I have forewarned my mother about some of the facilities in public bathrooms and/or restaurants in Rome. That they are not always like what she's used to finding in the US.

However, she says that a friend who recently returned told her that the facilities there are "western." I know that they are not like in the middle of nowhere Asia, but I honestly still figure they are probably more of what I'm used to in Florence and Venice, but maybe I'm mistaken.

So, can someone tell me about the public potty situation in Rome? Along with regular US style facilities, do you also come across "bowls on the floor" and "Turkish toilets?"

Statia, the ones I've used are on a par with the ones in Florence and Venice, only, honestly, cleaner. I swear the cleaning woman lived there! She was cleaning the floor like it was an Olympic event and she was going for the gold! I've come across "the footprints" in other venues, but never in the nation's capitol.

Buon Viaggio,
BC

I think I only used ones in museums or the McDonalds near the Pantheon (stopped there several times). All modern - although the lines can be a little chaotic - too many different cultures with different strategies for getting a stall. It helped that is was about a million degrees there and I was totally dehydrated.

I've only encountered "western" toilets in Rome. I've yet to see any holes in the floor or anything truly strange.

Tracy

The ones that you have to pay a small fee for are worth the price, in my opinion. The one at the McDonald's at the Pantheon are not worth the lineup. Make sure you have toilet paper and soap and paper towels - not all cafe restrooms will have these.

I know that in Florence and Venice the pay public bathrooms are like in the US, but I often find those in restaurants and cafes are simply a toilet bowl on the floor or Turkish toilets.

So, even most restaurants and cafes (other than McDonalds) have regular toilets?

Thanks for the tips on where to find others, as well.

In 18 days in Italy in Sept, the only Turkish-style one I found was in the public restroom just outside the town wall in Pienza. In Venice, Florence, Siena, Volpaia, Montalcino, Pienza & Rome, every restroom in a cafe or museum was a regular toilet.

I visited at least two bathrooms in restaurants that do not have seats on their toilets.

Cleanest ones are the paid toilets at train stations (both times 60 euro cents).

The ancient market square in Verona had public toilets that were literally holes in the ground - ringed with porcelain and footprint marks in case you couldn't figure out what went where!

Aside from the toilets McDonalds at the Spanish Steps area and a cafe (not clean), I've encountered some without toilet seats too. Not sure why this is but I encoutered the same thing at a public arena (ice skating rink) in Belfort, France.

Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one...

can someone PLEASE explain the missing toilet seat phenomenon throughout Italy? I mean, what IS it?

Is there some sort of black market for the flip down lids? Where do they all go / end up?

Inquiring minds want to know!

Melodie

I've seen this in many countries, in public facilities. I think it's an additional item that could be vandalized or that doesn't last through constant use, and it is certainly an additional item to have to try to keep clean.

Yuck, the way I notice things is that sometimes it's worse to clean up when there is no seat!

An Italian man once told me that not having a seat was considered more sanitary. He had a similar explanation for the Turkish toilets.

We were in Rome last summer and the thing we found in some rstrooms were holes in the door right at toilet level???We stuffed with toilet paper while we went.Also lights were on timers so right when I was finished I was plunged into total darkness and had to feel along the wall to get out ...thank goodness I remembered there was a step down out of the toilet stand.Hope all goes well for your Mum.

In 3 trips and 9 weeks, I've encountered the hole in the floor only at the Vatican's public restrooms. Difficult, but very clean.

All restrooms at restaurants, cafes and museums were clean - EXCEPT:

The restroom at the Naples train station - bad!

BEWARE THE PUBLIC RESTROOMS IN PIENZA! Behind the visitor's information shop at the entrance to town. DO NOT go in there.....

Also, the publuc restaroom at Ostia Antica and in the Forum were not good. Carry toilet paper!!!

I found the lack of toilet seats in public restrooms to be the norm. I assumed it was because of vandalism concerns.

I was fortunate enough not to encounter any "Turkish toilets".

I brought a roll of tp with me just in case. At the end of my trip I was able to help a "nun in need" (no kidding) at the airport loo.

After I had experienced toilets in the small towns of Russia, Italian toilets are a walk in the park, so to speak. In fact behind a tree in a park would be better than the Russian toilets I encountered.