By Bike & Moped in Florence

By Bike & Moped

Brave souls (cycling in Florence is difficult at best) may rent bicycles at easy-to-spot locations at Fortezza da Basso, the Stazione Centrale di Santa Maria Novella, and Piazza Pitti. Otherwise try Alinari. You'll be up against hordes of tourists and those pesky motorini (mopeds). Le Cascine, a former Medici hunting ground turned into a large public park with paved pathways, admits no cars. The historic center can be circumnavigated via bike paths lining the viali, the ring road surrounding the historic center. If you want to go native and rent a noisy Vespa (Italian for "wasp") or other make of motorcycle or motorino, you may do so at Maxirent. Massimo also rents mopeds. However unfashionable, helmets must be rented at either place, and by law are mandatory, much to the chagrin of many Italians.

Rentals

Alinari (Via Guelfa 85/r, San Marco. 055/280500. www.alinarirental.com). Massimo (Via Campo d'Arrigo 16/r. . 055/573689). Maxirent (Borgo Ognissanti 155/r, Santa Maria Novella. 055/265420).