Italy from the Inside

Italian public phones are virtually gone

Italians are great talkers, so it’s no wonder that when the first cell phones came on the market they were welcomed in such a warm way. Cell phone market penetration in Italy is one of the highest in the world, with the result that public phones (telefoni pubblici) are getting less popular by the day. Today, public phones that exclusively work with either prepaid cards or coins (in the denominations of €0.10, €0.20, €0.50 and €1) have virtually disappeared.

Italian public phone- Italy from the Inside

A public phone that works with either coins or prepaid cards

The most recent public phones are enabled for credit card use and have a display that tells you the cost of the call (chiamata). The location of public phones can be found online by inserting the name of the city and an address. You will notice though that many are not active anymore.

CC pay phone- Italy from the Inside

Public phone accepting credit cards and coins

{This is an excerpt from chapter 10 “Telephones, computers and Wi-Fi” of the eBook “Italy from the Inside. A native Italian reveals the secrets of traveling in Italy”. To buy our eBook click here}

Do you need an International Driving Permit to drive in Italy?

Driving in Italy- Italy from the Inside

Photo by Francesca Tosolini

Today my daughter will do her final driving test (lots of adrenaline flowing right now), which made me think how easy it is to get a driver’s license here in the States compared to Italy. In Italy the written test is extremely hard to pass: you need to study from a 200+ page manual, besides attending Driver’s Ed classes and do the usual practice. In the end, the total cost is between €750 and €900.

But can you drive in Italy using your driver’s license?

Members of the EU can use their own driver’s license to drive in Italy. All the other tourists, including those from the United States, need an International Driving Permit (IDP) in addition to their own driver’s license. Contact your local AAA (or the American Automobile Touring Alliance) to get an IDP. You will need to fill out a simple form, present 2 original passport pictures, and a $15 fee. Don’t forget to bring your own (valid) driver’s license as well. It’s important to know that the IDP does not replace your US driver’s license; you must still carry it with you when you travel in Italy. Keep in mind that, even though many times rental car companies and policemen don’t ask you to show it, you may still need an International Driving Permit when you pick up your rental car or if you are stopped at a police roadblock because it is required by law since 2005. So, it is a good idea to get one, just to be on the safe side.

That said, I’ve heard of American tourists who drove in Italy without having one and had no problem even when they got stopped by the police. I even heard of an American friend of mine who moved to Italy and got her official Italian driver’s license after years (and I mean a lot of years, like 10 or something…). My suggestion, and it is just a personal point of view, is to get one anyway simply because it is so easy and inexpensive to do.

{This is an excerpt from chapter 2 “Driving in Italy” of the eBook “Italy from the Inside. A native Italian reveals the secrets of traveling in Italy”. To buy our eBook click here}

Bringing small kids to the restaurant in Italy

Traveling with kids in Italy- Italy from the inside

Photo by Francesca Tosolini

Before jumping into the information, let me tell you something about the photo above. In 2014 we were visiting Sicily, when one evening, while we were taking a walk after dinner (and after gelato) on the streets of Noto, we saw this group of Italian dads pushing the stroller. We thought that they were so cute that we asked them to stop and pose for a picture. Now tell me, how many times have you seen five dads in a row pushing a stroller??? Needless to say, they were very gracious (as all Sicilians are) and accepted with pleasures. That said, let’s talk about what happens if you go to an Italian restaurant with small children.

If you travel with kids don’t expect a high chair (seggiolone) to be in every restaurant you visit. Also, consider yourself lucky if there is a changing table (fasciatoio) in the restroom. Even though restaurants in Italy don’t have many kid-friendly facilities, restaurant managers are usually very friendly and sympathetic and will try to help you as best as they can, like providing smaller portions if there isn’t a child menu or cushions in case a high chair is not provided.

{This is an excerpt from chapter 3 “Italian cuisine” of the eBook “Italy from the Inside. A native Italian reveals the secrets of traveling in Italy”. To buy our eBook click here}