travelmamana

I am trying to get to the lamborghini factory in Sant 'Agata. After reading much about ZTLS, I am thinking of avoiding driving. The train to Bologna involves an hour long bus after the train plus walking. I've found what I think is a good option but would appreciate thoughts. What if I take the train from Florence to San Giovanni In Persiceto (10 minutes from the museum) and then take a cab? Anyone know any details about the train and schedule? Seems like a very small station so I would likely need to book a cab prior to arriving and not assume there will be a cab ready. I am having a hard time finding any info on how to take this train.

kybourbon

Some stations are so small they don't have taxis around. According to Trenitalia, they do have a ticket office so perhaps they could call a taxi if there isn't one there. The ticket office hours from Trenitalia:

S. Giovanni in Persiceto 1 2 3 4 5 feriali 6.35-13.30 14.00-20.55

6 feriale, nonché nei giorni 4, 5, 11, 26, 27, 29 e 30 aprile 6.35 13.30

FYI - feriali means work days

You would have to take a train from Florence to Bologna and change to the train to S. Giovanni in Persiceto. It's about 20 minutes from Bologna and 2.80€. There are 2-3 trains per hour from Bologna.

If you do this, buy your return ticket at the same time because to ticket office may be closed when you get back to the station. Trenitalia says they have a ticket machine also, but they can often be out of order.

Jean

First, have you made your reservation with Lamborghini?

You can search the train from Florence to San Giovanni in Persiceto here:

http://www.fsitaliane.com/homepage_en.html

I haven't taken the bus from Bologna Centrale to Sant'Agata, but I doubt it would take an hour. The distance is less than 20 miles.

Jean

First, have you made your reservation with Lamborghini?

You can search the train from Florence to San Giovanni in Persiceto here:

http://www.fsitaliane.com/homepage_en.html

I haven't taken the bus from Bologna Centrale to Sant'Agata, but I doubt it would take an hour. The distance is less than 20 miles.

Jean

Sorry for the double post.

kybourbon

Actually Trenitalia has glitches at the moment and it's not easy to search this (took me multiple tries with multiple versions of Trenitalia). I think they are loading summer fares and making a few changes to the website.

kybourbon

The train from Bologna to S. Giovanni takes 20 minutes. The bus takes 45 minutes to S. Giovanni and 55 minutes to Sant'Agata. I guess you could take the train to S. Giovanni and then catch the bus. It might not really save time unless you can time the train/bus connection where you aren't hanging around in the S. Giovanni station. It also appears you would have to walk a block or two from the train station in S. Giovanni to where you catch this bus.

http://www.tper.it/sites/tper.it/fil...er_Bo576_0.pdf

travelmamana

Thanks, I am starting to find that trying to go to the museum is both an expensive option (using a private driver, its almost 500E! That's not including admission tickets) and a time consuming one (using a train/bus/walk combo). The latter may be a bit much to take my parents along to do. Seems the best combination is to just rent a car (approx 1.5 hrs from Florence) and study the map to avoid ZTLs. Our hotel is on the northern most part of the historical district so it may be easier to avoid ZTLs (near piazza liberta with cheap parking) Scratching this whole idea doesn't seem to be an option, my husband, kids and dad are all into it. Trip advisor review make it sound worthwhile to do.

I hate to take a day from Tuscany to do this so also considering doing the drive from Venice. Get out of crowded Venice during the day (July) and come back to a less crowded one by late afternoon leaving us an extra day to explore Tuscany when in Florence. The drive is 1.45 but if we include time to get the rental...I know it will be longer. . Thoughts or is this all just wishful thinking?

Jean

It sounds like you're in Venice before Florence.

Why not do this as a stop on the way from Venice to Florence? Take an early train from Venice to Bologna, store your luggage in the train station, cab or bus to/from the Lambo factory, have lunch and explore Bologna for an hour or two. Then retrieve your luggage and catch a train to Florence.

The drive between Venice and Bologna will be at least 2 hours each way, plus the time to rent and return the car. I don't know what time the Venice rental offices are open, but you'd probably be able to get an earlier start and a later end using trains.

Jean

I just checked Autoeurope to get a sense of rental office hours. The airport office is open 7 days a week 8:00a to 11:50p, but you've got to get your group to/from the airport. The Piazzale Roma office is open M-F 8:30a-12:20p and 3:00p-5:50p. and Sat-Sun 8:30a-12:20p. Open hours would have to be confirmed if/when you made a reservation.

travelmamana

Jean, I did some digging into that option. I have a closed ticket... A 90 minute straight shot from Venice to Florence on ES. Driving from Venice to Sant agata does not seem practical as I think about logistics so I'm back to renting a car (from the Florence airport to avoid ztls) and then driving to the museum. My husband can take a cab or buse(s) to the airport and swing back to pick us up. The bus stop is across the street). I'm told its possible to get to my hotel easily avoiding ztls. @ The lorenzo ii magnifico. Our hotel has private and cheap parking ($15E) so may be only good option based on current status. Google maps says 1:30 if no traffic.

Jean

You probably got a good deal on the Venice-Florence train tickets, but this is an example why I prefer not to buy tickets in advance. You just never know what great sightseeing idea will come to you.

Make sure the Florence hotel gives your husband precise driving instructions to reach and leave the hotel. But, if it were me, I'd have the entire group go to the airport in a cab to pick up the car. Ditto on the return. You'd save time and perhaps your husband's good humor in not having to negotiate Florence.

Drives almost always take more time than Google estimates, so I would assume 1:45 minimum between the hotel and Sant'Agata.

Make sure you have your Lambo reservations. And I almost hestitate to ask, but does anyone have any interest in Ducati motorcycles? The Ducati factory is about 14 miles from the Lambo factory. Ducati requires reservations too.

http://www.ducati.com/company/visit_us/index.do

travelmamana

I did get a deal ...and THEN thought of this great idea. I agree, it's an advice I'll probably dole out freely to friends from now on. With 6 of us, I was hoping not to get 2 cabs, that's the only reason. As for Ducati, yes, Ducati & Ferrari & Mazarati have all come up and I've been trying to hold them back so I can hang out in Florence in late afternoon and eve. But with all this effort, I'm ready to just say "sure, why not?" . Yes, my husband has taken initiative (might I add, the only part of the planning) to make contact. They have our day/slot open so as soon as car is booked, this will be too. Thanks for taking the time.

travelmamana

Meant "Maserati". And I should say it was his great idea.

tuscanlifeedit

another two cents:

Why not all just take the bus to the airport to rent the car? The bus fare isn't that much, and it will certainly save you time.

If your husband has to drive back to Florence, it could complicate things.

travelmamana

2 buses. One from hotel to train station stop. And then another bus from the station to the airport. A cab is 10 minutes. So he was thinking to pick up the car early am and the grab us but I don't think any of us, including my parents, would mind taking the buses especially if it is a hassle to come back into Florence. We"ll stay flexible and see how it plays out.

Jean

I think Maserati is like Ferrari... Unless you own a Maserati, I don't think you'd be able to get an appointment for a factory tour. I don't know if they have a museum open to the public.

But then, there's Pagani which is also near Sant'Agata...

http://www.pagani.com/en/contacts/pa...s/default.aspx



I wouldn't take "2 buses... one from hotel to train station..." The hotel is a mile from the train station. I'd just walk. (You'll be walking farther when you go to the Uffizi, Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, etc.)

The cab ride to the airport is at least 20 minutes.

travelmamana

Thanks Jean that's good to know. I got that info from the concierge! Oy!! We may not want to drive with a cabbie that drives us like he is in a lamborghini!! This will be an interesting day!