The Italian Travel Thread

[maxalex]

If the daughter likes cats, take her to the cat sanctuary in Rome.
It's right next to Campo dei Fiori which is where I stayed, and my kid made me take her there every day.

You’re talking about the cats in the ruins of Largo Argentina. They have been cleared out and moved (it was illegal) in advance of the new work going on now to finally make the temples accessible to the public—with new walkways, handicapped access and a museum below ground.

 

[wumpyfish]

They used have a sign (in English) please do not feed the cats, they are well taken care of.
2019, I was last in Italy and tried not to but drove into almost every city of size ZTL zone (zona traffic limitato), I still get tickets from Pisa, Roma etc and U.S law firms trying to collect for them. Has anyone ever had this happen and most importantly were you still able to rent a car?

 

[chobochobo]

We've been caught in the ZTLs in Florence and Bologna. We paid both and ever since because super obsessive about avoiding ZTLs. Do you mean can you still rent a car in Italy if you haven't paid the ZTL/fines?

 

[wumpyfish]

yes, ticket from Pisa I literally got 2 years after being there, thankfully they do not bill the car rental co and then my credit card. If i go back can I rent a car and also god forbid if I have to show a local Polizia my U.S/International drivers permit, am I going to Italian jail for unpaid tickets?

 

[wumpyfish]

In Rome I did ask the hotel near the Trevi fountain for assurances , hotel said your ok, your on the list, which also means your so f*cked. Ubers and cabbies all said everybody (locals) ignore it. It is now huge source of revenue for local municipalities

 

[wumpyfish]

Mrs Fish reminded me when we left Pisa for Menton and drove through Genoa where the bridge had collapsed and we left the autostrade and detoured through at least 10 ZTL zones. Not one ticket

 

[maxalex]

yes, ticket from Pisa I literally got 2 years after being there, thankfully they do not bill the car rental co and then my credit card. If i go back can I rent a car and also god forbid if I have to show a local Polizia my U.S/International drivers permit, am I going to Italian jail for unpaid tickets?

The car rental companies don’t care if you have unpaid fines; you can still rent a car. The police do, although it’s not like America where police “pull you over” as cameras monitor speeding and other infractions on the autostrade.

Here you are likely to encounter police only if you have an accident or breakdown. Even then, unless you are involved in a serious incident, chances are they’re not going to run your license through some database which probably doesn’t include non-EU drivers anyway.

If they do catch you with unpaid tickets you will not go to jail; they will charge your credit card for the unpaid fines and late fees on the spot, and yes they have card readers.

Generally hotel guests have a limited time window to unload in the ZTL and must follow a specific route; it’s not a free pass to drive around for the length of your stay. But every city is different.

 

[maxalex]

You’re talking about the cats in the ruins of Largo Argentina. They have been cleared out and moved (it was illegal) in advance of the new work going on now to finally make the temples accessible to the public—with new walkways, handicapped access and a museum below ground.

The cat colony is still there but in a contained zone so the renovations could be carried out. It seems to me there are fewer cats these days.

 

[chobochobo]

So far, my itinerary is UK to Catania, Palermo to Rome, Rome to UK - 3 weeks.

In Sicily, we'll go Palermo to Messina (if my tailor hasn't died), Aeolian islands, Messina, Taormina, Noto and back to Catania. Phew.

 

[romafan]

Aeolians are special - if you're on Stromboli, depending on the degree of volcanic activity, you can go out in a boat @ night and watch the lava flow. I think there is always something to see - little kids like lava, right? Lipari & Vulcano are active as well...

 

[chobochobo]

Cheers. The kid does like volcanoes. Back in January we took a plane flight to buzz White Island in NZ.

In the past, we've stayed in upper Taormina which we've enjoyed with it's Bam Bar (granite) and Roberto's cannoli. This time we may stay lower down by the coast, day trip it up to the top, and also use it as a base for Gole Alacantara, which is always fun.

Currently we've a few days at the end of the Sicily leg that we're not sure where to go. Noto (where we've only been for an evening) or back to Modica/ Ragusa, or somewhere else.

 

[romafan]

Siracusa is about the same distance from Noto (NE instead of due west). Depending where you are headed for the evening it could be anther choice. The old town, Ortigia is very cool - location of one of Sicily's 3 Caravaggios. Depending on your architectural tastes, a very nice Duomo. Excellent archeological park w/ 1st rate Greek theatre, Ear of Dionysus & more....for what it's worth, we rented a house in Brucoli, on the coast about halfway btwn Catania & Siracusa. A little sleepy, but geographically very convenient.

 

[chobochobo]

Yup, thanks. Ortigia's on the list, again. It'll be our base to go to Cavagrande del cassibile. Last time, we stayed at a hotel close to the east coast (Algila?). Details on your house in Brucoli please?

 

[romafan]

Went through The Thinking Traveler - nice house on the water. We were there for a week NY '20.

 

[chobochobo]

Cheers. Those places are nice, but big - there'll only be 3 of us.