Europe

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Travel Summary

• There is a general threat from terrorism.  Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See the Terrorism section of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• There is currently a risk of unannounced wildcat strikes by municipal transport workers in cities across Italy.  See the Local Travel section of this advice for dates of major pre-planned strikes.
  
  
• Around 3.5 million British tourists visit Italy every year (Source: Ministry of Tourism).  Most visits are trouble-free.  332 British nationals required consular assistance in Italy in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (103 cases); hospitalisations (114 cases); and dealing with arrests, for a variety of offences (47 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (715 cases).  If you need to contact the emergency services in Italy call 112.  
  
  
• Visitors to ski resorts should take advice on weather and avalanche conditions before they travel and should make themselves aware of local skiing laws and regulations throughout their visit.  See the General (Skiing) section of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  See the General (Insurance) section of this Travel Advice.

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is a general threat from terrorism.  Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.  In 2004, the Italian Government announced that the risk of an international terrorist attack in Italy had increased.  At the request of the British Embassy, the Italian authorities have increased security around British interests.  The Italian authorities also have more general additional security measures in place including Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa airports.  Surveillance has been raised on railway stations and metros.

In recent years the Italian authorities have carried out numerous arrests of extremists in Italy, which have disrupted a number of terrorist networks.  But there continue to be isolated cases of domestic terrorism.  Typically, incidents have been aimed at official Italian targets, mainly in the form of small bombs and incendiary devices, and carried out by extreme left-wing and secessionist groups. In October 2009, a small device was detonated outside a military base in Milan, injuring several  soldiers and the individual believed to be responsible for the attack.

For more general information see Terrorism abroad.

Crime

Levels of crime are generally low but there are higher levels of petty crime in the big city centres.  Take care on public transport and in crowded areas where pickpockets and bag snatchers may be operating.  In Rome, take particular care around the main railway station, Termini, on the number 64 bus, which goes to and from St Peter's Square, and when unloading your baggage from airport/city coaches.  Also take care in and around railway stations in other large Italian cities.  Be particularly wary of groups of children who may try to distract your attention whilst trying to steal from you.  Passports, credit cards, travel tickets and cash should not be carried together in handbags or pockets.  Only carry with you what you need for the day.  Consider making use of safety deposit facilities in hotels.

Cars, at rest stops and motorway service stations are targets for robbers.  You should treat with caution offers of help if you find yourself with a flat tyre, particularly on the motorway from Naples to Salerno, as sometimes the tyre will have been punctured deliberately.

Always lock your vehicle and never leave valuables in the vehicle even if you will only be away for a short time or are nearby.  There have been a number of cases of cars containing luggage, or of luggage left in cars being stolen.  You should avoid leaving luggage in cars overnight or for any length of time.

Be vigilant when travelling on sleepers/night trains.  Thieves sometimes operate on trains in Italy and may take the opportunity, during the night, to rob sleeping travellers.

Theft can also take place on trains during the day.  Do not leave bags containing valuables unattended.

Be aware that alcohol and drugs can lead to you being less alert, less in control and less aware of your environment.  If you are going to drink, know your limit.  Remember that drinks served in bars overseas are often stronger than those in the UK.  For more general information see Rape and sexual assault.

Police in Europe have issued warnings that counterfeit Euro notes are in circulation on the continent.  You should take precautions to ensure that any notes received from sources other than banks and legitimate Bureau de Change are genuine.

As a new measure to reduce the burden on police officers, some ordinary policing activities in Italian cities have been carried out by soldiers since the beginning of August 2008.

Scams

Foreign visitors and residents can be targeted by scam artists.  These scams can pose great financial loss to victims.  If you receive an e-mail purporting to be from HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) offering a tax refund on provision of your bank details you should make absolutely sure that it is not part of a scam.

For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.

Political Situation

Italy Country Profile

Holy See Country Profile

Local Travel

Major Pre-Planned strikes

1 March 2010

• 24 hours Milan Linate and Malpensa airports handling services

12 March 2010

• General Transport Strike
• Four hours air strike from 10:00 to 14:00
• Four hours rail strike from 14:00 to 18.00
• Four hours maritime delay to ship departures
  
  

22 March 2010

• Four hours airport handling services from 12:00 to 16:00
  
  

23 March 2010

• 24 hours Meridiana flight assistants

Further information on strikes in Italy can be found on the Ministry of Transport website http://www.trasporti.gov.it/page/NuovoSito/site.php?p=scioperi but only in Italian.

If you need a taxi, travel in only officially licensed taxis.  These will have a taxi sign on the roof.  Also ensure that the meter in the taxi has been restarted before commencing your journey.

There is a continuing risk of strikes by a range of workers’ organisations in Italy, particularly in the transport sector.  You should be aware that other strikes could be called at little or no notice.  Major strikes, which are likely to cause significant disruption, will be listed here.

Because of heightened security at ports and other sensitive areas, delays at security check-points may occur.  You should plan your travel accordingly.

If travelling on public transport, you should note that tickets need to be endorsed in a ticket machine before starting a journey.  The machines are usually positioned at the entrance to platforms in railway stations, in the entrance hall to metro stations and on board buses and trams.  Officials patrol all means of public transport and will issue an on the spot fine of Euros 50 to 60 if you do not hold an endorsed ticket.

Road Travel

If you wish to drive in Italy you must have a valid UK driving licence, insurance and vehicle documents.  If you are driving a vehicle that does not belong to you then written permission from the registered owner may also be requested.

Travellers driving in Italy should be aware that private cars and hire cars are not permitted to enter the historic centre of many Italian cities without an official pass.  If your hotel is in the centre of one of the cities concerned, you can purchase a pass from most car hire companies.  However, this pass will not be valid for entering the centre of any other city and you are advised to make use of out-of-centre car parks and public transport. The boundaries of historic centres are usually marked with the letters ZTL in black on a yellow background. You are advised not to pass this sign as your registration number is likely to be caught on telecamera and notice of a fine - or fines if you cross more than one ZTL zone - could be sent to your home address. 

You should be aware that any fines notified to a person at the time of a traffic offence must be paid or appealed against within 60 days of receipt. When it is not possible for a person to be notified immediately in person at the time of an offence, the current edition of the Italian Highway Code states that under Italian Law the authorities have up to 360 days from when the offender is identified in which to send the notice of a fine to those who are resident outside Italy.  For those who are resident in Italy the fine must be sent within 150 days.
 
In 2008 there were 4,739 road deaths in Italy (source: DfT).  This equates to 7.9 road deaths per 100,000 of population and compares to the UK average of 4.3 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2008.

Since July 2007 on-the-spot fines' for minor traffic offences have been in operation.  These may range typically between €150 - 250.  You are advised to stick to the rules of the road, and/or have enough cash if you have to pay a fine.  Failure to do so may seriously inconvenience your visit.   You must use dipped headlights during the day while travelling on motorways and major roads outside cities.  There are also strict rules on drink driving.  The limit for alcohol in the bloodstream is now 0.5 grams per litre.  The use of mobile telephones in cars is prohibited unless they are fitted with speaker devices or used with headphones.   You should carry at least one reflective safety jacket in your vehicle and wear it when standing with, inspecting or repairing your vehicle if you are on a public highway.   If you rent a car in Italy, you should check the rental insurance terms carefully.  Some policies will not cover an accident that does not include a third party eg a collision with a wall.  Certain provisions in policies, such as fire and theft, might not apply for all regions of Italy.  Further advice on driving outside the UK can be obtained from motoring organisations such as the AA and RAC.

Road hauliers

Trucks over 7.5 tonnes (75 quintali) are not allowed on Italian roads, including motorways, on Sundays from 07:00 until midnight, local time.  These restrictions do not apply to those trucks already granted an exception, such as those carrying perishable goods and petrol supplies.   Both the Mont Blanc and Frejus road tunnels, linking Italy and France, are open but the restrictions introduced following the fires in 1999 and 2005 respectively continue to be applied to HGVs.  These can be summarised as follows:

Mont Blanc: height restricted to 4.7m; minimum speed 50 km/h; maximum speed 70 km/h. Consult: www.tunnelmb.com or by telephone on number 00 33 (0)45 05 55 500.  

Fréjus: Vehicles of more than 3.5 tonnes are subject to 1-hour alternate traffic flows starting at 08:00 leaving Italy. Special regulations apply to vehicles carrying dangerous loads. Details can be obtained from: http://www.tunneldufrejus.com.

For more general information see Driving abroad. 

Sea Travel

The passenger safety certificates of two roll-on/roll-off ferries (the Campania and the Sicilia) operating on the Naples/Palermo route were not renewed by the UK because inspectors judged that the ferries did not fully comply with their interpretation of certain requirements of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).  The ferries continue to operate but are no longer under the UK flag.  We have no information about other vessels on this or other routes to Sicily.  For more general information see River and sea safety. 

Air Travel

There is a risk of cancellation of Alitalia flights and/or unannounced strikes by Alitalia staff across Italy.  You are advised to contact your local travel agent or airport for advice before travelling.

The revised EU-wide security measures that came into effect for all passengers departing from UK airports in November 2006 are also being implemented in Italy.  For more details about this see Airline security.

Road Travel

Information on rail travel in Italy can be found in English on the following sites:

http://www.ferroviedellostato.it/homepage_en.html
http://www.viaggiatrena.it/viaggiatreno/

Local laws and customs

In the cities of Venice and Florence, you should observe public notices about conduct.  You may be fined if you drop litter.  It is also an offence to sit on steps/courtyards or to eat and drink in the immediate vicinity of the main churches and public buildings in Florence.   Italian authorities are engaged in a major effort to stamp out the illegal production and sale of counterfeit goods. Illegal traders operate on the streets of all major Italian cities, particularly tourist cities like Florence and Rome. You are advised not to buy from illegal street traders: if you do so you run the risk of being stopped by the local police and incurring a large fine.

For more general information for different types of travellers see Your trip.

Entry requirements

Visas

You do not need a visa to enter Italy but as a British national you will need to have a valid passport or a National Identity Card (see the website of the Identity and Passport Service (IPS)) to enter Italy.  

Passport validity  

You should ensure that your passport is valid for the duration of your stay in Italy.

Travelling with children

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.  For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration, please contact the Italian Embassy.

Health

Form E111 is no longer valid.  You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK.  The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Italian nationals.  You will not be covered for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature.  For more general information see EHIC. 

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 150,000 adults aged 15 or over in Italy were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.4% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV/AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Italy and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date.  For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should check the websites of NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.  For more general information see Travel health.

Natural disasters

Volcanoes

There continues to be low-intensity volcanic activity on the island of Stromboli.  Further information on Stromboli and other volcanoes around the world can be found at:  http://www.stromboli.net.

Earthquakes

Many parts of Italy lie on a major seismic fault line.  Minor tremors and earthquakes are almost a daily occurrence.

L'Aquila, in the Abruzzo Region (58km north east of Rome) was hit by an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale on 6 April 2009.  The earthquake caused widespread damage to buildings in the area.  If you plan to visit this area please see the latest information in English on the Abruzzo tourist website at: http://www.abruzzoturismo.it//tourism/index.php?&lan=en.

Flooding

Visitors to Venice should note that parts of Venice are liable to flooding at certain times of year, especially in late autumn and early spring.

Further information on flooding can be found in English on the following website: http://www.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/EN/IDPagina/1748

General

Insurance

 We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.  For more general information see Travel insurance. If things do go wrong when you are overseas see How we can help. 

Registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.  More information about registering with LOCATE

Money  Since 15 June 2007 new legislation on the controls of cash entering or leaving the EU apply in all Member States.  Any person entering or leaving the EU will have to declare the cash that they are carrying if this amounts to 10,000 euros or more; this includes cheques, travellers' cheques, money orders, etc.  This will not apply to anyone travelling via the EU to a non-EU country, as long as the original journey started outside of the EU nor to those travelling within the EU.

Restaurants

New regulations are now in force in the Rome area regarding service and other charges made in local restaurants.

The restaurant must:

-  Display a  menu outside the restaurant
-  Only charge for bread if the customer specifically requests it
-  Inform the customer of the prices being charged before he/she orders
-  Show the wine list with the prices displayed
-  Give a proper fiscal receipt for the bill giving full details of the charges
-  Not make any cover charge (coperto)

Skiing

If you are planning a skiing holiday it is advisable to contact the Italian State Tourist Board for advice on safety and weather conditions before travelling.  They can be contacted at:

1 Princes Street
London W1R 9AY
Tel: 020 7 355 1557/1439

You should be aware that off-piste skiing is highly dangerous.  All safety instructions should be followed meticulously given the dangers of avalanches in some areas.  Italy has introduced a law forcing skiers and snowboarders to carry tracking equipment if going off-piste.  The law also obliges under-14s to wear a helmet and there are plans for snowboarders to be banned from certain slopes.

Further information can be obtained at the following websites:

http://www.goski.com/italy.htm
http://www.avalanches.org

You are reminded that the currency in Italy is the Euro. Further information can be obtained from Money Matters and the Euro.
The British Consulate, Venice has relocated to:

British Consulate,
Piazzale Donatori di Sangue 2/5
Venice-Mestre
30171

Tel:  (0039) 041 5055990 or (0039) 041 5069389
Fax:  (0039) 041 950254