The central station in Florence, at Santa Maria Novella, constitutes an important focal point for national and international traffic. The city is connected to the major train lines and thus to the most important locations in Italy and abroad. Connections to Milan, Bologna, Genoa, Rome and Pisa are especially convenient. The most convenient way to travel in Florence is without a doubt the buses, which allow one to reach the historical center, closed to private traffic. The radio-taxi service is convenient, but naturally much more expensive than public transportation, especially where traffic is intense.
Authorized taxis are white with yellow signs and the fare is indicated only by the meter.
There is a supplement for night travel and for baggage. The center of Florence is crowded with shops selling everything from stylish clothing to used books. Most larger stores accept credit cards and Eurochecks, while smaller shops prefer cash. Big fashion names like Gucci and Coveri are found in via de' Tournabuoni, but also in via della Vigna Nuova, where Armani and Valentino have opened up shops. There are also many shops for shoes and leather goods, from the classy and always elegant Ferragamo , in via de' Tornabuoni 14r, to the more affordable Cresti , in via Roma 9r.