We will be flying into Milan and will have 3 days before a conference. Thinking of going to the Florence for a day and then two in the Tuscany region for 2 days. Amy suggestions where to stay near Florence not necessarily in Florence the first night and then maybe a aguraturisimo closer to Tuscany for the last two nights? We will more than likely be renting g a car
Posted by
Milan Italy
125 posts
Hi, Giangilberto from Milan, first of all, since Florence is in Tuscany, I recommend spending all three nights at an agriturismo (farmhouse), for instance, in the Chianti area, which is less than an hour away from Florence.
Since you’ve decided to rent a car, you can easily travel back and forth to visit Florence for the day, in my opinion, there is no need to stay in the city itself.
Here are some tips to help you avoid fines related to Florence’s ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone). It is divided into five sectors, and fines can arrive months later via your car rental agency.
There are two options regarding the daily permit, which you can purchase yourself: 5 euros for transit only, or 15 euros if you also want to park, you must print it out and display it on your dashboard.
However, an even better solution is the "T2 Guidoni" park-and-ride facility, you leave your car outside the city center and take the tram in for 1.50 euros. If you are staying at an agriturismo outside the city, this is the option I would choose, you don't enter the ZTL, you don't have to buy permits, and you avoid any risk.
I have a question: what time of year are you planning your trip?
I ask because from April through the first Sunday of October, there is a night-time ZTL in effect on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 11:00 PM to 3:00 AM. This covers all five sectors, two of them, F and G, exist only at night and are not restricted during the day at all.
So, if you plan to go out for dinner, you need to keep this in mind as well.
Finally, I can recommend a lovely agriturismo where my wife and I stayed the last time we visited the area, Fonte de' Medici Country House & Restaurant.
It is located about 45 minutes from Florence, we had a wonderful time there, and the setting is enchanting.
Posted by
Bay Area SF & Uppsala Sweden 🇸🇪
2142 posts
Giangilberto, I'm learning a lot from your additions on the Forum, just copied the agriturismo recommendation to my Florence notes, so thank you!
Posted by
Milan Italy
125 posts
Thank you very much Sandancisco, it’s a pleasure to have someone like you, who has been contributing to the forum for years, thank me publicly. It encourages me to keep making my own contributions.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
18216 posts
Where is the conference? In Milan? If you are flying to Milan and then have to be there 3 days later, you might want to consider someplace closer, if you haven’t been before.
Lake Maggiore is near the Malpensa airport. Lake Como is also near Milan, just to mention two popular destinations. There will be agriturismi in northern Italy too.
Driving from the Milan area to Tuscany is a chore to me. Long and boring drive on the A1 freeway. Im not even sure if I’d rent a car. You can’t use it in Florence, you can’t use it in Milan. If you are determined to go to Tuscany at an agriturismo, I would use the high speed train, then maybe rent in Florence or Arezzo or Chiusi, go to the agriturismo, then return the car in Florence, and take the train back to Milan for the conference.