We have rented a car and will be coming from Austria to the Dolomites, staying in Bolzano for one night and then going to Florence for a night before traveling to a rental outside of Lucca, where we will stay for a week. My dilemma is whether we should stay in Bolzano for two nights, then travel to Lucca making Florence a day trip, or chance the car in Florence to stay there one night and have a shorter trip the next day to Lucca. This is the middle of our trip, we will have flown into Milan, gone to Varenna for two nights, Venice for three nights and then Austria for two nights. From Lucca, we will do some day trips. After Lucca go to Rome for three nights and fly out of there. If the time of year makes any difference we will be there in October. I appreciate any suggestions. The archives have been invaluable as have the posts I have read in planning this first trip. So thanks to all who take the time to respond with advice.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23343 posts
If you have read archives then you are aware of the problem with TLZs in Florence and the heavy, delayed fines. Personally I would do Florence as a day trip via public transit.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
As Frank has indicated, do not drive in Florence. The entire historic area is set-up with the dreaded Zona Traffico Limitados (restricted zones). Cameras will take pictures of your license plate. By the time you see the ticket, your rental car agency will have rated you out to the police and you will have missed your early court dates. Big 100Euro+ fines a year later. Reportedly, Florence writes 600 of these tickets a day. Pisa has them also as does dozens of Italian cities and towns. Florence should be a great day trip.
Posted by
Catadupa Alamere, CA
515 posts
... or you could dump the car in Bolzano and do Lucca & Florence by train. I did Lucca as a day trip from Florence and it was very easy. I've never been in Lucca at night but it's hard to imagine that it compares with an evening in Florence
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Penny, this thread http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm?fuseaction=readtopic&topicID=28422&page=2 gives further details re why you probably don't want to drive into, or have a rental car overnight, in Florence.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11364 posts
Penny:
Two 1-nighters in a row sounds tiring, especially after your 2-3-2 pattern in the previous locations. Certainly Florence can be a daytrip from Lucca and with your car, a better idea to leave it in Lucca while you go to Florence. What will you do in Bolzano? I may be wrong, but I think October is past hiking season and before ski season. :-)
Posted by
OP
Boulder
22 posts
Thank you for all your advice. In looking at the map with all of the ZTL zones it is frankly a mine field. I think the best option is to find a place outside the city center to park and hike in, or do a day trip from Lucca. Although I would love to spend more time in the Dolomites, it won't be this trip. It looks like a beautiful ride on the way back from Austria and a break in the drive thus, the one night stay. If we can find the wood carvers from RS book it would be great. Florence was so the drive would not be so long from Bolzano to Lucca, and we wanted to go there anyway. Lots of decisions still to be made, and probably more questions before we get on the plane...
Posted by
Shawnee, OK, USA
396 posts
I concur with the other posters. No car in florence. it is an easy day trip from Lucca. I was in Lucca for three nights in april and met many folks doing day trips in and out of Lucca.