Traveling Around Italy's Major Cities

Walking

Walking is one of the best ways to explore Italy's historic towns and cities. In fact, in Venice you can only explore on foot or by boat. In the summer hordes of tourists descend upon Italy which makes it almost impossible for cars and people to coexist. Many cities are introducing pedestrian zones or are cutting down automobile access to key tourist sights to help alleviate the danger that auto traffic poses to pedestrians.

Most historic centers, even in the largest cities, aren't that big. If you can only travel to Italy in the summer, the best time to walk is in the morning or late afternoon when you can partake in the ritual pre-dinner stroll known as the passagiata. The heat in Naples, Rome and Florence can be fierce in summer. Respite can be found in churches, cathedrals and museums during the hottest part of the day. Milan and Venice have somewhat more moderate temperatures.

In most of the major cities you can find guided walking tours for common sights as well as for more specific interests like food, shopping, art, churches, etc. The local tourist office should be able to provide you with information on walking tours.

Self-guided walking tours are another good way to get the most out of your visit like City Walks: Rome: 50 Adventires on Foot or Walk With Me or A Self Guided Audio Walking Tour of Pisa and Lucca, Italy or Brunetti's Venice: Walks with the City's Best-Loved Detective.

Walking allows you to explore nooks and crannies that you could never find any other way. It's good for your health and good for your appetite, and Italy is one place you want to have a good appetite.

Buses and Trams

Virtually every city and large town has a local bus system. They are cheap, comprehensive and efficient. Most buses are painted bright orange and operate from around 6AM until Midnight. Bus stops are called fermate. Signs at bus stops can list full details of the routes they serve although this is not always the case, and sometimes bus schedules are hard to come by. The local tourist office may be the best source for bus information.

Tickets must be purchased before boarding. They are available at kiosks, tobacco stores and bars that display the sign of the bus company. You can also purchase day- or week-long passes or tickets. You have to validate your ticket when you get on the bus by punching it in one of the machines located at the front and back of the bus or face a fine from the ticket police that ply the buses and trams on a regular basis.

Only Rome and Milan have trams, but they are worth exploring. Rome has six lines remaining out of what was once the largest tram system in Italy. Milan has nineteen lines that criss cross the city and is a big part of the public transport system . The beauty of trams is that they take you away from the historic city centers and out into neighborhoods that tourists never see. They can be an adventure unto themselves. Tickets for trams are the same as those for buses.

Metropolitana

Subway systems known as metropolitana (la metro) are found in Rome and Milan. Rome's system consists of only tw lines, A and B. Several stations are useful for key sights like the Colosseum and St. Peter's Basilica. At peak time, the metro is the best way to cross the city quickly.

Milan's subway system is more extensive with three principal lines -- MM1, MM2 and MM3. These three lines provide easy access to most of Milan's major sights.

Tickets are available from the same sources as bus and tram tickets.