We will be driving from San Gimignano into Florence and returning our rental car to the Europcar location at 153r Via Borgo Ognissanti, Firenze, ITA, FLR. I have read from other travellers that only the office is there and the cars are at the train station. However, our drop off address is Borgo Ognissanti. Clarification from anyone would be great. Also is this option below still the best bet to return the car and avoid any ZTL or bus lane fines?
Option 2: instead of taking the A1 at the end of the Sierra Firenze freeway, take the regular road (via Cassia SR2) to the city center. This option is shorter but not necessarily without challenges. There will be one speed camera and one bus lane to consider.
Save this Esso gas station in your phone. You will be coming here to refuel your car. There are other stations along the way but this is good enough.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5n4tYpaiMvL77N9AA?g_st=ic
There will be a speed camera between the roundabout and this gas station, so drive below the speed limit.
After refueling you will proceed to the city center (Interpark Garage Europa). Be aware that shortly after this Esso gas station you will be turning right on Via del Gelsomino. Although proceeding straight on Via Senese is the most direct way to go, however after via del Gelsomino that section of via Senese is a bus only lane (and there is a camera for good measure), so MAKE SURE YOU TURN RIGHT ON VIA DEL GELSOMINO, then eventually left on Viale del Poggio Imperiale and then all the way to the garage.
Follow the directions below on Google Maps. Google knows the way, but you must follow those directions precisely.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/N7Tq3LLDSWawZBjz9?g_st=ic
There are two more speed cameras along the way on Viale del Poggio Imperiale and on Viale Petrarca, so make sure you are not one of the many visitors who collect a bunch of fines.
Welcome to the City of Florence, currently the Italian record holder of camera enforced speed fines (twice the number collected by the much larger Milan).