Italy Warnings Or Dangers

 
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Most Viewed Warnings Or Dangers in Italy

26.

Pickpockets and Purse-Snatchers   Rome

Pickpockets and Purse-Snatchers, Rome

 171 Reviews  It didnt happen to me yet however i heard my dad saying on our trip on bus 64 that goes from the vatican to termini that on this bus there are many pickpockets.I also overheard once that the airport... 

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27.

Acqua Alta   Venice

Acqua Alta, Venice

 37 Reviews  Venetians are used to carrying on their lives during times of Aqua Alta (High Water). Although most common between October and early March, It isn't unknown for it to occur at other times. Raised... 

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28.

Pickpockets   Florence

Pickpockets, Florence

 53 Reviews   Pickpockets are everywhere, especially where tourists like to hang out – so take common sense precautions as you travel in Florence. - Don’t flash your valuables around – expensive camera equipment,... 

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29.

Central Station   Milan

Central Station, Milan

 16 Reviews  Having read so many horror stories about Stazione Centrale Milan I think it's a good idea to make a tip about it. Context: I am a solo middle-aged female traveller. I am European. Milan Centrale is... 

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30.

Other   Verona

Other, Verona

 14 Reviews  Most attractions and other buildings, some shops etc will be closed on a Monday But don't worry, there's still plenty to see and do, especially a lazy walk between the piazzas or some people watching... 

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31.

The dogs   Pompeii

The dogs, Pompeii

 12 Reviews  While we were there in April 2010 the signs around Pompeii were quite clear. The dogs have started out as strays but have been 'adopted' by Pompeii which has been establlished as a dog sanctuary. All... 

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32.

The Tower   Pisa

The Tower, Pisa

 18 Reviews  I have never felt the need to climb the Tower, but you may. You will certainly need to book your ticket online in advance. Tower tickets are strictly limited per day, and are frequently block-booked... 

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33.

Historic Centre: not always a safe place!   Genoa

Historic Centre: not always a safe place!, Genoa

 8 Reviews  I lived in Genoa for 6 months on a yacht that was being refitted in Amico yard. There were 8 yachts where the crews were friendly - a total of about 50 crew members all from Aus, NZ, SA, Brits and all... 

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34.

Beggars and Cons   Rome

Beggars and Cons, Rome

 95 Reviews  Types you'd least expect to rob you blind will in the Rome train station - and the cops now it well, so beware - nobody official cares. There's a con where a seemingly nice young man offers to help... 

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35.

Pickpockets, etc   Venice

Pickpockets, etc, Venice

 25 Reviews  I strongly advise against carrying pepper spray and similar. Only very low doses (10%) are currently legal in Italy and they are more likely to enrage a thief that disable him (or her). Furthermore,... 

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36.

Shopping   Florence

Shopping, Florence

 14 Reviews  I don't really know what happened; my Italian isn't good enough, and the shopkeeper couldn't/wouldn't speak English. But is was a most unpleasant experience, and possibly worth relating as a... 

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37.

Pick Pockets   Milan

Pick Pockets, Milan

 25 Reviews  Mugging is rare in Italy but pickpockets are common and extremely skilled, especially in Naples, Rome and Milan, with Florence close behind. Organise your valuables so that pickpockets can't get at... 

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38.

Pick Pockets   Verona

Pick Pockets, Verona

 5 Reviews  This is Portoni della Bra, the City Gate - entrance into the Centro Storico of Verona. This part of the town is very crowded with thousands of tourists, also it is crowded with pickpockets too. Be... 

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39.

Pickpokets   Pisa

Pickpokets, Pisa

 16 Reviews  A trip to Tuscany was spoiled yesterday when my girlfriend's purse was stolen on the bus back to the airport. It's not as if we weren't aware of the dangers and what to look out for, but she realised... 

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40.

Train Stations   Rome

Train Stations, Rome

 26 Reviews  Many stairs to negotiate. As an elderly single lady traveling alone with relatively heavy baggage I was helped by a young Brit traveling with his girl friend. I suggest to elderly travelers, arrive or... 

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41.

Pigeons   Venice

Pigeons, Venice

 46 Reviews  Many tourists seem to delight in feeding the local pidgeons. Some even lie flat on the ground in St Mark's square and somewhat bizzarely cover themeselves in crumbs. Well, each to their own but... 

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42.

Traffic   Florence

Traffic, Florence

 18 Reviews  They are like bees buzzing around Florence. The drivers of these mopeds think they are immune to the law, so it is not unusual for them to drive up the street in the wrong direction. So, if you should... 

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43.

Traffic   Milan

Traffic, Milan

 12 Reviews  Driving car in Milan might be adventure (a nightmare) for you because of a very huge traffic. However, if you want to test your nerves and courage you are welcom in the club. The best entrance in the... 

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44.

Traffic   Verona

Traffic, Verona

 2 Reviews  Do not drive all around the arena, since you may get ticketed. There are unidentified places where it is tourist-pedestrian only, and no vehicles allowed, but the markings would not show that for you... 

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45.

Prices   Pisa

Prices, Pisa

 8 Reviews  On our way home from a trip to Florence we visited Pisa and wandered up the street away from the cathedral looking for somewher for lunch. We went into a modern, nice looking restaurant with friendly... 

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46.

Proper dress   Rome

Proper dress, Rome

 12 Reviews  There is a dress code if you are to visit St. Peter's Basilica. Shorts are not allowed for men or women, Tank tops, bare shoulders or short skirts are not permitted. Dress appropriately or they will... 

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47.

Taxis   Florence

Taxis, Florence

 3 Reviews  Even with the taxis using meters I got ripped off three times. Once was by not being familiar with the city and I took a taxi from the train station to the Hotel--which was 5 blocks away! It still... 

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48.

Lockers   Pisa

Lockers, Pisa

 1 Review  There is a place at the trainstation to store the luggage, B U T : it is OUT OF ORDER due to the attacks of Sept. 11th. Recently at least the counter was reopened again, where you may hand over your... 

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49.

Traffic   Rome

Traffic, Rome

 59 Reviews  Crossing the road in Rome can be quite a terrifying experience for those of us who come from places where driving is a little less...chaotic and aggressive, let us say. There is a technique to doing... 

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50.

Police Behavior   Rome

Police Behavior, Rome

 13 Reviews  Yes, DON'T! I have to say it the other way around, "Don't Do What the Roman's Don't!" You can see Odessa standing on the steps of the King Vittorio Emanuel II monument. You will be able to see Mother... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Police controls: parking and speeding

by Trekki

I cannot stress this enough: stick to the driving and parking rules. The police is everywhere and will issue tickets. If there are rules for parking, for example that motor homes are not allowed to park, don’t park the motor home or caravan there or you can bet to find a ticket when you come back. Many villages have clear signs for residents only parking and it is also very much likely that non-residents will be fined when they park on resident car space. All towns and cities have parking space outside of the centres and it is very easy to leave the car and walk around. Bigger cities will have bus services; hill top towns will even have elevators or escalators from a big car park to the centre. Apart from that, many cities and towns often have very tiny roads which make it quite difficult to move a car if you are not used to this kind of streets.As for driving: stick to the speed signs....

Counterfeited banknotes – check twice

by Trekki

Since January 1st, 2002, the currency in many European country is the Euro, also in Italy. And since then the counterfeiters are active. European Central Bank, ECB, publishes statistics on a biannual base; the latest are the January 2011 statistics. They show that the most popular denomination is 50 €, followed by 20 € and 100 €. The discussion about safety of the Euro banknotes against counterfeiting is as old as the Euro itself, but as always it is a question of information and education. European Central Bank and the Euro country national banks do publish the security features in extended length even with videos. It does help a lot to carefully read these and remember the three words: feel – look – tilt. So it is impossible to counterfeit the banknotes 100%, because these features just cannot be copied to 100%. It is us (and the cashiers) who have this 100% in our hands and are...

Tip Photo
Endangered plants – please do not pick them!

by Trekki

Wildflowers, no matter if they grow on meadows, at creeks or in the mountains are beautiful to discover, to look at and to take photos of. But many of them are classified as endangered species and thus are forbidden to be destroyed or being picked. Unfortunately I didn’t find a proper list with photos of the endangered plants in Italy (there must be one, I am sure, maybe in Italian only), but the rule of thumb is very easy: leave the flowers where they are, admire them, take photos but don’t pick them. I know of heavy fines for tourists who have picked Edelweiss. Locals saw this, reported them and they were traced at their hotel. If you are in doubt, ask the locals and they will tell you about the protected flowers and plants. Or check with the park rangers, in case the region you visit is a national park or national reserve.The ones in my photos (taken in the mountains of Mauls,...

Tip Photo
Keep your bill for everything you pay for

by Trekki

When you pay for anything, be it meals, drinks, books and postcards, gifts, remedy, hotel room, entrance tickets, petrol, taxi drive, shopping items, well just anything for which you hand over your money, you will get a bill or check. You must keep this until you are minimum 50 metres away from the shop, hotel, taxi, supermarket etc. It is simply Italian law. The reason is that the fiscal authority wants to reduce black market money and has installed the hand over of bills for anything paid for to anyone who delivers service or sells anything. If you buy something and you won’t get the bill, ask for it. It is called ricevueta fiscale (for bill, check) or scontrino (for bon, voucher, usually in bars or enotecas). And it is not that a foreigner could claim not to have known this – the Italian guardia finanza or financial police is very strict with this. They might come and check customers...

Tip Photo
Trains

by JBOO46

I hope to save first time travelers to Italy the problems we faced our first night there. First of all, pay VERY close attention to train schedules and make sure you have PLENTY of time to get to your train. Not only do trains get crowded, but it it hard to find information on departing trains, especially if your train leaves late at night. We missed our first train to Desenzano (from Venice), and ended up having to take a commuter train with a stopover in Verano. In Verano, however, there was no information desk, and no one working to be able to tell us which platform to go to to catch our connecting train. As a result, we were running back and forth between platforms and ended up missing our connecting train, also, and having to take a taxi to get to Desenzano since we missed the last train of the night.The second tip - if you are carrying more than one bag or any heavy luggage, think...

Ticket Nazis

by iandsmith

The following is and extract from my E-mails during the journey."I thought I had seen the last of them with the one at Grotte d' Frasassi. There we had rocked up at 9.32, asked for some tickets and she of the bottom-of-the-coke-bottle glasses and concentration camp demeanour had unsmilingly glanced at the clock around which her life revolved and, in the most officious manner, uttered the words, "Next tour, 11 o'clock." You couldn't argue with that.We scarpered and returned the next day, this time at 10.47 and I couldn't help but notice there was a sign indicating that you had to be there 10 minutes before tour time. The ticket nazi dutifully checked the clock again then, to my amazement and her ultimate obvious disappointment, she looked at her watch as well for positive confirmation!Sadly, for her, having set her watch to the precisely correct second and not having the creative...

Handbags

by thegirlfromnewy

Do not buy fake handbags. It is illegal everywhere in Italy and you can be fined. there are signs everywhere. The fakes are easy to spot, you will see mostly African guys selling them on the street layouted out on sheets (on sheets so they are easily collected and moved when police come around).

self service filling stations

by kat-m

On our return to Milan airport we had to fill up the hire car. We stopped at one of these filling stations and the scotsman ran off to the toilet leaving me to do the nessecary. I put 50 euros in the machine, just then a car with 2 youths drew up and asked me if all was okay,I replied yes I had put the money in the machine, they then spoke in Italian and started pushing buttons on the machine to try and get my money out, the scotsman returned just in time and they sped off leaving me shaken to say the least. If you must use these machines make sure there are 2 or more of you around as I must have looked like an easy target.

plan on being ill for 2 days on two week trip

by delcity

i some what disagree with some ones 3-4 day rule. if a town is close or on the route that most people use to get from one town on your list to the next on the list it might make since to stop at some for a few hours or a day.if all the places he wished to see where near the western border except one near the easten border then making a short one day or less visit to the one and only near the eastern border would not be a good ideal to me.but one other thing to consider. mayor or minor illness . 5 weeks in europe you will be lucky if you have less than 5 days when you do not have a illness of some sort and you do not wish to or you are unable to travel.

Dodgy cities

by horses14

If you want to go to Milan as part of your holiday, DONT.It has a couple of boring tourist attractions and is full of thieving scumbags. There are basically hundreds of pick-pocketers and thieves just waiting to rob you and destroy your holiday.We went to a little town up north further called Bolzano and had a fantastic time.Do your homework before you go to Italy. There are some really amazing places and there are some really dodgy dangerous places that should be avoided.

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Questions and Answers

SandiM profile photo

Q:  For my 3rd trip to Italy, my mother and I are on a tight budget (food-wise). On previous visits, I'd simply select a recommended... 

Beausoleil profile photo

A: Sandi, I'm no expert on Italian eating but eating from each menu section would be an incredible feat. We always order a starter OR a dessert and then we order either a... 

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