I'm hoping to be able to blog a bit while I'm in Italy next month and don't want to bring my laptop with me on this trip (okay, I actually really really want to bring it, but I won't because it's too much hassle.)

I know of one Internet cafe in Assisi (Caffe Minerva) and my hotels in Perugia and Florence each have one computer in the lobby for guest use. But all are very popular and I'd like to have a few more options in terms of Internet cafes.

In Perugia, I'm staying at the Hotel Fortuna, right in the historic centre; and in Florence, at Hotel Casci (home of the gorgeous Pierluigi) and that hotel is midway between the Duomo and San Lorenzo.

Any suggestions for Internet cafes in these towns and neighborhoods would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Sandra

It's been a couple of years, but I found a really good internet place right across the street from the front of the Pitti Palace in Florence.

There was also another one I used across the street from the Santo Spirito Church. (not sure I spelled that correctly)

In Florence, there's an Internet Train in the passageway to the train station, and also on Borgo San Jacopo, (Oltrarno) turn to the right, as you come off Ponte Vecchio. The lady in the latter place is particularly friendly and helpful. Oh, and another Internet Train in Via Porta Rossa, near the Mercato Nuovo.

In Perugia, there's a Telecom Internet and 'phone place, on Piazza Matteotti, as I recall.(Or, it might be Piazza della Republica: how quickly we forget!)

There's another Internet Train near Santa Croce in Florence as well as one in Assisi. See their web site for a complete list of locations. They are convenient in that you show your passport once to get a card to use in any of their locations. You can continue to add time to the card without your passport.

I also always use Internet Train whenever I don't have my laptop or service. There are many locations, and I love the convenience of one card to use in any of them. I found them to be always clean and bright, with enough computers to not have to wait.

When I was in Florence in the spring I used a large internet cafe located across the street from our hotel (Hotel Burchianti). I forget the name of the cafe but the hotel is on v del Giglio just up from v del Panzani. It was mid way between S Maria Novella and the Duomo and one the way to the Medici chapels and the Mercanto. The internet service was the least expensive of all the ones we used in Italy on this trip.

What is a Internet Train? Is this a brand or a type of Internet cafe? Is it only found in Italy? Thanks

In Perugia, there's an internet cafe called Coffee Break. It's very close to the Hotel Fortuna, though I'm blanking on the name of the little street off Corso Vanucci where it's located.

In Assisi there is one in the gelato shop/caffe on the piazza. Is that Cafe Minerva? They were SO nice! The owner even helped me spell stuff in Italian.

Hi, Vegas Ms

The Internet Trains are a chain of internet/telephone locations, which I found all over Italy. They also do faxes, mail parcels etc. I found them quite reliable and relatively economical. You buy so much time on a card, and then can use that card in any Internet Train. I started using them while I was at language school in Florence, and just loaded more credit when I needed it. I don't know whether they are in other European countries.

The ones shown in Assisi are the Caffe Minerva and then the one down on S. Francesco..But keep in mind, in Assisi, the cost is around 6 Euro per 30 minutes. For blogging, it gets pretty expensive!

If you bring your laptop with WiFi access, there are some places in Assisi where you can connect for free.

To answer VegasMs, Internet Train is a franchise in Italy only. They have many locations (see web site linked in previous post) many of which also have inexpensive phone service which we've used to make international calls back to the US. The convenince of being able to walk in, put your access card in a reader and connect w/o needing your passport is nice. My husband and I each have a card so we can check email (and sports scores in my husband's case) at the same time. I'm not sure if the cards/time expire. We've used ours with 6 months between visits.

These are great suggestions, thanks everyone! I really appreciate all of the options.

Gail, the link to Internet Train's website is great, thanks!

Chiaro, the Pitti Palace location should be easy to find, thanks.

And Jerry, your internet site sounds quite close to my hotel, I'll look up your hotel to get the address.

Yvonne, Piazza Mazzeotti should be very convenient in Perugia, I'll look there for a phone/internet cafe. (Perhaps it's around the Coop or the tourist info office!)

Thanks, telefoNina, for the suggestion of Coffee Break, I'll see if the staff at Hotel Fortuna can tell me where it is.

Palma, I think we're both thinking of the Cafe Minerva -- the staff there are really nice and it's so convenient.

alaskaitaly, I'm so tempted to take my laptop but I'm trying to limit my luggage on this trip. Those prices sound high -- I'll have to keep my blog posts very tight!

Thanks again everyone!
Sandra

My fave internet point in Perugia was Internet Corner, just behind the duomo and upstairs at Via Ulisse Rocchi 4.

And no, I didn't go there _just_ to see the hot blonde who worked behind the counter...

Darn, I miss all the fun, Saint_Bambi!!!

Sandrac, it's a Telecom place you'll be looking for, not an Internet cafe. And, as I said, might not be Piazza Matteoti, but that part of Perugia is nice and compact, anyhow.

Sandra
if you are in SM degli Angeli, there is a good internet point in the Western Union office. Lots of computers, clean and reasonable price.

If you go to Cafe' Minerva, tell the owner, Roberta that you are my friend (she knows me as the mamma of Tea, our daighters were together at kindergarten). She'll be delighted.

Claire, thanks for the Internet Corner recommendation, it's extremely helpful (after all, what's wrong with a bit of sightseeing while I blog! ) And one of my favourite wine bars is on Via Ulisse Rocchi so I hope to be in that area a fair amount!

Thanks Yvonne, I'll watch for the Telecom office. These are great options for Perugia.

And Letizia, I know I'll be coming and going from the train station in SM degli Angeli, so if the Western Union office is near there, that'll be very handy. Thanks!

Sandra

sandrac,
It looks like we will be in Italy about the same time.

Have a wonderful trip!

chiaro

And Letizia, thanks for Roberta's name -- I'm certain that I'll be in Cafe Minerva, so I'll definitely say hello to her!

Chiaro, I just had a quick peek at your blog, your Italian plans sound wonderful. I love Siena! I'll be watching for your blog updates.

I hope you, too, have a great trip!

Best,
Sandra

Sandra, In Assisi, you may want to condider my hotel recommendations I sent to you in the last Email.

Hotel Pallotta may be much less money than you are paying at Hotel Umbra AND they have free internet.

In Florence, there is yet another Internet Train by the Straw Market. Also the Hotel Casci has free internet in the hotel.

Alaskaitaly, thanks very much for your suggestions!

Dimoda, I'll be watching for Internet Train locations. And I love the free internet at the Hotel Casci, but it can be pretty popular so I might not have enough time there to write my blog (unless I grab it really late at night, which maybe isn't a bad idea!)

Cheers,
Sandra