Florence ZTL Question

Our past information has been based on either internet information, which it appears you have already researched, or reports from travelers which were dated some time ago.
In the past we have had a number of travelers report in here that they have received large fines for unknowingly driving in the Florence ZTL's.

Roberto will most likely have the answer to your question.

This is an excerpt from Driving in Italy that you may find useful. If I were to be driving in Italy I would read the whole article. Roberto of CA is one of many posters with firsthand knowledge.

"Limited Traffic Areas in Florence (Firenze)

ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato - Limited Traffic Zones) are found in many Italian cities and towns. It is critical in Florence to be aware of the ZTL signs and restrictions. Failure to adhere will cost 82 euro each time you enter one of these areas.
Often the tourist will not be aware of having crossed this line until several weeks later when:
1. a ticket arrives in the mail or
2. the rental agency places a charge on a credit card.
There is always a sign telling that a restricted traffic area lies ahead. Look up and you will see two cameras mounted high above the street. One will take your picture as you enter the area and the other will take a picture of your rear license plate.

How to Read the ZTL Sign

It is permissible to drive to a hotel within the restricted areas or to a parking garage, but, it is imperative that the hotel or garage call your license plate number into the police. This will give you safe passage. Do not assume that this call will be made, ask them to make the call and then check later that it was made. To be safe, keep your hotel or garage receipt in the event that you do get a ticket, then you can challenge it. . .
. . . In addition to the call, entering a plate on the list to allow access will cost €1 (?) euro instead of being free of charge. Those with disabilities should call 800 339891 before entering the ZTL zone.

Parking in Florence

Another point to know in Florence, assuming you are not in a restricted area, is that you are to park in blue lined spots. Do not park in white lined spots as they are reserved for residents and those with special parking permissions.

Note: In many places, white lines indicate free parking, but not in Florence. . . .
Driving in Florence is not fun nor easy but, if you know a few of the rules, you can avoid unpleasant surprises. It is always best to drive with a navigator on board."

To avoid all fines, park at the parking garage by Piazzale Michangelo. Then taxi to lodging

map. http://www.visitflorence.com/florence-maps/parking-lots-in-florence.html

If you believe they are in zone F and they insist they are not, find a new hotel. What do you think the odds are you are going to convince the hotel they don't know the rules of their own city, the American tourist is right, and they ought to call the authorities to register your car? Small, I'd bet.

You can find rules for the Florence ZTL at http://www.bella-toscana.com/traffic_violations_italy.htm

Non-residents are prohibited from driving and parking within the ZTL
at the following times: On weekdays (Mondays through Fridays): from
7.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. On Saturdays: from 7.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tourists in cars who need to travel within the ZTL to reach their
accommodation facilities or a garage can obtain a temporary access
permit, although they should still pass through the authorized ‘access
points’ only, excluding the lanes reserved for public transport and
the pedestrian zones which may not be used at any time. In order to
obtain this permit, the number plate of the car concerned should be
given to the relevant hotel (or garage) which will undertake to
forward the same to the appropriate office.

This permit will be issued for a maximum of two hours for baggage
transport purposes and, therefore, only on the arrival and departure
dates (a permit may also be issued to tourists without a hotel booking
entering the ZTL to find accommodation). For the rest of their stay,
clients should park their car outside the ZTL, in a commercial garage
or in the hotel’s own private garage.

Archimides,

Just a thought... do you really need the car while in Florence?

Where will you be traveling from?

Where are you traveling to?

To clarify my post above, Roberto is a Florentine who now lives in California & he is very knowledgeable about
his native land.

His advise is always very practical & to the point.

Hey Archimedes of Syracuse, I mean, Fairfax.

How about telling me the name of the hotel? So I can tell you how to reach it without too much fuss.

Roberto has advised me the hotel is outside the ZTL during the day, but ZTL rules apply at night. So while my hotel was not as helpful as Roberto, they were not wrong about being outside the ZTL. Roberto's directions also matched what the hotel gave me.

Thanks to all for the advice, and especially to Roberto.

Archimedes,
Good luck on this. Some travelers reporting here have had detailed directions on how to avoid the ZTL's--but alas, in Florence traffic or at night, whatever, they took a wrong turn. And a few months later a letter with a big fine came to their US residence, courtesy of the Florence traffic authorities and the rental car company, which provided your address.
Hopefully you'll be one of the more fortunate ones.

Archimedes,
The night ZTL will apply to your hotel area (zone F) only from April through the beginning of October. In the past it has applied only on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays nights only (not sure about this year though) from 11pm until 3am.
As I mentioned in my PM, there are no cameras there (unless they installed them this past year) but during those nights the police will be guarding the entrance. So you won't be photographed, but you need to tell the police that you are trying to reach your hotel. You will be allowed to go in without any problem. Telling that to the police verbally will be sufficient, but if you have the reservations with you it will help if there are language barriers.
If you get there during the day before the night ZTL starts (last year it was at 11pm) or other days of the week Sun-Wed, then no problem whatsoever even at night.

I'm planning to pick up a rental car in Orvieto and drop it off 4 days later near Florence in late June. The Hertz drop-off location is
Florence Sesto Fiorentino IKEA - Via Francesco Redi 1Via Francesco Redi 1
Florence (Sesto Fiorentino) , Italy, 50123
Phone: 346 6472614
Hours of Operation: Mo-Su 1100-2000
Location Type: Corporate

I picked this location because it appears to be outside the city and the ZTL. We're planning to then take a taxi to our hotel in Florence (just south of Duomo). Can someone confirm this is outside the ZTL? Thanks.

Dan,

Well that's way and away out of Florence, north of the airport, just near the Sesto Fiorentino exit from the Pisa Florence Autostrada, the A11, and just in from the Firenza Nord junction with the A1 from the north and south.

No ZTLs 6 miles out of Florence.

I'm surprised you picked an industrial and commercial area only open short hours. Weren't you tempted by the airport location a bit closer in which is served by good buses all the way into town? There will be a better collection of taxis there too.

BTW, you've hitchhiked on Archimedes' thread so he will see all the answers for you in his email in tray and you may miss them. You can always start your own thread and the mail will come to you... in future

Dan I sent you a private message.
Select the Hertz location at 53 via del Sansovino.
Directions in my private message.

Sorry for the Threadjack.

Roberto - thanks! We'll use that one.

Nigel - I see Sesto Fiorentino on mapquest well north of the airport as you describe. The Hertz map showed the location I was planning on using just south of Scandicci which would have been convenient since we will be driving from Chianti area. Anyway, we will use the location Roberto suggests which is closer to our hotel and yet still clear of the ZTLs. Thanks.