The city of Florence offers many ways for tourists and locals to get around the city without using a car. My favorite mode of transportation is my own two feet -- I love getting exercise, seeing other people walking around me, and some of the streets here are so old and narrow that there's no way a bus could fit! In this field note, I'll tell you about the ways people can navigate Florence.
Locally, people can use taxis, trams, buses, and trains. I live a quick walk from the main train station of Florence, Santa Maria Novella, which acts as a hub for trains from around the region and country. Florence is part of Italy's high speed rail network, which means I can get to Rome in about an hour and a half, instead of three and a half hours on a normal train! Locally, people use buses and trams, which take the same tickets.
Since I grew up in a rural part of the United States, I never thought that I would live somewhere in which most people don't have a car. I've really liked using public transportation because it is convienent, easy, cheap, and a new way to explore the city.
