5 Free Wi Fi cafes and hotspots in Florence

There are many places in Florence where you can enjoy a Free Wi-Fi. You can see the "WI-FI" sign on the windows of many restaurants and clubs, but you can discover that waiters don't like people sitting at a table for hours... So enjoy my favourite list of Free Wi Fi spots where nobody will look at you with hate if you order only a coffee...

1. BaldoBar, close to Santa Croce square. Via Sangiuseppe, 20/r
   Nice interiors, good coffee, tasty croissants: ask to the weird waiter with curly hair the password and start to browse for free.
2. Hairforce, via Ghibellina, 74/r not far from Santa Croce Square.
   Have your hair brushed (or cut or coloured) while you check your email or update your Facebook status, using one of the 2 iPad available for free for customers.
3. Sweet Wine bar, via di Ripoli, 2 (not in center)
   Enjoy the best glass of wine in Florence and listen to a good selection of music, while you use the free Wi Fi. Attended by florentine people!
4. Biblioteca delle Oblate, via dell'Oriuolo (close to the Duomo, see the picture above!)
   A beautiful public library with a small cafeteria on the top, with a gorgeous view of the Dome of Florence. You can have up to 3 hours a day of Internet connection, but you have to leave your ID card. 
5. 'Ino, via de' Georgofili, close to Ponte Vecchio
   Have a delicious "panino" (sandwiches) and a glass of wine for 7 or 8 euros and surf for free the web in this small stylish spot.

Image credits: http://www.obiettivotre.com

Xmas holidays in Florence: new year's eve dinner and hotel

If you are planning you Christmas holiday in Florence or you are making up your mind where spend the New Year’s Eve in Florence (December 31, 2009) here are some suggestions for your trip.

For the lodging I can suggest you a small, lovely, and very fashionable boutique bed and breakfast in Florence center. There's a small spa with a romantic jacuzzi and a turkish bath available just for the guests.
They offer a special Christmas package:
- tasting the typical italian Xmas dessert “panettone” cake in your romantic room upon arrival, and the warm athmosphere of the candle lit SPA with jacuzzi hydromassage, a bottle of Champagne and red candles. Prices starting from only 145 euros for 1 room (2 people!) Here are more info and the prices>>

And for the night of the 31st of December enjoy the big party just few step away the B&B: new year's eve galà and party in Florence at Palazzo Gaddi.

Chef in Tuscany

Chef in Tuscany!

Lately there's a bit fashion to pay someone to come and cook at home: in short, a chef to prepare dinner for a special event. Knows something the good Arturo Dori who left the Black Cabbage ("Cavolo nero" restaurant in Florence) in order to dedicate himself to this activity.
How does the chef at home?
The chef takes care of all: does the shopping, food preparation, equipment, imbadisce the table, serve food, cleans everything ( I like especially this! ).
A reader writes to tell me a site where you can book just a cook at home (I did not understand if they work in all of Tuscany but I assume that at least in and around Florence is). I read on the site that they do for tourists who book a Tuscan villas.
Interesting ...

The New Meyer paediatric hospital in Florence, a champion of respect for the environment

Last thursday I went to visit the New Meyer, the main paediatric hospital in Florence.

The New Meyer is the first bio climatic hospital in Italy. The whole complex has been planned and constructed with a new concept for the environment, capable of matching together the need to save energy and minimizing the impact of polluting the atmosphere. Both in the recuperation of the antique Villa Ognissanti in Florence, Italy, and the realisation of the new building, hidden in the hills that houses the confinements, eco compatible solutions have been adopted, financed by the European projects Revival and hospitals.

The New Meyer responds to a series of parameters: the reduction of emissions of Carbon Dioxide, protection of summer overheating, ventilation and the best air quality, containment of the use of air conditioning, the best use of natural light. To permit the best use of natural light within the areas of confinement, particular systems have been adopted, such as “Pinocchio’s hats” and “solar tubes”.

Systems that direct sunlight from the sky towards the inside, lighting up every room and every area within, including the day room, the play areas and even the consulting rooms.

Another particularity is the bio climatic photovoltaic “green house” hallway, that acts as an entrance way and a greeting area. A structure built from thin sheets of wood and glass, just like rows of trees. An “inside forest” that matches with the surrounding park. The “green house” hallway uses photovoltaic panels that have the double function of producing electric energy (30.5KW) and to filter natural light.

Thanks to these solutions the New Meyer beats 40% of energy consumption and reduces the emission of carbon dioxide by 35%. Light, sun, greenery at the service of the health of children and adolescents.

And on the roof there is a field!

At the New Meyer, greenery is everywhere, on the terraces and on the roof. A decision that the project managers of CSPE Studio in Florence have made in order to protect the building from heat, ice, rain and ultra violet rays. A carpet of cactus plants (Sedum), that during the summer remove heat from the structure up to a maximum of 4°C. The garden terraces cover a total area of 5,000 square metres. At the New Meyer, the greenery is inside and out. The hospital is surrounded by a 72,000 square metre park, rich in trees and plants originating from the Tuscan region.

The New Meyer is a hospital that for the attention paid to the whole project represents a total innovation in the healthcare sector. There is no area, no small detail that has not been thought of for the children and their families, the most important people of the Paediatric hospital.
It's a hospital for kids, but it's also a place where children can feel comfortable, receiving care, affection and respect, together with medicines and cures. Because children may feel ok also in hospital.

Up on Palazzo Vecchio walls

Visit to "Quartieri Monumentali" with the access to the "Camminamento di Ronda": tour of the ancient patrol walkways with access to the small balcony.
Scheduled every day at 11,30 a.m. - 3,30 p.m.
During the visit to the Quartieri Monumentali, visitors can track down the Medieval past of the Palazzo dei Priori in the present-day rooms. You can reconstruct functions and features of the public and private rooms, by visiting the apartment housing the Priors elected every two months, the chapel where they where used to pray before having a session, their audience hall where they administered justice. The final part is visiting the balcony used by sentries to watch over the environs of the Palace. You can have a special look over Florence from this point of view.
Information and bookings Call centre ph. +39 055 2768224, fax +39 055 2768558
every day from 9.30 am to 5 pm.
info.museoragazzi@comune.fi.it
Open all summer.

Palazzo Vecchio: a guided tour by Vasari

A guided tour by Giorgio Vasari in Palazzo Vecchio.

Scheduled on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 10,00 a.m. - 11,30 a.m. (even during Summer).
The transformation of the medieval Palace into a Renaissance Court was mainly carried out by Giorgio Vasari, “architect and painter of His Serene Highness the Duke Cosimo”, between 1555 and 1574. Giorgio Vasari - author of Lives of the Artists, the first handbook of History of Arts – remembered that “the Duke had a very great desire that the palace, which had been built in a haphazard way in various phases, and more for the convenience of its occupants than in any good order, should be corrected. He wanted me to follow the existing walls and to make new buildings without destroying what was already there...” Who better than Giorgio Vasari can help visitors in understanding the extraordinary commitment he was invested with in creating Cosimo’s Ducal Palace? The explainer-actor who impersonates Giorgio Vasari illustrates to visitors the cultural policy decisions of the Duke and Vasari’s extraordinary skills in quickly realizing sumptous and richly decorated rooms for this Mannerist masterpiece.

see also tour of the secret passages>>
Information and bookings
Call centre ph. +39 055 2768224,
fax +39 055 2768558
every day from 9.30 am to 5 pm.
info.museoragazzi@comune.fi.it
Open all summer.

Tour of the Secret Passages

There are places inside Palazzo Vecchio where time seems to have stood still and where it is easier for today’s visitors to relive the emotions of the past. Since 2000 the Museum has made many of these special places accessible to the public but they can only be visited by small groups accompanied by an expert guide:

The Staircase of the Duke of Athens - that is an escape route built inside the thick walls of the Palazzo between 1343 - that exits from a tiny door in Via della Ninna; the Tesoretto of Cosimo I and the Studiolo of Francesco I, the Trusses of the ceiling of the Salone dei Cinquecento holding up both the roof and the imposing gilded lacunar ceiling of the Salone dei Cinquecento.

Tour of the Secret Passages
Scheduled every day
at 10,00 a.m. - 11,30 a.m. - 3,00 p.m - 4,30 p.m
price: 6 euros.

Information and bookings
Call centre ph. +39 055 2768224,
fax +39 055 2768558
every day from 9.30 am to 5 pm.
info.museoragazzi@comune.fi.it
Open all summer.

Going with your car to the center of Florence?

As every year or better every summer, Florence will have its ZTL, a restricted traffic area controlled by a network of video cameras from may 15th to October 31st 2009 in the following nights:

Thursday and Friday
Friday and Saturday
Saturday and Sunday
From 11pm to 4am

If you want to want more https://ztl.comune.fi.it/tzi/index.jsp
Be careful! Because the fine for violating the limited area is 80 euros!

Hotel in Florence for New Year's Eve

Where to sleep in Florence for New Years’ Eve days...

Following an email wrote by one of my reader, I decided to give you some advises on where to sleep for New Years Eve.

Hotel Giada is close to San Lorenzo where there the famous open and indoor food market is. The hotel is very simple but the owner is a very nice young guy who knows how to treat customers. A double room is around € 130, 00. It is very close to the train station of Santa Maria Novella.

Hotel Columbus, a 3 stars hotel on the homonymous Lungarno (Colombo) is again a very simple one but if you want just to sleep one night and if you are not to pretentious, it has some very good fares.

If you are looking for a long term rental apartment close to Ponte Vecchio, with half board or for a flat in San Lorenzo area...

The alternative is a bed and breakfast: in Viale Don Minzoni there is one that it is not bad.

You can email also the Ostello 7 Santi, near the Stadium. They also have double rooms.

Another Youth Hostel is Youth Hostel 2000 in the San Frediano area, V.le R. Sanzio 16, a double is around € 39,00.

If you want some more news about New Years Eve see these posts…
- low cost dinner in a farm house close to Florence
- restaurants in Florence with special menu for the New Year's Eve
- some ideas to spend the New Year's Eve in Florence

Where is Florence?

Florence is one of the most visited tourist destinations of the world. At least once in a life time, you’d like to take a close look at the David of Michelangelo, or the Venere of Botticelli, or visit the Uffizi Gallery, the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens, the Brunelleschi’s Dome, etc. etc. As a matter of fact, there are few places in the world that have such a huge concentration of monuments and masterpieces in such a small space. But even if Florence is a small town, you still may need some “instructions for use” specially if it’s your first time…

Some of you asked me how close is Florence from Tuscany... or is Florence on the tuscan coast?

Traveling to Florence
Florence is the main town of Tuscany, and it is just at the center of Italy: 300 km south from Milan and 280 north from Rome. That’s way Florence offers easy access: a couple of hours are enough to reach Florence international Airport from all major European hubs, which may also provide comfortable connections from all over the world as well. Florence, owing to its position, has also fast and efficient rail and motorway connections with the rest of the country.

Florence Airport
Florence Airport (Amerigo Vespucci) is served by many domestic and international flights with daily flights. The airport is just 4km north-west of Florence. Public Bus companies SITA ("aerobus") and ATAF run a bus service between the airport and Santa Maria Novella Station.

Traveling by plane to Florence from some of the main European towns:
Amsterdam: 1.50 h.
Barcelona: 1.35 h.
Bruxelles: 1.55 h.
Budapest: 1.30 h.
Frankfurt: 1.30 h.
Geneve: 1.30 h.
Goteborg: 2.25 h.
London: 2.00 h.
Madrid: 2.10 h.
Munich: 1.20 h.
Oslo: 2.50 h.
Paris: 1.55 h.
Praga: 1.30 h.
Stoccarda: 1.20 h.
Tirana: 1.30 h.
Vienna: 2.35 h.

And Italian towns:
Cagliari: 1.05 h.
Catania: 1.35 h.
Milan: 1.00 h.
Palermo: 1.15 h.
Rome: 1.00 h.

Distances by car:
Bologna: km.105
Genova: km.225
Milan: km.300
Naples: km.490
Pisa: km.95
Rome: km.280
Siena: km.70
Torino: km.395
Venice: km. 255

Pisa Airport
Pisa Airport (named Galileo Galilei), has more connections to long distance destinations and it’s not very far from Florence. Pisa Airport (on average) is at a 1.00 hour –1.30 hours by train and even less by car (on the “Strada a Grande Comunicazione Firenze-Pisa-Livorno” toll free) from Florence. There are also shuttle coach services run by private companies (you can buy tickets directly in the Pisa airport). Pisa may be interesting for budget travelers because is served by a great number of budget airlines (such as Ryanair, Easyjet and Thomsonfly).

Railways
Thanks to its central position Florence is connected to the main north-south Italian railway. Frequent services run from Florence's principal station, Stazione Santa Maria Novella, to the other major Italian cities (Rome is less than two hours away and Milan less than three). Next to the Church of Santa Maria Novella, the station puts you directly in the centre of Florence and within walking distance of many hotels. A few services (mostly night-time ones) stop at Campo di Marte, a secondary station to the east of Florence city centre (close to it anyway).
Traveling times by train from main Italian towns:
Bologna: 0.55 h.
Genova: 3.00 h.
Milan: 2.46 h.
Naples: 3.36 h.
Pisa: 0.50 h.
Rome: 1.30 h.
Torino: 4.00 h.
Venice: 3.00 h.

Bus and Coach
Bus and coach services connect Florence to the rest of Tuscany and Italy. Buses stop in various locations close to Stazione Santa Maria Novella. SITA, who run many regional services, have their own bus station (the Autostazione Sita) on Via Santa Caterina da Siena, a few yards from the railway station. Another good company, LAZZI, is just on the other side of the station square and offers several connections to rest of Tuscany (specially western part) and also main Italian and European towns.

Moving in Florence
The city centre is relatively small, and great part of the attractions are in the very center or in nearby areas, thus you can visit great part of the town by foot. But be careful! Don’t forget to watch out for speeding cars and moped traffic, and cross all streets with extreme caution.
Pubblic transportation system is based on ATAF orange buses, they are not very expensive and almost reliable if not comfortable (in rush hours they may be overcrowded). You can buy bus tickets in many shops along the streets (news papers stands, tabaconists, etc.), but after 7.30 pm it may be difficult to find them, while getting the ticket on the bus is more expensive and drivers usually don’t have change!
Taxis (white cabs) are quite expensive but offer a good service and late at night are the only transport service easily available: there is a radio-taxi service that permits you to get a cab whereever you are.

Moving safely
Florence isn’t a dangerous town. Generally speaking the town center is safe also late at night. A couple of suggestions may prove useful: late at night (after midnight) the Santa Maria Novella Station area may be a little dangerous specially for women walking alone. Best suggestions for women alone late at night is not to answer to anybody bothering and keep on moving. If you’ve been drinking to much be sure to have a taxi bringing you home. It’s easy – bar tenders are used to help tourist in difficulty - and less expensive than a lost (or picked) wallet! Be careful on busses specially when they are crowded: there are lots of pickpockets and they are really clever in identifying tourists. Keep purses and wallets under strict surveillance! Don’t be ashamed to ask for help (aiuto in Italian and you pronounce it something like: i-you-to!) if you feel in any danger or difficulty. Italians usually love to be helpful!

Vegetables and fruits in Piazza della Signoria

Saturday, September 6th, from 8 am until 8 pm in Piazza della Signoria the farmers will sell their products. Fruits, vegetables, legumes, jams, marmelades sold directly to customers from local tuscan farmers.

You will find 30 stands, one stand for producer, all the same, painted in cream colour. All these stands are owned by the city council of Florence and they are given to farmers each time there is the Mercatale.
Next markets will be on:
October 4th in Piazza del Carmine,
November 1st in Piazza Santa Croce and on December 6th, the last one, in Piazza del Carmine.
An opportunity to buy fresh fruits and vegetables !

Apartments for rent in Florence

Today I would like to introduce you to a very useful website I found few days ago.

Firenzelodging.it is a service oriented rental agency in Florence: they offer apartments for rent in Florence. As a licensed real estate agency in Florence they offer lodging services for tourists looking for quality short term rentals solutions in apartments, villas, residences as well as for those looking for more traditional mid to long term stays when relocating, living or studying in Florence. Their listings of properties are reviewed and certified by their staff to help you find what better suits your needs at the more suitable price for your budget. They target clients needing a solid and reliable service mixing the help of technology with more traditional service oriented efforts to make you feel safe and comfortable while searching, booking and then enjoying your time and your life in Florence.

Florence museums: summer evening opening

From 1 July to 30 September 2008 the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery will extend the current opening hours up to 22.00 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

On 1 August 2008 from 8.30 to 9.30 and from 18.00 to 19.00, following a meeting of the personnel, the Accademia Gallery, the Museum of San Marco, the Museum of the Medici Chapels, the Cenacolo of Sant'Apollonia and the Cloister of the Scalzo, may be closed.
Closed Monday, New Year’s Day, May 1st, Christmas Day.

Boat tour on the Arno river: under the Ponte Vecchio!

It was so exciting, guys!

Last week I reserved the boat tour on the Arno river organized by the Genio Fiorentino. It was fascinating seeing Florence from the river! Passing under the Ponte Vecchio! Katia, a friend of mine, told me it was fantastic and surely it was.

It is a little bit scaring at the beginning because the boat is not stable at all and it is an inch from the water; you stare at the barcaiolo, the boater you start to think "he will fall into the water” instead he drives the long stick, the pertica, and you go…
The Uffizi, underneath the Ponte Vecchio (there’s the echo!) and then under Ponte alla Carraia. You see all the noble Palaces, hotels with lucky tourists leaning out from their room terraces, people sitting on the restaurants along the Arno river…

We did the boat tour with a guide who explained us many things on Florence such as the Capricorn on the Ponte alla Carraia; the Capricorn was the zodiac ascendant of Cosimo de’ Medici
who in this way he felt like the Roman Emperor Augusto, then the ability of Vasari when he built palaces and also the nicknames the Florentines gave to Friars…
Everything was so amazing! They told me that the boat tour will take place also during the Summer and I highly recommend ! This tour is very romantic, too!
This is the website of the "renaioli": a tour for 6 people costs about 12 euros each. For special occations could cost more...

I did also a video, you can watch it on Youtube>>

Right after the tour my friend and I had a nice ice cream at the Gelateria de’ Neri, in via de’ Neri then we strolled around the city centre listening to unauthorized singers, the temperature was so pleasant and so on…
I adore Florence in May.

Cheap places to eat in Florence and other useful info

I've received this email a couple of days ago:

Greetings!
My wife and I were married in December and have been dreaming about a honeymoon for months! We have both been to Florence in the past and have wanted to return. It looks like this might actually happen sometime toward the beginning of September. But we are a bit nervous about the dollars sinking value around the world and are wondering if we can afford a week in Florence. We recently found some great airfare possibilities and a lovely B&B outside of Firenze that might make it feasible. But we are wondering if you could be so kind as to give us some insight into the daily expenses…mid-day meal with drinks, museums, bus fares, etc. Can two quiet, non-intrusive Americans enjoy your city without a lot of major expenses? Also what are the best way to buy affordable museum passes? The history, architecture, art will draw most of our attention. And we are looking forward to spending some time among the lovely people of Firenze! If you can help with any of this we would be very grateful. I have just discovered you website and am enjoying that very much too! Regards, Joe

Well, Joe, it's not easy to find cheap good places to eat in Florence but it's not impossible! I will try to help you :)

First rule: if you move away from the center you can find some places that are not so expensive. Near the B&B (I don't know where is your accommodation) probably you can find some supermarkets ("coop" or "esselunga") in those stores you can buy bread and "prosciutto" to make some panini, but you can also buy hot dishes to eat.
Some cheap areas of Florence are Rifredi and Galluzzo. In Rifredi you can have lunch in several bars for less than 10 euro for lunch. There's also a nice pizzeria with lunch special price: "Pit stop" at Via Corridoni. You can reach Piazza Dalmazia with the train from S.M Novella central station and get off at Firenze Rifredi, with your bus ticket!
- bus fares in Florence:
One ticket costs 1,20 euro. It's valid for 1 hour and 10 minutes or for one bus ride. You can also buy the "one day ticket" that costs 5 euro (for 3 days costs 12 euro). But consider that Florence is so small that probably you don't need the bus, you can walk!

- museums:
Uffizi gallery: tickets cost 6.50 euro, but you I strongly recommend you to make a reservation. If you buy tickets of museums online, it will cost more, but you will avoid the long queue (even 2 hours!).
Accademia Gallery: tickets cost 6.50 euro, and it's the same thing of the Uffizi Gallery: if you don't have a reservation you can spend hours waiting outside...
Note that when a special exhibition is held in the Museum, the price of the ticket may be increased. I dont' think it exists any museums pass.
I suggest you to visit also the Garden of Boboli (6 euro) in combination with the Bardini Garden. Lovely place, the typical italian garden. Sometimes there's a free electric bus (with the name "FB") that takes you up to hill where the Bardini Garden and Villa Bardini are.
From there you can walk to Forte Belvedere, the magnificient fortress from where you have a breathless panorama of Florence. If it's open (they close the Forte very often) the access is free!

- cheap food in Florence
You can have a very cheap "dinner" with the italian "aperitivo": florentines are used to eat a lot for the happy hour and you pay only the drink. So you can eat for less than 10 euros!
Here are some cheap places where you eat (good food):
Bar Serafini, via Gioberti. Pasta, vegetables, pizza, finger food... for 5 or 6 euros! If you love quality. It closes at 8 pm.
Kitsch, via Gramsci. Pasta, salades, ham, cheese, fruits... for 7 or 8 euros. If you love quantity. A little bit crowded and noisy.
Negroni, via de' Renai. A little selection of pasta and "crostini". Glamouros place. 7-8 euros.
Rifrullo, via San Niccolò. A good selection of ham and cheese, more some other finger food. 7 euros, if you are still hungry you can eat a normal meal there. Good wine.
At Rifrullo I really recommend you the Sunday brunch: from 12 to 3.30 pm eat as much as you can, get free wi-fi and spend only 20 euros. From breakfast (cappuccino, jam, cornflakes, orange juice) to italian lunch (pasta, beef, vegetables, rice, fish, dessert) only 20 euros! and you can eat in the garden besides the ancient walls by Michelangelo... (see the pictures here)
In front of Rifrullo there's a little place called ZEB: you can eat very cheap food (beef, soups, pappa al pomodoro, lasagne) homely cooked. Try it!
I could spend hours of suggestions... I have to say: Florence is expensive but you can spend a lot less if you pay attention to prices and avoid places in the center. If you want a restaurant go to San Frediano or San Lorenzo, avoid the streets around Piazza Repubblica, Piazza Signoria, Ponte Vecchio.
This is a good restaurant near the station: I' Toscano. Ask of Camilla and tell her that you have read the review on the blog of Nelli. She will make you a little discount, she's one of my readers!

If you have other questions, please do ask..

Labour day in Italy

I've just received this email:

Hi! We're two Belgians just about to visit Florence for the first time & very much looking forward to it!! For some reason I keep ending up on your blog pages :-) and I must say I find them very interesting! But there is a subject I am so anxious to hear about that I'll just write you to see if you will do a blog on it as well, and when it may appear: The first of May we have Labour day coinciding with Ascension day!! To believe all info I find on the internet, everything is closed and the city is as dead on this day. (?) I'm not buying this however :-) There must be some feasting and/or events and/or processions or something that must be well known to anyone within Florence except the silly tourists ;-) There must be something going on on a festive day like that? So I'm holding my breath for your blog on this :-) so we may perhaps join in the fun!! Greetz, Saskia & Peter

First of all, thanks for writing to me. Well.. I have to say that also in Italy we do have Labour day on the 1st of May and.. everthing is closed! As you say: the city is dead!

I'm sorry. In Florence even the public bus transportation (ATAF) doesn't work on the first of May.

I don't know if there are any events or celebrations on that day. Normally florentine go to the seaside during the spring break (we have a long holiday from 25th of April until the 4th of May). But you can enjoy the city, the exhibitions, (museums are often closed), the gardens.
You can visit:
- the China exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi.
ART the International Handicraft fair at Fortezza da Basso. A shop-window of innovating ideas and projects for professionals working in this field, and for consumers, whose tastes and needs are continuously changing. It's a trade show, with over 700 exhibitors. From April 25 till 4 May, 2008 at Fortezza da Basso. Access: open to public, tickets are sold at the entrance. Admission ticket € 5.00. Timing: 10.00 - 23.00 More info>>

- the Fattori exhibition

Not far from Fattori show (check if it's open) you can admire the beautiful panorama of Florence from Forte Belvedere.

Summer Limited traffic area (ZTL) in Florence

From April 3rd until October 31st 2008 there will be the Florence Summer night ZTL, like every year. Here below you can find all the details about it and please take particular attention because it is a little bit complicated.

Two ZTL (the so-called Cinderella one and the super ZTL):
-The “external” one closed for non-resident from midnight until 4am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Motor scooter and authorized can circulate.
-The “inside” one (Santa Croce, Via della Pergola, Via Ghibellina, via de’ Fossi, Piazza Ghiberti, Borgo la croce, Piazza dell’Unità and so on…) closed to all from 11pm to 4am on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In other words all the above mentioned streets will be closed to traffic , even motor scooter, and the area will be only for pedestrian (people with a regular resident permission can enter by car). There will be no mobile signs but video camera in function.

There will be therefore a night "train": a gold and white little train with 60 seats running every 20 min. which connects the 4 parking (Parterre, Beccaria, Murate and Ghiberti) where the parking will cost only € 0,50 per hour. The train will run from Thursday to Saturday and it's completely FREE.
So be careful if you enter the historic city centre by car because the video camera will catch and fine the drivers who don't respect the ZTL.