<BR> 3/8/1999 <BR> <BR>We are thinking about braving the the Italian motorways.Our Plan is to drive from Santa Margherita to Florence & Sienna.Iwould appreciate some experienced feed back and alternatives.

You absolutely need a car to see the Tuscan region! The Super Strada that runs from Florence to Sienna is very nice, fast, and free. My wife and I drove all over Tuscany last year and had no problems. Don’t listen to people who tell you driving in Italy is scary; if you’ve driven in a major eastcoast city like NY or Boston you will survive. They do move along much faster though, which I liked! <BR> <BR>You definitely must checkout “San Gimmy” and Volterra. Volterra is the “classic” Tuscan Hill Town. It’s not touristy , the residents are very proud of their town; and it shows. In Voterra have a meal @ Don Betta. The carpaccio is AWESOME! <BR>

We've driven Italy from Giornico to Palermo, Naples to Vieste and never had a problem. Use common sense, I feel more at ease driving in Italy than I do driving the Dallas freeways.

I agree totally with the previous two posters. My husband and I have driven all over Italy on three separate trips and have never had a problem. yes, they drive fast---so stay to the right or pull over and let them pass. The autostradas are great highways and if you need to cover a distance or make time that's where you'll be. But for the real joy of Italy, just drive the back roads and get a little lost. <BR> <BR>Also, second the Volterra mention (there goes it's status as non-touristy!) The ride from San Gimignano to Volterra is superbly beautiful.

Driving in Italy is fine. Around where I live, there are many highways with 3 lanes in either directions. One would think that traffic would move but it doesn't. Why? Because everyone drives in either the middle lane or the left lane. The right lane is for people who like to pass dangerously on the right. In Italy, this would never do. You stay to the right, except to pass, and, when you do pass, you pass crisply and return to the right. The traffic whizzes. I love it. But, if you want to drive the American way in Italy, they will pull up behind you 6 millionths of an inch away and honk their horn - and why shouldn't they?

I agree with all of the above with one addition: in Italy, when entering the passing lane, put on your turn signal and leave it on until you are ready to signal a return to the right lane. Italians just do not "cruise" in the passing lane holding up drivers behind them -- that is annoying in the US, but totally unacceptable in Italy and they WILL let you know it. Also, don't be surprised if you see cars in each lane move to the outside of their lane to let another driver go up the middle. It is not uncommon. Italian drivers only obey rules if the rules are sensible. You might also find that in some towns (Catania comes to mind), a red light is only a suggestion -- drivers might slow down but not stop if there's no traffic coming the other way. Keep your sense of humor and read up on traffic signs and rules in any of the major travel guides. Buon Viaggio!

Barbara, You have it so right, Italian drivers will create a third lane and traffic lights are only a signal that there's an intersection. If you've negotiated the Whitestone or Throggs Neck you have it made for driving in Italy.

I am curious about the last 2 postings. I noticed none of the characteristics mentioned (running red lights, creating a middle lane) on my recent trip to Italy, which went no further south than rome. Are these things characteristic of Sicily (Catania) and perhaps Southern Italy, or did I just happen to not see anyone doing this?

Peter, I drove from Nice, France to Florence, then to Orvieto, and finally to Rome. (Hadn't planned on driving, but the Italian trains suddenly went on strike.) The cities are tough. Between cities is great, and we found some great places we had never seen before. Two things to be aware of: keep checking your rear view mirror if you drive in the left hand lane. Cars come screaming up to you if you let your speed lag. Secondly, if you're claustrophic as I am, the tunnels might give you a bit of a scare. There were a couple of tunnels that were long, deep and smokey, and my kids had to talk me through them!

mwg, I think perhaps I made it sound more dangerous than it is. The "third lane" was in stop and go traffic, we were driving to Pompeii after a night's stay in Castellammare and as we neared the A3 some drivers started driving up the middle of the road, commuters to Naples I guess. The traffic light thing occured in a couple of small towns, not running the red (and living in Plano, TX I know what that is) but simply a melding of traffic, the lights were ignored but no one was going fast enough to cause a problem.