While on our honeymoon next month, I'm thinking of renting a car to drive from Florence to Tuscany (just outside Siena)for a 4 day visit. I'm then planning a day to drive up to Lake Orta in Lombardy for a 5 night stay, finally dropping the car off in Milan. I have a manual transmission car at home, but want to know how safe driving is on the Autostrada. Does one need an international drivers license or will a U.S. one suffice. Are the routes and exits well marked for non-Italian speakers? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

My sister and I rented a car in Europe several years ago and drove from Vienna to Salzburg to Padua to Florence and then to Pisa and around the Riviera. We took certain stretches of the Autostrada. The highways are pretty safe, but the Italians drive like crazy people - very fast. Some tips - stay to the right at ALL times except when passing someone. Pass as quickly as possible and then get out of the way. Flashing one's headlights at some one in the left lane is standard. Also, the Italians keep their left hand signal on while they're passing. The signs are pretty understandable if you review a phrase book and learn a few Italian words - we actually didn't get lost at all, even driving around Florence. I wouldn't recommend renting a car if you're going city to city, but I'm sure it would be fine in the country. Biggest problem in the cities was finding somewhere to park. Regarding driver's licenses, check with the renal company to see if you need an international one. Have a great time - Florence is fantastic! <BR>

the motorist of italy stand in fear of the incompentent u.s. drivers. left lane on autostrada is for only compentent motorist,not u.s. idiots who linger in the port lane,thinking like they own it.ride the train,take a bus tour but donc'tdrive in italy if you are a typical u.s. driver.stay home and watch t.v.

Alan: <BR>Well, you've got an inkling of what not to do from Mike of cybertour's US-ophobic response. We drove the autostrada and enjoyed it. But we had heard from others re: the left, "port" lane. It's very simple: the rightmost lane is for trucks and cars doing 80kph or less. The middle lane is for those going faster, using your turn signal all the time to signal a pass. The left lane is not for rookie Americans, since there is no practical speed limit there. Always watch your rear view mirror before passing, since the Mercedes and Audis doing 180 kph come up on you awful fast, and have no mercy. If you want to run with the fastest, then go fast or get out of the way. Never, ever,ever pass on the right. Once you figure this out, you'll be fine. <BR>Actually, it makes sense to pass only on one side. Don't sweat it. You'll enjoy it, and learn from it. I needed no license other than my US one. Check on insurance, however. It is no longer automatic being charged to a gold or platinum card. As for city driving, go with the flow. As already noted, the toughest thing is finding a place to park. I do admit that on day one of our drive, I chose the Florence Sheraton because it was 100 m. from the exit of the autostrada. Two days later, it was fine. One last point: You can use credit cards and most bank cards to pay the tolls in an express lane. Good luck and enjoy the great people (except for one) and beautiful places of Northern Italy.

Do it. Hire a car. It is not problem whatsoever outside the cities. We had a car for 10 days and loved it. Drove all around Tuscany across to the Adriatic and up to Venice. Did not have a problem the whole trip. The above poster is spot on. Signage is OK, but get a good map before you go. We had a HUGE one which measured about 1 mt x 1mt. that was extreme, but very good. WE also had local maps which proved to be the best. Have fun, a car is really essential for touring Tuscany. Denise <BR>

<BR>Alan, <BR> <BR>I'll add my vote to hiring a car. It's the best way to see the small towns. To really get the flavor of Tuscany you want to stick to the small roads rather than the autostrada. On the secondary roads there is practically no traffic (until you come to large towns). It's a pleasure driving in Italy. Most of the Italians passed me by, even on small roads, but I didn't care...they were polite about it and so was I. As soon as a car was close behind me I'd look for a section of the road to pull close to the edge so the car behind could pass. I didn't feel the need for speed since I wanted to soak up the countryside. <BR> <BR>On the autostrada I stayed in the right lane almost all the time and my speed was usually 100-120 km/hour. It's amazing how fast people drive. You'd see a speck in the distance that you knew was a car miles and miles away and all of a sudden, within seconds, that car was passing you by. The really fast drivers keep their headlights on all the time and everyone uses their signals when passing. <BR> <BR>

Alan, <BR> <BR>Although I'm a Boston driver (and thus have very little fear of other drivers), I can concur with John's recommendations on how to drive in Italy. Follow them, and you'll have no problems - just keep a close eye on your rear-view mirror if you venture into the left lane. Yes, the Italians do drive extremely fast. I cruised at 100 MPH (not Km) last year from Bologna to Milan in the right-hand lane, and had my doors blown off regularly! <BR> <BR>If you're driving from Florence to Siena, forget the Raccordo (the highway) and take the SS 222. This is a two lane road known as the "Chaintigiana" (Chianti Wine Road). It meanders througth the most beautiful countryside you'll ever want to see - the heart of Chianti Classico. If you want to get the flavor and feeling of Tuscany, this is the ticket! Stop for lunch in one of the towns along the way, relax, and enjoy - it doesn't get much better!!

I agree with all of the posters. Italian Drivers are incredibly aggressive. Just obey the laws of their roads and you will be fine. Stay in the right-hand lane, and in most of italy there are only two lanes. People will pass you on the left extremely fast, so don't pass if you are timid. There are incredible places to visit in Tuscany, the drives through the Chianti region are spectacular. My husband who is a native, had never been. Can you believe that? No he looks at his country in a whole new way. There are also great places up North in the Lake region. We go to Italy yearly and usually 3 months before we leave I check many books out of the library and then sit down and plan my itinerary. So far, I have never been disappointed with my choices of destinations.

Alan: <BR> <BR>I've not driven in Italy, but have been a passenger in cars driven by an Italian. And yes, as everyone's said they do zip along at a quick pace. Maybe because I grew up in the Boston area (one of America's no.1 spots for crazy drivers), I never felt uncomfortable or nervous - even when we were hurtling down the autostrada at 160 kph. Most of your driving sounds like it'll be on the highways or in the country. My only commentary is that should you be doing any in-city driving to be prepared for how close the cars travel next to each other. When in Rome, I was always astonished at how close (seemingly inches!) that cars will pass by each other. <BR>

Alan: <BR> <BR>I've not driven in Italy, but have been a passenger in cars driven by an Italian. And yes, as everyone's said they do zip along at a quick pace. Maybe because I grew up in the Boston area (one of America's no.1 spots for crazy drivers), I never felt uncomfortable or nervous - even when we were hurtling down the autostrada at 160 kph. Most of your driving sounds like it'll be on the highways or in the country. My only commentary is that should you be doing any in-city driving to be prepared for how close the cars travel next to each other. When in Rome, I was always astonished at how close (seemingly inches!) that cars will pass by each other. <BR>

Alan- I have spent many hours on autostrade and numerous roads, driving for my import business. I agree with Julie (5/10, 8:52 PM). Driving IS SAFE on the autostrade in Italy. I always request a 5-speed and rent a small car which means it should have a "90" sign on it (watch those cars as they inform that they do not exceed 90 km)but it doesn't. Italians drive fast (115+ km)and will come right on your tail and honk while flashing brights and NOT let up UNTIL you move over! It's nerve racking, simply stay to right to avoid this. Last trip over they imposed 130 km as cap during summer only (this was four yrs. ago). I did not see many obeying this. Palermo, Rome and Napoli are the worst cities in my opinion. However, if you know where you are going you'll go with the flow, albiet, it'll be fast with the flow! <BR> <BR>Congratulations on your Miele di Luna (honeymoon. If you inform hotels this they may upgrade your room as was done on my honeymoon in Greece. <BR> <BR>Buon viaggio in Italia!

My husband and I rented a car in Firenze last October and drove throughout Tuscany and Umbria with no problem at all. Yes, Italians do drive fast but they are good drivers and use their directionals at all times. Just stay to the right on the Autostrada and try to do all day driving. I don't recommend hiring a driver, it takes a bit out of the exploring possibilities.

Absolutely! Rent the car...it is wonderful to be able to drive through that area...take the S222 out of Florence to Siena...there are so many lovely little places to pop into. I found the driving to be very sane in Italy...even the Autostrada was a pleasant surprise. My impression was that, while many Italians do love to drive fast, it just felt so much safer than here in the US. You see, when the Italians drive, they drive...they are engaged in what they are doing. They are alert and "leaning forward", which I found so much safer than in the US, where the major problem may be daydreamers, especially those who linger in the left lane...(argh!!!) In Italy, you just stay in that right lane until you want to pass, check your mirror, go around and get right back over, because there is a huge Mercedes coming up behind you, and he will let you know with those flashing headlights what you are supposed to do in Italy...get over! But they are not obnoxious about it. Wonderful driving! Loved it. By the way...don't you find that is the way with everything in that marvelous country...if you are going to drive, drive. If you are going to eat, eat. And if you are going to love, well, then...

<BR>My husband's Italian ancestry comes to life when he drives in Italy - or France or Portgual or... <BR>I hang on for dear life, and try not to look at the speedometer! They all make a 4 lane highway out of a 3 lane, and a 3 lane out of a 2 lane. Their rule seems to be "if there's a white line, drive ON it, not in between them". I noticed this in Portugal too. <BR>But you can do it, just be prepared. You'll be able to figure out the exit signs and so forth. Finding parking is awful too, and you won't want to drive in any of the cities. <BR>

Italy! Great. At least after Turkey!! <BR>When driving fast the Italians know what they are doing, in Turkey they don't care what they are doing. No honestly driving was no problem, except to say I was sitting on the right hand side of the car, just where I usually sit, when I have the steering wheel. I tried many times to change lanes, but......no wheel. The other half had it on the other side. <BR>

Alan: <BR>Definetly do it. My husband and I were just in Italy and rented a car. It was perfectly safe. After reading some earlier posts I was a little nervous. I actually found it better than some places here, as Italian drivers do not hang in the left lane holding up traffic. The slower drivers would always stay in the right lane. My husband enjoyed driving there. <BR>

Alan, do drive. It isn't as bad as many make it out to be. Just follow the advice given by other posters. You do not need an "international license" to rent or drive in Europe. A valid US driver's license is all that is required. The international license is not a license. It is just a translation of the info on your US license into many different languages and not required.