Italy | Culture, Facts and Travel | (2023)

What makes Italy a unique travel destination?

country description

Italy is a developed democracy with a modern economy. The Holy See is a sovereign entity that serves as the ecclesiastical, governmental and administrative capital of the Roman Catholic Church and is physically located in Vatican City State in Rome, with a unique and non-traditional economy. San Marino is a developed constitutional democratic republic, also independent from Italy, with a modern economy. Tourist facilities are widespread.

crime

Italy has a moderate crime rate. You should be extra careful at night and in train stations, airports, nightclubs, bars and sidewalk cafes. Drinking excessively can impair your ability to assess situations and make decisions, making you a target for crime. Young drinkers are particularly vulnerable to robbery and physical and sexual assault.

Petty crimes such as pickpocketing, parking theft and pickpocketing are a serious problem, especially in large cities. Pickpockets sometimes disguise themselves as businessmen. You should not be fooled into a false assurance that well-dressed people are not potential pickpockets or thieves. Most of the reported thefts occur in busy tourist spots, on public buses and trains, and at the main train stations: Termini in Rome; Milan Central; Santa Maria Novella in Florence; and the Centrale of Naples in Piazza Garibaldi. For more information on trains and safety, see the Italian Railway Police travel advice. Also, beware of thefts at Milan Malpensa Airport, especially at car rental companies. Internet cafe customers in major cities are also being targeted. Be careful with your bag or purse as scooter thieves are very quick and can snatch a handbag from a moving scooter's arm. Defying these thieves can be dangerous as some tourists have suffered broken arms and collarbones.

Thieves in Italy often work in groups or pairs. Couples of accomplices or groups of children are known to draw tourists' attention to someone else in order to rob them. In a certain routine, a robber drops or spills something on the victim; a second burglar helps the victim clean up; and the third discreetly takes away the victim's belongings. Criminals on crowded public transport will slit the bottom of purses or bags with a razor blade or sharp knife and extract the contents.

Some travelers in Rome, Florence and Naples have reported incidents of criminals attacking them with drugs or robbing them. These incidents were reported near Termini train station in Rome; in bars and cafes near the Colosseum in Rome, Colle Oppio, Campo de Fiori and Piazza Navona; and in bars and cafes in central Florence and Naples. Criminals who use this tactic "make friends" with you at a train station, restaurant, cafe or bar and then offer you a drink with a sleeping pill. If you fall asleep, criminals will steal your valuables and possibly sexually assault you. Some victims of these attacks in Rome required hospitalization and two cases ended in death.

Thieves have also been known to pose as police officers in order to steal. The robber shows him a round plastic sign that says "Police" or "International Police" and then, in perfect English, demands to see his ID and money. US citizens should be aware that local police generally exit their own vehicles when speaking to the public. Additionally, covert civilian units rarely attempt to stop vehicles without a designated car accompanying them. If this happens to you, you should insist on seeing the officer's ID (document) before handing in your wallet, as this is often not the case with impersonators. Carrying forged documents You should report theft or other crimes to the real police immediately.

Be aware of the possibility of vehicle theft and theft while waiting in traffic or stopped at traffic lights. This was a particular problem in Catania, Sicily. Be especially careful when driving the streets at night when thieves are more likely to attack. US citizens have reported their rental cars stolen while stopping at freeway rest stops; Thieves break car windows and steal everything inside. Small items such as radios, luggage, cameras, briefcases and even cigarettes from parked cars are commonplace. In summer, vehicles parked near the beaches can be broken into and valuables stolen. Lock your car doors every time you park and keep packages out of sight in your car.

US intelligence in Rome is helping Italian law enforcement investigate a surge in ATM theft devices. These devices connect to legitimate ATMs, typically located in tourist areas, and capture account information, which is stored electronically on the card's magnetic strip. The devices consist of a card reader mounted above the legitimate reader and a keyboard-mounted pinhole camera that records the customer's PIN. ATMs with skimming devices installed can also allow normal transactions. The victim's information is sold, traded online, or encrypted on another card, e.g. B. a hotel key to access the compromised account.

Organized crime groups operate throughout Italy but are more widespread in the south. They occasionally resort to violence to intimidate or resolve disputes. Although the activities of such groups are not generally aimed at tourists, visitors should be aware that bystanders can be injured.

Do not buy counterfeit or pirated products, even if they are widely available. Not only is it illegal to bring the pirates into the United States, but if you buy them you may be breaking local laws.

Under Italian law, anyone caught buying counterfeit goods (e.g. DVDs, CDs, watches, wallets, bags, belts, sunglasses, etc.) faces a fine of no less than EUR 1,000. Police in major Italian cities enforce this law to varying degrees. You are advised to purchase products only from stores and other authorized retailers to avoid unknowingly purchasing counterfeit and illegal goods.

criminal penalties

When traveling in Italy, you are subject to its laws even if you are a US citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be very different from ours, and criminal penalties vary from country to country. There are also some things that are legal in Italy but still illegal in the United States; For example, under US law, you can be prosecuted if you purchase counterfeit products. Engaging in sexual activity with children or using or distributing child pornography in a foreign country is a criminal offense in the United States.

Arrest notices in the host country: You should try to be aware of local laws and their implications. If you break local laws in Italy, your US passport will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution. If you are arrested in Italy, the Italian authorities must notify the nearest US embassy or consulate of your arrest. To ensure the United States is aware of your circumstances, ask police and correctional officials to notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained abroad.

Languages

Italian is the official language. There are significant French and German speaking minorities, and some speak Slovene. Many Italians are bilingual.

Medical facilities and health information

Medical facilities are available but may be limited outside of urban areas. Public hospitals, while generally free for emergency services, sometimes do not maintain the same standards as hospitals in the United States. Therefore, it is recommended to take out an insurance that covers a stay in a private Italian hospital or clinic. Obtaining a detailed hospital bill from public hospitals, as required by many US insurance companies, is almost impossible because the Italian National Health Service charges a fee that includes nursing and room and board services.

In parts of southern Italy, the lack of suitable sites for waste disposal and incineration has led to periodic accumulations of waste in both urban and rural areas. In some cases, local residents have burned rubbish, creating toxic emissions that can exacerbate respiratory problems.

The US Navy began a public health assessment in the Naples area in 2008. After finding bacterial and chemical contamination of potential health concerns, particularly in well water samples taken from the area, the Navy recommended that all off-base personnel be moved to the Naples area to use only bottled water for drinking, cooking, making ice, and brushing teeth Water.

protection and safety

Several major earthquake faults cross Italy. Major Italian cities, with the exception of Naples, are nowhere near these errors; However, smaller resorts like Assisi are close to the fault lines and have suffered from earthquakes. An earthquake severely damaged the city of L'Aquila in 2009. General disaster preparedness information is available online from the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Detailed information on fault lines in Italy is available from the US Geological Survey (USGS).

Italy also has several active volcanoes that produce geothermal events. Mount Etna on the eastern tip of the island of Sicily has been erupting since 2000. Mount Vesuvius near Naples is currently overcast and not active. Activity on Vesuvius is monitored by an active seismic network and sensor system and no recent seismic activity has been recorded. Two of Italy's smaller islands, Stromboli and Vulcano, in the Aeolian Islands north of Sicily, also have active volcanoes with lava flows. Detailed information on volcanic activity in Italy is available from the USGS.

Politically motivated violence in Italy is often related to domestic developments or social problems. Italian authorities and foreign diplomatic bodies have found bombs in front of public buildings, received bomb threats and been the target of letter bombs in recent years. Organized crime and anarchist movements sometimes use firebombs or Molotov cocktails against buildings or offices. These attacks generally take place at night, and while they have not attacked or injured any US citizens, you should keep an eye on your surroundings and report any suspicious activity to local authorities.

Demonstrations can have anti-US sentiment. Character, especially in areas where US military bases are located. Even supposedly peaceful demonstrations can turn into confrontations and possibly escalate into violence. You should take common sense precautions and follow news reports carefully. Keep up to date by reading the embassy's demonstration notices.

Italian authorities have made several high-profile arrests involving members or allies of transnational terror groups. As in other countries in the Schengen area, Italy's open borders with its western European neighbors allow terrorist groups to enter and leave the country anonymously.

traffic safety and road conditions

In Italy, you can encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. Italy has one of the highest death rates from car accidents in the European Union. The streets of the historical centers of the cities are usually narrow, winding and congested. Scooters are very popular and scooter drivers often find themselves exempt from the conventions that apply to cars. Pedestrians and drivers must constantly be aware of the possibility of the sudden presence of a scooter. Most vehicle-related fatalities and injuries involve pedestrians or cyclists involved in collisions with scooters or other vehicles. Be extra careful when renting a scooter. You must remain alert and vigilant when walking or cycling near roads. Pedestrians should be careful as sidewalks can be extremely congested and uneven. Cyclists, motorcycles and other vehicles typically ignore road signs and traffic flows, parking and riding on sidewalks. For safety reasons, pedestrians should carefully look both ways before crossing streets, even when using a crosswalk marked with an illuminated green Avanti ("Go") light.

Road signs are limited and often disobeyed, and a different right-of-way convention is observed. Italy has over 5,600 kilometers (3,480 miles) of autostrada, or superhighways. Commercial and individual vehicles travel and traverse these well-maintained roads at very high speeds. In rural areas, a wide speed range on highways makes driving dangerous. The roads are generally narrow and often have no crash barriers. Travelers to northern Italy, especially in winter, should be aware of the fog and poor visibility that are responsible for several car accidents each year. Most Italian cars are equipped with special fog lights. Roadside assistance in Italy is excellent on well-maintained toll roads but limited on secondary roads. The use of seat belts and child restraints is mandatory and headlights must be on at all times outside of urban areas.

US citizens driving in Italy should be aware that according to Italian regulations, if a resident of a non-EU country (e.g. the United States) breaks a traffic law, the offender will be fined the The time of the violation is for the police officer issuing the ticket. If the citizen does not or cannot pay the fine at that time, the Italian regulation allows the police officer to confiscate the offender's vehicle (even if it is a rental vehicle).

For specific information on Italian driver's licenses, vehicle inspection, road tax and compulsory insurance, please contact the Italian Tourist Office (ENIT), tel: 212-245-5618; or the A.C.I. (Automobile Club d'Italia) in Via Marsala 14A, 00185 Rome, Tel: 39-06-4998-2496. Contact AAA or the American Automobile Touring Alliance for information on obtaining international driver's licenses. Visit our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the website of the Italian Tourist Office and the national authority responsible for road safety.