Florence Oddities --
 

We are leaving for Florence the weekend following this weekend. I have a few questions that I find odd:
1) It says museums are closed on Mondays. Is this true for cathedrals and other places to visit? What about shops and restaurants? While this is not odd, what I find odd is that when you go to the Uffizi Gallery web site, on Mondays they charge you for visiting the museum! I almost bought tickets! How absurd is this??
2) I just found out that all regional train tickets will need to be validated or will be fined 50Euros on the spot. Why was this not publicly available and I just happen to run into this info? Is this real??
3) Another one I just happen to find from a blog. Bring your own toilet paper/wipes or hand sanitizer because most public restrooms do not have supplies??
Please know I've traveled all over EU in less touristy places like Romania, Croatia and Malta. I have never run into these especially #3 above. Enlighten me please. I only read these while trying to learn Italian off google searches Thanks for your insights.

1. Most churches and shops and many restaurants will be open on Mondays – but you need to check the hours of each individually if you want to be certain. FWIW, I just checked the Uffizi web site and did NOT see Monday tickets. I wonder: Were you on the official website?

2. Ticket validation procedures for public transportation are covered in every guidebook I’ve ever used for Italy (or elsewhere).

3. Not sure about that one … but always good to be prepared! And do note that your question is about PUBLIC restrooms, not restrooms in restaurants, cafes, museums, etc.

All of these things are covered in good guidebooks. I’d urge you to consult some!

You only have to validate paper tickets that don't have a date and time on them. Older paper regional tickets can be used on any train . If you don't validate it you could use the same ticket literally for years.

BTW I thought ticket validation was common across Europe

I learned the hard way about ticket validation in Athens. That was years ago, and it only cost me the equivalent of $8US. I'm glad for that cheap lesson, as ticket validation is quite common.

As for toilet paper, I always carry one or two Kleenex in my purse, but I can't remember not finding toilet paper in Italian bathrooms. So carry around one or two tissues, but don't pack enough toilet paper for your entire trip. Or even one full roll.

Like PM I always have paper tissues with me, but you can always take a few sheets of toilet paper with you when you leave your hotel or wherever you are staying.

It is not uncommon for museums in Europe to be closed on a Monday. Check online for places you want to visit for opening times and whether you need to book in advance, and be aware shops are not open all hours as they are in the US

We used to have to validate strippenkaarten for buses but it as been a long time since we had them. Now we just use our bankcard as all public transport is cashless. You get checked on trains nearly always, even though you (mostly) have to check in and out at a gate, and randomly on buses to make sure you have paid.

3) Another one I just happen to find from a blog. Bring your own toilet paper/wipes or hand sanitizer because most public restrooms do not have supplies??

This has very much been my experience, but in Northern Italy. Toilets seldom have toilet seats either, which I find very odd. I've also run into entirely too many squat toilets in Italy. Your mileage may vary.

I always have tissues and hand sanitizer in my handbag anyway, don't think you need to pack toilet paper. I have seen public restrooms in Italy occasionally where they have run out of hand sanitizer or toilet paper but wouldn't say it was the norm, in heavily touristed places it is sometimes hard for staff to keep on top of re-stocking those. Never seen a squat toilet in Italy but in public toilets-ie restaurants, museums have seen the seatless toilet often. The explanation I have seen given is that they get broken so often they just don't bother to replace them and also it's easier to clean.
I haven't found it a problem you can hover or you can spray it with your hand sanitizer and perch there, or put tp down as a barrier if you like.
In your hotel there will definitely be toilet seats.

validation of tickets is so normal for at least 50 years that I still get surprised back in the UK that I don't. If you looked, you missed it.

See also Trams

Public loo paper, always best to be prepared

Monday closure, yep

I've seen a squat toilet in Northern Italy, on the road between Como and Milan. They are more likely in outlying areas than in towns. It can't hurt to bring tissues just in case, although I rather think in towns you will be OK.

Lavandula

The squat toilets are more common in older bars, and even sometimes restaurants, that haven’t been updated in years. They’re definitely in nightclubs too, although I haven’t been to a nightclub in Italy since 1999. We always make sure to have wipes and tissues and even reusable wipes when traveling in Italy. This is advice from my northern Italian family. Regarding the squat toilets, I’ve seen them in Sicily, Puglia, Sardegna, San Remo, Rome, San Gimignano, Siena and Florence. Yes, I even saw one in a hotel.
To the OP: validation of train tickets in Italy has been known for decades. I myself have known about it since my first trip to Italy, in 1999, so it’s nothing new, and yes, one can be fined if the ticket isn’t validated. Every single guidebook since the 70’s has that info. Perhaps twice in 26 years of traveling to Italy have I not validated a ticket. I got fined once, a measly 30,000 Lire. The second time I ended up having a nice conversation in English and Italian with the conductor, who was an American who’d been in italy since the age of 6. Fun times.

Yes I knew about validating train tickets for the trains. My sister read about it the first time we went to Florence years ago. Someone near us didn't and got fined. My sister pointed it out as she was so proud for knowing.

The worst squat situation I encountered was in Venice. It literally was in a restaurant with a hole so low almost in the floor. I seriously didn't think I could use it but really needed to go. It was extremely difficult to use.

Funny Malta is mentioned with having toliet paper. I was in a tour and the place we stipped at was so crowded but I insisted on usung the bathroom. We almost missed the bus back. The woman's bathroom sinks weren't working but the men's was. We went to the next stop and was told we could use that bathroom. That one had no toliet paper. My friend had tissues and someone asked to use them and the borrower dropped the pack on the ground and tried to give them back. My friend said keep them and was mad as it was a new pack. I needed them in a bathroom in Glasgow and sanitizer at Yosemite so its good to have this stuff just in case anywhere.