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Stock image: Vigili del Fuoco responding to a burning embankment. This summer, wildfires in Italy have already destroyed more than 11,500 hectares, with Sardinia, Piedmont, and Sicily currently recording multiple active fronts.

Wildfires in Italy: Sardinia, Piedmont, and Sicily on High Alert

Wildfires in Italy: Sardinia evacuates beaches, Piedmont declares an ecological catastrophe, Sicily burns under temperatures exceeding 40°C. The latest overview.

Supermarkets in Italy: Which Chains Exist and Where to Find the Best Deals

Which supermarkets are there in Italy? The main chains from Conad to Lidl, where to shop cheaply and what newcomers should know.

Once the bottle deposit system is introduced in Italy, returning bottles at a machine will soon become part of everyday life. (Stock image)

Bottle Deposit in Italy: Is It Coming Soon, Like in Germany?

Italy has not yet introduced a bottle deposit system, but an EU regulation could soon make one mandatory. What consumers and holidaymakers need to know.

Parking on a side street in Firenze: Blue lines mark paid parking spaces, while the sign indicates a general no-stopping zone outside of approved areas.

Parking in Italy: What Do Blue, White, and Yellow Lines Mean?

Blue means paid, white means free, yellow means no parking. What Italy's parking lines mean, what it costs and how to avoid fines.

27 October 20253 min read

Italy's fourth heatwave: this coming weekend, peak temperatures of 41°C are expected in Firenze and Terni, with 40°C across much of the Po Valley. Those experiencing the oppressively humid, tropical heat in Italian cities during the day seek refuge as seen here, in a courtyard, chasing the shade and the cooling breath of a fan.

Fourth heatwave in Italy: temperatures of up to 41°C expected this weekend

Fourth heatwave in Italy: temperatures of up to 41°C expected in Florenz and Terni this weekend, with 16 cities on alert. The African anticyclone is set to last until mid-August.

Drink from the tap or reach for a bottle? In Italy, the answer depends largely on which region one happens to be in.

Tap Water in Italy: Is It Safe to Drink?

Is tap water in Italy safe to drink? Usually yes, but it depends on the region. What travellers and expats should know about drinking water.

Toxic Alga Ostreopsis ovata: Current Swimming Bans Along Italy's Coastlines

Toxic alga Ostreopsis ovata: current bathing bans in Apulia, Tuscany, Latium, Sicily and Liguria. Symptoms, causes and practical advice for travellers.

The heat in Italy up close: even a visit to the Colosseum in Rome can become quite a challenge in the height of summer! A hat, sunglasses, and a fan are essential basics.

Heat in Italy: How to Survive the Italian High Summer

How to handle the heat in Italy: regional differences, the official warning system, and the best Italian tips for surviving extreme summer temperatures.

Notte di San Lorenzo: Italy's Shooting Star Nights in August 2026

Notte di San Lorenzo 2026 and the Perseid peak on 12 August: where and when to get the best view of shooting stars in Italy.

New Etna eruption: Catania airport closed for several hours

New Etna eruption at the Voragine crater in the night of 7 August 2026: why Catania airport was closed to arrivals for several hours.

A typical sight at Italian gas stations: at many stations, such as this Q8, there are separate pumps for "Servito" (full service with an attendant) and "Self" or "Fai da Te" (self-service).

Petrol Stations in Italy: How Filling Up Works

How to fill up in Italy: servito vs self-service, paying by card at the machine and using senza piombo without a hitch. A guide for visitors.

26 October 20255 min read

Illustrative image: wildfires in Sicily destroyed around 16,834 hectares of vegetation between 14 and 21 July 2026. The Italian environmental organisation Legambiente describes the situation as a structural crisis rather than an exceptional emergency.

Wildfires in Sicily: 16,834 hectares burned in one week

Wildfires in Sicily: 16,834 hectares burned in one week, 1,400 fire brigade call-outs, one fatality. Legambiente describes the situation as a structural crisis in 2026.

Carabinieri in ceremonial formation: the traditional dress uniform, featuring black fabric, red stripes, and a bicorne hat, is one of the most recognizable symbols of Italian law enforcement.

Carabinieri and Polizia: How Italy's Police Force Works

Carabinieri, Polizia di Stato, Guardia di Finanza: who does what in Italy? The differences explained simply, with practical tips for travellers.

12 November 20255 min read

Bollino nero on 8 August: A Black Travel Day in Italy

Bollino nero on 8 August 2026: what travellers should know about Italy's busiest August travel day, including a Brenner forecast and Estate Sicura.

Sorting trash in Italy at a public collection point. The containers for plastica, umido, and carta illustrate the basic principle of raccolta differenziata.

Sorting Rubbish in Italy: How the raccolta differenziata Works

Sorting rubbish in Italy: a simple guide to raccolta differenziata, with umido, secco, plastica, and porta a porta explained.

Positano is one of the most well-known towns along the Amalfi Coast. Especially during the summer months, the narrow roads along the SS163 Amalfitana regularly see heavy traffic and lengthy backups.

Amalfi Coast 2026: Traffic Restrictions Every Traveller Should Know

Driving restrictions on the SS163 along the Amalfi Coast are back in 2026. Dates, exceptions, number plate rules, and tips for drivers and visitors.

A typical Autogrill in Italy, a rest stop with restaurant and café along the highway.

Autogrill in Italy: The Best Motorway Service Stations and Tips for the Road

Autogrill and beyond: why Italy's motorway services beat their reputation. Where to find good food and what to watch out for on the road.

28 October 20255 min read

A branch of Acqua & Sapone: the drugstore market in Italy is dominated by chains like this one, founded in 1992 and now operating around 700 locations, making it the leading destination for cosmetics, personal care, and household products.

Are There Drugstores in Italy Like dm or Rossmann?

Drugstores in Italy: dm and Rossmann are nowhere to be found. But Acqua & Sapone, Tigotà and Risparmio Casa fill the gap. Our 2026 overview.

Toll station on an Italian autostrada with Telepass lanes and card payment. This 2021 photo shows the system still in use in Italy today.

Motorway Tolls in Italy 2025: Costs, Telepass, and New Rules Explained

How motorway tolls work in Italy, what Telepass costs and whether it is worth it, even without a box. All 2026 toll rules at a glance.

01 August 20266 min read

Historic venues set the stage for the Stresa Festival 2026 around Lago Maggiore.

Stresa Festival 2026: Music on Lago Maggiore

The Stresa Festival 2026 brings concerts from baroque to jazz to Lago Maggiore from 16 July to 9 September, with a grand finale at the Teatro alla Scala.