Travel Information

General Travel information for Tuscany

This service-page is supposed to be helpful for all Tuscany voyager, making no demands to be complete.

Phone calls within and to Italy

The international dialing code of Italy is 0039.

The area code, including the first zero (0) of the number must be dialled completely within Italy or by calling someone in Italy from abroad. The same is valid even for calls within the same cities.
Mobile phone numbers do not start with a zero (o).

Important telephone numbers:

International dial code to Germany: 0049, to Austria: 0043, to Switzerland: 0041

Emergency: 113

Ambulance: 118

Fire service: 115

Police: 112

Automobile roadway repair service: 116

Pharmacy

In Italy you recognize a chemist’s shop by its distinguishing green cross. The network of the pharmacies in Italy can be compared with Germany, Austria and Switzerland. You will find pharmacies also in smaller villages.

A wide range of Italian pharmaceuticals correspond to the international standard. Medicinal products that are ethical drugs in your country also in Italy are obtainable on prescription only! However, please do not assume to find the same medicament you are used to in your country also here in Italy. It is therefore advisable to bring your first-aid-kit with you, especially in case of chronic illnesses or allergies! Out of the normal opening hours, there are always some pharmacies on rota duty.

Medical care

You do not need any particular vaccination exceeding the standard measures in Europe.

Some places with a high presence of tourists during the summer open a so called “Guardia Medica Turistica”. Here you will find a doctor day and night who will help you and who is mostly speaking at least English or also some German. Italian doctors who are recognized by the Italian social assurance system medicate in cooperation with your assurance company. If you need a doctor during your holiday and do not want to pay extra, please make sure to contact one cooperating with the Italian social security. The medication and the eventually prescribed drugs usually are to be paid on the spot. Therefore pay attention to get a detailed receipt to be refunded by your home health insurance.

Every hospital has a emergency department (Pronto Soccorso), which is marked by the symbol of a red cross. At its counter all patients are classified in regard to the urgency of the single case and patients with a lower emergency level may have to wait longer than others arriving later, but with a “red” emergency level. Certainly the waiting time may depend from the availability of the respective specialist. Since a while you have to pay the “ticket”, which means a little charge if there is nothing really serious.

General opening hours of shops, banks etc.

You will still find the Mediterranean “siesta” in the smaller villages of Tuscany, while almost all supermarkets (supermercati) are open all day through and in the towns also shops for souvenirs and bigger shops in the city centre remain open during the lunchtime.

In case of a lunch break, shops usually close from 12:30 or 13:00 o’clock to 15:30 or 16:00 o’clock.

A lot of shops are closed on Monday morning and open only in the afternoon –especially when they are open on Saturday all day long. Closing hour is usually 19:30h or 20:00h.

In bigger towns the supermarkets open throughout the year at least in the morning, also on Sundays and public holidays. Italian banks are usually open from Monday to Friday from 8:30h to 13:30h and in the afternoon from 14:45 to 15:45 o’clock. Museums are open from Tuesday to Friday from 9.00 to 19.00 o’clock and on Sundays during the morning. Churches often are closed around midday.

Italian National Holidays:

On the following public holidays, almost everything is closed. Traveller should be aware that these public holidays are often combined with some extra days off, especially when they occur close to the weekend. In this case they become a good occasion for a short vacation and the motor- and highways may be very busy!

Here you have a list of the National holidays in Italy:

1st of January = New Year (Primo dell’anno)

6st of January = Epiphany, Twelfth Night (Epifania)

Eastern = Easter Monday (Pasquetta)

25th April = Liberation Day (Anniversario della Liberazione)

1 st May =Labour Day (Festa del Lavoro)

15 th August = Mid-August holiday (Festa della Madona + Ferragosto)

1st November = All Saint’s Day (Festa di Ognissanti)

8 th December =  Feast of the Immaculate Conception. (Immacolata Concezione)

25th and 26th December = Chistmas (Feste Natalizie)

Italian fashion, factory shops and outlets:

Italy it the quintessential country of style and fashion. Just think of Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Prada or Fendi to name only some of the big Italian companies. In Tuscany everything regarding “style and fashion” has a long story and tradition. Lucca owes its riches to the ancient tradition of its trade with precious drapery, coming partly from the Orient.

In Prato, the tradition of weaving drapery dates back to the Middle Ages. Along the Arno you will find the leather tannery with its traditional handcraft and Florence is the city where a lot of fashion designers are living, while the main city of drapery. Arezzo is famous for its goldsmiths and jewelleries.

Tuscany offers excellent shopping opportunities and interesting outlets. A real treasure house for fans of high quality clothes and accessories looking for convenient prices and special offers.
Mostly the outlets are close to the highway and are open all year through, some even on Sundays and National holidays. Various outlets are situated in the south-east of Florence and in the area of Arezzo.

Here as follows some interesting addresses for all fans of outlets and factory shops:

PRADA
Opening times: Monday – Friday 10-19.00 Sunday: 14-19.30
Prada Strada Statale 69, 52025 Montevarcchi - Levanella, Arezzo
Tel.+39/055/919 01

DOLCE & GABBANA
Opening times: Monday – Saturday: 9-19.00 Sunday: 15-19.00
Loc. Santa Maria Maddalena, 49; Pian dell` Isola 50064 Incisa Val d'Arno
Tel. +39 055/8 33 13 00

FENDI
Close to the DOLCE & GABBANA Outlet.
Opening times: Monday – Saturday 10-19.00 Sunday: 15-19.00
Via Giuseppe di Littorio 10 50067 Rignano sull´Arno
Tel. +39 055/8 3 49 81

GUCCI
Opening times: : Monday – Saturday: 9.00 – 18.00
Via Aretina, 63; Leccio-Reggello
Tel. +39 055/8 65 77

Roberto Cavalli Outlet
Opening times: Monday – Saturday 10.00 – 18.00
Via Volturno, 3/3 Sesto Fiorentino, Osmannoro (Fi)
Tel. +39 055.317754

THE MALL
Opening times: Monday – Saturday: 10-19.00 Sunday: 15-19.00
The Mall, Via Europa 8 50060 Leccio Reggello
Tel. +39 055/8 65 77 75

Valdichiana Outlet Village
Opening times: Monday – Saturday: 10.00 – 20.00 and during June, July and August: Monday – Friday: 10.00 – 20.00
Località Farniole Via Enzo Ferrari, 5 - Foiano Della Chiana (Ar)
Tel. +39 0575.649926

Weekly markets

In bigger towns and all cities you will find a weekly market. In smaller villages they usually take place every 14 days. In some cities there is a fix market as for example in Livorno the “Mercatino Americano” or in Florence the market of “San Lorenzo” and “Mercato Nuovo”.

At the market you can buy for quite competitive prices and sometimes you may also try to haggle over the price. Some market stalls offer also high quality items, but mostly these are quoted at the same price as in an ordinary shop.

According to the size of the market you will find a wide range of clothes, drapery, shoes, bags and household articles. Often you will find also flowers and plants, fruits and vegetables, as well as meat and cheese. The best time for shopping at the market is quite early in the morning. The markets open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 13:00 o’clock.

Here as follows a list of the weekly markets in Tuscany:

MONDAY
Carrara, Chiusi, Prato, Rio Marina (Elba)

TUESDAY
Borgo, San Lorenzo, Chiusi, Poppi, Porto, Santo Stefano, San Miniato, Sansepolcro

WEDNESDAY
Anghiari, Bagni di Lucca, Caparbio, Lucca, Massa Marittima, Monte San Savino, Piombino, Pisa, Pistoia, Pitigliano, Siena, Vinci

THURSDAY
Bibbiena, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Empoli, Grosseto, Lucignano, Montecatini Terme, Montepulciano, San Gimignano, Viareggio

FRIDAY
Colle Val díElsa, Livorno, Montalcino, Pienza, Portoferraio (Elba)

SATURDAY
Arezzo, Asciano, Bagni di Lucca, Barga, Castiglione della Pescaia, Cortona, Lucca, Orbetello, Pescia, Pisa, Pistoia, Sansepolcro, Volterra