Drink water responsibly

As the world’s resources are finite, one thing we can do while traveling is make the same responsible choices of water use and packaging disposal as we would at home.

Florence’s tap water is safe to drink and is your best option to stay hydrated with no additional cost to you or impact on the environment. You probably already travel with a reusable water bottle, so remember to fill it up and bring it with you. You’ll find water fountains around the city in strategic locations.

Thanks to an initiative by Publiacqua, there are purified water fountains that dispense cool or carbonated water for free. Find one right in the center of town behind the statue of Neptune in Piazza della Signoria. 

Florence separates its waste and is doing a great job thanks to efforts by locals and by Alia, the local waste company, so we hope you will contribute too. There are separate containers for plastic and cans (blue), paper (yellow), compost (brown), glass (green), and residual waste (grey). In some areas there is door-to-door pickup for everything except glass. If you’re staying in a rental apartment, be sure to ask how you should handle waste during your stay.

Finally, be aware of how much water or other resources you consume. In the summertime we often find ourselves in drought conditions, making it important to save water by taking shorter showers and washing food and clothes in the most efficient way possible. Those hot summers also put a strain on the electric grid as the demand for air conditioning is high. Conversely, in the winter, it’s a good idea to turn off the heat if you’re leaving your room or house.