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Day trip to Greve from Florence

Posted by (Massachusetts) on

Hey everyone! New to the forum but have already found so much useful information here. You all are so helpful!

My fiance and I will be spending our honeymoon in Florence, staying close to SMN. One day trip we would like to plan is to rent a car and drive down the SR222, into Greve in Chianti, doing a winery tour and spending the day between there and Panazano. If there's time (which I hope there is) making a stop in Radda as well. Then driving back into Florence at the end of the day.

My question is regarding renting the car and getting out of Florence, and also getting back into Florence. I'm well aware of the dreaded ZTL and obviously want to avoid a fine at all cost. There is a Hertz down the street from our hotel, Borgo Ognissanti, and I know there's one at the airport as well. Is it really worth going to the airport to rent the car? How easily can you get to the SR222 from the airport? Or can we easily get in and out of Florence. I know rental companies will give you detailed direction about getting out of the ZTL, but I haven't found how to do so to get to SR222. Is this something you can ask them directly? And from the sounds of it, when getting back into Florence, you have to drive through the ZTL, but have a two hour window to return the rental? Is that correct?

Any tips, advice, or direction is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Craig

Posted by
16209 posts

If you rent from Hertz and are afraid to return the car on Borgo Ognissanti, use the Hertz location on Via Ambrosoli (Firenze Sud). It is at the end of Via Marco Polo expressway which you would take from/to the SR222. That would make more sense than the Airport, which is on tho opposite side of town.

Posted by
2 posts

Roberto, thanks for the quick reply! I guess my question is should I be worried about getting back to the Borgo Ognissanti location? The Firenze Sud location does look very convenient to get to the SR222, I assume a cab would be the best way to get to that Hertz location from Firenze SMN?

Also, not sure if you have any insight into this, but going through the Hertz website they make a note about snow chains being a requirement in some parts of Italy (we will be there in March). Would we need to make sure we have a rental with snow chains equipped?

Thanks again,
Craig

Posted by
3112 posts

There's also a Hertz location on Via del Sansovino in Isolotto, an easy tram ride from the SMN train station. That would get you close to the center without having to worry about the ZTLs near Borgo Ognissanti. Use the search box above to find prior postings from people who used the Sansovino location.

Posted by
16209 posts

The Via Ambrosoli location, which Hertz opened just a few months ago, is easier for the Via Chiantigiana (SR 222). Actually I grew up nearby, my elementary school was on the other side of the river from it.
There is the 14 bus that runs on Via Aretina. There is one every few minutes and it goes to the city center. Or you can ask the rental car agent at the desk to call you a taxicab. If you go in March, it’s probably dark by the time you return the car. Not dangerous but you might get lost.
If you plan to return after 8pm, that office will be closed. In that case you should return at the Borgo Ognissanti since you can arrange late drop offs there. The ZTL is open after 8pm, so no risk of getting fines (but watch the bus lanes, those are always active).

Only some roads require snow chains. The SR222 doesn’t climb high enough. If it snows between there and Greve in March, it will certainly in the 8o’clock news and in La Nazione newspaper. Check the forecast just in case, but in 30 years living there I haven’t seen snow on that road for more than 7 or 8 times in total, and never in March. You’d be rather unlucky (or very lucky, depending on how much you like snow) to see snow there in March.

Posted by
4105 posts

To visit Greve and Panzano, it's very easy to take the bus. The bus stop in Florence is on the side of the train station. Getting a schedule would be a good idea.

Drinking and driving is not recommended in Italy, their limits are much lower than here.

Greve is about a 50 minute ride.
There two great wineries a short distance from the bus stop. Both have wonderful restaurants.

http://www.verrazzano.com/en/wine-tours/
Closest to the stop.

For this one I'd grab a taxi. About 3 miles.

http://www.vignamaggio.com/en/attivita/degustazioni-visite-guidate/

The town itself has a number of tasting rooms, and fun to explore.

The bus to Panzano takes 15 min and runs every hour.

These two towns would make a great day trip, just make sure when the last bus back to Florence departs.

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