Anyone have experiences to share with driving thru Italy? Was thinking it would be nice to drive from Rome to Gaeta and down the coast.

A Italian told me that the speed limit was merely a suggestion. !! We have driven in Italy 2 times and havent had a problem. Everyone drives very fast but they are good drivers. Beware of Vespas. They dart in and out of traffic on all sides at high rates of speed. There are not very many parking places so people just slam on their brakes and get out when they see their destination. I have never seen anything like it in my life.!! Also at the gas stations are full cocktail bars. You can have a rum and coke while you pump gas. Remarkably we didnt see much drinking and driving.<BR>Be very careful. Keep your eyes wide open. You should be fine.. Have fun.<BR> Janda

Thanks Janda, really appreciate your comments. Can I ask which area you drove around? did you do any country driving? Tuscany, for example?

Rebecca--Do text search on &quot;Rules for Driving the Amalfi Coast&quot; for both tips and humor on driving in Italy. If you can't find it, let me know and I will top it for you.<BR>Enjoy.

I have driven from Nice France to the southern part of Tuscany on three occasions and have no reservations whatsoever to drive in Italy. With that said however, I would not drive in cities like Rome if I could help it. Keep in mind that the Autostrada's are fantastic, relatively expensive turnpikes. If you have a fear of driving on turnpikes, this is not the place for you. Most speed limits are 130km (about 80mph) on the Autostrada. Once off the Autostrada, most road are more narrow than here in the States and road numbers are hard to find. You should always know the name of the next town for best sign directions. Let me say this- most people think Italians are bad drivers when in fact they are great drivers, they just don't leave much room for error.

Hi Rebecca,<BR> We drove in northern Italy in many places. Milan, Lake Como, the Pavia area. We were staying at the Castello de Luzzano. It was way out in the country. Driving in the country side is so beautiful.That was a favorite part of the trip. We would stop in little towns and get a bite to eat.<BR>We also have driven from Florence to the Amalfi and all around that area. There were some &quot;moments&quot; of fright on that Amalfi road but all in all it was fine. <BR>

Rebecca:<BR><BR>The coastal road from Rome to Gaeta isn't as murderous as some Italian highways, but it does take some getting used to if this is your first time. There are sections of it with three lanes - the middle lane is for cars going in both directions to use for passing, and there are the inevitable near-misses, given the speed with which most Italians drive. We drove that road quite a bit a few years ago, and there was always someone speeding along in the breakdown lane as well, turning what was meant to be a two-lane road effectively into a four-lane one, including the free-for-all in the center. The scenery between towns is nothing particularly special, either, but there are some wonderful stops along the way, including Anzio, Sperlonga, Terracina, and Gaeta itelf.Just stay to the right and be alert, and you'll be fine.