Codice Fiscale

I am here on a working holiday visa, and getting that from the Toronto consulate was easy! I found out upon arrival that you need a fiscal code, the codice fiscale, to buy anything here. You need one to buy a cell phone, a house, a car, take a class, etc. Contrary to all the forums out there, you do not need a permesso di soggiorno to apply for and receive this document. You may be able to get the codice fiscale before you arrive in Italy from the consulate in your city, but I went a different route and got one here.
You need your passport and your visa documents (perhaps only your passport). Find an Agenzia della Entrate. If you speak no Italian, you may need to ask around the reception to get help filling out the form. It is very simple, and asks for your name, address in the city, country of birth, etc. If you have just arrived in the city and have no fixed address, I would recommend speaking to the owner of the guesthouse (wherever) you are staying. They may let you put their address down on the form. Next, wait in line until your number is called, go to the counter and give them your documents. They will give you a codice fiscale. Simple as that.

For Florence:
Agenzia della Entrate - per codice fiscale
Via Santa Caterina d'Alessandria
open until 1:30pm