VIA BENEDETTO FORTINI
CONTENTS
No. 41 Via Benedetto Fortini is a compact first-floor flat, suitable for up to three persons, in a two-storied 18th century building situated at the top of one of the surrounding hills on the south side of Florence and ten minutes bicycle ride from the Ponte Vecchio and the City centre and the hill-top basilica of San Miniato al Monte with its incomparable view over Florence. Our flat is an eminently suitable base to visit this wonderful region and is both in a delightful rural setting and near the main sights.
PLANE
(1.30 hour flight). There are frequent flight from Gatwick and Stanstead to the airports at Bologna and Pisa from whence it is an hour's train journey to Florence. At extra cost you may fly direct to Florence's own airport, Peretola, only 15 minutes from the city centre.
Arriving at the main line station you may either take a taxi:
This should not cost more than LIT 30,000.
or a bus:
Take one at the stand to the left of the station to Piazza Ferrucci (normally no. 39). Then catch the little no 41 bus. Ask the driver/conductor to be let down at Colle de Moccoli. Get your tickets beforehand at a newsagent or tobacconist. Tickets not sold on board.)
TRAIN
Eurostar to Florence from Waterloo. (Change at Paris). (18 hour journey)
BUS
Eurolines from Victoria coach station (24-hour journey)
MOTORCYCLE
The best way to get there and definitely THE way to get about the twisting Tuscan hill roads. You will immediately notice the much greater courtesy shown to motorcyclist on the continent as compared to the UK.
CAR
A good way to get there if you have children. But remember, you won't be able to use your car to sightsee round Florence and if you're arriving in summer without an air-conditioned car you will melt! There is on-street parking available outside our flat.
Open the main entrance door. Then go up the stairs and open the door of our flat, which is on the first floor to the left, using the other keys.
All flat services are switched off prior to departure. To avoid liability you MUST switch them off too. To switch them on carry out the following
GAS
Take fat Allen key in bottom drawer of kitchen set of drawers
Go outside main entrance door and locate gas meter, which is the box on the top right to the left of the door.
Open the box and turn the gas lever on top of the meter so that it is vertical
Go back to the kitchen and turn the gas valve under the sink in an anti-clockwise direction.
Prior to your departure repeat the above instructions in reverse and converse order
WATER
Locate water meter box on lower right of main entrance door and open it (no key needed).
Turn small cockstop with red top at bottom left of box in an anti-clockwise direction.
Return to house and switch off all running water taps (they must be left open prior to your departure)
Prior to your departure repeat the above instructions in reverse and converse order
ELECTRICITY
Locate fuse box to the left of the flat door at the top of the inside wall.
Press green switch
NB if the electricity should ever fail during your stay ensure that the fuse-box has not tripped by pressing the green button again.
Prior to your departure repeat the above instructions in reverse and converse order.
ENTRANCE HALL
A little entrance hall where the fuse box, coat hangers and a small table and chair are situated.
KITCHEN
A small kitchen with fridge, cooker, blender, toaster etc. Further plates and cutlery may be found in the drawers of the cupboard in the living room.
BATHROOM
A small bathroom with bath/shower. To obtain hot water switch on the switch to the right of the boiler so that the red band appears. Leave one hour for the water to heat up. Don't switch on before one hour after switching water on when you arrive. (Don't forget to switch it off afterwards!)
LIVING ROOM
A reasonably sized (17' X 17') room with balcony, television, hi-fi, fan, battery charger, adapter, mosquito repeller and PCW computer (good for word-processing ASCII files if you've forgotten to bring your laptop). Furniture includes a settee, which can be turned into an emergency bed, table, four chairs and desk.
BIG BEDROOM
This has a double bed and cupboard (which are actually filled with our clothes). You are expected to provide your own linen. If you use our linen you must have it cleaned prior to the end of your stay. A HOOVER is kept on the bottom shelf in the big cupboard.
SMALL BEDROOM.
This has a single bed. There is also a bookcase and chest of drawers (filled with our clothes).
Florence has to be one of the high spots of anyone's pilgrimage in search of art and beauty. For instance, there are more listed buildings within four miles radius of our flat than in the whole of the British Isles!
The highly convenient location of our flat also means that you can reach the following places in less than one hour!
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The seaside at Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi etc. |
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Fiesole. Florence's own balcony onto itself. |
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Siena, our favourite city of all time |
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Chianti (shire) |
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Arrezzo (Don't miss the Saracen jousting in September) |
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La Verna. The place where St Francis received his stigmata. Excellent for spiritual renewal. |
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Certaldo. Boccaccio's birthplace. |
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San Gimignano. The mediaeval prototype for New York |
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Lucca. The city where Stendhal declared the world's happiest citizens live. |
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Pisa. Get there before the tower finally falls! |
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Cortona. Italy's oldest town. Highly recommended. |
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Vallombrosa. (Milton stayed here). Excellent for cooling down under its pine forests in summer. |
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Etc. etc. |
A list of guidebooks placed on the top shelf of the bookcase in the small bedroom will help you plan your itineraries.
Best guide book: Rough Guide to Tuscany and Umbria.
TREKKING
Often overlooked by the tourist piazza hordes is the fact that Florence and its area contains some of the best walking country in Italy. You could, in fact, start trekking from our front door and find yourself instantly in beautiful olive groves, vineyards and wonderful beech and ilex forests. Check out a footpath map, (some on the top shelf in the small bedroom.) For the more adventurous, the Apuan Alps, the most rugged of all Apennines ranges and with rock-climbing on a par with the best of the Alps are within one hour's car journey!
Visiting Florence in August is asking for trouble. Because of its inner valley position it just happens to be the hottest city in Italy! To avoid dying of heat exhaustion plan your visit on either side of this month.
Aim to sightsee between 8 and 12 and again between 16 and 20. In this way you'll avoid the worse of the heat, closed museums and the crowds.
Don't even think of bringing a car into Florence town-centre! (Private cars are banned there, anyway) The best way to see Florence is by bicycle and on foot.
Beware of foreign gypsies and other beggars. They are excellent pickpockets! Don't leave your bags unattended! (We know).
Remember Florence is not just a city: it's a whole area. Some of the most beautiful sights of lie in the heart of the Tuscan countryside. Aim to spend at least half your time visiting these (E.g. San Gimignano, La Verna, Vallombrosa etc.)
There is a large Esselunga supermarket at the junction of Via Giannotti and Via Erbosa at the end Via Del Paradiso, which descends from our flat. NB Italy still respects its Sundays and shop assistants. Don't expect to find any food shops open on Sundays or after 19:30.
We always leave the flat fully checked for any shortcomings etc. If you have any reason for complaining during your stay then you must contact us on 0208 855 2741. ) WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE COMPLAINT. Any complaint received outside this time-period cannot, regrettably, be considered.
(International dialing doe to UK from Italy 0044, leave out first 0 of area code. There is NO phone in the flat. Check your mobile to see if it Italy-compatible.
Have you left the flat as you found it and cleaned it prior to your departure? Remember that another holidaymaker will arrive after your departure.
Have you left nothing behind?
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Have you switched off? | ||||||
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Closed all windows including external shutters? | ||||||
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Firmly locked front door? |
Hoping you enjoy a lovely holiday in this most lovely of places
