Florence Airport (FLR)
History, Facts and Overview

(Florence, Italy)

Peretola Airport first opened in the early 1930s, after a suitable site was chosen, strategically between Florence and the neighbouring town of Sesto Fiorentino. Built as a replacement to the city's undersized Campo di Marte, Peretola Airport was immediately popular and attracted planes from far and wide.

By 1940, the airfield boasted a long asphalt-surfaced runway measuring approximately 1,000 metres / 3,280 feet. Soon commercial flights commenced and during the following decade, Alitalia airlines began offering services to Milan, Rome and Venice. During the mid-1980s, Florence Peretola Airport were greatly renovated and relaunched, with their terminal building altered and rebuilt. In 1990, the airport became officially known as the Florence Amerigo Vespucci Airport (FLR), being named after a prominent local 15th-century explorer, and two years later, the new departures building was completed.


Facilities at Florence Peretola Airport are extensive and offer passengers and visitors plenty to keep them occupied whilst waiting for a flight, or when arriving. The tourism information desk (informazioni turistiche) is often of particular interest and can be found within the arrivals terminal, which opens between the hours of 08:30 and 18:30.

Shops are plentiful onsite at Florence Peretola Airport, both within the airside and landside areas. Look out for the sophisticated jewellery at Elegance Line, sports merchandise at Football Corner, fashion at Made in Italy and the Conte of Florence stores, and the popular Duty Free Shop, which is sited in the boarding area and offers a range of goods without the addition of IVA. Those looking for a bite to eat will find that the A-Café and My Chef will satisfy their needs.

Also onsite at Florence's airport is a lost property office, tax refund offices, assistance for passengers with special needs, and the private Masaccio Lounge, where guests can enjoy office facilities, an open bar and a choice of both English and Italian language newspapers and magazines. For financial services, a branch of the Banco Toscana is available, along with Best and Fast Change, where more than 40 different worldwide currencies can be exchanged at competitive rates.