The popular image of the Italian driver is, sadly, all too true and within Italy the Tuscan variety is held to be one of the worst. There is a propensity for rear-bumper examination and a blind, tight curve in a mountain road is absolutely the finest spot to overtake without warning. What is often the most expensive petrol in Europe sees no attempt at consumption conscious driving and there are a startling number of indicators that appear not to function.

You will hopefully not need but legally must carry a portable warning-triangle and should you opt to park in a town or city you will need a disco orario for parking in a Zona Disco; both may be purchased at most petrol stations. If traveling on the autostrade you will be paying tolls. Collect the ticket at the automated entry gate, hand it in and pay at the chosen exit gate (not the one reserved for holders of a Viacard). As of 2002 is is now compulsory to keep your headlights on at all times when driving on motorways.

The autostrade are sign-posted in green, other roads in blue and tourist signs are in yellow, or occasionally brown. Should you break down or have an accident dial 116 for ACI, the Automobile Club of Italy.

One last point; garages tend to close for two to four hours at lunch time so watch the fuel gauge - automated 'self-service' pumps are few and far between, although becoming more common.

Excellent in and around cities, good in outlying areas where fares tend to be slightly more expensive than train ones. Tickets must be purchased before boarding (bars, newspaper kiosks, dispensing machines) and must then be validated by insertion in the onboard machine.

Generally expensive, official taxis in Tuscany are white with a sign on the roof. You should know that if you have booked by telephone the meter starts to run from the moment the taxi leaves the rank.

There are various categories of trains as follow....

LOCALE - Very slow
DIRETTO - Not at all direct, slow
EXPRESSO - Stops at main towns only
RAPIDO - Serving large cities, no stops in between
SUPER - RAPIDO - Very fast, selected cities only

Booking is advisable and often mandatory on all but local trains - note that you may not do this by telephone. For the faster trains you will also need to pay a 'supplement' as you will if you do not buy your ticket before boarding. Tickets can be bought from the station and many travel-agents and, as with buses, you will need to 'validate' your ticket in a machine before boarding. The official railway site is found here.

Car-hire is very expensive if not pre-booked - see our Italian auto rental pages. To hire a car once in Italy you will need to be over 21 and have held a licence for a minimum of one year.

Bicycles and mopeds (motorino) may also be hired but you will be required to leave a credit card or passport by way of security. Virulently coloured and excruciatingly tight cycling outfit, model's own.