Air
Alitalia
(AZ) and other airlines run services to all the major cities. There
are over 30 airports. For details, contact the airlines direct or
ENIT, the Italian
State Tourist Office.
Sea
Italy’s principal ports are Ancona, Bari,
Brindisi, Cagliari, Catania,
Civitavecchia, Genoa, Livorno, Messina, Naples, Palermo, Pescara,
La Spezia, Trieste and Venice.
A number of car and passenger ferries operate throughout the year
linking Italian ports.
Regular boat and hydrofoil services run to the islands of Capri,
Elba, Giglio, Sardinia,
Sicily and the Aeolian Islands.
There are also some links along the coast.
Rail
There are nearly 16,000km (9400 miles) of railway track in the country,
of which more than half is electrified. The Italian
State Railways (FS) runs a nationwide network at very reasonable
fares which are calculated on the distance of travel, and there
are also a number of excellent reductions.
Rail
Passes
There is a new rail pass, the Trenitalia Pass,
which is now the only pass available to people resident outside
of Italy (it supersedes the old Italy Flexicard, Railcard and Kilometric
ticket). This allows from four to ten days of unlimited travel within
a two-month period. Any of the trains in Italy can be used, although
a small supplement is payable on Eurostar Italia services. The pass
also entitles the holder to discounts on some Italy to Greece ferry
routes, hotels and other special offers. Both first- and second-class
passes are available. Children aged from four to eleven pay half
the adult fare, and there is a reduced-rate Youth Pass for travellers
aged under 26.
For further information, contact Trenitalia
or Railchoice
(telephone number: (020) 8659 7300; fax number: (020) 8659 7466;
e-mail: sales@railchoice.co.uk
or Freedom
Rail (telephone number: (0870) 757 9898; fax number: (01253)
595 151; e-mail: sales@freedomrail.com.
Road
There are more than 300,000km (185,500 miles) of roads in Italy,
including over 6000km (3700 miles) of motorway (autostrada) which
link all parts of the country. Tolls are charged
at varying distances and scales, except for the Salerno–Reggio
Calabria, Palermo–Catania and Palermo–Mazara Del Vallo
stretches, which are toll-free roads.
Secondary roads are also excellent and require no tolls. Road signs
are international. Many petrol stations are closed 1200-1500 hrs.
Visitors are advised to check locally about exact opening times.
More information on the Italian motorway network is available from
the Società
Autostrade.
Traffic
regulations
Traffic drives on the
right. Speed limits are 50kph (30mph) in urban areas, 90/110kph
(55/65mph) on country roads, 130kph (80mph) on motorways. Undipped
headlights are prohibited in towns and cities, but are compulsory
when passing through the tunnels. All vehicles must carry a red
warning triangle, available at border posts.
Note:
Fines for speeding and other driving offences are on-the-spot and
particularly heavy.
Breakdown service:
In case of breakdown on any Italian road, dial 116 at the nearest
telephone box. Tell the operator where you are, your plate number
and type of car and the nearest Automobile Club of Italy (ACI) office
will be informed for immediate assistance.
Documentation
Visitors must either carry an international Green Card
for their car or motor vehicle (also for boats) or other insurance.
A UK driving licence and EU pink format licences are valid in Italy
but green-coloured licences must be accompanied by an International
Driving Permit.
Motorcycles no longer require customs documents, but refer to the
customs regulations above. A driving licence or a motorcycle driving
licence is required for motorcycles over 49cc. By law Passengers
are required to wear seat belts.
Customs
regulations
Visitors must carry their log-book, which must either be in their
name as owner, or have the owner’s written permission to drive
the vehicle. Customs documents for the temporary importation of
motor vehicles (also aircraft and pleasure-boats) have been abolished.
Bus
Excellent coach services run between towns and cities and there
are also extensive local buses, including good services on Sicily
and Sardinia. In more remote areas, buses will usually connect with
rail services.
Car hire
Self-drive hire is available in most cities and resorts. Many international
and Italian firms operate this service with different rates and
conditions. With the larger firms, it is possible to book from other
countries through the car hire companies, their agents or through
the air companies. Generally, small local firms offer cheaper rates,
but cars can only be booked locally.
Many car hire agencies have booths at the airport or information
in hotels. Avis has offices in Rome at 38 Via Sardegna
(telephone number: (06) 4282 4728; fax number: (06) 7934 0095).
Many special-rate fly/drive deals are available for Italy.
Taxi
Services are available in and between all cities.
Urban
transport Elsewhere
In the big towns and cities such as Genoa, Milan,
Naples, Rome, Turin
and Venice there are excellent public transport
networks.
Underground
In Rome there are two underground lines –
Metropolitana A from Via Ottaviano via Termini
station to Via Anagnina and also connecting with the new Ottaviano-San
Pietro link; and Metropolitana B, which runs between
Termini Station, via Exhibition City (EUR) (Via Laurentina) and
then onwards to Rebibbia. Both day and monthly passes are available.
Line B was expanded considerably at the beginning of the 1990s,
when ten new stations were added to its network. Line A has been
expanded much more recently to include five new stations via the
Ottaviano-San Pietro connection. Milan also has a three-line underground
system, with tickets useable on both underground and bus.
Tran
There is a 28km- (17-mile) network consisting of eight routes in
Rome; Milan, Naples
and Turin also have tram services.
Bus
Services operate in all main cities and towns; in Rome,
the network is extensive and complements the underground and tram
systems. The fare structure is integrated between the various modes.
Flat-fare tickets and weekly passes can be bought in advance from
roadside or station machines or from tobacconists (tabacchi). More
information is available from the ATAC booth in front of the Termini
station. Trolleybuses also run in a number of other towns. In larger
cities, fares are generally pre-purchased from machines or tobacconists
(tabacchi). Bus fares – generally at a standard rate per run
– can be bought in packets of five or multiples and are fed
into a stamping machine on boarding the bus.
Taxi
Available in all towns and cities. Government-regulated
taxis are either white or yellow. Visitors should avoid taxis that
are not metered. In Rome, they are relatively expensive,
with extra charges for night service, luggage and taxis called by
telephone. All charges are listed on a rate card displayed in the
cab with an English translation. Taxis can only be hailed at strategically
located stands or booked by telephone. A 10 per cent tip is expected
by taxi drivers and this is sometimes added to the fare for foreigners.
City tours
Rome: Run by many travel agencies, these tours
allow first-time visitors to get a general impression of the main
sights and enable them to plan further sightseeing. Information
is available from the local tourist office. Horse-drawn carriages
are available in Rome. Charges are high.
Venice:
Privately hired boats and gondolas are available, as well as a public
ferry service. |
