Parking in Florence Tuscany
Parking and movement, or as it is called in Italian "viabilità", in the city of Florence is a tender bone of contention for those that live in the city. In fact, the letters column of the local newspaper, La Nazione, usually feature some outburst from a discontent resident that has suffered at the hands of the viabilità. That's even without going near the state of the roads themselves.
The true story of the resident that kept of going around the block in their car to find a parking space and in so doing, passed a toll camera (such as found in London) which clocked up a fine at every passage to a total of many thousands of euros, will be told in 100 years time in this part of the World. Other claims of linkage between local council officials and Firenze Parcheggi board members leaves a salty taste in the mouths of most Florentine residents. But by equal token Transport for London are not friends of London residents, so perhaps its all part and parcel of the relationship forged between citizens and their local authorities.
Parking Advice
If you're coming to Florence, it's best not to bring a car unless a) your hotel is outside of the historical centre and there is free parking or b) you are planning to go into the Tuscan countryside. Hotels in the centre have been known to charge from €30.00 upwards per day to house your car. On average, you can expect to pay up to €18.00 per day if you put your car in one of the managed car parks (see map below), and anything from €1.00 up to €3.00 per hour for shorter stays.
If you want to park freely in paid meters then spaces marked in blue are for pay and display tickets, while the white spaces are for residents. There are no meters as found in the UK. The going rate is €1,00 for the first hour and then an increase for subsequent hours.
Pulizia della strada
Lastly once, twice or thrice a month all the roads in Florence are cleaned. Cars found on the road when the cleaners pass will be clamped or towed away. Therefore wherever you park, look our for the signs along the road which will display a little icon of a cleaning lorry, a time and then a number such as "1 e 3". In this case it would indicate that the cleaning takes place on the first and third week of the month, followed by the day (Lun, Mar, Mer, Gio, Ven, Sab, Dom - days of the week mon/sun).
For example the picture here (to the right) shows cleaning Monday to Friday from 2100 -0400 in the morning. Don't get caught out!
