In recent years, independent tourist trips have become increasingly popular and in demand. A lot is written about the experience of such travels. Social networks are filled with photos and video sketches of satisfied tourists who travel around any corner of the world on their own.
Looking at photographs and reading enthusiastic reviews or useful tips, many people start to think that everything is easy and simple - you just need to fly to the country, rent a car at the airport and, in general, everything, you can go on a journey that will not be anything clouded. Meanwhile, this idea is completely untrue in so many moments. For example, the parking issue for Russians is not a problem. Our compatriots used to just leave the car on the sidelines, where there is free space and there is no prohibition sign. However, in many European cities it is impossible to do this, for example, in the "pearl of the Renaissance" - Florence.
How are parking lots organized in Florence?
Parking in Florence is organized according to the territorial principle:
- within the historical part;
- on the streets, in places with special signs;
- on the territory of hotels;
- in the equipped parking lots.
Understanding the intricacies of local requirements is not easy. For example, in the central city streets, where all the attractions visited by tourists are concentrated, it is allowed to leave the car only in hotel parking lots. You can park outside the parking lots at hotels in the center only if you have a special permit that allows you to occupy the places marked in white in the rest of the city. Such permits are available to the police, government officials, employees of local museums, ambulances and others.
However, there is an interesting nuance: near the Santa Maria Novella station, the same one that appears in all films about Florence and opposite which the oldest pharmacy-museum Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella in Europe is located, there is an underground parking where you can leave your car without any problems or special permissions. San Lorenzo Market has the same parking.
Given that parking in hotels requires a lot of money, if the tourist is not a guest, of course, it makes sense to carefully study all the options for where you can leave the car until the time it becomes necessary.
Do you need to pay for parking in hotels?
This question is one of the most urgent for tourists visiting Florence for the first time and doing it on their own. Most Russians are accustomed to the fact that paying for a hotel room already includes the ability to use everything that is within the hotel. But it's not always the case. Parking in Florence is an expensive pleasure, even if the car is parked at the hotel where the tourist was staying.
You will have to pay for the use of a parking space. At the same time, the cost of using parking at hotels is reduced in proportion to their distance from the city center. On average, parking in Florence at a hotel parking in the center costs 20 euros per day, and outside it, in other areas, 15 euros.
What is the ZTL zone
This design is full of maps of the city center, designed for motorists. Accordingly, everyone who wants to use the machine in this place needs to know exactly what it is.
The ZTL zone in Florence is a territory to which entry is forbidden at certain times to all who do not have special permission. This is a very important point that the vast majority of tourists leave without due attention. Not only parking on the streets is forbidden, but the fact of the vehicle entering at specified time intervals. The full name of these territories is: "traffic zone is limited." You can say it this way, Florentines will understand what it is about.
When entry into the ZTL zone is restricted
The standard entry restrictions are:
- weekdays - from 07:30 to 20:00;
- Saturday - from 07:30 to 16:00.
On Sunday, you can enter the central part of the city at any time. However, be sure to pay attention to calendar dates and internal restrictions. Within this zone there are territories where you can never go, even with a permit. On holidays, other rules apply.
In addition, there are additional restrictions that apply in the season of influx of tourists. They are quite flexible and depend on the flow of travelers. If there are a lot of guests in the city, then entry is forbidden from early Monday morning to three Sunday nights, and only cars with relevant documents, for example, food suppliers, are allowed in during the permitted time.
What if the hotel is in the historical center?
This problem is faced by all, without exception, tourists traveling in Italy independently and booked a hotel without taking into account the specifics of entry and parking in the center of Florence. You can do one of two ways:
- require hotel employees to issue a pass;
- leave the car outside the historic center.
The second option is much more preferable than the first. Especially for those who do not plan to stay in the city longer than two to three days.
In the event that the traveler chooses the option with a pass, it is extremely important not to call into the restricted area before the corresponding sticker appears on the glass. That is, you need to either arrange by phone for the delivery of the permit, or go for it yourself. All central Florence is under video surveillance. Therefore, a fine for parking in the wrong place or for entering a prohibited territory must be paid, for example, when returning a car.
Does the city have free parking?
This question is asked by all travelers who do not expect when planning a budget to pay for parking spaces. Free parking in Florence as such is not available, but, of course, there are streets where you can park your car at the side of the road. However, all of them are incredibly far from tourist routes and hotels where visitors stay. It is unlikely that someone will want to leave the rented car in the middle of the dysfunctional area, which will have to go from the hotel for more than an hour with transfers.
The closest place to the historical center where you can park your car without fear of getting a parking ticket is Piazzale Michelangelo. However, on holidays there are various concerts, festivities. In December, the Christmas market is open here. Of course, cars cannot be left here during events.
How much are street paid parking?
Street parking in Florence to the ZTL zone costs an average of 2 euros in the first hour. Subsequent payment varies, depending on the distance from the center. For most parking lines, the paid period is from 08:00 to 20:00.
Information about what time interval needs to be paid is placed directly on the parking lines. There are also signs indicating the schedule of washing the street in the truest sense of the word. During the movement of watering machines, the parking line should be empty, violators will have to pay a fine.
What parking space can I take?
Street paid parking in Florence have a color marking. Three colors are used for it:
- white - only for cars with special permission;
- blue is for everyone;
- yellow - for people with disabilities and those entitled to benefits.
That is, you can leave the car only in blue or blue places. The same marking principles are also used in underground parking lots and other parking lots.
Which parking is the most convenient and cheapest
Parking at the San Lorenzo market is the best option for those who are looking for a central place for their car. The market is located on the Piazza del Mercato Centrale, which can be translated into Russian as the “market square”. San Lorenzo is not the only bazaar in the area, but the most visited. Entrance to the parking is from St. Antonio Street.
The cost of parking on all days, excluding holidays and Sundays:
- from 07:00 to 14:00 - 2 euros for 1 hour, 3 - for a couple, 8 - when parking more than 120 minutes;
- from 14:00 to 07:00 - 2 euros per hour.
On holidays, the cost of the first hour is reduced by half the euro, the remaining tariff values do not change. On Sundays, the price of a parking space is 2 euros per hour.
Are the fines high?
Parking in Florence is not very cheap, but the penalties are much higher than the values in the price list in parking lots.
For example, entry into the closed zone of the historical center costs about 110 euros, meaning the amount of the fine. In this case, each moment of crossing the line of the ZTL zone is taken into account. This means that a person who came into the view of the camera a couple of times will pay 220 euros. That is, for moving into this zone, and for leaving it. And if the car will loop through the streets, for example, in search of the desired address, and several times cross the line of the historical center, then the number of fines will be proportional. Crosses 10 times - there will be 10 fines.
As for improper parking, the amount can go up to 84 euros. You won’t be able to avoid payment, because when you rent a car, a certain amount is taken from the travelers as a deposit. Accordingly, when returning the car from the money left as collateral, the amount to pay for the violations is deducted.