|
Note: For the best exchange rate, use either a charge card (e.g.
VISA) for purchases or use your bank ATM card (Cirrus, Star, Plus,
etc.) in the local Bancomats to obtain cash (your PIN needs to be 4
digits to use the ATM card outside your home country). Also note that
if you are exchanging other currencies or traveler's checks that most
banks are open only Mon.-Fri. and typically from about 9:00am-1:30pm,
close from 1:30pm-2:30pm, and reopen from 2:30pm-3:30pm. Euro
conversion note: As of March 1, 2002 only the Euro is
legal tender. (1 Euro = 1,936.27 Lit)
Taxi warning - you will be approached in most major train
stations and airports by freelance drivers who are not licensed - AVOID
THEM since they may not only rip you off with outrageous fares
but can also be dangerous. A licensed taxi driver usually has a taxi
sign on the vehicle (which is most typically white or gray)
and must display their credentials inside the vehicle - if you have
any doubts, ask them to show your their credentials (patente) before
entering their vehicle. A licensed taxi driver will also not approach
you inside a terminal or train station - they will be waiting at the
authorized taxi stand outside the terminal or train station. And when
you're taking the taxi to/from your hotel and the airport or train
station, have the hotel arrange it for you if possible and ask them
to write down the fare in advance to avoid a misunderstanding.
Tips for staying connected (e.g. phone,
internet) while in Italy - click here.
How to get there
By air: Florence's Amerigo
Vespucci [FLR] and Pisa's
Galileo Galilei [PSA
]
, both in Tuscany, and Perugia
[PEG] in Umbria are the closest airports;
Rome's Fiumicino [FCO], Milan's
Malpensa [MXP], and Bologna
[BLQ]
airports are also convenient for visiting Tuscany and the rest of
central Italy. There are fast shuttle trains (8.80 €) from Fiumicino Aeroporto directly to both Roma Termini
and Roma Tiburtina [Note: for many destinations, transferring at Roma Tiburtina is faster and more convenient
than Roma Termini]: click here for the link to train timetables).
In Milan, take the direct shuttle bus from the airport to the Milano Centrale train station if you are transferring to
a train; if you are going into downtown Milano & not taking a train immediately there's an express shuttle which goes
to several of the metro (subway) stations.
In Florence, take the direct shuttle bus from the airport to the Santa Maria Novella (Firenze S.M.N.) train station.
By train: Much of Tuscany can be reached from either the main
north-south line between Firenze and Roma or the east-west line
between Perugia and Siena, and their branches. The ES (EuroStar) or
IC (Intercity) trains are the fastest (be sure to make seat
reservations during high season [June-Oct] & holidays); the D
(Diretto), IR (InterRegionale), and R (Regionale) are slower,
sometimes with many "milk run" stops (click
here for the link to train timetables). [Note: if 3 or more are
travelling together, you can ask for "Mini-gruppo" rates
which are 20-30% lower; however tickets are not refundable if you
don't take the trip.]
By bus: Much of Tuscany (e.g. Arezzo/Cortona and
Firenze/Siena/San Gimignano, but alas not the more remote areas) can
generally be reached by bus (LFI (Etruria Mobilità Scarl
),
SITA, ATAM, & others) and many of the routes - e.g. Firenze to Siena -
are very scenic. Be sure to buy tickets at a Tabacchi, Bar, or
Edicola [newstand] before boarding a bus.
Note: In most places, stamps and bus tickets can be purchased
at the Tabacchi or Edicola (newsstand). In some cities, you can also
purchase train and bus tickets at the Tourist offices (A.P.T.). Ask
for "quattro corse" - a ticket which can be stamped four
times (once at each corner) and is discounted compared with
purchasing individual tickets. When travelling by either train or
bus, be certain your ticket is stamped (timbrato) in the machine on
either the train platform before boarding or on the bus - there are
hefty fines for travelling either without a ticket or with an invalid
ticket (& your ticket isn't "valid" until it has been
stamped). In larger cities - e.g. Firenze, Roma, Venezia, you can
obtain one- or multiple-day passes which are valid for all of the
public transportation and are not only great bargains, but also allow
you to see much more of the cities without getting fatigued. Maps of
the lines are available either free from the tourist info. office or
(much better versions) from the edicola at the train station or
elsewhere for a nominal fee.
Transport strike (sciopero): There are often transport strikes
- sometimes they affect only one means of transport (plane [aero],
train [ferroviario / FS], bus [e.g. ATAM, SITA, LFI, etc.], or boat
[marittimo]) but sometimes ALL forms of transport will strike
together (sciopero generale). The good news is that strikes are usually announced several
weeks to months in advance so you can plan around them. To check if
there are planned strikes in the near future, click here>> Strike
Info. Search (use Ctrl-F) for the word sciopero on the page.
Many museums and historical sites are closed on Mondays -
check before making a long trip.
|
|