An Unexpected Obstacle Can Be A Danger To Tourists In Florence, Italy, Per Rick Steves

Walking through some of the narrow, car-free streets of Florence, from the pretty and untouristed Oltrarno district to one of Italy's oldest bridges and other must-visit spots in Florence, it's easy to understand why the Italian metropolis has topped multiple lists of the most walkable cities in the world. City leaders have taken measures to ensure the streets remain pedestrian-friendly, including placing restrictions on most cars from entering Florence's historical center. 

However, there's still one motorized vehicle you should be aware of while walking around the Tuscan capital: two-wheeled scooters called Vespas. On his blog, travel expert and television host Rick Steves warned of the dangers Vespas pose to tourists who might be too busy taking in the sights to pay attention to what he described as "pesky" bikes. Steves said the name Vespa, Italian for "wasp," was fitting – they swarm through the city, emitting a buzzing sound as they go. "Pedestrians beware: These buzzing bikes dart with abandon through Italy's streets (and often sidewalks)," Steves wrote.

While cars are limited in Florence's historical center to those with permits, Vespas are granted nearly full access to it. And there are a lot of Vespas. Italy is the largest market for the scooters, and according to Rick Steves' Italian friend Manfredo, the number of Vespas per capita is higher in Florence than anywhere else.

Steves described walking down a Florence street with two friends when a "fearless Vespa" passed a city bus, squeezing the three pedestrians up against some construction scaffolding. "Before, we had too much traffic in Florence. We make a new law: No cars in the center. So today, we have traffic even worse ... no cars, yes. But too many Vespas," Steves quotes Manfredo as saying.

Dangers and annoyances aside, the Vespa is an iconic symbol of Italy and has been since its creation in the 1940s. It was born out of the hardships Italy faced in the aftermath of World War II, when its economy and infrastructure were left in shambles. The Piaggio Group, which ran an aeronautical factory during the war, needed to find something else to build. Enrico Piaggio decided in 1946 on the Vespa, an affordable, convenient transportation option for the masses that had been designed by Italian engineer Corradino d'Ascanio that year. 

The Piaggio Group still manufactures Vespas in Italy, and as of 2023, the company had sold 19 million of them to customers around the world. If you're brave enough, travelers to Florence can have their own experiences operating the two-wheeled "wasps." Dozens of tour companies give tourists the option to drive Vespas, as long as they have a valid driver's license and are 18 or older. One Vespa tour option includes this unique tour that's the perfect way to see everything Florence has to offer.