Living in Florence

Florence today weather >>>

City Buses
Linguaviva school is located next to the central railway station Santa Maria Novella, which is the arrival point of most city buses.
If you remain at least one month and use the bus often we suggest you to buy a monthly bus pass. Please ask for detailed information at school.

Taxis
The closest taxi rank to the school is just outside the central railway station S.M. Novella.

Cars
Even though Linguaviva is in the city centre it is easily accessible by car as it is located close to the central railway station, Santa Maria Novella where there is a large underground parking station (open 24 hrs/day).
However we do not suggest that you use the car in the city centre as many streets are closed to traffic and street parkings are reserved for residents.

Street numbers, particularly in the city centre, are different from other cities.
A double sequence of street numbering exists in Florence. Shops and businesses are identified by the letter 'r' after the number. This signifies 'red'. Private residences are numbered in black. Thus a street may have two number 16's, at times at considerable distance one from the other; 16r (as in the addresses given here) is a shop or business, while 16 is a private house. This is a practice that has been abandoned for new constructions, but the old roads still maintain it.

Churches: Most are open from early morning until noon or 12.30, when they close for two hours or more; they open again in the afternoon, closing about 7.00pm or later.
Museums: Hours vary and may change with the seasons , always check Museums time table
Shops: there are individual varations, depending and climate and season, but most are open 9:30am to 1:00pm and 3.30pm or 4.00pm to 7.30pm.

The following opening hours apply: from Monday to Friday
Morning from 9.00 to 13.15

Afternoon from 14.30 (or 14.45) to 15.30 (or 15.45)

(Times vary from bank to bank - some may open Saturday morning)
Many currency exchanges can be found in the centre. Be sure to ask what commission is applied before changing cheques or cash. Many shops and restaurants accept credit cards.

All post offices are open from Monday to Saturday from 8.15 to 13.30. Some, including the main Post Office (Via Pelliceria, 3) and the Post Office in Via Pietrapiana, 53, are open all day from 8.15 to 18.00. 

Opening hours
From Monday to Friday 8.15am-6pm
Saturday 8.15am-6pm
Last day of each month 8.15-12pm (Saturdays 8.15am-11am)

Stamps
Stamps can be bought in Post Offices and tobacconists' shops.
Postcards and letters (up to 20grams)
€ 0.75 European Community
€ 1.60 Asia, Africa, North and South America
€ 1.00 Australia

Public telephones are located all over the city, however, poor maintenance is a problem and frequently many are out of service. you will find public telephones working with phone cards (scheda magnetica telefonica). Cards, available at various prices, are sold in tobacconist shops.
Otherwise there is a public telephone office in Via Cavour. The user is assigned a cabin and pays the cost of the call at the end.
We also suggest buying a local phonecard for calls in Italy and an international phonecard if you will be calling overseas.
Mobile Phones - Mobile phones are relatively cheap so it may not always be cheaper to hire one.
If you have a mobile phone you can buy an Italian SIM card with a new phone number.
This allows you to save on calls in Italy.

This is an indication of average costs in Florence.

Health Insurance

If you are a non-EU citizen
Health insurance for Italy has to meet the following requirements:

• it must cover expenses in case of emergency treatment and urgent hospitalization (recovery in casualty)
• it must cover the entire duration of your stay in Italy;
• it must guarantee the policy-holder’s return to his/her own country in case of serious illness
• it must be in English or translated in Italian and legalized by the Italian Embassy/Consulate
• it must also be valid in the Schengen Area.

The most economic health insurance policy in Italy is INA (Istituto Nazionale Assicurazioni) which covers emergency hospital and maternity charges. It costs € 49,00 for 6 months and € 98,00 for 1 year.
For further information please ask at the secretary’s office.

If you are an EU citizen
Before you leave for Italy you have to go to the competent Health Institution in your country in order to ask for an extension of your health assistance to Italy through one of the following issues:

• E 106 for study or work stays more than 365 days.
• the European Health Insurance Card (so called "EHIC Card") for stays up to 365 days, by which you are automatically covered in all EU-member countries for health cares considered as "necessary”

Medical Services
Pharmacies are a convenient place to have an advice on minor complaints, as the staff is medically trained.
If your country has a consulate in Florence, staff there should be able to refer you to a doctor who speaks your language. The Tourist Information service in Florence APT has lists of doctors and dentists of various nationalities. We suggest that if you have a specific health complaint, obtain the necessary information and referrals for treatment before leaving home.
Please also ask at Linguaviva to refer you to doctors and health services in Florence.

Florence is a fairly secure city. You need to take some simple precautions.
Do not carry large sums of money with you.
Do not take all your credit cards with you at the same time, and don't keep your passport, credit cards, money etc… together.
Use a bag which closes securely. Do not put your wallet where everyone can see it.
Do not leave valuable things like mobile phones, i-pods etc… lying around in public places.
Keep your possessions where you can see them and avoid wearing very expensive jewellery when you are going out.