Wayzata World Factbook 1995/World Factbook - 1995 Edition - Wayzata Technology (1995).iso/mac/text/Build/tvltxt/ITALY.TVL

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Italy - Consular Information Sheet
October 24, 1994

Country Description:  Italy is a developed democracy with a modern economy.
Tourist facilities are widely available.

Entry Requirements:  A passport is required.  A visa is required to work or
study in Italy, but not for business or tourist stays of up to three months.
 For further information concerning entry requirements for Italy, travelers
can contact the Embassy of Italy at 1601 Fuller Street, NW, Washington, DC
20009, telephone: [phone], or the Italian Consulates General in
Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia,
or San Francisco.

Medical Facilities:  Medical facilities in Italy are adequate for most
emergencies.  Many hospitals in major cities have at least some personnel
who speak English.  Public hospitals sometimes do not maintain the same
standards as hospitals in the U.S., so travellers may wish to obtain
insurance that would cover a stay in a private Italian hospital or clinic.
In public hospitals, patients are billed sometime after discharge.  Private
hospitals usually require cash payment before discharge; neither credit
cards nor foreign medical coverage is generally accepted.  Travelers may
wish to purchase supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas
coverage.  Further information on health matters can be obtained from the
Centers for Disease Control's international travelers hotline on (404) 332-
4559.

Crime Information:  Italy has a very low rate of violent crime, little of
which is directed toward tourists.  Petty crimes such as pickpocketing,
theft from parked cars, and purse snatching, however, are serious problems,
especially in large cities.  Most reported thefts occur at crowded tourist
sites, on public buses, or at the major railway stations, including Rome's
Termini, Milan's Centrale, Florence's Santa Maria Novella, and the Centrale
in Naples.  Consular officers report cases of elderly tourists who sought to
resist petty thieves on motor scooters and have suffered broken arms and
collarbones.  Carrying wallets or purses should be avoided when possible.
When carried, shoulder bags should be held tightly under the arm with the
clasp facing the body.  Waist packs may be worn in the front, although they
can unobtrusively be opened.  Extra cash, credit cards and personal
documents are better left in a hotel safe.  Travelers should only carry what
cash or checks are necessary.  Copies of passports and financial documents
should be carried separately from those items.

Thieves in Italy often work in groups or pairs.  In most cases, one thief
distracts a victim while an accomplice performs the robbery.  Groups of
street urchins are known to poke tourists with newspapers or pieces of
cardboard to divert their attention so that another urchin can pickpocket
them.  In one popular routine, one thief throws trash or waste at a victim;
a second thief assists the victim in cleaning up the mess; and the third
discreetly takes the victim's belongings.  Criminals on crowded public
transportation slit the bottoms of purses or bags with a razor or sharp
knife, then remove the contents through the bottom.

Theft of small items such as radios, luggage, cameras, briefcases, and even
cigarettes from parked cars is a major problem.  Robbers in southern Italy
take items from cars at gas stations (often by smashing car windows).
Tourists should immediately report thefts or other crimes to the local
police station.

In a scam practiced on the highway running between Rome and Naples, one
thief punctures the tire of a rental or out-of-town car.  An accomplice
signals the flat tire to the driver and encourages the driver to pull over.
When the driver stops, one thief helps change the tire, while the other
helps himself to the driver's belongings.  Highway robberies have occurred
on the super highway between Salerno and Reggio Calabria in Sicily.  A U.S.
citizen was killed by gunshot during a random nighttime robbery attempt in
1994.

In a scam practiced on trains, primarily in northern Italy, one or more
persons will befriend a traveller and offer a drink.  The drink will be
drugged, and the traveller awakens to find he has been robbed.  Thieves have
been known to impersonate police officers to gain the confidence of
tourists.  The thief shows the prospective victim a circular plastic sign
with the words "police" or "international police."  If this happens, the
tourist should insist on seeing the officer's identification card
(documento), as impersonators tend not to carry forged documents.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately
to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  U.S.
citizens can refer to the Department of State's pamphlet "A Safe Trip
Abroad" for ways to promote a more trouble-free journey.  The pamphlet is
available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing
Office, Washington, DC  20402.

Terrorist Activities:  In May 1993, bombs exploded on separate occasions in
Rome and in Florence.  The explosions resulted in the death of five people,
more than 40 injuries, and extensive property damage.  In July 1993 three
separate car bombings, two in Rome and one in Milan, left five people dead
and 28 injured.  In September 1993 a hand grenade was thrown and 12 shots
were fired at the air base in Aviano.  Between October 1993 and January 1994
four bombs exploded in public offices in Padova, and in February 1994 in
Rome, the vehicle of a Spanish military officer exploded, causing light
injuries to the driver.  Most of the bombs were placed near public buildings
(e.g. churches, museums) and all exploded during non-business hours.
Officials of the Italian government have indicated their belief that the
bombs are the work of criminal elements or international terrorists.  U.S.
citizens have not been the targets of these attacks.

Drug Penalties:  U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in
which they are traveling.  Those convicted of drug-related crimes in Italy
can expect jail sentences and fines.

Dual Nationality:  U.S. citizens who are also considered to be Italian
citizens may be subject to compulsory military service and other Italian
laws while in Italy.  Those who might be affected can inquire at an Italian
Embassy or Consulate regarding their status.  In some instances, dual
nationality may hamper U.S. Government efforts to provide protection abroad.

Other Information:  U.S. citizens are reminded that certain Alitalia flights
between Italy and various Middle Eastern points (usually Damascus or Amman)
make en route stops in Beirut.  The State Department warns U.S. citizens to
avoid all travel to or through Lebanon.

Registration:  U.S. citizens who plan to be in Italy for more than a few
weeks, or who have friends or relatives who may wish to contact them, should
register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Rome or at one of
the three U.S. Consulates, where they may obtain updated information on
travel and security in Italy.

Embassy and Consulate Locations:  The U.S. Embassy in Rome is located at Via
Veneto 119/A, telephone:  (39) (6) 46741, fax: (39) (6) 46742217.

There are U.S. Consulates at the following locations:

Florence, at Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci 38, telephone [phone],
or 217-605; fax [phone];

Milan, at Via Principe Amedeo 2/10, telephone (39) (2) 290351; fax (2)
29001165;

Naples, at Piazza Della Repubblica, telephone (39) (81) 5838111; fax (81)
7611869.

U.S. Consular Agents are located at:

Genoa, Via Dante 2, telephone (39) [phone];

Palermo, 18/BIS Via Re Frederico, telephone (39) [phone]; and

Trieste, at Via Roma 15, telephone (39) [phone], fax [phone].

No. 94-252

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated September 28, 1994, to
add information on crime in Italy.