Montaione Survivor Guide

Documents

For all citizens of the member states of the European Community an identity card is sufficient; visitors from other countries must have a valid passport.

On arrival at Piè di Costa, guests are asked to present themselves at the reception desk with the voucher they received at the time of booking and an identity document valid for registration and the requisite communication to the relevant authorities.

Credit cards

Credit cards are not accepted at Piè di Costa; it is however possible to withdraw money from the "Bancomat" ATM machines open round the clock, or use the bank services during opening hours, normally from 9.00 to 13.00 and from 14/14.30 to 16.00 (there are 3 banks in Montaione).

In the small villages not all shops accept credit cards, with the exception of supermarkets and the larger chain stores.

Time zone

The time zone in Italy is GMT+1.
During the summer period, that is from the last Saturday in March to the last Saturday of October Italy runs standard time, one hour ahead of the normal solar time.

Electricity

220V. We would remind guests using electrical appliances with German-style plugs that they will need an adapter.
In any case adapters can be purchased in all hardware shops and supermarkets, and in case of need can also be supplied by the management.

Tuscan Airports

The Florence 'Amerigo Vespucci' airport - www.aeroporto.firenze.it - 9.00/5.00 (Mon/Fri) 055.30615 - is about 50 km from Montaione, and offers air connections with the most important European cities, as well as Bus, Taxi and Car Rental services.

The Pisa 'Galileo Galilei' airport - www.pisa-airport.com - every day 8.00 to 22.00. Passengers service 050 849300 - is about 50 km from Montaione and offers air connections with the most important international cities and destinations. It offers car hire facilities and is connected to the rail terminal from which guests can reach the station of Castelfiorentino (9 Km from Montaione).

Public transports

One of the advantages of staying at Piè di Costa is that you have practically no need for a car.

The town is so close (only 600 metres) that you can forget about the car for your entire stay. From Montaione you can use the bus SITA for connections with Castelfiorentino, as well as for trips to Empoli, Florence, Montespertoli, Siena, etc.
From the railway station in Castelfiorentino (about 9 km) there are also numerous daily rail connections with Florence, Siena and Pisa.

How to phone

To telephone abroad from Italy you have to dial double zero (+ "00") followed by the international prefix. To call Italy from abroad, you have to use the international prefix +39 followed by the individual telephone number.

At Piè di Costa cell phones operated by TIM operate normally. We would remind guests that to use your cell phone to call from Italy you should contact your operator before departure to check on rates and the areas covered by the telephone service.

Magazine and newspaper

In Montaione you can find magazine and newspaper in english and german languages.

Spoken languages

At Piè di Costa, as well as Italian, English is also spoken; in the shops and supermarkets more widely frequented by tourists it is also possible to find staff who speak German.

Restaurants, shops and supermarkets

Despite being a small town with only 3,500 inhabitants, Montaione boasts a large number of shops selling typical Tuscan foodstuffs and craft products, as well as restaurants offering both typical Tuscan dishes and international menus.

We shall be happy to recommend the best restaurants in the area, and provide a map showing the precise location of these.

In Montaione there are two supermarkets: the Coop (is only 500 meters from Piè Costa and can be reached on foot) that is located near the centre of Montaione, and Pam about one kilometre far from Montaione. Both supermarkets are open on Sundays during the summer time.
In Montaione there are also other grocery stores, vegetables and fruit, bakery and wine shops, where you can buy typical products of the Tuscan cookery tradition.

In Castelfiorentino - the largest town in the vicinity with approximately 20,000 inhabitants - as well as a large number of shops, there is also a Coop shopping centre offering facilities such as laundry, film processing and other shops of various kinds selling a vast range of different products.

We also recommend a visit to the open-air markets held in the centres of the nearby towns (San Gimignano, Colle Val d'Elsa, Siena, Castelfiorentino and obviously Montaione itself) where foodstuffs, craft products and even clothing can be bought at much lower prices.

Precautions

During the summer season, because of the high daytime temperatures and the fact that we are in the countryside, there is the risk of being bitten by insects such as mosquitoes and/or being disturbed by flies.

Unfortunately, because of the shape of the windows at Piè di Costa, mosquito nets cannot be fitted, however as a defence against these insects (the presence of which is sign of the lack of pollution and the purity of the air and the surrounding environment) all the flats are equipped with electrical devices which emanate a special fragrance which keeps these troublesome insects away. For optimal functioning, these devices should be used with doors and windows closed, so that the fragrance is not dispersed and other insects cannot come in.

However, for guests who are allergic to insect bites, and above all in the case of children with delicate skin, we recommend using an anti-allergic cream.

Best periods to visit Tuscany

The best months for visiting Tuscany are undoubtedly May and June, since the long days and the fairly moderate temperatures (generally between 25 and 30 degrees) enable pleasant walks in the open air, and also make it possible to avoid long queues at the most important art museums.

We also recommend the period between the second half of September and the end of October, since as well as the mild climate (usually in October the temperatures do not fall below 20/25 degrees and it is sometimes even hot enough to use our swimming pool which is always open), this is a very busy and fascinating time of year in the countryside. The grape harvest takes place in September, and that of the olives at the end of October, and guests at Piè di Costa can actively participate in these in the vineyards and olive groves on the estate. Added to which, visitors at this time of year have the bonus of savouring the new oil and the 'novello' wine.

Finally, we shouldn't overlook the delightful period between the end of November and the end of December.
The magic of Christmas effectively makes Tuscany even more unique. Numerous events are held in this period, as well as colourful and evocative craft markets connected with the Christmas tradition, and the shops remain open even on Sundays.

Temperature and climate of Tuscan

During the summer period, in particular between the end of June and the start of September, the temperature can reach levels of over 40°C with a high moisture content, and even during the night temperatures rarely drop below 30/33°C.

To protect against the heat, we recommend that guests keep the outside shutters lightly closed during the day, so as to avoid the heat entering the rooms, while at the same time allowing for change of air.
Starting from this summer, all rooms are provided with ceiling fans with wooden blades, guaranteeing better air circulation.

We would remind guests to bring high factor protection sun-creams since during daytime hours, and especially in the swimming pool area, the strong sunlight can cause burns and allergies.

Satellite coordinates

If you are going to reach us with a Navigation System, you only have to set the following coordinates::

LAT: 43°33'22'' - LONG: 10°54'56''

Buon Viaggio !

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