Visiting Italy Advice?

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greygalan

Spent a month in Roma and the Umbria region last summer. I'm 40 and was travelling with my wife and some of her family.

We stayed on Via Flavia near embassy row. Italians in Roma are no more or less friendly than people in any city that size. Most of the people we conversed with were very friendly, otherwise it's just the general crowd.

Can't think of the name of the sort of ancient part of town south of the Colleseo that's so active at night but we walked around there on a weeknight until 3AM there were people everywhere and it felt very safe compared to any US city in the same circumstance.

Saw very very few panhandlers. However, Gypsies will pick your pocket on the subway, around the train stations, and on side streets a block or two from Vatican city. Seriously, they are brazen and will absolutely steal anything not secrued, we witnessed it and were warned everywhere.

I love Italy and will return, my primary advice is get out into the countryside, Orvieto is an idyllic village to see.

The only rudeness we saw was at the Da Vinci International leaving, some natives were very rude to other Americans. Italians generally have no respect for order in line or cue, they will cut in front of anyone and ignore you if you say anything. We saw and experienced this all over Roma. Not the case in the country.

Enjoy the food it's the best in the world.

yecart2301

Although Italy has had a "No Smoking In Public Places" law in place for 3 years, Italians do not abide by this and smoke everywhere, including inside restraurants. So expect to get a lung full.

There are very few public toilets in Italy. You will find them inside big tourist places like the Vatican in Rome and the Uffizi in Florence but be prepared to queue. You may use the facilities in cafe's and restaurants if you buy something. You will find some on the train stations and some automatic ones in some villages, but mostly you have to pay 50 cents to use them and I never found one that worked. Your best bet is to find a MacDonalds where you can use them for free.

Wear sensible shoes. All the roads and footpaths are cobblestones and difficult to walk on.

Take a water bottle and refill with tap water. The water is good and expensive to buy.

In general, ask open questions, ones that require more than Yes or No. They do not tend to elaborate, and this can seem rude to the English speaking world.

Hope this is helpful. Have a great time.

elaineke2002

It really depends on where you are going as customs, manners, sights differ greatly from town to town and city to city.

Most Italians speak French and many now also speak English so just be polite and ask firstly in Italian if they speak English (Scusate parlate l'inglese?)

most Italians like to be spoken to in formal tones so try to be polite.

When are you coming to Italy? At the moment we are having really good weather with everyday in the 70's but it gets chilly at night, especially if you are near the sea.

If you want more information you could visit http://irlanda.freeforums.org/

an Irish Italian forum which also has a space dedicated for visitors to Italy, advice, stories, City guides from foreigners who live in Italy!

Hope this helps and have a nice trip

Ana

I just recently went to Italy. We went to Rome and a couple islands there.
The local Italian people in Rome love children, they give out free lollipops to them and other free stuff. I definitely recommend The Colosseum, and St. Peters. You should definitely buy or bring if you already have their bolt for plugging into the wall since they have a different one, instead they only have two holes and an American bolt won't work.

dudi

be secure, people will try to scam u sometimes
just sometimes all you have to do is be cautious

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