Italian Travel Guide

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Communicating In Italy

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Most Italians use WhatsApp. I would download this App and connect to wifi when available. Best way to message and call with no extra cost. Call your Cell Provider and let them know you are leaving the country to see how to minimize cost while gone.

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Euros

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Your local bank can exchange your US money to Euros. This can take 7 days so go about 2 weeks before you depart. DO NOT USE THE AIRPORT exchange places they are a rip off. If you need more Euros while in Italy you can go to most BANK ATMs. Do not use random ATM machines only ATM's at a bank. We recommend using a credit card most of the time and travel with no more than 500 Euros.

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Passport

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Please make sure your passport does not expire within 6 months of your departure date. If it does, airlines will not let you board the plane. Please make sure you check your dates and renew your passport if needed. They are taking 6-8 weeks on average to renew and send out passports. When traveling, put a copy of your passport in your luggage as well as a copy on your phone. Keep your passport with you at all times.

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Flying to Italy

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We recommend flying direct to Italy from the US. We have found that layovers in other countries complicate the travel experience and there are nodirect flight from the US to Florence. We recommend flying into Rome Airport (FCO). Download the MPC (mobile passport control app) This will help your breeze through customs returning to the US.

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Taking the Train from Rome to Florence

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1. Arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport Once you land, follow the signs for Arrivals and then for Trains / Station (Stazione ferroviaria). The train station is located inside the airport complex, just outside the main terminal area — easy to walk to (signs are clearly marked). 2. Take the Leonardo Express to Roma Termini (if your high speed train departs from there) *Note: It’s often easiest to connect via Roma Termini for the best high-speed train options to Florence (fastest trains depart from Termini). There are some direct airport → Florence trains, but most travelers change at Termini. Leonardo Express train Departure location: Fiumicino Aeroporto Train Station (right at FCO airport) Arrival station: Roma Termini Train Station Address: Piazza dei Cinquecento, 00185 Roma RM, Italy Duration: ~32 minutes Frequency: About every 15–30 minutes Ticket: Trenitalia Leonardo Express (can be bought at ticket machines or online) Instructions at the airport: • After customs and baggage claim, find the brown “Treni / Trains” signs. • Follow them to the train station platforms below the airport terminal. • Buy a ticket for the Leonardo Express, board the train to Roma Termini. 3. From Roma Termini to Florence (Firenze Santa Maria Novella) by High-Speed Train Termini high-speed trains: From Roma Termini, take a high-speed train Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, or Italo to Firenze Santa Maria Novella (SMN) — the main train station in Florence. Firenze Santa Maria Novella Station Piazza della Stazione, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy How to book: • Buy tickets on the Trenitalia or Italo app/websites ahead of time (recommended). • Show your ticket (printed or on phone) at boarding. Approximately 2 hours 20 minutes on the fastest trains. Boarding tips at Termini: • After arriving from FCO, follow signs for “Alta Velocità / High-Speed Trains” or “Frecciarossa / Italo.” • Check your ticket platform (binario) and wait at the indicated platform.

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Train Tips

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Tip for Trains - It is important to know that when you purchase your train ticket to pay attention to the train #. The departure boards that will show what platform your train will be arriving and departing show the Train # and the FINAL city for that train. It will not show the city your are going to unless it is the final destination for that train. When booking your train tickets at the kiosk look for the FAST trains. These have less stops and travel between the big cities. -Rome main train station is Rome Termini. This station can be overwhelming so get there at least 1 hour before departure. - Florence main train station is Santa Maria Novella How far are popular cities from Florence via CAR: Pistoia - 20 Min (Our wedding planner grew up here!!) San Gimignano - 40 Min. Sienna - 50 min. Lucca - 1 hour Pisa - 1 hour Volterra - 1 hour Bologna - 1.5 hours Assisi - 2.5 hours Verona - 2.5 hours BY TRAIN - via FAST train from Florence Bologna- 38 mins Milan - 2 hours Rome - 1.5 hours Venice - 2.5 hours Naples - 3 hours