I'm trying to find out how the house number system vs. business number system works in Firenze. I understand they opperate on totally different numbering systems but are a different color to distinguish? I am confused and wonder if a native Italian or experienced traveler could explain it for me. I'm trying to figure out how far my apartment is from the Arno and wonder if the numbers start at the river or... elsewhere!
Thankyou
annika

I don't believe there's any system to it as far as numbers starting at the river or anything. The streets go every which way. Can't you get a cross street from the landlord?

Would you mind sharing the address? Someone might be able to help you better if they know the particular street.

Oh yeah, sorry!
The apartment is on Via dei Serragli, near the Pitti Palace.

Geez,
I'm half asleep, it's number 64.

Hi annika,

Enter the address at

www.multimap.com
www.viamichelin.com
www.mappy.com

You will get a map.

Just went to http://www.italy-map.net and entered the address. It seems like the address is between Via del Campuccio and Via Santa Maria, perhaps a 5-10 minute walk from the river, depending on your speed.

You may want to check out the "Getting Around" section of this web page. It will explain why sometimes you see something like 36 t via Fiesolana as an address.

http://www.passports.com/trips/cityf...?city=Florence

Shoot! My example should have been 36r via Fiesolana! Sorry!

BC

Residences are "red" or R and businesses are "blue" or B in their street addresses in Florence.

That can't be true, kfusto, because Passamaneria Valmar, a shop that sells tassles, has an "r" in its address. Also, what about "n?" Farmacia Santa Maria Novella has an "n" in its address. Both are businesses.

Passamaneria Valmar: Via Porta Rossa,
53r.

Famacia SMN: Via Della Scala, 16n.

I was going to answer the OP this afternoon thinking that residences are in red and businesses are in blue, but wanted to check my guidebook to be certain.

Quoted from my Florence guidebook, "Street addresses list businesses in red and residences in blue (color coded on the actual street number and indicated by a letter following the number in printed addresses: n=black, r=red.) Pensioni are usuallly black, but can be either. The red and black numbers each appear in roughly consecutive order on strets, but bear no apparent connection with each other."

The author goes on to state that he doesn't concern himself with the distinction. If one number is wrong, look for another and you should find your way around fine.

We never really had any problems finding our apartment or any other locations we looked for. I would advise getting a good Florence map and studying it before your trip, though. I did that and it made a world of difference.

I forgot to add that distances in Florence are never as far as they seem on a map. The city is rather compact and easy to get around on foot.

Sorry, my quote should have read "residences in black or blue." Gosh, I've been going at it too long today. Time for a glass of wine.

Thank you all so much! I looked at the map sites and got a great idea of our location. I love this forum!!

64 via Dei Serragli should be no more than 1/4 mile from the Arno. We rented an apartment from Windows on Tuscany that was 6 via dei Serragli and we were the first building on the street, closest to the Arno. This put our building about 100 meters from the Arno...it was a GREAT location to explore Firenze. A real neigbborhood. Enjoy!

Sorry, got my colors mixed up. I used to own a flat there; guess I never sent mail to myself!