General 2 — R & C

Traveling in Italy

Airports near San Galgano and Tuscany:
Rome (FCO) Transportation will be provided to the wedding location - RECOMMENDED 
Florence (FLR) 1hr 15mins drive to venue 
Pisa (PSA) 2hr drive to venue 
Bologna International (BLQ) 2hr drive to venue
We recommend using the app TripMasters to search/book flights, hotels and transportation. The app will also allow you to coordinate travel to multiple cites while in Europe. If renting a car, we recommend doing this at the airport for ease.  
Italian Airport Guide Here

There are lots of options for getting around. Walking around the cities is easy and pretty safe. This will allow you to take in sites like a local and at your own pace. 
Buses are a lot cleaner than in the US and a good option to move around cities like Roma and Milan with daily passes ranging from €2 to €5. 
Uber is now available in most European cities including Italy using your current account. 
Trains are the favored way to get from city to city. If you plan to go to Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan or even south to Naples for the day, taking a train is fast, scenic and really economical.
Purchase tickets ahead or at the Italia Rail station with average costs as low as €31 from Florence to Milan (2hr).
Travel by Train Guide Here

Ensure your passport is not expiring close to the travel date - they recommend 6 months validly.
If you have Global Entry, remember that this is not recognized in Europe - plan to go through immigration, but you will be able to skip the line on the US side. 
Visit the US Travel Department site or call the US Embassy +1-202-501-4444 for Emergencies, Travel Advisories, US Embassy Locations overseas and Local Law details.
Exchanging money is easy to do at any European airport upon arrival and exchange centers throughout European cities.
If you’d like to exchange before traveling, contact your bank or Credit Union to ensure they have enough currency on hand. 
Unfortunately, the Dollar has not been as strong as the Euro for the past 10 years.   1 USD = 0.9222 EUR and 1 EUR = 1.0844 USD - this rate will fluctuate, be sure to check ahead of traveling.
 Be mindful that there are fees associated with exchanging money - using credits cards can alleviate some of those charges

Roma, as said by locals, is the Eternal City, with most scholars marking 753 BC as the founding date of one of the most popular cities in the world.
While some believe Rome has existed for over 5000 years, they call it the Eternal City because ancient Romans believed that no matter what happened in the world, or how many empires rose and fell, that Rome would go on forever.
Be sure to put on your walking shoes and navigate through ancient history, architecture and art.
Don’t Miss:
1.Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill - all in the same area so you can visit them all in a day. Hire a tour guide to learn all about the historical sites
2.Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums - buy timed tickets in advance. Night tours are great to help with lines and congestion
3.Trevi Fountain - people believe if you toss a coin in the fountain you will return to Rome. This area is also great for dining and to do to designer shopping
4.Pantheon - visit this architectural wonder, the worlds largest unreinforced concrete dome
5.Mangiare (EAT) - when in Rome don’t order a latte after noon and eat all the things! Meals are not rushed in Europe so don’t be alarmed if no one bothers you about settling the check. Relax, do some people watching and enjoy multiple courses of dining delights

Firenze is the proper name for the city of lurvve and the capital of the Tuscan region.
The birthplace of the art and architectural Renaissance, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Dante and Leonardo da Vinci all called Firenze their creative home due in part to backing from some of the wealthiest investors in all of Italy during that time.
Don’t Miss:
1.Duomo, Cathedral of Saint Mary - climb to the top for breath-taking views from the highest point in Firenze
2.Uffizi Gallery and Galleria dell’Accademia - the homes to world renowned art like The Birth of Venus and David
3.Wine Windows, Vivoli Gelato and Romualdo Rizzuti’s La Pizza - get back to old traditions with Neapolitan style pizza and a glass of wine served through one of 150 wine holes found in the city. Don’t forget to get a gelato, it originated in Firenze
4.Mercato Centrale (Central Market) - think of the ultimate Reading Terminal market times 10! They offer everything from wine, fish, cheese, fresh pasta and Florentine meat, pizza, dumplings, truffle bars and dessert. Grab a casual lunch or dinner here with the locals
5.Leather Market and Shops - with surrounding land to raise cattle and the Arno river providing water needed for the tanning process, the Florentine Renaissance was not just famous for art, but for its leatherwork. Follow the smell of leather to find high-end shops and street markets specializing in handmade, artisanal leather

Tuscany is one of the most prosperous agricultural regions in Italy. This is why it’s known for growing olives, producing olive oil and rolling vineyards and wine production.
This central region of Italy is where the official Italian language spoken today is based.
Tuscany is also the birthplace of the very first operas and Pinocchio.
Don’t Miss:
1.Visit Chianti - well-known for it’s rolling hills and wineries. Enjoy a country-side drive and spend a day visiting wineries and castles
2.Celebrity watching - many notables call this region home because they can move freely like locals
3.Visit Pisa - the Leaning Tower of Pisa leans because it was built on unstable marshland and it weighs almost 15,000 tones
4.Visit Siena - built in the 1200s, you instantly get transported back to medieval times, rich in art and culture, with dining fit for any foodie
5.Hot Springs - Spa towns like Montecatini Terme and Saturnia are known for mineral-rich waters with healing properties. Waters have been naturally heated by underground volcanic activity since the 16th century