Europe

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. Most recently 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.

In 2007 our Consular staff were aware of a number of British nationals who were the victim of a serious sexual offence in Italy.

 

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.

 
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.

Police in Europe have issued warnings that counterfeit Euro notes are in circulation on the continent.  You should take reasonable 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 will be carried out by soldiers from 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

There will be a 4 hour strike of pilots and cabin staff from 10.00am to 2.00pm on Wednesday, 25 November 2009

There will be a 24 hour strike of pilots and cabin staff on Wednesday, 9 December 2009

There will be a 24 hour rail strike starting at 21.00 hours on 12 December 2009

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 resident outside Italy.  For those who are resident in Italy the fine must be sent within 150 days.

 

In 2007 there were 5,215 road deaths in Italy (source: DfT).  This equates to 8.8 road deaths per 100,000 of population and compares to the UK average of 5.0 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2007.

 

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 currently 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.