Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Traffic
Driving into and around Milan can be nerve-wracking at first, as it seems to have a cavalier dodgem-cars element to it.
Motorcyclists should be prepared for anything in the cities. Traffic is dense and the signposting is not always immedi-
ately clear.
In other cities around the region, things are calmer. Pedestrians should be watchful, as drivers will not always auto-
matically halt for them at crossings.
Traffic can be heavy on most minor roads across the region, particularly in summer. Some mountain and lakeside
roads are narrow, particularly around Lakes Como and Garda, traffic can be heavy and you'll be sharing the road with
everything from buses to bicycles. Be prepared for some poorly lit tunnels at the northern end of Lake Garda.
Pollution
Noise and air pollution, caused mainly by heavy traffic, can be a problem in Milan. A headache after a day of sightsee-
ing is likely to be caused by breathing in carbon monoxide, rather than simple tiredness. On especially bad days, traffic
is halved by allowing only vehicles with odd- or even-numbered plates to drive on alternate days.
Telephone
Direct international calls can easily be made from public telephones by using coins or a phonecard. Generally, it is
cheaper to use your country's direct-dialling services paid for at home-country rates (such as AT&T in the USA and Tel-
stra in Australia). Get their access numbers before you leave home. Alternatively, try making calls from cheap-rate call
centres or using international call cards, which are often on sale at newspaper stands. Skype, VoIP and other internet-
based options can be used in some internet cafes.
Useful Phone Numbers & Codes
ITALY
Telephone area codes in Italy begin with 0 and consist of up to four digits. The area code is followed by a number made
up of anything from four to eight digits. The area code is an integral part of the telephone number and must always be
dialled, even when calling from next door.
Mobile phone numbers begin with a three-digit prefix such as 330. Toll-free (free-phone) numbers are known as
nu-
meri verdi
and usually start with 800. Non- geographical numbers start with 840, 841, 848, 892, 899, 163, 166 or 199.
The range of rates for these makes a rainbow look boring - beware that some can be costly. Some six-digit national rate
numbers are also in use (such as those for Alitalia, rail and postal information).
To call Italy from abroad, call the international access number, Italy's country code and then the area code of the loca-
tion you want, including the leading 0.
Some useful codes include:
»
International access code
00
»
International direct dial code
00
»
International dialling code
39
»
International directory enquiries
176
