Comments on: Driving in Italy

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 05 May 2011 20:10:55 +0000

I’m afraid I don’t know anything about concessions for disabled drivers in Italy – especially if the disabled badge comes from outside Italy. I’d highly recommend contacting the hotel you’re going to be staying in to find out what they suggest.

By: Peter Murray

Peter Murray — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 12:48:28 +0000

Are there any concessions for Blue Badge Holders (disabled drivers) especially driving older cars in cities. What happens if your hotel happens to be in a city centre.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 22:25:49 +0000

Well, just because it’s technically a regulation doesn’t mean everyone follows it.

By: Norm

Norm — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 23:24:27 +0000

There was information saying that vehicles were required to have headlights ON day or night yet these videos showvehicles with NO lights during normal daylight conditions ????

By: Manola Padgett

Manola Padgett — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 11:29:50 +0000

Hi Jessica, Myself and three friends are going to be getting the train from Rome to florence. We then hope to hire a car to take out to the Chianti region as we have rented a villa for a week. Do you know if you can get hire cars from the train staion in Florence and if not where would be the closest to the station.
Thanking you in advance, Manola.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:00:51 +0000

Hi, Daniel:

There are two links in the article above for mapping a route in Italy – I just added my favorite one, I didn’t know about it when I first wrote the article – and I’d suggest you play with the Via Michelin site a bit to see what your potential routes are. I’d also suggest that you look up where the various rental car offices in and around Florence are. If they’re in the outskirts of the city, then you wouldn’t really have to deal with driving in the city center anyway. That would be my recommendation, anyway.

Ciao,
Jessica

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 02:29:00 +0000

Hi Jessica,

My wife and I will be in Florence in mid September this year and we are planning to spend a couple of nights in the Chianti Region. I understand that the best way to get around the Chianti region is by car, however we (mainly I) are a little apprehensive about driving out of the centre of Florence and then back when we return? – with the traffic and ZTL cameras. Can you please provide any suggestions or tips on how best to get from Florence to Chianti Greve by car?
Thank-you,
Daniel

By: Marcus, Rome Italy

Marcus, Rome Italy — Wed, 06 May 2009 08:58:49 +0000

Really comprehensive article with some great advice. Consider the page bookmarked.

I’ve lived in Rome for a couple of years now (my wife is Roman) and no matter how much I try to analyze it I still can’t understand the Italian psyche once they get behind the steering wheel (or Moped handle bars).
You’ll meet Italians at social gatherings, in Restaurants, pubs etc. and they are the merriest bunch, and then….they get into their cars…

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:42:40 +0000

Oh, I’m with you, Keith. I’m not interested in driving in Italy myself, either. But the husband loves it. Well, he loves the crazy back roads – I’m not sure even he would say he loved driving in the cities, although he does like a challenge.

By: Keith

Keith — Tue, 05 May 2009 11:35:26 +0000

What an informative post – I learned some new things!! I’m going to direct my readers here if they have questions about driving in Italy.

Aren’t cars (rental cars, especially?) required to have break-down kits, too, with those hazard flares or signs?

Personally, I can’t stand driving in Italy. Having grown up in Boston, I thought I would be prepared for any road traffic scenarios, but driving in many Italian cities and towns makes Boston driving seem “relaxed” and “easy”. However, I can see the logic if you have children to mind or travelers with mobility issues, or, as you said, renting that villa or staying in an agriturismo.