We took Trenitalia from Rome to Florence and back, and I'm kind of baffled by the 2-star Yelp…read moreaverage. I guess we rode the Frecciarossa, the fastest and likely best train in the system, but we had an easy 5-star experience. The Frecciarossa--Italian for "red arrow"--is one of Trenitalia's long-distance high-speed trains, with a maximum speed of 190 miles per hour. It takes about three hours to drive between Rome and Florence. The Frecciarossa covers that ground in an hour and a half. We booked our tickets a couple weeks in advance, buying Super Economy Business tickets for €34.90 apiece (including a €2 charge for seat selection). Super Economy Business sounds like an oxymoron, but Super Economy just means you can't change your plans and get a refund. If you're a tourist who can commit to a schedule, Super Economy is probably the way to go. I don't know what the standard coaches were like, but our seats were quite clean and comfortable. The trains ran on schedule, and the rides were smooth and painless. I think I fell asleep both ways. For all I know, Trenitalia's lesser trains are all garbage, but I can't complain about the sleek red Frecciarossa. If you're traveling around Italy, high-speed rail seems like the way to go.

Depends on what train you get. They are old and outdated, the staff is rude and 1st class was…read moreterrible(I can only imagine what coach was like). The trains are dirty, the bathroom is disgusting, and you see the worst side of Italians on the train.

I was very confused at first on WHY there is no central office for these legal/identification…read morerelated affairs (bad DMV habit, perhaps?) but then I appreciated the way things work around here. There's a tiny little office for errrthing! Which may just involve making you go for a walk around town if you don't speak Italian, don't know what documents to file, have no idea what office you should be going to, or just have no idea about anything including who you are. Fortunately, as an Italian citizen everything has been smooth for me but I know at first it can all be confusing if you're not familiar with what each office within this big round building does: Cubo 1: is for all the demographic services and you can get your Carta D'identita, aka your ID. Here no appointment is necessary and you will get your number no problem but the wait might be long. Cubo 4: is for anagrafe services, change of address, residency, marriage stuff, etc. but it's by appointment only. Call 055 055 to make one. (If you're here on a Permesso di Soggiorno you may have to go to the Immigration office in Pietrapiana and make an appointment thru their system). In another "cubo" on the back you'll also find the city's office of public relations. Within this mini-piazza, on the right, there's also the states employment office. If you need to do electoral (voting) services or get in the AIRE (anagrafe for italian citizens with residency abroad) the cubo 2 office has moved to Viale Guidoni, 174. And some extra info to make you even more confused, in case you don't know what's going on: The immigration office (and ufficio postale) is on Pietrapiana, 53. They don't deal with immigration issues in the Comune. The Questura, where you get your Italian passport or pick up your Permesso di Soggiorno is on Via della Fortezza, 17. My head is exploding just from listing this information. May the force be with you.

25th Wedding Anniversary trip alert (European vacation)…read more.. The Uffizi Gallery is housed in a long, elegant structure designed in the 16th century by Giorgio Vasari for the powerful Medici family, the gallery retains an air of purpose and grandeur, its corridors opening toward views of the Arno River and the city's historic skyline. The Uffizi collection is widely considered one of the finest in the world, particularly for Italian Renaissance painting, and includes works by masters such as Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Iconic paintings like Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Primavera feel both familiar and astonishing when encountered in person. Their scale are beyond belief. The depth and breadth of the gallery is a bit overwhelming, with dozens of rooms and hundreds of masterpieces, creating moments where wonderment converges with a bit of tiredness. What lingers most is the sense of continuity: the Medici legacy encapsulated every wall, and the feeling that one is walking through the very cradle of Renaissance thought. The building itself is stunning...frescoed ceilings, eye-catching statues, and glimpses toward Florence's landmarks. Uffizi Gallery reinforces the idea that art, history, and city are intricately connected. Prepare to take adequate time to view the exhibits

The gallery was so GOOD! They have lots and lots of statues of heads on the corridors and the…read moreexperience was generally a good thing!

So we ended up at this post office after being advised by the car rental company that the post…read moreoffice can process payment for toll fines. Just like an American post office it's a terrible place to be where the workers seem unhappy to be there just as much as the customers. This one was organized similar to a DMV in the United States. Upon entry you take a number and eventually it will be called to the designated desk. The experience took about 45 minutes. They offer WiFi but I was not able to use it because they have to text you a confirmation number and I didn't have phone data. The rental car employee who advised me to pay at the post office also warned me the workers are typically rude and she was right . The post office worker did not disappoint with her condescending tone and smart remark jabs but I just went with the flow. She clearly was tired. Her attitude was indicative that she hated her job and tourists. I just viewed it as part of the Italian experience . Overall , we got it done an and now we can say we have had an authentic Italian experience at the post office.