My wife and I have planned a trip to the Tuscany region this May. I've not heard any negative reports about personal safety in this region but one of my mother's friends has warned us not to be out alone after dark in this area.
Is anyone aware of any extra precautions we should take other than what we would normally do in our own neighborhood in the US?

Tuscany is a big place!

in the towns, you should be safe if you stick to well-lit streets in touristy areas - ie not the boboli gardens at midnight. In the country, you are not likely to be wandering around the lanes at night are you?

If you are staying out of town, at night I would stick to roads I had become familiar with in the day, at least at first.

otherwise, if you sensible as I'm sure you are at home, you should have no problems!

Have a great time.

New Hampshire - safe at night?
Vermont - safe at night?
New Jersey - safe at night?

Each state is the approximate size of Tuscany.

I agree that if you use your normal precautions in the States, you will be as safe in Tuscany.

I haven't seen statistics recently, but several years ago I read many studies that indicated that you are safer from violent crime in Italy, France, & Germany than you are in the US.

Stu Dudley

There are pickpockets in Florence and Pisa but they are just as active by day as by night - keep your money well-stashed. Crowds or crowded transport are their favorite territory. The countryside and villages at night are really very safe. You can get lost or tread on a viper or something, but I frequently walk home several km after midnight just for the pleasure of seeing wild boars, nightingales etc. Small owls (civette) are common and I once saw a gufo goggling at me. A flashlight is a good idea so that approaching vehicles can see you on narrow roads. Actually, other than being a nocturnal wild-life nut like me, why do you foresee wandering around after dark - the sun sets pretty late even in May?

Toscoman - what is a gufo?

How funny: "one of my mother's friends has warned us not to be out alone after dark in this area"

We are talking about an area of about 20,000 sq km (7,000 sq mi). Which part of this area, exactly, was meant to be unsafe? Mountains, seaside, or just a particular spot?

I would say that it is much safer anywhere in Tuscany than would would expect in the US. Perhaps near the train station in Florence at night I might usher a word of caution.

Safety is not an huge issue really...petty crime is pick pocketing....usually in the larger cities...on public transport or in crowded tourist attractions. I have heard of articles missing from villa rentals or hotel while out sightseeing during the day....but I think it is quite rare.

I usually wear on money belt to protect my valuables such as my passport and any larger sums of cash when I'm in a larger city.

We found Tuscany to be very safe. Two weeks driving and never at any time did we feel uncomforable. We got lost a lot and people were extremely helpful.... Have fun and don't worry.

As others have said, Tuscany is a big area, but I can testify to the fact that Siena is very safe at night. DD was at the university there for 3 months and I remember one night after a very late dinner and drinks she left our hotel and walked back to her apartment by herself and I didn't worry for a second. We often saw women by themselves out alone at night in Siena and it seemed perfectly normal. Nice, huh?

For lennyba, sorry! The gufo is the long-eared owl, quite a large species that likes to sit on the top of telegraph poles. However, I once saw one close up sitting on a stone wall - it just sat there staring at me: http://ips.it/scuola/concorso/Redis/simmetri/gufo.gif

Eyes: Are you STILL out there or did you get mugged while we were waiting for your thank-you post??????