Florence is indisputably the most famous Tuscan city. Every year millions of people arrive in the “cradle of the Renaissance”, visit the museums of the city, stroll through its streets admiring monuments, churches, palaces and places of interest.

Closed within a circle of medieval walls, Florence is divided into four districts: Santa Maria Novella, San Giovanni, Santa Croce and Santo Spirito.

In the Santa Maria Novella district, don’t miss the church with the same name: started in 1246 for the monks of the Dominican order, it was finished in 1360. The Roman-Gothic façade in white and green marble is the work of Leon Battista Alberti. Inside are splendid masterpieces by Masaccio, Filippino Lippi and Ghirlandaio, Giotto’s crucifix and Brunelleschi’s wooden crucifix.

The religious centre is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, built in a gothic style on a design by Arnolfo di Cambio over the ancient basilica Santa Reparata. Brunelleschi enriched the cathedral with its elegant cupola, which is entirely covered with frescoes on the inside and is one of the city’s famous symbols. On the right side of the Cathedral, the square bell tower designed by Giotto is covered white, green and red marble.

In front of the Cathedral, the Baptistery of St. John (1128) is a masterpiece of Florentine Romanesque style covered in white and green marble with splendid bronze doors by Andrea Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti. Another outstanding church in Florence is Santa Croce by Arnolfo di Cambio, which is famous for its frescoes by Giotto and the tombs of many illustrious Italians.

Piazza della Signoria has been the centre of civil and political life since medieval times: this vast and solemn square is dominated by Palazzo Vecchio with a monumental statue of Michelangelo’s David in front of it. Palazzo Vecchio was originally known as Palazzo dei Priori, and in the fifteenth century it became Palazzo della Signoria. Later it became the Medici family home and during the time that Florence was the capital of Italy, at the beginning of Italian unification, it hosted the parliament. Since 1872 it has been the municipal building.

Which side of the road?
In Italy, please drive on the right side of the road.

Country driving laws

• Mobile phones may only be used with a hands-free device
• Use the outside lane to overtake on motorways and dual carriageways
• There are historical areas in which you cannot drive. Look out for “Zona traffico limitato ”

• Dipped headlights must be used in poor daylight visibility when driving on motorways, dual carriageways, and rural roads
• Do not use the horn in a built up area unless in danger

Speed limits

All speed signs will be in km/h.

For a standard Avis rental vehicle with no trailers:

• Urban roads: 50 km/h (31 mph)
• Secondary extra-urban roads: 90 km/h (56 mph)
• Motorways: 130 km/h (80 mph)

• Urban highways: 70 km/h (44 mph)
• Main extra-urban roads (Expressways): 110 km/h (68 mph)

Unless indicated by road signs.

Be aware of changes to speed limits displayed on road signs due to adverse weather conditions.

Child safety / Seatbelt laws

• It is compulsory for the driver and all passengers to wear a seatbelt
• Children weighing up to 9 kg must be seated in a rear-facing child restraint, in the back of the car only

• Children aged under 12 and less than 150 cm tall must be seated in an appropriate child restraint for their size

Please note - It is the child’s parent/guardian or vehicle renter’s responsibility to fit the child seat.

This road rules information is for provided for general guidance only. We endeavour to keep the information up to date and accurate, but any reliance you place on this information is at your own risk.

Limited Traffic Zone

The historic centre of Florence is a "Zona a traffico Limitato" or Limited Traffic Zone. It not accessible to vehicles from Monday to Friday from 7.30 am to 7.30 pm and Saturday from 7.30 am to 6.00 pm.

The timetable is susceptible to extensive changes in some periods of the year. Our office and the adjacent garage in which to park our cars are located in Via Borgognissanti 96, outside the restricted traffic area. Our customers can return the car without entering the ZTL from three different directions:
 

• Ponte Vespucci arriving from the South (Siena);
• via Santa Caterina da Siena and Via dell'Albero coming from the Central Station of Santa Maria Novella.

• via Il Prato arriving from the North and North West (Pisa and Lucca);

If you want to learn more about driving in Florence, see the full Italy Road Rules guide.

A short trip in your Florence hire car can provide an initial impression of the city, but to fully appreciate the area it is recommended to take your Avis car rental into the countryside surrounding Florence.

Tuscany, a geographically diverse region, composed of hills, plains, mountain massifs, islands and the sea, offers a very rich territory of traditions and culture.

Driving around Tuscany is a perfect way to savour the atmosphere of a unique land, with a strong identity, which attracts tourists from all over the world.

The best way to get around by car is to avoid highways, but enjoy the scenery on country and provincial roads. The main ones are the FI-PI-LI (which connects Florence, Pisa, Livorno), the SS2 (road with 2 lanes) and the Florence-Siena (road with 4 lanes, which continues even after Siena).

What is Florence known for?

The beautiful city of Florence (Firenze) is known for being the birthplace of the Renaissance, and it has a huge wealth of cultural riches, from iconic artworks to breathtaking churches and other impressive architecture. Its extravagant aesthetic dates back to its being a major trade hub in medieval times, and the entire city has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It was named the most beautiful city in the world back in 2010, and it attracts visitors from around the globe.

In which region of Italy is Florence located?

Florence is the capital city of Tuscany, an important financial and cultural region in the centre of Italy. The river Arno runs through the city, and it’s nestled in amongst a large number of hills.

What is the best car to hire in Florence?

If you are staying in the city centre, you may feel more comfortable in a compact model that will be easy to park. Heading out of the city on a longer trip into the Tuscan countryside? Consider a snazzy convertible from our Prestige range or give your family a comfortable ride in an SUV or family-sized saloon.

How old do you have to be to hire a car in Florence?

To rent a car in Italy the minimum age is 19. Age limit is restricted to certain vehicle types, and there is a young driver surcharge fee for most vehicles.

What do you need to shift? Our van rental fleet spans small hire vans, perfect for that weekend DIY project; medium vans, well suited to hauling rolls of carpet, heavy floor tiles, or moving the kids to university; and large vans to accommodate some or all of your worldly goods.