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Popular Local Customs | Other Local Customs Tips | All Tips (146) Everywhere you go in Florence (and Italy) you will see very cute little cars!!
And not only are they cute, they are sensible too - particularly in a city like Florence that has narrow streets and limited parking - the smaller the car the easier your day to day motoring is.
Now, just make sure you don't do too much shopping though....
; )) Leave a Comment |
One of the most common habits in Italy and in Florence too is having brakfast at the bar. Cappuccino (remember Italians never order cappuccino after a meal) and croissant. Here is a list of my favourite bars (in terms of quality of breakfast):
Pasticceria Gualtieri Via Senese 18 r (Porta Romana) 0039 055 221771 Closed on sundays afternoon and Mondays
Giacosa Roberto Cavalli Via della Spada 10r (S. Maria Novella) 0039 055 2776328
Pasticceria Curtatone. Borgo Ognissanti, 167r. 0039 055 210772 (Ognissanti square)
Pasticceria Piccioli B.go Ognissanti 118 r 0039 055 295086 (Ognissanti square) Leave a Comment |
I think only in Florence you can taste a lampredotto sandwich. Lampredotto is the final part of the cow's stomach and has a dark brown colour. I know it sounds not very attractive, but is really one of the most interesting thing to experience in Florence. I started eating lampredotto just a few years ago ( before I thought it was simply disgusting) and I can assure you it's delicious. If you prefer you can ask for a Sbucciato wich is the lampredotto withouth the white skin (which is the fatty part ). The bread is dipped in the broth and the sandwich is served with a hot red chili sauce or a a green parsley sauce. Leave a Comment Other Contact: Roadside stands |
Just a little hint about what to drink in a bar. The first giveaway that someone os a tourist is that they go onto a cafe or bar and order a glass of red wine (imagine the tsk-tsk noise of clucking chickens that people like to make when you are breaking the rules).
In Italy, generally you can drink anything in a bar BUT red wine, you consume it with a meal, not really on its own.
One of the best 'light' drinks to have at aperitivo is a prosecco or spumante, if you like the bubbles but have a sweet tooth than a Moscato might be for you. (For those of you in America over the age of 30, ever hear of Muscatel?)
Why are drinks so expensive in Italy? Italy is not a drinking culture (but the liquor and beer companies are trying to change that and fast) and thus people don't have multiple drinks, so the bar has to get it's money out of a client on 1 or 2 drinks. Also, people don't hang out all night in a bar (although this too is changing)...
Also, don't order complicated drinks, you will generally be disappointed, unless the place caters to that type of clientele. DOn't go into a seedy neighborhood cafe and ask the 90 yr old barman for a fuzzy nipple. (You might get one, but not the one you intended) Leave a Comment |
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When traveling in a country where english is not the main language I try to make an effort to speak the local language. Italian is a beautiful language and it isn't very hard to pick up the basics. I got a phrase book and a CD, which I put on my i-Pod, to help me learn some phrases. And while I was shy about trying to speak the language at first, by the end of my 2 weeks there I was ordering meals and ice-cream (gelato) all in Italian!
So here are some helpful phrases to get you started!
Hello/Goodbye (informal): Ciao
Good Morning: Buongiorno
Good Afternoon/Evening: Buonasera
Good Night: Buonanotte
Yes/No: Si/No
Please: per favore
Thank you: grazie
That's fine: Va bene
How Are You?: Come sta?
Open/Closed: aperto/chiuso
Entrance/Exit: entrata/uscita
Where is...?: Dov'e...?
and...
I didn't understand: non ho capito
Do you speak English?: Parla Inglese? Leave a Comment |
Eating in restaurants - throughout most of Italy not just Florence - is very different (excluding tourist traps) than in the U.S.
Just because you aren't lavished with attention doesn't mean they don't care. Italians tend to be laid back about almost everything (except calcio maybe!). You may wait 5 or even 10 minutes (if it's very busy) for your waiter to arrive. Use this time to pick out an antipasto & wine!
Also, they typically don't check back to see how your food is. They will usually be nearby or pass by though, so if there is an issue just politely flag them down/call them over. Please don't call Waiter! (in any language!) or (heaven forbid) snap your fingers to do so. Usually eye contact and a nod will do, although a friendly "per favore" will do the trick too.
They won't rush you, as dining in Italy is an experience, and it is not unusual to take 2 or 3 hours to dine. When you're ready for the check, you'll need to ask for it. Be sure to ask if the "servizio" is included. While we found that in Florence it usually was (not the same thing as the coperto), in Venice it often wasn't.
Most places are very helpful, just bring a phrasebook with you to be sure you're understood (especially if you have food allergies or sensitivities). Don't be rude and assume they speak your language - at least attempt to speak Italian. Even if you aren't very good at it or only know a little, that little bit will go a long way. Cin Cin! |
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Avoid the two-hour peak-season midday wait by making a telephone reservation. It's easy, slick, and costs only €3 (in addition to the €9.50 admission fee). Dial 055-294-883 during office hours (Mon-Fri 8:30-18:30, Sat 8:30-12:30, closed Sun) at least a day before your visit and ideally at least a few days in advance for a better selection. With the help of an English-speaking operator, you'll get an entry slot (15-min window) and a six-digit confirmation number. Off-season, it can be possible to get a same-day reservation. Using the same phone number, you can reserve in advance for the Accademia, Bargello, Medici Chapels, and Pitti Palace; of these, the Accademia has the worst lines. Leave a Comment Phone: 055 294 883 |
While found in the rest of Italy, the concept of standing at the bar is more the rule in Florence. This is part due to the spatial problem in many Florence cafes and bars, it also has to do a bit with the culture.
Generally most bars and cafes offer two tarrifs for standing and sitting. It is generally NOT worth the 200% markup to sit down, mainly because the service you get is not inline with the price difference.
There are many cafes and bars that do not charge to sit down, I am n0t writing them down here, but just try and pay attention when you are there, they are generally smaller and look like they have seen better days.
It is NEVER worth it to pay 5 Euros for a cappuccino!
Often times, when you are a regular in a bar/caffe, you get out of paying the higher rate, so oft times loyalty does pay off. If you do frequent a place quite a bit and don't notice the service getting better the more you go, you might consider going elsewhere. Leave a Comment |
I only knew about the locks on Ponte vecchio from Virtual tourist. I had read about the lovers attaching the locks and throwing the key into the arno river to forever seal their love. So when I was there I specifically looked for them and I overheard an English speaking tour guide tell her group that it was not an Italian tradition at all but rather an American one. I don't know if that is true or not but I thought it was pretty funny. Leave a Comment |
Locals do not generally tip.
In Florence, we have seen prices almost double in restaurants over the last five years.
If you feel service was good, go ahead and leave something, but NY tipping (20%) is abnormal here - while the server might be pleased, the locals are not.
Why don't people tip? No one ever explains this- the main reason is many places charge a cover or service charge 10-12% + the hated pane/coperto - bread and silverware charge, leftover from the 15th century. In addition, most waitstaff have proper labor contracts and get a nationally sanctioned salary - so they are not working for tips like in the US and increasingly inother countries. So that's why we don't tip - not just because we are cheap (in italian: tirato/a means to be cheap).
Don't tip the cab driver, our taxis are almost the same price as London - they will probably start charging a supplement for breathing! Leave a Comment |
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