In any type of crisis, the most important thing to do is stay calm. Your country’s embassy abroad is usually your best resource in an emergency; registering with that embassy upon arrival in the country is a good idea. The government offices listed in the Travel Advisories box can provide information on the services they offer their citizens in case of emergencies abroad.
In Italy you will mainly encounter two types of police: the polizia (☎113) and the carabinieri (☎112). The polizia are a civil force under the command of the Ministry of the Interior, whereas the carabinieri fall under the auspices of the Ministry of Defense and are considered a military force. Both, however, generally serve the same purpose—to maintain security and order in the country. In the case of attack or robbery both will respond to inquiries for help.
Needless to say, illegal drugs are best avoided altogether. In Italy, drugs including marijuana, cocaine, and heroin are illegal. An increase in cocaine and heroin addiction and trafficking have led Italian authorities to respond harshly to drug-related offenses. If you carry prescription drugs, bring copies of the prescriptions and a note from a doctor, and have them accessible at international borders. The drinking age in Italy is 16. Drinking and driving is prohibited and can result in a prison sentence. The legal blood alcohol content (BAC) for driving is under 0.05%, significantly lower than US standards, which limit BAC to 0.08%.
Italy is crossed by several fault lines, the chief one running from Sicily to Friuli-Venezia Giulia in the northeast. The country’s principal cities do not lie near these faults, though smaller tourist towns like Assisi do and thus may experience earthquakes (most recently in 1997).
Americans should be mindful while traveling in Italy, as there is some anti-American sentiment. No matter where you travel in Italy, you will likely encounter some sort of anti-American or, more likely, anti-Bush statements. It is best to err on the side of caution and sidestep these discussions. In general, use discretion and avoid being too vocal about your citizenship.
Terrorism has not been as serious a problem in Italy as in other European countries, though the general threat of terrorism still exists. Exercise common sense and caution when in crowded, public areas like train or bus stations and open spaces like piazze in larger cities. The box on travel advisories below lists offices to contact and webpages to visit to get the most updated list of your home country’s government’s advisories about travel.
 |
 |
 |
 |
For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
Facebook
Twitter
You Tube
Foursquare
Newsletter
RSS Feed
Overview