Informations

Your first visit to Florence and Tuscany
Italy, like every other country has laws and regulations that must be followed. We want to make you aware of some of the basics. Here is a list of general information that will come in handy as you travel around Tuscany, and the rest of the Italy.If you are visiting Tuscany for the first time you will quickly realise that it is no ordinary holiday area, but a total escape into a timeless way of life. Tuscany is largely rural and the landscape of cypresses, olive groves and vineyards are renowned throughout the world, for centuries Tuscans have preserved their surroundings, culture and traditions making of this the most fascinating region of Italy.

Tipping in Tuscany
You are not expected to tip on top of restaurant service charges, though many locals leave a small amount. If there is no service charge, you might consider leaving 10%, but it is not obligatory. In bars, Italians will usually leave any small change as a tip. Tipping taxi drivers is also not mandatory. When staying in a higher priced accommodation, you should tip the porter. Most places of business open at 9:00am and close at 1:00pm for 3 to 4 hours before reopening.In most cafes located within small shops, you must pay for items first, then bring the ticket to obtain what you puchased. pizza, and other sandwiches. This is also true at all Autogrill Service areas on motorways.

Places to visit in Tuscany
Tuscany is a land full of things to do, see and discover: art, culture, museums and also nature, landscapes, culinary and oenological tradition, fashion, handicrafts and much, much more besides
You should spent your first time exploring enchanting stone-walled towns with their Piazzas, their Duomos and their wonderful culture.
For you first time in tuscany you should visit: Florence Siena Lucca Arezzo Pisa Cortona and San Gimignano. these cities of art are definitely worth seeing.
From Florence the magnificent to tiny Montepulciano, there are dozens of Tuscan towns you'll want to visit. The chianti area with its hilltowns Montalcino, Pienza, Castelnuovo, Pienza, and Monticchiello are all quaint, wonderful places to explore.
Finally the very attractive coast charming little towns, mountaign with natural parks and Elba's island.

Transportation
Public vs. private transportation
Self catering farmhouse accommodation are usually are far away from public transportation so they are reached by private transportation so a a car is highly recommended. Also villages with shops restaurants may be 2 to 10 km away from the property.
If you rent or use your own car or motorbike you can find properties with unmade or grevel road, so no low suspensions.

Driving tips
When you drive in Italy pay attenzion and consider this:
Italians drivers are much more comfortable driving much closer than is typical in USA or other countries. When driving in Italy, your responsibility is to those in front of you and those to your side. italians rarely use their rear-view mirror.
When you, as a driver, encounter pedestrians, they are to walk as straight as possible and you are to avoid them
it is foolhardy to go through an uncontrolled, blind intersection quickly without at least a look or a small toot on the horn.

Parking

There are usually large parking areas outside of the center of cities. And within cities, what makes for an acceptable parking place may be called a sidewalk in USA.
Speed limits are as follows: 50 kph (30 mph) in built-up areas, 90 kph (55 mph) on secondary roads outside built-up areas, 110 kph (68 mph) on main roads outside built-up areas, and 130 kph (81 mph) on expressways.
Fuel "Benzina"Fuel stations along expressways are open 24 hours. Along other roads, fuel stations are open from 7:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
From May through September; from October through April the stations close at 7:00 p.m.
Credit cards are always accepted. Only 25 percent of non-expressway fuel stations are open on Sunday and public holidays; those that are open on Sunday close on Monday.
Fuel stations displays "Aperto" sign if open or "Chiuso" sign if closed.
Some stations, however, have pumps that accept bills automatically 24 hours, they displays "Self-Service" or "24H" sign. Fuel prices are partially regulated by the government and are very similar in different fuel stations, so don't waste time shopping around.
Super leaded gasoline has an octane rating of 98 or 100. Unleaded gasoline is called benzina senza piombo, or benzina verde and it's distinguished by green signs and pump. Unleaded super gasoline has an octane rating of 95. Diesel is called gasolio. LPG is called GPL (gas liquido). It's illegal to carry spare fuel.

Breakdown Accident Emergency
Police, tel. 113 or 112;Fire, tel. 115; Ambulance, tel. 118.
The Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI), FIA and AIT member, Via Marsala 8, 00185 Rome, tel. 06 49921, office hours from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, operates a breakdown service on all roads, tel. 116.
The service offers free tows to visitors driving in Italy with foreign license plates or with a car rented at the Rome or Milan airports.
Renters must show plane tickets and the rental contract to get the service free of charge. Another club is the Touring Club Italiano (TCI), AIT member, Corso Italia 10, 20122 Milan, phone from Italy 02 85261, office hours from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday; phone from Italy 852-6263 for information on their breakdown service.

Highway Regulations
Autostrada speed limits and information:
-On a 3 lane road-130kmph
-On a 2 lane road-130kmph
-In rainy or bad weather, reduce speed 20kmph
-Lorries and Freight trucks do not run on Sunday
-"Autostrada" is a toll motorway
-"Superstrada" is a free motorway

Public holiday
1 January = New Year's Day
6 January = Epiphany Easter
Easter Day
Easter Monday
25 April = Liberation Day, World War II
1 May = Labour Day
15 August = Assumption of the Virgin
1 November = All Saints Day
8 December = Immaculate Conception
25 December = Christmas
26 December = St Stephen

Shopping
Florence is known for good buys in quality leather goods, silk scarves and ties, and fashion, especially knitwear. In Florence, Siena and throughout Tuscany, you can find ceramics and straw goods. In addition., Florence offer gold jewelry and embroidered linens.
Receipts: You must have purchase receipt within 20 meters of purchase. Be sure to hold onto all receipts for goods or services you purchase in Italy until leaving the city in which they were bought. Laws have been introduced to tighten controls on the payment of taxes and the Fiscal Police (Guardia di Finanza) can ask you to produce a receipt immediately after leaving a shop, and can require you to pay a fine if you come up empty-handed.
Taxes: Whenever you buy an item in Italy, you will pay value-added tax, known as IVA in Italy. Tourists who are residents of countries outside the EC are able to claim a refund on this tax if the item was purchased for personal use and cost more than a certain amount. Ask the shopkeeper of any store displaying a “Tax-free for tourists:” sign about procedures for claiming your refund.

Business Hours
Generally, shops in the north and central Italy are open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 1pm and from 3:30pm until 7:30pm. In the south, they usually close for lunch around 12:30pm and reopen from 4pm to 8pm. .
Shops in smaller towns and on city outskirts often close on Saturday afternoons as well.
Banks tend to be open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 1:30pm and 2:30pm to 4:30pm although hours can vary. They are closed on weekends, but it is always possible to find an exchange office open in the larger cities and in major tourist areas.
Major post offices open from 8:30am to 6 or 7pm Monday to Saturday. Smaller post offices open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 2pm and on Saturdays from 8:30am to midday.
Pharmacies are usually open from 9am to 12:30pm and 3:30pm to 7:30pm. They are always closed on Sunday and alternatively on Saturday or Wednesday. Some drugstores are open all night as well as on Sundays and holiday; a guidebook detailing individual cities can give you accurate addresses for such establishments.
Bars (coffee and sandwich places) and cafes are open from 7:30am until 8pm and restaurants open from midday until 3pm and from 7:30pm until 11:00pm (later in summer and in the south). Restaurants and bars are required to close for one day each week.
Museum and gallery opening hours vary, although most close on Mondays and some close during religious holiday.

Tourist Informations in Florence
Via A. Manzoni, 16
50121 - Firenze
Tel. +39 55 23320
Fax. +39 55 2346286
Important Web-sites:
www.firenze.turismo.toscana.it
ww.turismo.toscana.it