Destination: Italy

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Dangers & Annoyances

Annoyances

It requires patience to deal with the Italian concept of service. What for Italians is simply a way of everyday life can be a pain for foreigners. Anyone in a uniform or behind a counter (including police officers, waiters and shop assistants) is likely to regard you with imperious contempt or supreme indifference. Long queues are the norm in banks, post offices and government offices.

Pollution

Noise and air pollution are problems in the major cities, caused mainly by heavy traffic. A headache after a day of sightseeing in Rome is likely to be caused by breathing carbon monoxide and lead, rather than simple tiredness.

In summer (and occasionally at other times during the year) there are periodic pollution alerts in cities such as Rome, Milan, Naples and Florence. The elderly, children and people who have respiratory problems are warned to stay indoors. If you fit into one of these categories, keep yourself informed through the tourist office or your hotel. Often traffic is cut in half during these alerts by obliging drivers with odd and even number plates to drive only on alternate days.

Keep an eye where you step as dog poop on the pavements is a big city irritation. Italian dog-owners are catching onto the idea of cleaning up their best friend’s daily doings, but it’s by no means a universal courtesy.

Italy’s beaches can be polluted by industrial waste, sewage and oil spills from the Mediterranean’s considerable sea traffic. The best and cleanest beaches are on Sardinia, Sicily in less-populated areas of the south and around Elba.

Smoking

For some it’s heaven, for others torture. Since early 2005 smoking in all closed public spaces (from bars to elevators, offices to trains) has been banned – and believe it or not, the ban is being enforced.

Theft

Pickpockets and bag-snatchers operate in most cities, especially Naples and Rome. The best way to avoid being robbed is to wear a moneybelt under your clothing. Keep all important items, such as money, passport, other documents and tickets, in your moneybelt and wear bags or cameras slung across the body.You should also watch out for groups of dishevelled-looking women and children asking for money. Their favourite haunts are train stations, tourist sights and shopping areas.

If you have been targeted by a group take evasive action (such as crossing the street) or shout ‘Va via!’ (Go away!). You should also be cautious of sudden friendships, particularly if your new-found amico or amica wants to sell you something.

Parked cars, particularly those with foreign number plates or rental-company stickers, are prime targets. Try not to leave anything in the car and certainly not overnight. Car theft is a problem in Rome, Campania and Puglia. Use supervised car parks. Motorway service stations, especially in the south, can be the haunt of thieves.

In case of theft or loss, always report the incident at the police station within 24 hours and ask for a statement, otherwise your travel-insurance company won’t pay out.

Traffic

Italian traffic can at best be described as chaotic, at worst downright dangerous for the unprepared outsider. Drivers are not keen to stop for pedestrians, even at pedestrian crossings, and are more likely to swerve. Italians simply step off the footpath and walk through the (swerving) traffic with determination. Follow the locals!

In many cities, roads that appear to be for one-way traffic have lanes for buses travelling in the opposite direction – look both ways before stepping onto the road.

Travelling to Italy?
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