Gordon77x

Hi,

My family and I will be arriving in Florence at Rifredi station but we couldn't read Italian.

Could anyone please guide me on how may I get to Via Pisana where our accommodation is located? I was thinking that probably taxi is the best way. I only realized that the accommodation is not very well strategically located after the booking.

Besides, how may I go to Siena and return in one day? I read that we can take SITA bus and Gramsci bus. Could you please point on google map for me on where can I find those stops in Florence and Siena? Should i just buy the tickets before boarding the bus? The schedule pdf found online is not available anymore, is there anyway to find the schedule again?

For stuff to do in Siena, do you think this website is comprehensive enough? http://wikitravel.org/en/Siena

Thank you very much

kybourbon

Why are you arriving Rifredi? Via Pisano is pretty far out of the center. Is it possible to change to something closer in?

You can take the Sita bus to Siena. You catch in the bus station which is next to the main train station in Florence, SMN. It's not a Gramsci bus. The Sita bus drops you at Piazza Gramsci in Siena (a big bus hub area) and at the edge of the historic center (a couple of minutes walk).Yes, you must buy tickets before boarding and stamp them on board.

kybourbon

Sorry, I didn't look at all of via Pisana as it does run into Oltrano, but not all the way - still a bit out. What is the address?

Gordon77x

I booked a train ticket from Bologna to Florence and it puts me at Rifredi. It's 165 Via Pisana. I'm not sure if I can change it, I will try to ask if it will be much more convenient.

How may I take bus back from Siena to Florence? Do you know when will be the last bus?

Thanks lot =)

kybourbon

You booked a slow train. The fast trains Bologna/Florence go to the main station Florence SMN and only take 35 minutes. Your slow train will take about 1 1/2 hours if you booked the one that doesn't require changes. From Rifredi you can switch trains to Florence SMN as it's only a few minutes away (about 5 minutes and 1.50€). SMN is a major bus hub. You could also take tram #3 from Rifredi to SMN, but I imagine trains would be easier since you are in the station and the tram might be more crowded.

At SMN, ATAF says you catch bus # 06. On the way out of town it runs on a street parallel to your street (via Antonio dell Pollaiuolo). You would have to get off on that street and walk a block or two. On the route back into town, it travels on via Pisana a bit so you could probably catch it in to town. Your lodging is too far to walk really.

http://www.ataf.net/tp/navigator.asp...shwch=42&cmd=1

Here's the routes. Click on the hourglass to see the maps and you will have to zoom a bit. Your lodging is past giardino di Villa Strozzi. The first two are routes going out from the station (one may be Sunday/holidays or detour as ATAF mentions construction).

http://www.ataf.net/tp/routes.aspx?L...13&linename=06

I suggest you see if you can cancel your lodging without penalty, state your budget (start a thread about Florence lodging historic center) and you will get suggestions within walking distance of everything.

Siena back to Florence, you catch the bus at Piazza Gramsci. Last bus will be around 8 or 9 pm. Buy your return ticket at the same time as you buy your ticket to Siena (andata e ritorno).

vincenzo32951

Note for Florence-Siena, you want to take the "Rapido" bus not the "Diretto," which makes a lot of stops in between.

Axel2DP

I was in Florence last month. The last bus from Siena to Florence was 8:45PM. I wish I had spent the night in Siena.

Gordon77x

Hi kybourbon, I found another apartment at CHIASSO RICASOLI but I have to cancel the first one booked at the cost of 42.35 euros.

Do you think it's worthy?

Jean

Much better location. I think you'll appreciate being closer to the sights, but you'll need a good street map to find it. It's located on a narrow walkway between Via delle Terme and Borgo Santi Apostoli. There's a tiny food and wine shop near the corner of BSA/CR and a parking garage at the corner of VDT/CR.

Dukey1

A taxi will find it if you have the address. Do yourself a favor.

kybourbon

Chirasso Ricasoli is very central and in the historic center. Walkable from the main train station SM Novella with luggage(maybe 5 minutes or so) and very walkable to the center. Only a block or two off the river and a block or two from the posh shopping street Via Tournaboni. The historic center in only about a 20-30 minute walk from side-to-side.

Mappy is better to find this than Google maps. You may have to zoom in a time or two.

http://en.mappy.com/#d=chiasso+ricas...e,+italy&p=map

Mappy will not do pedestrian directions for this address, but the driving directions seem to be similar.

Directions from the Piazza in front of the church Santa Maria Novella are better than directions from the station which thinks you are driving and wants to take a longer route, instead of a walking route.

http://en.mappy.com/#d[]=Santa+Maria+Novella,+50123+Firenze&d[]=Chiasso+Ricasoli,+50123+Firenze&endPos[y]=43.76958&endPos[x]=11.251817&ipo=1&lm=r&p=itinerary

ThulaMama

You won't regret being closer to the historical centre. We have just returned from Florence and walked everywhere - didn't even have to look into public transport options.