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Driving from Venice to Montepulciano - stop in Florence

Driving from Venice to Montepulciano - stop in Florence

Old Aug 8th, 2013, 02:57 PM
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Driving from Venice to Montepulciano - stop in Florence

Hi,

We will be picking up a rental car in Venice around 8:30am on a weekday (mid-September) and driving down to Montelpulciano. We like to visit Florence for a day trip on our way and wanted plan the trip in detail. Hearing that we cannot drive in the city due to restrictions, not sure which way will be the best to follow. Can we drive our car to downtown and park it somewhere? Do we have to leave the car outside of the city, if so, how do we get to the city center? Train station? Any ideas/suggestions? Thank you.
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Old Aug 8th, 2013, 03:35 PM
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I would not drive in Florence.
The A-1 bypass passes fairly close to the airport NW of town.
You could find parking there and then taxi into town---about :20 and 20E plus parking. You will be about an hour from Montepulciano from there.
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Old Aug 8th, 2013, 07:27 PM
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You have to leave your car outside the ZTL if you want to avoid a costly ticket (it gets mailed to you after you return home). Here's the map. You aren't allowed to drive in the highlighted areas.

http://www.serviziallastrada.it/inde...id=151&lang=it

If you click the + next to mobilita you will get a list of other things you can click. Select autovelox (cameras), aree ztl and varchi ztl. Zoom in a bit. Click soste and parcheggi to see the parking lots outside the zone. There are some lots inside the zone. Don't use those.

http://news.comune.fi.it/muoversi/servizi.php
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Old Aug 8th, 2013, 07:39 PM
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You can park closer to the center of Florence.

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/desti...y/florence.htm

http://en.comune.fi.it/mobility/driving.html
[links to ZTL maps and parking lot info]

But this isn't going to be a "day" trip. If you want to arrive Montepulciano before dark, and assuming you encounter no delays between Venice and Florence and intend no stops between Florence and Montepulciano, you'll have, at most, 6 hours to explore Florence.
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Old Aug 18th, 2013, 05:59 PM
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Does anyone have an address of a parking garage and information on how to get to Florence city center from that parking garage?
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Old Aug 18th, 2013, 06:55 PM
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http://www.visitflorence.com/florenc...-florence.html

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?oe=U...0ef2cc394beca9

You can walk or taxi from any of the lots mapped on the google page, and you can also take a bus or tram from some of the lots.
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Old Aug 20th, 2013, 07:12 PM
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Taxi in Florence is expensive but anywhere within the city should not exceed 20 Euro. That is the fare you pay from Florence airport to the old town. I would advise that as a tourist, never try to drive in Florence. Roads are small, most of them one-way, every road looks the same to tourists, with lots of people walking, and lots of CCTV taking picture of your driving into the ZTL zone. As a tourist you will NOT get a license to go in. So park outside the city, get a taxi to go into the told town, and spend some walking.
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Old Aug 21st, 2013, 01:42 PM
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I think we will drive to Sansovino Tram station and park our car at the pay parking lot. Take the tram to the SMN train station and from there just walk to the sightseeing places. Is this plan good, and walking after the main train station is doable?
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Old Aug 21st, 2013, 05:13 PM
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It's only 800 meters from the train station to the Duomo by the most direct route.

But you should locate on a map everything you want to see and try to create the most efficient path through the town. For example, it would be only a slight detour to reach the Medici Chapels and San Lorenzo Market on the way from the train station to the Duomo. maps.google.com is good for this. Click on the pedestrian icon to switch from driving directions to walking path.

Here's some info on the more popular/convenient taxi stands in the historical center, rates and how to call a taxi to a specific location:

http://www.coolintown.com/c/guide_pages/taxi
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Old Aug 26th, 2013, 07:34 AM
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Jean - Thanks for your response. Do you think it is safe to leave suitcases (one will be on the back seat)in the car while we are visiting Florence? It will be only for about 6 hours and we will most likely return to the car by 7pm.
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Old Aug 26th, 2013, 07:44 AM
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>>Do you think it is safe to leave suitcases (one will be on the back seat)in the car while we are visiting Florence?
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Old Aug 26th, 2013, 07:57 AM
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We will have an economy car, but I don't know if the trunk will be big enough for two suitcases and a backpack. We have no other options but leave them in the car.

Janisj - Do you know any secure parking garage where we can leave the car?
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Old Aug 26th, 2013, 08:26 AM
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>>>but I don't know if the trunk will be big enough for two suitcases and a backpack.
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Old Aug 26th, 2013, 11:05 AM
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I agree with the above regarding the luggage in the back seat. If you're heading to the SMN train station after you park, you can take one of the suitcases and store it in the train station. Of course, that means you'd have to return to the station before you leave and you'd lose a little time dropping and retrieving the suitcase.

But you're going to have this issue with the luggage wherever you go unless you rent a car that will hold everything out of sight.
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Old Aug 26th, 2013, 11:26 AM
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Make sure the auto you book is large enough for your suitcases and the backpack. We've found that there is either a trunk or a cover that will hide the luggage and we've never had any trouble as long as nothing valuable is in sight. And we usually with two fairly large suitcases and a couple of fairly large bags.
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Old Aug 26th, 2013, 11:45 AM
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Yeah, but we've already booked our car and will not know what type of car we will get until we get there. I guess Jean's idea makes sense we will take one suitcase with us and try to put everything in the trunk. Hope they will fit!. Is it easy to find the locker area at the train station?
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Old Aug 26th, 2013, 03:26 PM
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Look for signs for "Deposito Bagagli" and make sure you know the open/closed hours. It's not a "locker area" but an office where you can check your bags for a fee.
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Old Aug 27th, 2013, 07:54 AM
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Thanks everyone.

Do any of you ever tried to park at a rental car garage? We will pick up our car from Hertz in Venice. I was wondering if they would allow us to park in the Hertz office near Sansovino station.
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Old Aug 27th, 2013, 08:04 AM
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We tried that in Naples and they said "no." But it doesn't hurt to ask.

Also, if you contact Hertz, they should be able to give you details about the amenities of the car you've booked (i.e. luggage capacity) and, if you ask soon enough in advance, change the car if it doesn't meet your needs.
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Old Aug 27th, 2013, 08:11 AM
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>> I was wondering if they would allow us to park in the Hertz office near Sansovino station.
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