The city of Florence now offers free wi-fi internet in 12 piazze or parks. Access is via password in compliance with Italian laws, and limited to one hour a day. Hopefully in time, service will be extended for more time and to more areas. Unfortunately, to get the password you’ll need an Italian cell phone – but once you register for the first time on your device, you shouldn’t have to do it again.
Below you’ll find instructions on how to access the service, and I list the connected locations that are of most interest to visitors.
Instructions:
- In the location covered by wifi service your device should automatically find “FirenzeWifi”. This name may be accompanied by a number if the area is large
- When you open your browser you will be prompted to insert your first name, last name (cognome) and your italian cell phone number; then hit “submit”.
- You will then be prompted to make a free phone call from that Italian cell phone to this number: 0554650034. You must use the cell phone with the number that you inserted in step two as this serves to authenticate you as a person.
- Your computer screen should then show that you have been authenticated and you are free to navigate for one hour each day, or for up to 300MB of traffic. The day ends at midnight, after which you get another free hour.
- The good news is that you only have to do this process once!
Locations of wifi in Florence relevant to tourists (the others are close to government offices ouside the center, as the goal of the service is to provide access to city government websites):
1. Piazza della Signoria (Palazzo Vecchio)
2. Piazza Santa Croce
3. Piazza Santo Spirito
4. Piazza Santissima Annunziata (Ospedale degli Innicenti)
5. Parterre di Piazza della Libertà (parking lot, skating rink)
9. Piazzale Michelangelo
11. Parco delle Cascine
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