Posted: 04/August/2005 at 6:06pm | IP Logged

Civil Unrest/Political Tension

Large scale demonstrations occur with great frequency in Italy, particularly in major cities. Demonstrations can result in disruption to public transport services and the closure of buildings, particularly in tourist areas.

There continue to be isolated cases of violence in Italy, usually connected with domestic social and political issues. There have been a number of bombings directed at Italian police and the offices of prominent Italian politicians as well as other government institutions and public buildings.

Personal Security

Petty crime (including bag snatching, pick-pocketing, passport theft and theft from cars) in Italy is common, especially in larger cities and in and around major tourist attractions, on public transport and at major airports and railway stations. Thieves in Italy often work in groups or pairs to distract the victim and then steal from them while attention is diverted.

There have been cases of tourists being robbed and assaulted after accepting drugged food and drink from persons pretending to befriend them, particularly around the central railway station in Rome (Termini Station).

The number of robberies from cars, at traffic lights and at rest stops and service services on the motorways, is on the increase. There are reports of thieves staging roadside emergencies to persuade drivers to pull over. While the driver is distracted the thieves steal personal belongings.

Prior to travel, Australians should ensure they have a variety of financial options available to them including credit cards, travellers' cheques and cash. Australians should consult their automatic teller machine (ATM) card provider for information about overseas services and availability. Not all overseas ATMs accept Australian cards.

Australians should only carry sufficient cash for their daily needs, secure their valuables against theft and avoid displays of wealth at all times. Photocopies of valuables such as passport, tickets, driving licence and travellers' cheques should be kept separately from the originals.

In many countries, passports are a prime target of theft for illegal purposes. Your passport should always be kept in a safe place, as considerable inconvenience and disruption to travel plans may result from its theft or loss. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.

Local Conditions

Italy has one of the highest rates of motor vehicle accidents in the European Union. Driving speeds on Italy's superhighways or ‘autostrada’ tend to be excessive. On the spot fines are payable for a range of minor traffic offences. It is mandatory to use headlights on main roads and highways during daylight hours.

Italy is in an active seismic zone and is subject to earthquakes. Mt Etna on the island of Sicily, Mt Stromboli and Mt Vulcano in the Aeolus Island chain north of Sicily are all active. Mt Vesuvius near Naples is currently inactive but being monitored. In the event of an explosion or eruption, local authorities will provide advice.

Local Law and Customs

Australians are reminded that when overseas, they are subject to local laws. Local laws and processes can be very different from those in Australia. A violation of local laws may result in a jail sentence, served in a local prison. Consular assistance cannot override local law, even where local laws may appear harsh or unjust by Australian standards.

Some Australian criminal laws, including - but not limited to - those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, have extraterritorial effect. Australians who commit such offences outside of Australia may be prosecuted in Australia for those offences.

Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.

Entry and Exit Requirements

Visa conditions are subject to change. For up-to-date visa information, Australians should contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Italy, well in advance of travel.

Italy is party to the Schengen Agreement, along with 14 other European countries, which allows Australians to enter Italy without a visa in some circumstances. This advice should be read in conjunction with our travel bulletin on the Schengen Convention.

Under Italian law, it is compulsory for Australians planning to stay more than 8 days in Italy to obtain a Permit to Stay (Permesso di Soggiorno) from the local police station (Questura). This is a requirement separate to any visa obtained from the Italian Embassy or Consulate. The application for this permit must be made within 8 working days of arrival. Travellers who fail to do so risk being forced to leave or arrested. Australians planning to stay more than 8 days should contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Italy, or visit the Italian Police website for details on how to apply for the permit once in Italy.

Health Issues

For information on prevalent diseases and inoculations, travellers should consult their doctor, travel clinic or the World Health Organization (WHO). Further information can be found in our 'Travelling Well' brochure.

Travel and Health Insurance

Travel and health insurance is strongly recommended for all overseas travel. Travellers should check with their insurer to make sure that their policy meets their needs. In particular, travellers should seek advice from their insurer on what type of circumstances and activities are the subject of exclusions in their policy.

There is a Reciprocal Health Agreement between Australia and Italy which provides for urgent or emergency medical treatment in the public hospital system. Treatment in private hospitals or as a private patient in a public hospital is not covered under the Agreement. Nor does this Agreement provide treatment to Australians entering Italy with the specific intention of obtaining medical treatment.

The Reciprocal Health Care Agreement does not replace the need for private travel health insurance. Further information on the Agreement may be obtained from Medicare or the Health Insurance Commission.