Maria Novella.

OPTION 4- Taxi service which could cost around 180€.

• Aeroporto di Peretola o Amerigo Vespucci [FLR LIRQ]

It is placed 6 Km northwest of the city of Florence.

OPTION 1- By car. It takes about 25-30 minutes.

OPTION 2- Shuttle Bus Service. Connects the center of Florence from Stazione Ferroviaria Firenze Santa Maria Novella (SMN) to the Airport.

OPTION 3- T2 Tram Line Service. This is the cheapest option, it costs about 1,5-2€ per person for a journey of 20-25 minutes.

OPTION 4- Taxi service which could cost around 25€.

How to move there?

Florence is a small city and you can walk along its center on foot since its a distance of 4km approximately, but you can also take the bus. Remember to buy the tickets in a tabacchi shop and validate once you are in the bus!

Many florentines are used to move around the city by bicycle. You could also rent one in the center and enjoy yourself along the cycle-lane which allows everyone to tour the whole city.

Where to stay?

Florence is divided in 5 districts: Center, Campo di Marte, Gavinana-Galluzzo, Isolotto-Legnaia and Rifredi.

The most common to visit is the Center which is made up of the following neighborhoods:

• Santa Maria Novella
• San Lorenzo
• San Marco
• Santo Spirito
• Sant’Ambrogio

Things and places to visit

There are many things to visit in Florence especially if you are an art lover, but also as a restless traveller I recommend you things and places you can’t miss

Trips near Florence

Tuscany is a region full of cities that are worth knowing. Near Florence we find:

• Siena
• Lucca
• San Gimignano
• Pisa
• Volterra

And what about food?

Italy is a country famous for its gastronomy.

In Florence we can find typical food and drinks like: Lampredotto, ….

Here I have made a list of the best restaurants and bars that I know in Florence:

• Pizzaiulo

It’s shopping time!

Florence is famous for its fur and leather street markets. There are three main streets markets:

• Mercato di San Lorenzo
• Mercato del Porcellino
• Mercato delle Cascine

Moreover as I said its famous for its food market. There are:

• Mercato Centrale
• Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio