Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ticket with a credit card can often provide limited travel accident insurance and you may
be able to reclaim the payment if the operator doesn't deliver. Ask your credit-card com-
pany what it will cover. Worldwide travel insurance is available at
www.lonelyplanet.com/
travel-insurance
.
You can buy, extend and claim online anytime - even if you're already
on the road.
Internet Access
Internet access in southern Italy has improved greatly in the past few years, with an in-
creasing number of hotels, B&Bs, hostels and even
agriturismi
(farm stay accommoda-
tion) now offering free wi-fi. On the downside, public wi-fi hot spots and internet cafes
remain thin on the ground and signal strength is variable. Internet cafes charge €2 to €6
per hour.
Legal Matters
Despite its mafia notoriety, Campania is relatively safe, and the average tourist will only
have a brush with the law if robbed by a bag snatcher or a pickpocket.
Police
Contact details for police stations
(questure)
are given throughout this topic. If you run in-
to trouble in Italy, you're likely to end up dealing with the
polizia statale
(state police) or
the
carabinieri
(military police). The former wear powder-blue trousers with a fuchsia
stripe and a navy blue jacket; the latter wear black uniforms with a red stripe and drive
dark blue cars with a red stripe. The following list outlines Italian police organisations and
their jurisdictions.
»
Polizia statale
(State Police) Thefts, visa extensions and permits
»
Carabinieri
(Military Police) General crime, public order and drug enforcement (often
overlapping with the
polizia statale
)
»
Vigili urbani
(Local Traffic Police) Parking tickets, towed cars
»
Guardia di finanza
Tax evasion, drug smuggling
»
Guardia forestale
(aka Corpo Forestale) Environmental protection
Drugs & Alcohol
Under Italy's tough drug laws, possession of any controlled substances, including can-
nabis or marijuana, can get you into hot water. Those caught in possession of 5g of can-
