Florence & Tuscany 2013 Guidebook
Guidebook corrections:
Please note: The following corrections were submitted by readers and have not yet been confirmed by Rick. Check updates from Rick for the latest.
A small but important correction:on page 358 it says St. Catherine of Siena was a nun. She was not a nun, but a Third Order Dominican. This distinction is important because nuns would have been cloistered. Catherine traveled in public domain within Siena and outside the city's walls
Ariel in New Orleans, LA USA 04/21/2013
We have some updated information for Pisa. Train fares cost 7.40 per person from Florence, and we checked our baggage at Pisa Centrale for 4 euros a piece instead of 3, as described in the book. It also cost 18 euros per person to climb the leaning tower, not 15 as described. That's quite a few corrections for a book that is supposed to be current for 2013, given that it's only 7 January! We have used Rick Steves' books before and bought this particular book for what we considered would be its updated information, especially since we have been travelling on a reasonably tight budget. But it is disappointing to find that the information is not current and that we might as well have used the older version of the Italy guidebook we bought two years ago.
Alison in Australia, Australia 01/07/2013
From January 1st 2013 nine museums have been added to the Firenze Card circuit! Dal 1° gennaio 2013 sono entrati a far parte del Circuito Firenze Card 9 nuovi musei! Torre di Palazzo Vecchio Museo dell'Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore Battistero di San Giovanni Campanile di Giotto Cupola Basilica di Santa Croce Casa Buonarroti Museo Casa di Dante Museo del Calcio
John in Freedom, NH USA 01/06/2013
I have been asked by the owner of TRATTORIA DA BADO', in Volterra to contact you with their NEW TELEPHONE NUMBER: 0577 80402. Apparently the old one is listed in your guide book so it needs to be updated.
Lisa in Halderman, Italy 10/09/2012
No
Nita and Steve Rothschild in Edmonds, WA USA 10/05/2012
The Siena map bought at the Il Campo TI is now 1€.
Terri in Chula Vista, CA USA 10/04/2012
No
Mortimer C. Newton in Providence, RI USA 09/12/2012
See above
G Gable in Saskatoon, SK Canada 07/06/2012
Number 16 on the restaraunt list is seems to be incorrect.La Mescita Fiasche eria. Lo Skipper is there and has been for years...
JOHN FALVEY in WHEATON, IL USA 06/26/2012
It would be helpful to have a paragraph, probably in Orientation, about the blue and red addresses of Florence. Although you clearly indicate "red" in your addresses, we didn't really notice that until after a guide had commented about the peculiar addressing system. Apart from its usefulness as information it is also interesting in itself and a line about the reasons (I suspect it was a way of controlling - and taxing - businesses) would be a valuable brief addition to the guide.
Keith Stotyn in EDMONTON, AB Canada 06/13/2012
I don't have a correction, but as I downloaded the guide to my Kindle--I had a bit of trouble with the maps. I wish the maps could be made available for printing with the Kindle purchase. I figured out how to use the zoom feature on my Kindle, but I still would have liked to have a paper map in hand. Happily I had the updated map from this website for the restaurants.
Lorri Tsarev in Lexington , KY USA 04/17/2012
Pisa: you must be 8 to climb the Leaning Tower. We went to Pisa on my daughter's sixth birthday--the guidebook had said you must be 6. Needless to say she was quite disappointed. (as well as my other kids as they decided to support their younger sister and not climb themselves)
Carol Losos in Jersey City, NJ USA 01/02/2012
train station in directions- go right, not left
laura in chicago, IL USA 10/19/2011
Some of the maps are not precise, and I would be looking for streets that were not where the map said they were. More precise maps with more detail would be better.
Cooper Woodard in Providence, RI USA 10/18/2011
I'm not sure this is a correction, but we were in Interlaken, Switzerland on the 25th of September and the TI was closed. We were told that even in high tourist season, that it is not open very regularly. Just thought we'd mention this to you in case someone wants to check into it.
Marie Canada 10/09/2011
In the section on Local Guides in the 2012 guidebook, you list Karin Kibby as a local guide you use. The listed email, Jeanne in Eau Claire, WI USA 10/04/2011 One of the restaurants we went to near the Mercato Centrale--I am afraid I don't recall the name--was listed as a restaurant and cooking school in the guidebook. It was, when we asked, now no longer a restaurant--it's now just a cooking school. Storme Winfield in Colchester, UK 09/16/2011 Florence and Tuscany 2011 pg 357, Driving instructions to Pisa/Pietrasantina parking lot: "exit the autostrada at Pisa Nord and follow the signs to Pisa ( on the left)" etc. Please clarify whether the "autostrada" refers to the highway running west from Florence vs. the north-south highway running to the west of Pisa. We travelled west from Florence, finding only a Pisa Nord Est exit, and not sure if this was correct, but finding Pisa on the left as noted and appearing to be correct according to our Michelin map. Took us over an hour with a GPS, going to the airport and through town to eventually find the suggested bus parking lot--which was convenient, but suspect needs to be approached from the alternate highway--thanks Cynthia in Thomson, AZ USA 09/15/2011 We love your book. It made our trip so much more comfortable and complete: great priced accommodations of our choice, location best food. joseph olivo in rocky river, oh USA 09/04/2011 Two of the Cinque Terre maritime trails are closed this year and others may be closed next year. Peter Showler in Ottawa, ON Canada 07/11/2011 The original Baptistery doors in the Duomo Museum were gone for restoration when we visited on 4 July 2011. There was no sign stating so when we entered the museum and bought the tickets. Caroline Greene in Bicester, England 07/06/2011 No Briana Benson in Los Angeles, CA USA 06/19/2011 Regarding Montepulciano: there is no bus service to any outlying towns on Sunday during the summer months. We searched extensively today and had several locals try to find a bus for us. Eric Warneke in Denver, Co USA 06/12/2011 I think you already have the Hotel Katti in your book, but three weeks ago they opened up the Trattoria downstairs from the hotel and it is excellent! The prices are very affordable, they have outside tables, and it's the perfect addition for people already staying at Hotel Katti. They serve lunch and dinner and specialize in typical Tuscan cuisine. The chef has 30 years experience cooking Tuscan cuisine. They even have the Bistecca Fiorentina, it was done very well. Anne Ricketts in San Francisco, CA USA 06/04/2011 The three day combo pass for the Pitti Palace is no longer available. There is a multi museum pass now for sights in Florence for 50 Euros. Worth it if it covers the sights you want to see. Allison Garth in Little Silver, NJ USA 05/24/2011 Reservation NOT required for Brancacci Chapel in Florence if it's slow. I walked right in (it was a Monday)...there were very few people there and no time limit on seeing the chapel. Doug in Seattle, USA 05/03/2011 No. Shannon Fonferko in Schaumburg, IL USA 03/20/2011 We are having problems with b-ticketing who have billed us for a purchase and are telling us the money has not been taken out of our account. We have not had email contact with anyone since. I would suggest not using these people on your site. I have read some blogs on Trip advisor who have suggested the same. For your information. Brendan Netherlands 03/10/2011