I hadn't considered the water on our trip to Italy until someone told me not to drink it. She told me it would make us sick....like Mexico's water. I have researched this and found nothing about it. Just wondering if you drank the water and if there were any issues if you did....bringing 3 kids and don't want anyone to get ill.

There's no problem with the water in Italy! Your friend is badly misinformed. In some places we did not care for the taste, but it was safe, and we have been to Italy more than a dozen times and never gotten sick.

Just not true.

Thank you for your quick replies.....

Not only is it safe, but many of Rome's famous fountains (Trevi for example) have places where you can drink and refill your water bottle in perfect safety.

The water is safe in Italy. Bottled water is always available just in case you are worried or have a system that might be extra sensitive to change.

Andrea, your friend may have gotten that impression because most Italians order bottle water when at restaurants.

The only time I had a problem was when I was in the Dolomites for over two weeks. The water was soooooo good. But it caused my bladder to completely overwork especially during the night. My friend hadn't known or didn't think to tell me I guess but later when I was again with another friend in the Dolomites she told me to not drink the water as the minerals caused one bladder to over react if their system wasn't use to the wonderful water. I wasn't ill at all but I sure didn't get much sleep the first visit.

Yes, like all the others have said, Italy's water is perfectly safe to drink. If people get sick (upset stomachs and the like) it's only to do with the fact that their internal system is not used to the water, not that there is anything itself wrong with the water.

traveltalesfromtheredheadedtraveler.blogspot.com/
(My travel writing blog!)

The waters in a few of the fountains aren't suitable for drinking - particularly those that come from Lake Bracciano and emerge at the one on the Acqua Paolo, on the way up to the Janiculum....

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/121061404

Usually however, if there is a problem, you'll find a warning sign - like this one....

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/126961104

And, obviously, don't refill your bottle from any of the basins in which the pigeons can bathe - even if they look lovely and clean!

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/imag...34152/original

Peter

Hi and.

Water in Italy, especially the big cities, is safe - even from the fountains. However, if you are concerned, don't drink from the fountains.

In addition, don't bother bringing nylon stockings, cigarettes or chocolate. The war's been over for some time now.

Ira... you made me spit coffee on my keyboard! LOL

Water's great - here's some pictures on the "nasoni", the drinking fountains in Rome!

http://tinyurl.com/water-in-rome

I drink bottled water when I travel. It's not a matter of local water being "bad" rather it is different than you are used to at home. To me it's an easy thing to help ensure a healthy stomach.

Tap water was unavailable in restaurants in Sicily. The server will simply not bring it out. It is apparently considered toilet water. So we got used to drinking bottled water whenever we ate out.

Tap water in Italy is fine. It might not taste very good in cities.

Tap water in Italy is probably safer than tap water in North America. However, it is often the different mineral contact that can set off a reaction in people who do not travel much. If your system gets "flushed," you will be just fine the next day.

contact = content

(keybord malfunction)

There is nothing wrong with the water - although you may not like the way it tastes - which varies a lot by places. If someone has a very sensitive digestive tract they may be affected by the different level of various minerals and additives.

We always drink bottled water - for the taste - and I prefer sparkling. But there is nothing unsafe about water is Italy.

Thanks so much...Ira...you crack me up! Still, with 3 kids I have to make sure we aren't running to the water closets every 15 minutes....Thanks for all the words of wisdom everyone!!!!