HELPFUL HINTS & TRICKS FOR SHORE EXCURSIONS IN ITALY

Bars

Most bars charge different prices at the counter then at the table. You may want to check posted prices before sitting down and decide if you feel it is worth spending $5 for a cappuccino and the pleasure of sitting at a sunny sidewalk café. Once seated you may sit there for as long as you please. If you choose to sit at table the waiter will bring the check.

Business hours

Banks are open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 1:30pm and again from 3 to 4pm. Stores are open year-round Monday to Saturday from 9am to 1pm and then from 3:30 or 4pm to 7:30 or 8pm. Most shops are closed Sunday except in the historical center of Florence where they don’t close for “siesta” time.

Churches

Please remember that churches are primarily places of worship regardless of their frame as a tourist attraction. Dress accordingly (which means no shorts, sleeveless tops, etc. ) and conduct yourself as if at a church service.

Main Museums and Churches in Florence

MUSEUMS Weekdays Holidays Closed Entrance
Medici Chapels 8.15/17.00 8.15/17.00 2nd,4th Sunday 1st,3rd,5th Monday € 6.00
Uffizi Museum 8.15/18.50 8.15/18.50 Monday € 10.50
Accademy Galleries 8.15/18.50 8.15/18.50 Monday € 10.50
Boboli Gardens 8.15/18.30 8.15/18.30   € 2.00
Bargello Museum 8.15/13.50 8.15/13.50 2nd,4th Monday 1st,3rd,5th Sunday € 4.00
Dome Opera Museum 9.00/19.30 9.00/13.40   € 6.00

 

CHURCES Weekdays Holidays Closed Entrance
Baptistery 12.00/19.00 8.30/14.00   € 3.00
Santa Croce 9.30/17.30 13.00/17.30   € 3.00
Cathedral (Dome) 10.00/17.00 13.30/16.45   free
Giotto Tower 8.30/19.30 8.30/19.30   € 6.00
Dome Chapel 8.30/19.00 8.30/19.00 Catholic holidays € 6.00
San Miniato al Monte 8.00/19.30 8.00/19.30   free

Consulate General of the United States

The American Consulate General in Florence is part of the United States Mission Florence, and Naples.
The American Citizen Services Unit is responsible for providing services to all Americans within its consular district, whether they are living here permanently or just visiting as tourists. These services include emergency assistance, notarials, reports of birth/death abroad, selective service registration, absentee voting, passport issuance, and more.

Mailing address:
Lungarno Vespucci, 38 - 50123 Firenze - Italy
Telephone (switchboard):
Tel. (+39) 055.266.951
Fax (+39) 055.284.088

The Consulate will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2009 in observance of the Labor Day American holiday.

Crime

Town police very well controls historical centers of our tourist towns, anyway pick pocketing is the most common problem. Men should keep their wallets in their front pocket or inside jacket pockets. Gypsies children are a particular menace. You'll often virtually have to fight them off, as they can completely surround you. They'll often approach you with pieces of cardboard hiding their stealing hands.

Euro

No more Italian Lire, only Euro.
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Gipsies

Watch to the gypsies, you can meet them, very young boys and girls moving together in little groups, sometimes in Florence and Rome. Don't let them come too close to you and keep CLOSED your pockets and bags!

Shops

Shops in Italy close on Monday morning and Sunday, except jeweler's shops that are open on Monday too. Opening time is 09:00/12:30 a.m. 16:00/20:00 afternoon. Most of the shops in Tourist towns don't close for lunch time, in this case they will open a little bit later in the mornig. Every shop accept US$, ask for the change rate to a bank office because it changes every day. I suggest to avoid to change money on board of your cruise ship... absolutely not convenient for you! The best way is to use credit card where accepted, or US$ cash everywhere, you will save money if you don't change money on board in advance.The best way is to change your US$ in Euro the first time that you find an European bank and change back at the end of the last port, remember that Euro is the best way to buy in Europe everywhere.

Tipping

Tips are a personal gesture and are given whenever the client fill it is necessary. Anyway these are the most common examples: In restaurants a service charge of about 15% usually appears as a separate item on your check. A few restaurants state on the menu that cover and service charge are included. Either way, it's customary to leave an additional 5%-10% tip for the waiter, depending on the service. Tip rest-room attendants Euro cents 50 per person. Drivers and guides are usually happy with 5%-10% of the tour rate.

Toilettes

Public toilettes are very difficult to find in Italy. If you need it enter in a Coffee Bar, drink an "espresso" and ask for the bathroom ("bagno" in Italian language).

Trains

Train tickets are not expensive but train service quality is not excellent. Most of the trains for short trips don't have air conditioned. Don't forget to ask to the railway station employers if the train is straight to your final destination or if you must get a connection somewhere.Remember to stamp the ticket before getting the train printing it trough special yellow machine available inside train stations even before your way back.

 

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