Contactless Payment Launched on Buses & Trams

On-board contactless payment has been made available to use on all Florence urban and suburban buses and trams starting in March 2024. Every bus and tram in the Florence metro area now accepts contactless card payment from Mastercard, Visa and American Express cards. The system also accepts smartphone payments through functions such as ApplePay, GooglePay, and SamsungPay. The contactless tickets function similarly to normal bus and tram tickets, costing €1,70 each with Florence [...]

Voter Assistance for Mid-Term Elections

Non-partisan voter assistance is being offered for Americans in Florence wishing to participate from abroad for the midterm elections on Tuesday, October 18 and Thursday, October 20 from 3 – 5 pm at Sotto al British, Lungarno Guicciardini 15.   This service is being provided free of charge by U.S. residents in Florence Gail Cocke and Sarah Baker. Says Gail, “we know it is not easy to understand how to vote from abroad in [...]

Major Changes to Tuscany’s Bus System

ATAF, alongside Tuscany’s other bus companies such as CAP, CTT Nord and Tiemme, will soon become an assimilated subsidiary and with it will come some changes to the transport system. ATAF, Florence’s 76-year old bus company, will now be run by Autolinee Toscana, which is the Tuscan bus branch of the RATP group, a French-based public transport operator. This is the same company that owns Gest spa, which manages the tram system in [...]

Covid-19 Vaccines & ‘Green Passes’ at the Local Pharmacy

The halfway mark has been reached: as of this week, more than half of Italy’s population over 12 have been fully vaccinated. According to official reports, the percentage of fully vaccinated individuals reached 60% on Sunday, August 1. Despite over 68 million doses being administered – 4 million of which were administered in Tuscany – many are still waiting for their second dosage.  Fueled by the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases, health officials [...]

Jan. 7-10: Florence a Yellow Zone, Then Orange

  Regarding restrictions designed to contain Coronavirus contagions, Florence–and all of Italy–will be classified as a yellow zone with revised regulations from Thursday, January 7 to Friday, January 8, then the entire country will move into the orange zone for the weekend of January 9-10.  Health Minister Roberto Speranza will sign a new decree on Friday, January 8 which will assign each region a red, yellow or orange designation; limitations will depend on [...]

Florence a ‘Yellow Zone’, Then ‘Red’ and ‘Orange:’ A Guide

Florence and the entire region of Tuscany will become a “yellow zone” with fewer restrictions in place designed to lessen the number of Coronavirus contagions from Sunday, December 20 to Wednesday, December 23.  Customers can once again enjoy sit-down service at restaurants, bars, cafés, pizzerias, pubs and pastry shops during those four days of comparative freedom.  Restaurants can remain open until 10 pm for take out orders, while deliveries can take place 24/7.  [...]

With the Cashback Rebate, Italy Enters the Credit Card Era

  Beginning January 1, 2020, the Italian government launches an initiative called Cashback offering a 10% reimbursement to citizens on any expense paid electronically in a physical store.  Food, clothing, medical expenses, payments to restaurants and other expenses, with the exception of those made online, up to a maximum of €1500 during a six-month period, resulting in a €150 reimbursement to be credited to consumers’ bank accounts in February 2021.  To be eligible [...]

Florence Continues to Discuss City’s Future

In our previous article about the Future of Florence initiated by La Repubblica Firenze, we asked you, our readers, for your opinions on how the city can adapt post-pandemic. We received a number of responses on the Magenta Florence & Vista Magazine Facebook page, as well as in Foreigners in Florence Facebook group. Majority of the comments revolved around potential projects Florence should take on in order to become a greener, more accessible, [...]

COVID-19: 2020 Driver and Vehicle Guidelines Modified

  Regulations for drivers and vehicles in Tuscany have been eased due to the COVID-19 emergency during much of 2020.  The Official Gazette of the Republic of Italy issued updates stating the new regulations and dates for renewals and insurance premiums. The annual car registration tax (bollo auto) with expiration dates in March, April and May can be paid up to June 30 without the normal penalty charge for lateness. The biennial, the [...]

Florence’s Empty Streets & Survival Guide

The effects of mass tourism on downtown Florence is especially evident in light of the COVID-19 lockdown: significantly fewer permanent residents also thanks to a predominance of private rentals, Airbnbs, residences and hotels. There are less residents out and about even doing grocery shopping in the historic center, those who do so are walking around, masked, for the most part before lunchtime.  Florentines are known to take their dogs out for a walk [...]