free parking just outside Florence

[Lee11]

This is a great site and I see you have mentioned four free parking sites just outside Florence:
PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO
PONTE A GREVE
FIRENZE CERTOSA
GALLUZZO
I would appreciate it if anybody who lives in Florence or has been there recently can update me as to:
1.whether these are all functional (and whether there are others aswell or instead)
2. are they open late? (ie we plan to arrive in Florence on a Monday evening around 6-8pm)
3. can we leave the car for over 24 hours until Wednesday afternoon?
4. do the buses into Florence run in the evenings?
Thanks so much in advance,
Lee

[Lourdes]

Ciao Lee11,

The free parking areas you mention do not have closing hours so you won't have problems with heading there late. I think the one you'll find most convenient is the one in Piazzale Michelangelo although I wouldn't leave the car there for over 24 hours. To leave overnight, I'd go for the one in Ponte a Greve lot since it is well connected with the tram into downtown Florence. Buses and the tram do run in the evenings. Check buses that take you downtown on the page with the info on the parking lots (Where to Park in Florence, Italy? Map & List of Parking in Florence, Free and Paid Parking Lots) and then go to ATAF net to check the schedules for each line. The tram operates from 5am to midnight with trains every 9-10 minutes in August (every 5-11 min in September, depending on time of day).

Hope this info is useful!!