Bonus Chapter: Parking & Driving in Italy

Italy is a fabulous, beautiful place.  Most everything is done with flair - scenery, architecture, food, wine and, yes, cars!  But what about driving and parking those cars?

We have a few photos to share our thoughts and experience.

This is an example of the one-way, narrow streets of Salerno, and frankly, in most cities in Italy.  When cars are parked along one side, there's barely enough room for traffic to pass through.  Imagine the city buses coming along here!  It is a very busy bus route! Having said that, it all seems to work.

This is a one-way street outside of our apartment in Napoli.  Apparently, motorcycles get a free pass to go whatever direction they want!  

The Mercedes Benz in this photo below was too wide to get through on this street in Trapani.  It had to back up and find some other access point!

Now, on the left below is the street to our hotel in Ragusa... 

...and on the right is a picture of our relatively large rental car that we had to navigate between the parked cars and the steps.  Can you hear the music of "Mission Impossible"?

Here's an example of parking in Erice.  I guess you have to back into the space?!

Only in Italy would you find a stylish hearse!

Gotta love these little trucks!

These teeny cars look the same at the front as they do at the back! They might even be small enough to pack up and carry in your purse!

Here's a parked car in Ragusa.  Maybe one more inch backwards?! Yikes!

Great parking spot for your Alfa Romeo.  Right in the middle of the Piazza del Duomo!

This parking job is consistent with the theory of "leave your car anywhere you want"!

 

So, all in all, it's VERY different driving and parking in Italy.  I found the driving between cities relatively straightforward and similar to North American superhighways. Some secondary roads are lovely to drive and allow you to venture into the countryside to visit small towns and villages.  But parking and driving within cities and towns is crazy - so a car can transform very quickly from a convenience to a real nuisance. What's our best advice, you ask? 

Wherever you can, (and it may not always be possible) explore options other than renting a car.  Public transit services, both inter-city and within cities (trains, subways, buses), are excellent.  Taxis are great for short hops and private drivers are highly recommended worry-free options for wine-tasting tours.  

But the best of all has to be walking.  There's so much to see and do.  Plus it has the added advantage of engaging with the locals!  Now how can you beat that?