Florence - Is there a left luggage service at Santa Maria train station?
Oct 8th, 2008, 10:50 PM
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Florence - Is there a left luggage service at Santa Maria train station?
I will be travelling from Rome to Venice by train. I would like to break the journey in Florence for a few hours. I will have my suitcase with me, can I leave it at left luggage at Florence station for a few hours while I stroll around town? Is it secure? Also, do Italian trains have luggage racks for suitcases? How can I store my luggage on the train? THanks in advance.
Oct 9th, 2008, 04:52 AM
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Hi P,
The train will have overhead racks for small suitcases and a luggage area at one end for large suitcases.
Upon arrival at Florence SMN, walk to the head of the tracks. The left luggage office is to your left.
You might find this helpful:
A DAY IN FLORENCE:
Train to Florence SMN:
The Luggage Office is to your left as you leave the train.
From Piazza d' Stazione, walk up via Nazionale to via d'Ariento and the Mercato Centrale, wander through.
Take any street going NE to Via Degli Alfani and go right to the Accademia for The David.
Take via Ricasoli SE to the Duomo, the Baptistry and the Opera Museum (Originals of the bronzes on the doors)
From the Campanile, take via Calzaiuoli S (do some window shopping) to the Piazza d' Signoria. Look around, take a break.
Continue S to the Uffizi. Visit.
From the Uffizi, walk W along the Arno River to the Ponte Vecchio.
(You can walk up to the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens if there is time. Great views of Florence from the top of the Gardens)
If you have time, walk E along the S bank of the river to Ponte alle grazie and cross over to visit Santa Croce.
If not, go W along the Arno from Ponte Vecchio to Ponte S. Trinita and go right. Go left on Via d'Spada to via d'Fossi and go right to Santa Maria Novella. Look around.
SMN is across the square from the train station.
If you have time, take the no. 7 bus (you can find it at the SMN train station) up to Fiesole (0:20 hr 1E) to watch the sunset from the terrace of the Bar Bleu.
Be sure to have lots of gelato (in a cup, not a cone), take some wine breaks and a light lunch.
Train schedules, prices and tickets are at http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html
Call center from outside Italy is 39-06-68475475
Bus routes are at http://www.ataf.net/
Buy your ticket before you get on the bus. Stamp it in the yellow box on the bus.
Uffizi and Academia Museum Reservations
The easiest and cheapest way is to call Florence 1010987 (dial around number), 011 (U.S. international access code) 39 (Italy's country code) then 055-294-883 8:30-18:30 M-F and 8:30-12:00 Sat. Florence time. There is a long listing of press 1 for this and 2 for that--press 4 for bookings. You will get an English speaking operator and in 2-3 minutes YOU CAN RESERVE FOR BOTH. This is through the reservation service at the Uffizi and costs beyond the normal entry fee only about 3 euro for the service. This is MUCH cheaper than the commercial booking services.
You will not be charged for the reservations unless you use them.
Have a nice visit.
The train will have overhead racks for small suitcases and a luggage area at one end for large suitcases.
Upon arrival at Florence SMN, walk to the head of the tracks. The left luggage office is to your left.
You might find this helpful:
A DAY IN FLORENCE:
Train to Florence SMN:
The Luggage Office is to your left as you leave the train.
From Piazza d' Stazione, walk up via Nazionale to via d'Ariento and the Mercato Centrale, wander through.
Take any street going NE to Via Degli Alfani and go right to the Accademia for The David.
Take via Ricasoli SE to the Duomo, the Baptistry and the Opera Museum (Originals of the bronzes on the doors)
From the Campanile, take via Calzaiuoli S (do some window shopping) to the Piazza d' Signoria. Look around, take a break.
Continue S to the Uffizi. Visit.
From the Uffizi, walk W along the Arno River to the Ponte Vecchio.
(You can walk up to the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens if there is time. Great views of Florence from the top of the Gardens)
If you have time, walk E along the S bank of the river to Ponte alle grazie and cross over to visit Santa Croce.
If not, go W along the Arno from Ponte Vecchio to Ponte S. Trinita and go right. Go left on Via d'Spada to via d'Fossi and go right to Santa Maria Novella. Look around.
SMN is across the square from the train station.
If you have time, take the no. 7 bus (you can find it at the SMN train station) up to Fiesole (0:20 hr 1E) to watch the sunset from the terrace of the Bar Bleu.
Be sure to have lots of gelato (in a cup, not a cone), take some wine breaks and a light lunch.
Train schedules, prices and tickets are at http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html
Call center from outside Italy is 39-06-68475475
Bus routes are at http://www.ataf.net/
Buy your ticket before you get on the bus. Stamp it in the yellow box on the bus.
Uffizi and Academia Museum Reservations
The easiest and cheapest way is to call Florence 1010987 (dial around number), 011 (U.S. international access code) 39 (Italy's country code) then 055-294-883 8:30-18:30 M-F and 8:30-12:00 Sat. Florence time. There is a long listing of press 1 for this and 2 for that--press 4 for bookings. You will get an English speaking operator and in 2-3 minutes YOU CAN RESERVE FOR BOTH. This is through the reservation service at the Uffizi and costs beyond the normal entry fee only about 3 euro for the service. This is MUCH cheaper than the commercial booking services.
You will not be charged for the reservations unless you use them.
Have a nice visit.
Oct 12th, 2008, 07:51 AM
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Charges in Italian station baggage depots are per bag and per the first six hours, then per hour - tip arrive to retrieve your luggage well before your train
I have encountered lengthy lines to retrieve as well as staff missing in action at times.
Yes Ira's scenario is excellent IMO - central Florence is very compact - no more than a few square miles with most major sights.
I have encountered lengthy lines to retrieve as well as staff missing in action at times.
Yes Ira's scenario is excellent IMO - central Florence is very compact - no more than a few square miles with most major sights.
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Jun 29th, 2009, 09:27 PM
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Hi ira --
I just saw your advice, and wanted to ask if it is better to make the reservation to academia by phone, or to book my tickets to accademia through the ufizzi website?
I will be in florence only for one day in september 2009.
Also, what do you mean by "dial around number"? If I am calling from the philippines, what do i dial (do i still dial the dial around number, and then the international cod-area-code-etc?)
Thank you so much for your advice..
I just saw your advice, and wanted to ask if it is better to make the reservation to academia by phone, or to book my tickets to accademia through the ufizzi website?
I will be in florence only for one day in september 2009.
Also, what do you mean by "dial around number"? If I am calling from the philippines, what do i dial (do i still dial the dial around number, and then the international cod-area-code-etc?)
Thank you so much for your advice..
Jun 30th, 2009, 07:49 AM
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Hi cir,
Since that post was written, it has become easier to get tickets on the internet.
You can purchase tickets online at http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/english/musei/uffizi/
Since that post was written, it has become easier to get tickets on the internet.
You can purchase tickets online at http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/english/musei/uffizi/
Jun 30th, 2009, 02:37 PM
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dear ira --
thank you so much for your advice! I will go to the site immediately.
we are actually in florence only for a day, going by train from venice to florence, then back to venice at night. I'll follow your guide on the one day visit, as well.
Thanks!
thank you so much for your advice! I will go to the site immediately.
we are actually in florence only for a day, going by train from venice to florence, then back to venice at night. I'll follow your guide on the one day visit, as well.
Thanks!
