Is Driving in the Italian Lake District that bad
Aug 20th, 2001, 07:10 PM
#1
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Is Driving in the Italian Lake District that bad
I've read in travel books that driving around the lakes is quite dangerous. Is this true. Most postings on this site I've read have recommended driving around this area. <BR> <BR>Or do you think taking ferries is just as convenient and alot safer?
Aug 20th, 2001, 08:26 PM
#2
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It just requires patience, and lots of it. The best scenic roads are extremely narrow, resulting in frequent gridlock, whilst the locals work out, as noisily as possible, how to reverse the offending truck or bus that is taking up too much road space to allow others to pass in either direction. Expect to average less than 20 mph - on a good day.
Aug 21st, 2001, 07:08 AM
#3
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I agree with the previous post. It is extremely slow going, and the driver will not be able to see much of the scenery since it's not safe to take one's eyes off the road for more than a second because of the narrow roads and numerous turns. As long as the driver pays attention, it shouldn't be dangerous. However, it's very intensive driving. There are many small towns to stop in along the way to break up the trip. Ferries are a great way to supplement your experience and also give you a different vantage point. We (I) drove and also took ferries for sightseeing.
Aug 21st, 2001, 08:53 AM
#5
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The only problem we encountered driving around Maggiore was watching out for the waiters darting across the street with trays to serve their lakeside customers. They clearly didn't expect the cars to slow down and were stunned when we did. Other than that I thought it was pretty normal Italian driving - fairly fast whenever it was possible, congested in towns, and very good roads. Going everywhere by boat only would be very limiting, I should think.
