I am trying to make train reservations from Chiusi-Chianciano Terme to Firenze for a family of 7 adults & 3 young children.My problem is the Intercity train we would like to take terminates at Campo di Marte & not at Santa Maria Novello.Does the train stop at S.M.Novello prior to Campo di Marte or must we take a bus or taxis from Campo to the Centro Storico?
Also,how can we book a group fare (over 6 passengers)? I see fare rates on the Trenitalia site for family rates where a child rides free with 2 accompaning adults but is not entitled to a seat reservation,but I would prefer seat reservations for them-any ideas?Thanks!

I was on a train from Rome to Florence SMN and we stopped in Chiusi. We went through Campo di Marte (but didn't stop) BEFORE we got to Santa Maria Novella. Bus 12 goes in front of Campo di Marte. Map 2 on the ATAF website shows this. Map 1 covers the centro storico.

http://www.ataf.net/EN_DNA_MAPPE.asp?F=&S=2&C=45&L=EN&B=

On the Trenitalia site, you can enter Firenze S.M.N. as your destination and it will show how you can connect to another train at Campo di Marte. For example, if you take the 8.11 IC out of Chiusi, it arrives at C.M. at 9.20 and you can connect to another train at 9.25 and be at S.M.N. at 9.32. There's the risk that you'll have to stand for that short segment; you can consider how that compares to taking several taxis from C.M.

Why do you have to go to Santa Maria Novella? Are you staying particularly close to there?

quote:

Originally posted by amvi:
I see fare rates on the Trenitalia site for family rates where a child rides free with 2 accompaning adults but is not entitled to a seat reservation,but I would prefer seat reservations for them-any ideas?

I don't believe this statement to be correct. Children 3 and under don't have to pay and do not receive a seat. However, this rate that you're describing, "Offerta Famiglia", is further explained here:

http://www.trenitalia.com/en/servizi_per/turismo_scuola/index.html

quote:

The Family offer is for family groups from 3 persons, made up of two paying adults and a child younger than 12 years. The members of the group must travel together on the same train and in the same class. You do not have to prove you belong to the same family unit.

The parents pay normal price for their tickets (in first or second class) while children younger than 12 years travel free on all the trains. The offer is also valid for couchettes and beds in T3. The offer cannot however be "added onto" other special concessions.

The payment of any additional services (car, catering, etc.) is payable by the group members. No provision is made for periods of suspension.

Others have noticed that you can only choose 2 seats on the English side of Trenitalia.com, but works fine on the Italian side of the reservation system (i.e. You pick 3 seats).

Thanks all! Following Andrews advice I see how to connect for S.M.Novella.The reason I'd prefer this station is because it would put me within a short walking distance of the Centro Storico-traveling with my 6,5 & 2 year old grandchildren-to answer Fibonacci(the link for the buses is great).
I also went to the Italian side of Trenitalia following Flaming Homers advice & sure enough I can book 3 seats for 2 adults & 1 child,but here's the rub-we are a group of 10.Does this mean I have to make 4 seperate bookings & if so how will we be able to travel together?
Also, does anyone know how to book round trip fares on line;does it matter;or do you just have to go through the entire procee again for the return trip to Chiusi?
After all is said & done would it be easier to take the cars & just hassle with parking?
Thanks all again for any input!

We drove twice from the Chiusi area to Florence and had no problem, either with the driving or the parking. We followed directions and parking information from www.Slowtrav.com (once to the Porta Romana parking lot, and once to the train station garage). We chose to drive because we had 15 people and it was easier than keeping everyone together on the train trip.

We did take the train as a group to Rome from Chiusi, and had no difficulties. We bought our tickets the night before, mostly because the train was really early in the morning and we didn't want to get up a minute earlier than we had to.

You really don't need to make the train reservations before you get there. If you are going to be in the area for a day or so prior to the trip to Florence, you can stop in the station and pick them up then.

For a more concrete idea of actual distances of these two stations from the "center," depending on the path you take: from the Piazza di San Marco (the Accademia/David e San Marco Monestary/Fra Angelico frescoes), Campo di Marte is .75 miles to the east, S.M. Novella is .5 to the west.

From the Duomo, C.Marte is about a mile, S.M. Novella about .4 mile.

(Getting off at C.Marte may also save time, as continuing on to S.M. Novella would be backtracking in a way.)

Here is the specific SlowTrav page about parking in Florence. Maybe someone can report on current prices; it was posted that the station garage charged €75 a day.

There are no round trip tickets on trains, and I agree that there's no need to book your trips online in advance. There's a self-service kiosk at Chiusi station where you can book your trips in both directions, but with the complexity of your group tickets, you might arrange it with the station agent or a travel agent. Also there are many trains on that route that don't take reservations. If this is a day trip, you could just return when you're ready and not worry about committing to a specific train.

I completely agree with Andrew's advice. Advance reservations are far more critical in first-class fast or long-distance trains (Eurostar, etc.), during high-season, and in Italian holiday periods; less so on local and regional trains.

Thanks again to all.Since we will be staying in the Chiusi area for two weeks & will be there a couple of days prior to our day trip to Florence I will take your advice & wait to book tickets at the Chiusi station,or if we decide, take the cars to Florence. If anyone has an update on the parking fees or good places to park it would help.

Since december 2005 all IC trains through Florence stop at Firenze CM (Campo di Marte) instead of SMN (Santa Maria Novella), as the capacity of the latter station is somewhat limited.

SMN is usually much more convenient than CM, and even the orientation is easier. The best way out of CM is buying a few bus tickets at any news stand or tobacco shop, then walk few blocks down Viale Mazzini (in front of the main exit of the station). There is a bus stop of urban bus line #6 in Viale Segni (turning slightly right from Viale Mazzini when it divides in a triangular shape). Bus #6 runs frequently and goes to S. Marco, Duomo, Ponte alla Carraia and then the left bank of the river. Please note that the bus follows a different itinerary in going back, so study maps and instruction on ataf.net (not an easy web site to navigare, by the way) to know where you want to board it back. The closest stop to CM going back is at the opposite side of Viale Mazzini.

quote:

Originally posted by itarchivarius:
Since december 2005 all IC trains through Florence stop at Firenze CM (Campo di Marte) instead of SMN (Santa Maria Novella).

One more brief note: Regional trains continue on to S.M.Novella, while the ICs bypass it on to points north, avoiding the extra time it takes to "head-in" to (and back out of) the Novella station.