Florence, Italy - About the City - Telephones

Cellular Phones

During your stay in Florence it is highly recommended that you use a cell phone. You will find that they are an easy and convenient solution for communication.

Cell phone features in Italy

• Pre-paid phone call credit for outgoing calls
• Receiving calls is free
• No phone bills
• English language phone settings
• Voice mail

Helpful tips for cell phone usage

• Calling cell phones can be expensive. Calling a cell phone in Italy may cost more than an international call. After 8:30 P.M. rates are lower.
• Often in older buildings there is poor reception. Try standing outside or near a window to receive a signal.

Public Telephones

The public phones in Italy are equipped with either money slots, card activators, or both. You will need a scheda telefonica (telephone card) to activate the phone. Do not place any other kind of card into this slot.

A Typical Scheda Telefonica

It is recommended to buy a scheda telefonica (telephone card), even if you have a cell phone. It can be very useful to have one on you, especially if you are calling local number. Yo must tear off the perforated corner of the card and then insert it in the phone. Your amount of credit will appear on the screen. On most of the new phones you can change the language to English. While many of them have a place to insert coins, sometimes that option does not work.

Placing a call

• Purchase a scheda telefonica (telephone card) at a bar, tabacchi or kiosk that displays the scheda telefonica logo.
• Remove the perforated upper left-hand corner tip of the card.
• Lift the receiver.
• Insert the scheda telefonica into the slot slowly.
• Wait for the display that indicates phone credit before dialing.
• Dial slowly.
• Hang up and wait for the card to eject.

Calls Outside Italy

There are several ways to make international calls. Calling other European countries can be nearly as expensive as calls to the U.S. U.S. Long Distance Calling Cards are sold in newspaper kiosks and cigarette shops all over town. These cards allow you to use a satellite system and make international phone calls at a very low price. All of the cards work from a fixed phone (a payphone or a regular telephone line).

Calling codes (Italy only)

• AT&T: 172-1044
• Sprint: 172-1877
• MCI: 172-1022

Many cards will work from cellular phones as well, but have a different access number to use. Using a calling card is fast and easy. However, because of their ease and efficiency, it is also easy to quickly accumulate high bills. It is important to obtain information directly from the U.S. phone companies regarding connection charges, day and nighttime rates, and calls specifically to one number only.

Time Zones

Florence is six hours ahead of Eastern, seven hours ahead of Central, eight hours ahead of Mountain, and nine hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time.

800 Numbers

1-800 numbers that originate from the U.S. are not toll free from Italy. If you need to dial a U.S. 1-800 number, you must dial 880 in place of the 800. In Italy, Numeri Verdi (toll free numbers) begin with either 147 or 800. Do not confuse U.S. 1-800 with the Italian 800 Numeri Verdi.

Calling Outside Italy

Dial: 00 (the code for international calls)
+ Country Code (see list below)
+ City or Area Code + Local Number

Calling Within Italy

Dial: City Code (including the preceding "0"
+ Local Number

Some Italian city codes

• Florence: 055
• Rome: 06
• Milan: 02
• Naples: 081
• Venice: 041

Calling Italy From Abroad

Dial: International Code (differs from country to country; 011 from the U.S.)
+ 39 (Italy's Country Code)
+ City Code
+ Local Number