All Roads Lead To Roma
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Getting Around Italy

BY RAIL

The Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) is the state railway (link is on my links page).  There are also a few private railway companies.  The rail network is quite good, especially between major urban centers and tourist areas.  The fastest trains (Rapido) operate on the networks between the major cities, while the regional trains are fairly slow.  It is also fairly inexpensive even though strikes plague the system and can happen at any time.  If you live in the United States, for rail travel between cities, you should purchase your tickets through your travel agent before leaving on your trip.  It is much cheaper.  You will have to go to the train station in the city you visit to get seat and car reservations, however, and there is an additional charge, but it is not much.  If you do not smoke, you can ask for a no smoking car, but don't be surprised if people are smoking in them.  The lines at the train station are normally quite long and hectic, so be patient.  For information, schedules, and rates in the United States, call CIT (Italian Rail Representatives) at (800)CIT-RAIL, or fax them at (212)730-4300.

BY BUS

Good coach services run between cities and towns and there are also good local bus services.  Charter bus tours are also available in most every major tourist area.  For Rome, please refer to "Sightseeing Tours" under my General Information page.

BY CAR

Roads (Auto Travel)

Italy has an extensive and well-maintained road network.  There are over 5,600 km of highways throughout Italy, making auto travel to all regions accessible (some roads are closed during the winter months, however -- see below).  The wearing of seatbelts is mandatory for front- and back-seat passengers alike, as well as for the driver at all times.  Hand-held cellular phones are prohibited while driving in Italy.

Speed Limits

Speed limits are fixed at 50 kmph (31 mph) in urban areas (cities and towns), 90 kmph (56 mph) on secondary and local roads, 110 kmph (68 mph) on main roads outside urban areas, and 130 kmph (80 mph) on motorways (toll roads).

Rental and Purchase of Cars

U.S. tourists who want to travel in Italy by car can arrange for rental or purchase of a car before leaving the U.S., or in Italy.  Rentals and purchases can be arranged before departure through travel agents, automobile clubs, or foreign car dealers.  Car rental companies can be found at all the major airports throughout Italy.  The better ones with less hassle are the American-based car rental companies such as Budget, Hertz, and Avis (all have kiosks at da Vinci Airport).  In downtown Rome, Hertz has its main office located near the parking lot of the Villa Borghese at via Veneto, 156 (tel. 321-6886); Budget's main office is located at via Boncompagni, 14C (tel. 482-0966); and Avis' office is at via Sardegna, 38A (tel. 47-01-228).  If you are in another city, check with your concierge or the local phone directory for the local number and address of each.  If you want to try the Italian-based Maggiore, their Rome downtown office is located at Piazza della Repubblica, 57 (tel. 463-715).  You will have less of a chance of problems if you stick to renting a car from one of the American-based car rental companies listed above.  If you are planning to rent a car while in Italy, you may want to "shop around" via telephone to the Budget, Avis, and Hertz 800 numbers in the States for price comparison and restrictions involved.  Most car rental companies will charge extra for dropping your car off at a different location from where you picked the car up from, with the exception of Budget.  Always check what each company considers to be the "weekend".  For example, Hertz says a weekend is between 2 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. on Monday.

Car Seats for Children.  Since 1997, Italy has had very strict laws requiring children under the age of 4 being strapped into a child's car seat.  There are hefty fines if you are caught without them  The same car rental agency that you rent your car from should be able to provide the required children's car seats if they are given sufficient warning in advance that you will require them.  Be sure to ask for it/them when you make your reservations.
Italian Automobile Club (ACI)

ACI (Automobile Club d'Italia) is equivalent to the U.S. AAA (American Automobile Association).  ACI has offices throughout Italy.  The ACI offices in Rome are located at via C. Colombo, 261 and via Marsala, 8; in Florence at viale Amendola, 36; and in Venice at via Ca' Marcello, 67A.  Contact your closest ENIT (Italian Government Tourist Office) for a list of locations other than those listed here.

In the United States and Canada, the ENIT offices are located at:
 

Phone Assistance for Motorists

ACI has a Phone Assistance Center, located in Rome (via Magenta, 5) to serve Italian and foreign motorists with information on road and weather conditions, hotels, and other tourist and motoring services.  The Center is reached by dialing 4212 (area code 06).  The operators do speak English.

Breakdown Service

In case of breakdown on any Italian road, dial 116 at the nearest telephone box.  The nearest ACI office will be advised to come to your assistance.

Spare Parts

Spare parts are available for all popular makes of cars.  Any ACI office will be pleased to give you the address of the nearest supplier.

Road Network

The system of roads in Italy is excellent and are classified as follows:  Autostrade (superhighways, which total over 5,600 km), most of which charge tolls; Strade Statali (state roads); Strade Provinciali (provincial roads); Strade Communali (local roads).  Weather and road conditions can be tuned in on Isoradio FM 103.3 as well.

Autostrade (Superhighways)

If you are reading this portion, you obviously have access to the Internet.  Log onto www.autostrade.it, which is in both English and Italian.  It has valuable information on Italy's highway system.  Click on the toll station (Autostrade Network), and then click on the motorway map to get a map of the Autostrade system throughout Italy.  For the specific entrance/exi information you wish, just click on the area of interest and it will enlarge it for you.  Excellent information and well worth viewing if you plan to drive on Italy's Autostrade.

Tolls on the Autostrade vary (but tend to be very expensive) according to distance covered and the size of the vehicle.  A ticket is issued at the entrance booth and returned when the toll is paid.  Autostrade open to traffic include, for example:

Alpine Border Passes

France-Italy

Switzerland-Italy Austria-Italy Tunnels

Mont Blanc Tunnel:  The Mont Blanc Tunnel is 7-1/4 miles long.  Access is by State Highway 26.  Entrance is at 1,321 m. altitude.  Italian half of the tunnel is uphill at 2.5% grade; French part is downhill at 4.5% grade.  Altitude at French exit is 1,264 m.

San Bernardo Tunnel:  San Bernardo Tunnel access road to the Italian entrance (altitude 5,710 ft.) has a maximum grade of 5%.  In the tunnel, cars must maintain a speed not less than 40 or more than 80 kmph.  Open all year.

St. Gotthard Tunnel (Switzerland/Italy):  This tunnel is 10.2 miles long, the longest tunnel in the world, which opened in 1980.  Toll is free.  The southern entrance to the tunnel is at Airolo, altitude 3,655 ft., and the northern entrance is at Goschenen at 3,545 ft.  Up to 1,800 vehicles an hour can move through the tunnel in either direction.  Prescribed speed is 37 to 50 mph.

Frejus Tunnel (France/Italy):  This tunnel is 8.05 miles long.  It also opened in 1980 and joins the region of Piedmont in Italy with southeastern France.

Zernez (Switzerland)-Livigno (Italy) Tunnel:  This tunnel is 3.5 km long and is open all year from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. only.

Check with ACI offices as to what Alpine Passes are closed and when, as they vary according to weather conditions, location, altitude, and time of year.

Gasoline

Gas (petrol) is called benzina, unleaded gas is called benzina sensa piombo, and diesel is gasolio.Almost all of the service stations in Italy are equipped with pumps for lead-free gasoline (95 octane) and diesel fuel.  In Rome, you will find gas stations alongside the sidewalk (see photo of gas station at via Zanardelli in Rome).  The two notable ones in Old Rome are on via Zanardelli near Piazza Navona and via Cavour just off via Fori dei Imperiale.  WARNING:  Gasoline is quite expensive throughout Italy, so they say you need to carry plenty of cash if you are going to do a lot of driving.  I do NOT like advising people to carry lots of cash anywhere and I would personally carry only what I think I would need from point to point, and the rest in American Express Travelers Cheques.  Anything can happen - anywhere, anytime!

Gasoline Discount Coupons

These are part of a "package" offered to those tourists who plan to do a lot of driving in Italy.  Included are gasoline coupons, free motorway toll vouchers, and free breakdown service.  They also include the provision of a replacement vehicle free for up to 10 days if the person's car is under repair for more than 12 hours, which isn't such a bad deal.  There are four types of packages depending on your tour plans.  They are:  the Italia Sud Package (far southern Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia); the Italia Sud Package (southern Italy); the Italia Centro Package (central Italy); and the Italia Package (northern Italy).  The discounts for gasoline vary depending on the package purchased.  Packages are only available to tourists driving their own cars with a non-Italian registration (diesel-fueled vehicles are excluded) and must be paid for in foreign currency.  You can find out more about the gasoline discount coupons by contacting any ENIT (Italian Government Tourist Office) office in Europe or North America, or at any ACI office.

Driving License

Italy recognizes driving licenses and other traffic documents that are valid in other countries.  Check with your travel agent or the Italian Consulate nearest you for more information if you plan on driving anywhere in Italy for the most current regulations.  U.S. drivers licenses are valid in Italy for those driving their own cars, but the license must be accompanied by a translation.  An International Driving License is required for those driving rental cars.  For motorists not in possession of an International Driving License, the ACI will issue a declaration upon presentation of a U.S. or Canadian Drivers License.  The declaration is obtainable at any ACI Frontier or Provincial Office for a small fee.

Auto Insurance

Auto insurance is mandatory in Italy.  A "Green Card" (Carta Verde) or Frontier Insurance valid for 15, 30, or 45 days should be issued to cover your car before your trip to Italy.  If you are in Italy beyond 45 days and are going to be driving, you must have a regular Italian-issued insurance policy.  If a temporary imported vehicle is driven by a person other than the owner, this person must have certified authorization from the owner and cannot be a resident of Italy.  It is prohibited to rent, lend, pawn, sell, or give away any temporarily imported vehicle.

Motorcycles

Motorcycles require the same documentation as automobiles.  A drivers license or a motorcycle drivers license is required for all motorcycles over 49 cc.

The Italian Highway Code

On highways (Autostrada), no U-turns are permitted at any time, and stopping is permitted only in emergency parking areas or parking lanes.  The Italian Highway Code follows the Geneva Convention and Italy uses International Road Signs.  Driving is on the right and passing is on the left.  Violators of the Highway Code are fined; serious violations may also be punishable by imprisonment.

Lanes.  On three-lane roads, the middle lane is reserved for passing, which must always be signaled in advance with the directional signal which must be kept on while passing.  In towns or city traffic on roads with three lanes or on roads with three or more lanes in each direction, cars are allowed to move in parallel rows.

Right-of-Way.  At a crossroads, motorists must give way to vehicles coming from their right.  Streetcars and trains always have the right-of-way from either left or right.  At a crossroads marked by a precedence sign (triangle with point downward), or a stop sign, the motorist must give way to all vehicles from both right and left.

Passing.  Passing is on the left.  Passing on the right is permitted only when the car ahead has signaled a left turn and has moved to the center of the road, or where travel in parallel rows is permitted.

Parking.  Parking is permitted on the right-hand side of the road everywhere outside cities and towns except on highways (Autostrada), at crossroads, and on curves and hills not allowing full visibility.  If a car is stalled blocking the road because of mechanical difficulty or for any other reason, the driver is required to warn other vehicles by placing a special triangular danger signal at least 30 meters (99 ft.) behind the stalled vehicle.  All cars must be equipped with these portable signals (triangolo).  Triangolo can be rented at any ACI office for a small deposit. When the marker is returned, a certain portion of the deposit is withheld as a rental fee.

Headlights.  High-beam headlights can be used only outside cities and towns and when no vehicle is approaching; otherwise, use only the low-beams.  When a stationary vehicle is not clearly visible, parking lights must be kept on.

Pedestrians.  Pedestrians have the right-of-way at zebra crossings (painted with diagonal stripes), though, one would never know it if you ever tried to cross a busy intersection in the middle of Old Rome!

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