Go to the centre by car, the new rules

The entire historic center of Florence (approximately the part located within the 19th century ring-roads or viali, a protected UNESCO heritage site) is a Zona a Traffico Limitato (Ztl) or restricted traffic zone. Special rules govern access to, as well as transit through and parking in, this zone. Bicycles, electric vehicles, motorcycles and scooters are permitted entrance.

The boundaries of the ZTL are well marked. At the access points, special bilingual displays use red or green lights to indicate if access is authorized or not at that time. These access points are controlled by cameras that automatically detect one’s license plate, and fines will be issued to drivers who do not hold a special access pass.

Other than in the ZTL area, transit is always prohibited in the pedestrian zones (see below) and lanes reserved for public transportation. The latter are indicated with yellow lines and writing on the road and a sign that shows a lane reserved for bus/taxi. For a pdf map of the ZTL go to www.comune.firenze.it.

Non residents are prohibited from driving and parking cars within the ZTL at the following times:

Year round: Monday through Friday from 7,30 am to 7,30 pm; Saturdays from 7,30 to 6 pm.

Additional summer night ZTL: from May 21 to September 25, 2011, in addition to the times listed above, access is prohibited also on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11pm to 3am.

Tourists in cars who need to travel within the ZTL to reach their accomodation facilities or a garage can obtain a temporary access permit. In order to obtain it permit, communicate your licence to your (or garage); they will forward it to the appropriate office. A temporary permit is issued for a maximum of 2 hours (for baggage transport purposes) only on arrival and departure dates. For the remainder of one’s stay clients must park their car either outside the ZTL or in a commercial/hotel’s private garage inside the ZTL.