Italy is one of the most renowned countries in the world. It is the capital of fashion in the world, particularly Milan and brought us some of the most renowned foods such as spaghetti or pizza which has a special place in the hearts of everyone. Some of the most famous landmarks such as the Colosseum or the Leaning Tower of Pisa come from Italy. All the roads lead to Rome, this ancient city for a very long time predating our current era, was the heart of Europe until its importance diminished after the fall of the Empire and regained it only in the 9th century to be once again the center of the world. Italy is an incredible place to visit however there are various risks and hazards involved when exploring the country.

Traveling info

Because Italy is a member of the Schengen convention all members of this agreement may move freely to Italy for tourist, business, starting a new life or any other purposes without the requirement to obtain any sort of a visa document. The only document required to cross the border is an ID card. There are several countries which are outside of the European Union however they are a part of the Schengen convention. These are Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Switzerland. Nationals of countries who are not part of this convention are required to obtain a Schengen visa that will allow them to move freely within the boundaries of the Schengen convention nations. (list of countries in sources). Schengen visa is normally admitted once per half a year for a duration of 90 days. Schengen visa holders can not work or study during their stay within the Schengen boundaries. Tourists who decide to drive in Italy must have their domestic license, certificate of insurance and car registration with them at all times whilst driving. An international driving permit is generally not required unless the license is written in non-Roman scripture. Citizens of the EU should carry their national ID card whilst the citizens of nations outside of the EU must carry their passports with them for identification.

Traveling hazards

Driving in Italy is generally safe. Road conditions are excellent with an extensive highway and secondary road infrastructure. The roads are well paved and well maintained. Secondary and rural roads in the mountainous areas, however, may be narrow and steep with some of them lacking any guardrails. It is advised to drive with care on these roads and particularly to watch out for other vehicles. Drivers however in Italy tend to be somewhat careless. Traffic violations are common, primarily speeding and parking violations. Mopeds, scooters, and bicycles are very popular particularly in Rome and other major cities in the country. It is important to stay vigilant particularly in cities when scooters attempt to take over from any side of the car. Citizens of countries outside of the EU are expected to pay fines on the spot. Citizens of the EU, however, will receive their fines by post.

Environmental hazards

Italy has vast fauna. Its diverse landscape is a mixture of mountains and lowlands allowing various species to thrive in the wild. There are two species of bears inhabiting the peninsula and two of them may be very dangerous for humans. The American brown bear and the European brown bear inhabit the mountainous areas of Italy. Sightings of these large carnivores are rather rare however an encounter may be unpleasant. These animals usually avoid areas of human activity, therefore, meeting them on popular tourist tracks is rather uncommon. The Italian wolves inhabit the stretch of Apennines from the south all the way to the northern Alps. These animals avoid contact with humans making encounters very rare however lone hikers in the mountains may become a target of these pack hunters. It is advised to stay on tourist trails while hiking in the mountains. There are 4 vipers species which have venom potent enough to kill humans. These snakes are spread throughout Italy however northern parts of the country particularly mountains are free of these reptiles. These 4 are the asp viper, the European adder, meadow viper and most dangerous of all the horned viper which inhabits only the border areas with Slovenia and Croatia. It is advised to avoid all encountered snakes. In case of a bite medical help should be sought as soon as possible. It is generally safe to swim in Italy. Most beaches are guarded and have a system of flags which indicate current conditions. It is advised to avoid swimming on unguarded beaches, although the Mediterranean is generally safer and has weaker currents than those experienced on the ocean coast, certain places may be deceiving and dangerous. Shark attacks are rare however these are a very real possibility with one fatal attack as recently as 2015. It is important to avoid swimming with bleeding cuts or wounds and to avoid swimming after dusk as these creatures tend to be most active at that time. Italy as one of the few in Europe experiences volcanic activity. There are three active volcanoes in the country, Mt Stromboli, Mt Etna, and Mt Vesuvius. All of these may possibly erupt with two of them endangering vast urban areas such a Neapoli. Earthquakes are also a possibility in Italy and particularly strike the areas around volcanoes with Neapoli again being the most critically endangered urban area. Floods also strike parts of the country greatly damaging urban areas and infrastructure.

Health hazards

As of May 2nd, 2018, there is an outbreak of measles in Italy. The routine vaccines aka MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) are strongly recommended when traveling to the country. There are other vaccines which are not required but strongly recommended. These are typhoid A and B and rabies vaccine. Healthcare system in Italy is on a modern European standard. Both the private and the public sector will deliver a high quality of service. Although the public service is free for the citizens of Italy, for the expats it is not and payments are expected for all kinds of service. The holders of the European health insurance cards will be treated in public facilities without the requirement of paying. Private hospitals, however, will expect a payment, therefore, it is best to consider purchasing health insurance that will also cover private hospitals for maximum safety.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

Italy is generally a safe country. Violent crime is rare despite the stories of the Sicilian mafia which made the country infamous for a crime. Petty crime however particularly in tourist areas is alive and well. Tourists are targeted by criminals in hope of economic gain. Pickpocketing, bag snatching and stealing unattended goods in common. To avoid falling a victim of petty crime it is best to stay low key and not to expose signs of wealth by wearing flashy jewelry or being indiscreet with money. Wearing money belts helps to keep cash out of sight and greatly reduces the chances of being pickpocketed. The recent influx of illegal refugees has made it dangerous to explore beaches at night for both couples or solo travelers. Solo female travelers are particularly advised to avoid secluded places at night as instances of rape have been recorded. Such occurrences are rare, but unfortunately a possibility. Crowded tourist areas are the safest places to explore at night. Although narcotics are not legal in Italy, possession of small amounts is decriminalized and does not fall under the criminal offense category. Punishments are rather in the form of small fines than prison sentences.

Summary

This incredible country is one not to be missed. Some of the most prominent ancient structures of civilization that has shaped Europe can be witnessed in Italy along with an incredible culture and cuisine. The country boasts both of the best. Summer and winter holidays provide seasonal attractions for visitors from all over the world. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/italy-visa/
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/italy
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/measles-italy