You have to eat! If you are staying in a flat you will need to
shop for food, however much or little you want to cook, and you
won’t be able to eat out in restaurants every day. If you are buying
smallish quantities, you will find it easiest to go to a local store or
Alimentari (grocer) or Ortolano (greengrocer) near where you live
and, once you have sampled and approved their wares, continue to
go to the same shop until they know you and your tastes. You will
find the salesmen in most small grocer’s shops very friendly and
willing to help even though the selection of foodstuffs is limited.
They are usually closed on Sundays and Wednesday afternoons.
an alternative is the market.
There are several in the centre of Florence and here you can be
sure of really fresh fruit and vegetables (though use your eyes
too!) and a good choice of grocery and gastronomic products.
• The supermarket
Another alternative of course is the supermarket, especially if you want to bulk buy, but remember you have to cart it all home afterwards, which means a bus or taxi, unless you have your own car. It is illegal to use the supermarket trolley to take all your goodies back to your abode! Supermarkets have the advantage of being open all day, many on Sundays too. They stock many of the products you would normally use in the States, or substitutes for them.
• You have to wash your clothes!
Many rented flats come supplied with a washing machine, which is a great advantage (and saving) especially for sheets. You may be surprised to find that there are no dryers, which the Italians find too expensive to run and therefore manage without. You are expected to hang out your washing on an outside line or drying rack, at worst, space-wise, placed somewhere inside the flat. If your flat has no laundry facilities, you will have to hand wash everything or make do with one of the few coin-operated laundrettes or the more expensive dry cleaners.
• What about beauty care?
Italian hairdressers and barbers charge for each part of the hair-do process, from washing to drying, cutting, shampoo and conditioners. And, you will also be charged if you require any other special products for your hair. Check with the price lists (usually near the door), and work out the total cost before deciding what you want done to your locks and also look around locally for the best offers. Many will give you a book to leaf through to choose a cut if you find it difficult to explain exactly what you want. Anyway always ask before fixing an appointment! Most hairdressers also offer some beauty treatments, nails, facials, pedicures, massage and surplus hair removal.
They are all closed on Mondays.
• Italian pharmacies or chemists
There are plenty of them, but remember that the laws are fairly severe about what you can buy directly and what needs a doctor’s prescription. Many of the over the counter drugs that are on sale in
the States require a prescription here. Chemists are usually open from 8.30 am to 1.30 pm and from 4 pm to 8 pm. There is an out of hour shift system with other chemists - also on weekends, holidays and Sundays - but they always post a sign outside, so that you can easily find out which ones are open in an emergency, and Florence does boast several 24-hour pharmacies (check in the local newspapers for listings).
• Health insurance
Presumably you took out some health insurance before coming. Your school will probably supply you with a list of English-speaking doctors. Remember that they are not usually available over weekends and, if you are really ill, the safest thing to do is head for the nearest hospital emergency ward (Pronto soccorso). Fortunately many hospital medics speak some English!
Clothes
As for clothes... you probably need little advice about that! Don’t forget however that all the Vivi Firenze advertisers are really elighted to welcome you in their stores.
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