FLORENCE>Daily Life
Florence, long a center of intellectual and artistic activity, retains much of its Renaissance character thanks to careful preservation and planning. The works of artists, thinkers and writers such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Galileo, Machiavelli, Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio represent the city's rich cultural history. Florence is also the location of an important university, a magnificent collection of art objects and numerous architectural treasures. Located in Tuscany on the Arno River, Florence has a population of about 500,000. The climate is similar to Northern California, with substantial differences between summer high and winter low temperatures.
Money
Currency
Italy is part of both the European Union (EU) and the European Monetary Union (EMU). On January 1, 2002 a common currency, called the Euro, was issued for all countries in the Monetary Union. The Euro is the standard unit of currency in Italy. The symbol for Euro is €.
For up-to-date information about exchange rates, please see http://www.oanda.com/
ATMs
ATMs are widely accessible in Europe and are the most convenient and economical way to get cash for purchases. ATM/debit cards displaying the American Plus, Maestro, Cirrus, or Star logos on the back are all compatible with major European bank ATMs. PINs for ATM/debit cards should be four digits and not begin with a zero. It is wise to inform your home bank that you will be overseas before you leave, as many banks will inactivate an account if there is unexplained activity with a related card in a foreign country.
Credit Cards
Credit cards are highly recommended for their versatility and security. VISA and Mastercard are widely accepted all over Europe; American Express is less so, though their services are available through offices in most major European cities. Before using your credit card anywhere internationally, be sure to obtain information on your bank's international service fees and charges. Also, be sure to inform your credit card company that you will be overseas so they don't suspect suspicious activity.
Travelers' Checks
For convenience and to ensure the best exchange rate, it is best to purchase travelers' checks in Euros. The most commonly recognized travelers' checks in Europe are VISA, American Express, and Thomas Cook. You will be required to show your passport when you exchange your travelers' checks. Exchange travelers' checks Monday-Friday at a bank. Avoid cashing travelers' checks at places such as hotels, restaurants, or retailers, as these places are not required to adhere to the daily exchange rate.
Communication
E-Mail/Internet and Fax Services
E-mail and internet access is NOT available at the Study Center but students do receive 40 hours of computer time at a local Internet center and can purchase extra hours at a special rate. There are several excellent sources in Florence listed below that our students used this past year. Most of these places offer special rates for our students so be sure to tell them you are a CSU student before using their services or setting up an E-mail account. Below are several servers recommended by past students that you can investigate:
Internet Train (Fastest connection & great staff):
- Location. 1: Borgo la Croce 33r, tel. 0552347852 Open 7 days, 10,00 - midnight!
- Location. 2: Via dell'Oriuolo 40/r, tel. 0552638968 Mon. - Fri. 10,00 - 22,30; Sat. 12,00 - 20,00; Sun. 15,00 – 19,00.
- Location 3: Via Guelfa 24/a, Tel/fax 055214794 Mon. - Fri. 10,00 – 23,00; Sat. 12,00 - 20,00; Sun. closed.
- Location 4: Borgo San Jacopo 30/r, Tel/fax 0552657935 Mon. – Sat. 10,00 – 24,00; Sun. 12,00 to 24,00.
- Location 5: Via Giacomini 9, Tel. 0555520402
intotheweb (The Cyber Cafe) Via de' Conti 23r, Tel. 0552645628
hours: every day 10 am- midnight. Fast connection! Special prices for CSU students.
WWW Village - Via degli Alfani 11/13r, Tel. 0552479398
Hours: Mon. - Sat. 10,00 - 12 midnight / Sun. 14,00 - 20,00
Cairo Phone Center - Via dei Macci 90r, tel. 0552638336
hours: everyday 9:30 am - 9:30 PM
RES FUTUR@E Internet Point - via delle Ruote 14r, Tel. 055461635
Hours: Mon. - Fri. 10,00 – 22,00, Sat. 10,00 – 20,00
Phone Calls, Phone Cards, and Calling Procedures
Phone procedures
Calling within Italy: If you are calling the Florence center or anyone in Florence from any city in Italy, including Florence, you must dial 055 before the local number as follows: 0552345700. The area code 055 is required even for dialing local calls. If you are calling from some other city in Europe but outside of Italy, you must insert the international access number, the country code and the area code before the local number and dial as follows: (international access)-39-0552345700.
When calling Florence from the USA: dial as follows: 011-39-0552345700.
To call the States: dial 001+area code +number (follow the instructions on your phone card)
NOTE: The dial tone on Italian phones may sound to you like a busy signal, as it sounds like two "beeps" together, then a short pause, then another two "beeps" and so on. The busy signal sounds more like a series of quick "beeps".
Calling on public phones
In Italy, the public phones are all equipped with a slot for phone cards. The coin phones have basically been eliminated all over the city, so you will need to purchase a phone card to make calls.
Calling with phone cards
International phone cards are now available and are very economical. You can get these cards at the
- Internet Train on Borgo La Croce 33R, Tel. 0552347852
- EUROPA CARTA 300 minutes € 5 / 600 minutes €10 from a fixed (home) phone.
- HAPPINESS CARD same rates as above for a fixed phone or 45 minutes at €5 from a cell phone.
- Other cards are available at Master Shop - Via Nazionale 155r, Tel. 055462504. They also offer discount fax services.
- Local phone cards are available in bars (those bars with a big blue and white T sign in the entrance) or Tabacchi. Cards cost €2,58 or €5,16.
Transportation
Taxis
Radio Taxi - 0554242 or 0554390 or 0554798
S. Marco Taxi - 055284124
City Buses (Public)
City buses are run by ATAF. The ATAF office is located outside of the main train station in Piazza Stazione, outside of track (binario) 16. Tel. 800 424500 or 0555650222. Their website is: www.ataf.net
Following is a list of the various bus tickets available:
- Simple ticket (corsa semplice), valid 60 minutes = €1,00. Transfers are permitted within 60 min.
- Multiple ticket (multiplo DI corsa semplice), 4 tickets in one = €3,90. No expiration on the ticket. You can keep this ticket on hand and use it whenever you want.
- Long Ticket (Corsa lunga) valid 3 hours = €1,80
Where you can buy bus tickets
- Centro Studi Turistici,- Viale Gramsci 9a, , 2nd floor, Tel. 0552346211 (around the corner from CSU) or call 0552342857. Here you can buy standard bus tickets or the special "Tourist Ticket," which allows multiple use for multiple days. Discounts available for students under 26 years of age. See Connie for a letter from the school which verifies your student enrollment status.
- ATAF office in front of the main train station
- Ticket machines at main bus stops.
- Tobacco shops (look for the big "T")
- Bars
- Some newspaper stands sell them
Inter-City Buses (Private)
Lazzi Express - 1-5 Piazza Adua, corner of Piazza Stazione. For information and schedules, call 055351061. Ticket office: 055215155
COPIT/ CAP - Largo F.ll Alinari 10, Tel. 055214637 (Corner of Via Nazionale and Piazza Stazione)
SITA - V. S. Caterina DA Siena 15r, Tel. 055214721. Info. Call SITA at 166845010 or 055483651.
Special Airport service to and from the Florence Airport
SITA "Navetta" - this is a special SITA bus that offers service from downtown Florence directly to the Florence airport Peretola. You can catch this "Navetta" at the SITA bus station, which is right across from the Florence main train station, or in front of Bar Cristallo, which is on Via Valfonda, just past Mc Donalds outside of the train station. The bus leaves every 30 minutes, starting at 5,30 through 23,00. For more info. Call ATAF, 800 424500 (toll free).
Trains
For information about discount student tickets and passes, go to the main train station in Florence. Rules and prices fluctuate constantly on the youth discount fares so you need to get information directly at the train station. Train information: call the toll free number: 1478 88088 (hours: 7,00 – 21,00)
Car Rental*
Avis Rent a Car - Via Borgo Ognissanti 128r, Tel. 055213629
Hertz - Via Maso Finiguerra 33r, Tel. 0552398205
Thrifty Italy by Car - via Borgo Ognissanti 134r, Tel. 055287161/055293021
Maxirent Car Rental - Borgo Ognissanti, 155r, Tel. 0552654207
*If renting a car, beware that Italy has some of the world's highest gas prices, above €1.286 per liter (which translates to roughly $7.65USD per gallon).
Car Towed Away?
If you were unlucky enough to have your car towed away (even a rental car), most likely it was taken to the City Deposit (deposito Comunale) located in Via dell' Ormatello. Call 055308249 to check that your car is at the deposit before going there to pick it up and pay the fine due.
To mail a letter weighing 20 grams or less to the U.S.A., you need a stamp of €,65 for standard airmail (14 days). Priority Post is €,80 (5-6 dys) For a letter within Europe, postage is €,45.
Post offices
Via Pietrapiana 53 (nearest to the school)
Piazza Libert‡ 40r
Via Cavour 71
Via Pellicceria (The Central Post Office, right off Piazza Repubblica) - Hours: 8,15 – 19,00., Sat. 8,15 – 12,15
Mail boxes
Mail boxes are painted red and usually have one opening for local mail (per la citta) and one for other destinations (tutte le altre destinazioni). You will see them mounted outside bars, Tabacco shops and post offices throughout the city. Large post offices have special blue boxes for international mail.
Receiving Mail
Given the relatively short amount of time you will be at the AIFS Italy center, we discourage students from receiving mail at the center unless it is urgent. For urgent deliveries, you may have mail or packages sent to the address at the top of the page.
Shipping Home (Air Freight & Other Methods)
UPS with Internet Train - Borgo la Croce 33r, Tel. 0552347852 (60% discount)
Dynamic Freight - Via Ragazzi del '99 n_ 45, Call Graziano Innocenti, Tel. 055414845 or cell: 03483358296
Panalpina - Tel. 0553228330 (ask for Tiziano Galardi)
Mail Boxes, Etc. - Via della Scala 13r, Tel. 055268173 Mailing Services and supplies, packing service, shipping services, some overnight document deliveries, copy service, fax service, mailbox service, money transfer...and much more. Stop by for more complete information.
Internet Train - Via dell' Oriuolo 40r, Tel. 0552638968 UPS or other shipping services available. 5 -Day service door to door, directly to your home. Reasonable prices.
Small Differences
€100,00 is one hundred Euros. €1.000,00 is one thousand. The decimal and comma are inverted in fiscal transactions in Italy.
The 24-hour clock is in use in Europe. Examples of hours and times are written below: Again, note the different use of commas and colons.
10,00 = 10:00 am
13,00 = 1:00pm
20,30 = 8:30pm
1 centimeter = 0.39 inches
1 meter = 3.28 feet
1 kilometer = 0.62 miles
1 gram = 0.035 ounces
1 kilogram = 2.20 pounds
1 milliliter = 0.034 fluid ounces
1 deciliter = 3.38 fluid ounces
1 liter = 0.26 gallons
Electricity and Voltage
Italy has a different voltage than the USA and you need a converter to use your American appliances. DO NOT use your converters with stereos, portable cassette players or radios, or other nice electronic equipment because you will ruin the unit! You need a transformer in order to correct the voltage with such equipment. Use the converter for small appliances such as hairdryers, curling irons, etc. Transformers and converters can be found at any travel store or in the travel section at major retailers.
Other Services
Laundry Center, Self-Service
Ondablu - Via degli Alfani 24/b/r. Open every day 8,00 – 22,00
Toll free info. line 800- 861346
Places of Worship (with Services in English)
American Church in Florence: St. James - Via B. Rucellai 9, Tel. 055294417
Many students enjoy the activities offered by St. James. On Wednesday evenings the church offers family style dinner and conversation. You can meet students from other academic programs in Florence, hear interesting people talk about their Italian experiences and perhaps enjoy music and/or dance. A bible study group (GBU Italia) for students also meets weekly in the basement of St. James, usually Mondays 20,00 – 22,00 (ring office buzzer). For more information call the GBU office at 055211082 or call Tim at 055294786.
Jewish Synagogue: Via Farini, 4 – Tel: 055 245252
Baptist Church: borgo Ognissanti, 4 – Tel: 055 210537
Lutheran Evangelist Church: Via dei Bardi, 20 – Tel: 055 2342775
Santa Maria del Fiore: Duomo Mass in English Saturday 5:00pm
St. Mark's – Church of England: via Maggio 16/18 – Tel: 055 294764
Cinema (w/American Films in English)
Astro Cinema - Piazza San Simone (corner of Via Isola delle Stinche, near Santa Croce). Films in English every evening except Sunday and Monday. Most films are shown at 20,00 and 22,00.
Cinema Fulgor - Via Maso Finiguerra 22R, Tel. 0552381881 Offers films every Thursday.
Goldoni Cinema - Via dei Serragli, Tel. 055222437. Shows from 15,30 – 22,45 every Monday.
Odeon Cinema - Piazza Strozzi, Tel. 055214068. Films in English every Monday.
Spazio Uno - Via del Sole 10. Great student hangout. Three Italian and foreign films are shown every evening. Downstairs: live jazz, music on the weekends.
The Blob Club - International club where English movies are shown every day at 18,30.
Safety
Police Report for Loss or Theft
(Procedure for Denuncia DI Smarrimento)
If your passport, credit cards of other important documents have been lost or stolen, you must report the loss or theft to the local police (Questura). Go to the Questura in Via Zara 2 and ask for the Ufficio Denuncie (theft report office). There will be a police officer there to take the report in English. You should bring ID. with you (whatever you have left). With the "denuncia" in hand, go to the American Consulate for our new passport application or to cancel your credit cards, etc., if necessary.
Prevent Yourself from Becoming a Target
Do not carry your passport with you unless you must have the original for some specific purpose. Make a good photocopy of the pages containing all of your personal data as well as the page which contains your entry visa and carry that with you instead.
Don't carry large quantities of cash or credit cards. For "walking around" you need only €20,00 - €40,00.
While walking around, riding the bus, shopping or sitting at a restaurant do not leave your purse or backpack open and unattended even momentarily. On buses, keep your purse or backpack in front of you and hold on to it. Pickpockets (ladri) are generally very quick and you don't notice anything until you get home and can't find your wallet (and they don't always look like pickpockets either)!
The gypsies (zingari) are also pickpockets by profession and that means that they do it very well even though sometimes their methods are a bit more obvious. If you see a group of two or three children approaching you with a newspaper or blanket draped over their arms, pay attention because they will take anything they can grab. Don't get nervous; just shoo them away.
Places to avoid or to be aware of are not that numerous but are certainly worth noting:
- Piazza Duomo during the day is often busy with gypsies; watch your purses, wallets, cameras and backpacks.
- The Cascine Park at night is a notable hangout for prostitutes, transvestites and drug dealers.
- In the areas of San Frediano, Santo Spirito, Isolotto, Fortezza DA Basso and Piazza dell'Indipendenza at night there is heavy drug dealing.
Whether you are male or female please use common sense when you are out late at night. Common sense says "Why walk alone when you can walk with a friend?" and "Why take that badly-lit street when you can take that well-lit street?"
In an emergency situation call the Police Hotlines: 112 or 113
