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Florence Quartieri: What Every Mom Needs to Know

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Moving to (or already living in) Florence? One of the first “mysteries” you’ll encounter is the city’s division into five official quartieri (districts). Each quartiere contains its own neighborhoods, local services, school catchment areas, waste-collection schedules, health‐care catchment zones, and parking/ZTL regulations. This guide will help you:

  1. Understand what a quartiere is and why it matters
  2. See the full list of neighborhoods for each quartiere
  3. Learn when and how to use your quartiere information

By the end, you’ll know exactly where your address sits on the map—and what that means for everything from choosing your family doctor to enrolling your child in school.

1. Why Quartieri Matter (Quick “Need-to-Know”)

Florence is officially divided into five quartieri, numbered Q1 through Q5. Although the boundaries were drawn back in 1990, they are still the basis for:

  • Health-Care Catchment (ASL) & GP Assignment
    General Practitioners (Medici di Medicina Generale) in the Tuscany SSN system (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale) are assigned based on your quartiere. When you register for your tessera sanitaria (health card), the ASL office will confirm your quartiere and give you a list of available GPs who serve that area. If you try to sign up for a doctor who practices in a different quartiere, the ASL will redirect you back to the correct catchment.
  • School & Childcare Zones
    Public kindergartens and elementari prioritize children who live within the same quartiere (or neighboring ones). On your child’s enrollment form, you will be asked for your quartiere code—this determines their priority ranking and which early-learning centers or primary schools they are eligible to attend, especially if spots are limited.
  • Waste Collection & Recycling Schedules
    “Differenziata” (door-to-door recycling) calendars differ by quartiere—and sometimes even by the sub-neighborhood (“micro-zona”) within a quartiere. You need your quartiere name (e.g., “Rifredi,” “Santa Maria Novella,” “Le Cure”) to download the correct PDF schedule (organic, glass, paper, general refuse).
  • ZTL Permits & Parking Rules
    If you live in Quartiere 1 (Centro Storico), you have the strictest ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone) rules. But even Q2–Q5 residents who drive into Q1 need a permit that identifies their quartiere of residence. The “List of Areas by Quartiere” is often used as proof-of-residence when applying for a resident ZTL pass.
  • Local Police & Civic Services
    When you need to report a non-urgent street hazard (broken lamp, pothole, abandoned vehicle), you must contact the Comando di Polizia Municipale for your quartiere. Each Q1–Q5 police division has its own phone numbers, email addresses, and offices. If you call the general Florence number, they will ask for your quartiere.
  • Voting & Local Councils
    Your “tessera elettorale” (voter card) lists your quartiere and your specific “sezione elettorale” (polling station). Each quartiere also has a “Consiglio di Quartiere”—town-hall–style meetings where local parents (and anyone living there) can attend, ask questions, or propose neighborhood improvements (e.g., a new playground or safer crosswalk).
  • Property Taxes & Urban Planning
    IMU/TASI tax rates and regulations on renovations/building permits can vary slightly by quartiere. When you log into the Comune di Firenze portal to pay property taxes or submit a permesso di costruire, you will select your quartiere first so the system can apply the correct codes and fees.

2. The Five Quartieri and Their Neighborhoods

Below is the full, up-to-date (2025) “List of Areas by Quartiere.” Use this to quickly determine your quartiere—just find your street or local neighborhood name in the list. (If you live on a brand-new street not in this list, check the Comune’s official Stradario PDF or OpenData shapefile at https://www.comune.fi.it/stradario to confirm.)

Quartiere 1 – Centro Storico

Who’s in Q1?
● Santa Maria Novella (around the main train station)
● San Lorenzo / Mercato Centrale
● Duomo, Piazza del Duomo
● Santo Spirito / Oltrarno / Ponte Vecchio
● Santa Croce
● Santa Maria del Fiore
● Santa Maria Novella area (including Via de’ Bardi, Via Tornabuoni)
● Piazza San Marco / Parterre
● Arno riverside (north and south banks inside the historic walls)
● (Plus tiny sub-zones like “Collina Sud e San Gaggio,” “a volte…)

Why Q1 matters:

  • Only operai ZTL residenti in possesso di pass; strictest limited-traffic zone
  • Garbage/recycling schedule for historic center (very specific: “porta a porta” even for shop garbage)
  • Historic center schools (Scuola San Salvi, Istituto di Santa Chiara)
  • Polizia Municipale Comando Q1 (for Piazza della Signoria area, etc.)

Quartiere 2 – Campo di Marte & Surroundings

Major neighborhoods in Q2:
● Campo di Marte (east of Duomo, home to Florence’s sports stadium)
● Le Cure
● Coverciano (Italian youth soccer training center)
● Piazza Alberti / Viale Mazzini
● Settignano (hillside community northeast of Florence)
● Bellariva (east bank of the Arno, near Lungarno del Tempio)
● Gavinana (western foot of Fiesole hills—partially overlaps with Q3 boundary)
● Cintoia, San Marco alla Costa
● Adiacenze Parco delle Cascine (north of the city center, but still Q2)

Why Q2 matters:

  • Good family-friendly parks (Cascine Park, non-ZTL)
  • GP catchment for Le Cure / Campo di Marte Medical Center
  • Public schools: Istituto Comprensivo “Adriano Olivetti,” “Micheletto Buonarroti”
  • Polizia Municipale Comando Q2 (for Le Cure, Coverciano)
  • Easy tram-line access (Tramvia T1 → Careggi / T2 → Peretola)

Quartiere 3 – Gavinana–Galluzzo

Neighborhoods in Q3:
● Gavinana (central to south of Q2/Q3 border; “Gavinana Gondar,” “Gavinana Nuova”)
● Galluzzo (south of Florence; includes the Certosa area)
● Bandino, Cavallaccio, Bottegone
● Sorgane, Ponte a Ema
● Quartiere “Nave a Rovezzano” (east bank of the Arno, south of Careggi)
● Montebeni, Pulicciano

Why Q3 matters:

  • Often more affordable family housing (“villini” with small yards)
  • Primary schools: “Niccolò Machiavelli,” “Francesco Ferrucci”
  • Publiambiente garbage calendar Q3 (e.g., Bandino / Galluzzo)
  • Polizia Municipale Comando Q3 (Galluzzo Town Hall area)
  • GP/pediatra clinics grouped around Via Senese (main road to Siena)

Quartiere 4 – Isolotto–Legnaia

Included areas:
● Isolotto (large mid-century apartment district south of Arno)
● Legnaia
● Soffiano, Ponte a Greve
● San Donato (west-south quadrant of the city; near Scandicci border)
● Ugnano, Pignone (pockets of semi-rural hillside)
● San Giusto, I Gigli Mall area (technically still under Q4 for waste/voting)
● Cascine / Faentina (the small industrial/greenbelt area)

Why Q4 matters:

  • Excellent public schools: “Paolo Uccello,” “Giovanni da Verrazzano” for early grades
  • Teen and toddler classes at the “Biblioteca d’Argento” (Isolotto)
  • GP assignments at San Donato Medical Center
  • Drop-off “mercato di Sant’Ambrogio” twice weekly (access to fresh produce)
  • Polizia Municipale Comando Q4 (Via delle Case Rosse area)

Quartiere 5 – Rifredi & Novoli

Neighborhoods covered:
● Rifredi (north-west “quartiere residenziale” with many apartment blocks)
● Novoli (rapidly developing suburb just outside the old city wall)
● Careggi (hospital and university complex)
● Statuto, San Donnino, Peretola (near the airport)
● Brozzi, Peretola, Canova, Le Piagge
● Castello (the hillside village at Monte Morello’s foot), Coverciano East

Why Q5 matters:

  • Major hospital hub (Careggi), so Q5 GP catchment is special—some doctors practice in Careggi Ospedale stessa.
  • Public schools: “Arezzo,” “Tacito,” “Quinto Martini”
  • Recycling calendars for Novoli/Rifredi (bigger bins, weekly pickup for paper and plastic)
  • Resident ZTL permits for Careggi Hospital staff and Novoli university students
  • Polizia Municipale Comando Q5 (Via Luca Giordano, near Careggi)

3. How to Use This List

  1. Find Your Neighborhood or Street
    • Scroll through the bullet-pointed lists above and locate the name of the area where you live (e.g., if your address is Via delle Panche, look under “Santa Maria Novella” in Q1; if it’s Via Righi, look under “Le Cure” in Q2).
  2. Confirm Your Quartiere
    • Once you see your zone (for example, “Le Cure” under Quartiere 2), that means you live in Quartiere 2 (Campo di Marte).
    • If you do not see your exact street (very uncommon unless you just moved into a brand-new development), go to the Comune di Firenze’s official Stradario:
  3. Take Action Based on Your Quartiere
    1. Register for your Health Card (Tessera Sanitaria)
      • Go to the ASL office nearest your quartiere (e.g., Sportello Stranieri ASL Toscana Centro in Via Buonarroti 48, 50136 Firenze—this is centrally located and handles all Q1–Q5 registrations).
      • Bring: Codice Fiscale, Residence Permit (or receipt), valid ID, and (if required) proof of voluntary contribution (EU/non-EU).
      • The ASL clerk will confirm you live in, say, Q2 and give you a list of GPs who serve Q2. Choose one and book your first visit.
    2. Enroll Your Child in School/Kindergarten
      • In the fall enrollment window, download the Istituto Comprensivo application form and list your quartiere code on the first page.
      • If you live in Q3 (Galluzzo), your top-priority schools might be “Niccolò Machiavelli” (for elementari) or “Francesco Ferrucci” (for medie). If you live in Q1, you may register for “Scuola Santa Croce” or “San Salvi.”
    3. Download Your Waste Collection Calendar
      • Go to https://www.firenzeambiente.it or check your specific Q-calendar PDF.
      • For example, if you live in Q5 (“Rifredi”), type “Calendario Q5” into the search bar. You’ll see pick-up days for organico, indifferenziato, carta, vetro, etc.
      • Print it or add its “porta a porta” reminders to your phone’s calendar so you never miss “umido” day.
    4. Apply for a ZTL Permit (if you drive)
      • If you live in Q1 (historic center), bring proof of address to the Quartiere 1 Police desk (Via della Torre degli Agli 12) to get a resident ZTL badge.
      • If you live in Q3 (Gavinana) but commute daily into Q1, request a “permesso giornaliero residente fuori Q1” at the Q1 Polizia Municipale. Show them the “List of Areas by Quartiere” (for example, a printed screenshot) as proof that “Gavinana” falls under Q3—not Q1.
    5. Contact Your Local Police or Attend Quartiere Council Meetings
      • Each quartiere has its own “Polizia Municipale Comando” and “Consiglio di Quartiere.”
      • Example: Q4 residents call the Q4 station on Via delle Case Rosse 38 for non-urgent reports. If you want to propose more playground equipment in Isolotto, find the next Consiglio di Quartiere 4 meeting on the Comune website—just look for “Quartiere 4 Calendario 2025.”
    6. Vote with Confidence
      • When election time comes, check your “tessera elettorale” (card) for your quartiere and sezione.
      • If you’ve just moved within the same quartiere, your sezione might change. Visit your Ufficio Elettorale (often in the same building as your local Municipio di Zona) to update your information.
      • For Q2 voters, many sezione elettorali are based at the “Scuola Mazzini” (Via Varchi 3) or “Campo di Marte” gymnasium.

4. What to Do if You Don’t See Your Street Listed

  • Check the Comune’s Official Stradario
    1. Go to https://www.comune.fi.it/stradario
    2. Enter your street name (e.g., “Via Aldo Moro”) → hit search.
    3. You’ll see your street, house number range, quartiere code, and Micro-zona name.
    4. If the quartiere doesn’t match your understanding (for example, “Via del Campo di Marte” might sound like Q2 but actually be Q1 on one side of the bridge), always trust the Comune’s Stradario.
  • Ask at Your Local Quartiere Office
    • If you’re still unsure, visit the Municipio di Quartiere (each district has its own “Casa del Quartiere” office). Friendly staff will confirm exactly which quartiere your new address belongs to.
    • Q5’s Municipio is on Via di Novoli 10; Q3’s is in Galluzzo on Via Senese 335.

5. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: “I live in Novoli—does that automatically mean I’m in Quartiere 5?”

  • Yes. Novoli (north of the old city walls, near the new Leopolda-Coin district) falls squarely in Q5 – Rifredi. All mail-delivery, waste calendars, and local GP assignments treat any Novoli address as Q5.

Q: “My apartment is on the border between Legnaia and Isolotto—how do I know if I’m Q4 or Q2?”

  • Legnaia is Q4, Isolotto is also Q4. If you’re literally on Via Pisana near I Gigli, you might need to confirm with the Comune Stradario (type in your exact civic number). In general, “Legnaia Centro” and “Isolotto Centro” are both Q4.

Q: “Does Florence ever change its quartieri?”

  • The city’s five-quartieri structure has remained stable since 1990. Occasionally, very small micro-zones (like a brand-new housing complex) may receive a new street name, but they will be slotted into one of the existing Q1–Q5. The overall district boundaries do not change.

Q: “If I move from Soffiano (Q4) to Coverciano (Q2), do I have to update my voter registration?”

  • Absolutely. Any time you move—even if it’s just from one micro-zona to another—you must update your address at the Ufficio Elettorale in your former quartiere (to cancel your old tessera elettorale) and then register at the new quartiere’s Ufficio Elettorale. This ensures you receive the correct “sezione elettorale” for voting.

Q: “Where can I find my neighborhood’s waste calendar? I’m in Gavinana (Q3).”

  • Visit https://www.firenzeambiente.it and search for “Calendario Quartiere 3.” You’ll get a downloadable PDF listing all the pickup days (organico on Tuesdays/Fridays in Brandon, vetro on Wednesdays in Ponte a Ema, etc.). If you’re unsure, simply Google “calendario Q3 Firenze ambiente” and look for the latest yearly PDF.

6. Quick Checklist for New Moms (and Families)

  1. Identify Your Quartiere
  2. Register for Health Services (ASL)
    • Bring Codice Fiscale, Residence Permit (or receipt), and valid ID to ASL Toscana Centro, Via Buonarroti 48.
    • Confirm your quartiere; select a GP or pediatrician who serves that zone.
  3. Enroll Your Child in School/Kindergarten
    • When applications open, write your quartiere on the form.
    • Q1 residents apply to historic-center preschools; Q4 residents target Sant’Ambrogio or Istituto Uccello.
  4. Download Your Waste Collection Calendar
    • Find “Calendario Q[1/2/3/4/5]” at https://www.firenzeambiente.it.
    • Add pickup dates to your phone calendar (paper, glass, umido, secco indifferenziato).
  5. Apply for ZTL/Resident Parking Permit (If You Drive)
    • If you’re Q1: go to Polizia Municipale Q1 office (Via della Torre degli Agli 12).
    • If you’re Q2–Q5 but need to enter the historic center regularly, request a “permesso ZTL per residenti di Q[2/3/4/5]” at the Q1 Polizia Municipale.
  6. Update Voter Registration When You Move
    • Cancel at your old quartiere’s Ufficio Elettorale; reregister at the new one.
    • Check your “tessera elettorale” for the correct sezione.
  7. Attend Your Quartiere Council Meetings
    • Each quartiere has a “Casa del Quartiere” website listing meeting times.
    • Example: Q5’s meetings are usually held at the “Teatro di Rifredi” once per quarter.

Useful Links & Resources

In Summary

  • Florence has five official quartieri (Q1–Q5). Each includes multiple neighborhoods (“zone” or “micro-quartieri”).
  • Knowing your quartiere is essential for health‐care registration, school enrollment, waste collection, ZTL permits, local police contact, voting, and more.
  • Use this guide—plus the Comune di Firenze’s official Stradario—whenever you need to confirm your district.
  • Bookmark this page or download a PDF version so that the next time you move, you’ll immediately know: “Right, I’m in Quartiere X—what’s next?”

Welcome to life in Florence, and buon lavoro getting your entire family settled. With your quartiere confirmed, you’re well on your way to navigating local services seamlessly!