Traveling to Italy by car. Gasoline prices and roads

A mandatory addition to this essay is a guide to Italy, in which the reader will find stories about the sights. Here is only my invaluable experience. Only useful. I will be glad if anything is useful to you.

Idea

My daughter rented a house in Forte dei Marmi for the summer and we decided to visit her and take a ride around northern Italy. This was already our fourth trip to this wonderful country.

Auto

I booked a Citroen C4 Picasso at Europcar, but received, as usual, a similar one - a Fiat 500X. I already had problems with the 500L (the seat seemed very uncomfortable) and I tried to refuse, but the car dealer said: “Try it. You’ll like it,” as if she were giving away a sporty Porsche. I really liked it. An infrequent car on their roads. In Bergamo, a girl came up and admiringly said something from which I only understood “bella”. The cruise control seemed convenient; it allowed me to exceed the speed (in order to overtake someone), only rattled and then again maintained the set speed. I also liked the pictogram that lights up on the dashboard, indicating that you are approaching the dividing line. Just one step to autopilot. I was tired of fulfilling the requirement for a maximum number of photos of 50 pieces. Quite a few of them had to be removed. Removing some requires deleting part of the text (it becomes unclear why these words are used). Full version in my blog “In Search of Orientation”. You just need to look for it through Google search.

Moving in space

Used Google maps. Maybe I’m the only one who doesn’t know how to search for parking lots there, but to find them I used good old Sygic. I have a long-standing break-in, but also underground parking nearby historical places They don't build every day. I prefer to use underground parking, because when you enter you receive a ticket and pay for it when you leave. When parking on the street, you need to guess in advance how long you will be walking. Therefore, you either overpay or run to feed the parking machine with a coin.
In any country they do not allow you to drive up to their equivalent of the Main Monument to Lenin. But the Italians like to cover all the roads with signs within a very large radius from the center:

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Even before my first independent trip to Italy, an acquaintance told a story about his trip to this hospitable country in the fall. And how, until the New Year, they received letters from the cities they visited asking them to send 200 euros for entering these zones. Since then, whenever I visit any Italian city, I remind my wife that she is the navigator, and we peer inquisitively at the signs. However, underground parking lots are almost always located before this zone (except for Florence, which I’ll talk about below).

SIM card

Since in Milan we lived next to the train station, I bought a SIM card from TIM there (on our 1st and 0th floor according to their calculations). It was activated there for me. For 22 euros I got 1GB of internet, 300 minutes of calls within Italy and 300 SMS. Considering that all the hotels had internet, that was enough for me. Everything worked. There is also a Wind operator salon at the station, on the -1st floor.

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From Milan airport you can get to the city by taxi for 99 euros and by bus for 10 euros per person. We rented Hotel Michelangelo, near the central station, where the bus went. For bus money it was possible to get there by train, but you had to wait for it, and the bus was already impatiently stomping its tires. We reached the hotel in about 50 minutes. When getting off the bus, we were attacked by loaders with an offer to carry our luggage for 5 euros, but we saved again. Tanya was afraid that there would be a viper around the station, but everything turned out to be decent. I liked the hotel. Delicious, varied breakfast, free minibar replenished daily, beautiful view of the city from the 15th floor. Not far from the car pick-up point. When checking in, we were pleased that we had two reservations, for 3 and 4 days. We showed the Bookingcom voucher, they looked at the monitor and folders with some printouts for a long time and finally decided that the order was for 3 days from another Sokolova. In Russia there are Sokolovs, like in Brazil there are Don Pedrovs.

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As intelligent people, the day after arrival they went to buy tickets to La Scala. The cash register was closed. Instead, several idiots offered us tickets. Having chosen a more decent-looking kulturtregger, we got acquainted with the places and prices. I was afraid to take it. What if they sell a ticket to the amusement park? We went to the ticket office located in the metro. It's easy to find. From the theater, pass the Galleria Vittorio Emmanuel II (Piazza del Duomo, 20123 Milano (see photo above)), when you exit Piazza Duomo, go down to the nearest metro entrance. The employees there will kindly point their fingers. The cash desk occupies a separate room. Air conditioned. There are several “windows”, so the line moves briskly. Those who are smarter bought tickets on the Internet and exchange printouts for tickets without waiting in line. We stood with the others. When it was our turn, the cashier kindly asked: “Are the tickets cheap, average or expensive?”
“Average,” I answered diplomatically, and after 5 minutes I left with 2 tickets for 65 euros for the 1st row, the middle of the left side of the penultimate tier. If you tilt your head a little, the whole scene is visible. When buying a ticket on tiers other than the first row, you should be prepared for the fact that you won’t see anything while sitting. But no one forbids standing. The lower tiers are arranged as follows. Each box has 2 chairs in front (they can be oriented towards the stage, which is convenient), behind them are banquettes (without backs).

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We arrived half an hour before the start of the performance, because Tanya wanted to take pictures on the main staircase and in all the other beautiful places theater But at the entrance they told us: “Sirs. With your tickets, enter to the right and again to the right.” We had to take pictures in the hall for the penultimate and last tiers. The performance started at 20:00 and ended around 24:00. We listened to Rossini's Othello. I understand little about opera, so I like everything except “Khovanshchina” and “The Tsar’s Bride” (with the exception of the arias of Marfa and Lyubasha). Maybe the production was avant-garde, but to me, who was brought up on the performances of the Novosibirsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater of the USSR era, it seemed very economical. We had a bunch of changing sets, several backdrops, a lot of costumes, a sea of ​​complex lighting, and an orchestra one and a half times larger.

Here, it seems, the director returned from the cultural department sad and says to the director:
- Here. They gave me 1,000 euros for the production and do as you please.
We went to see Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper in Santa Maria delle Grazie (Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie, 2). Because tickets were bought on the Internet in advance - without incident. You can't be late because the doors are closing. At the entrance you can take an audio guide in Russian. On the square, while we were waiting for the start, a girl approached me and asked if I was ready to sign something against drugs. I agreed. I was taken to a table standing right there, where I wrote my full name, country, address in the ledger, and reached the column with the donation amount. Colleagues in the fight against drugs who signed above donated from 20 to 50 euros. Realizing where I was, I patted my pockets, asked if they took the card, and having received a negative answer, I promised to return, since my wife carries cash.

- Minister of Finance? - asked the anti-drug activist.

I went to look for my wife and did not return. So this time I didn’t fight drugs.

How we were cheated out of lunch.

On the way to the Sforza Castle on the pedestrian Via Dante, lined with restaurants, I lost my wife and, looking around, found her at one of them with a menu in her hands. The waiter expressively described the merits of the meal.

“Distract him,” Tanya asked plaintively, “he’s not keeping up with me.”

We departed only after vowing to return immediately after inspecting the castle. This uncharacteristic struggle for a buyer surprised me. We didn’t come closer than 10 meters to the other waiters on this street, promising everyone from afar to stop by on the way back. The castle really resembles the Moscow Kremlin, but darker. There are large empty spaces inside. No Tsar Bell, no Ivan the Great Bell Tower, no other import substitution. On the way back we decided to have lunch at Caffe Dante, on the same Via Dante. The waiter turned the pages of the menu, read out the names, and everything came out thick and white. Tanya chose pasta with seafood. He praised the choice and said that since this dish was from the “menu of the day,” they would add vegetables and serve it on a large plate. I don’t know whether the vegetables were added, but the price on the bill, which was brought by another waiter after lunch, more than doubled. When I asked for a menu and showed the original price, he said:

- But there are more vegetables.

A glass of regular wine (¼ glass) turned out to cost 9 euros. In general, we found ourselves with a fly in the ointment in a big barrel of Italian honey.

To finish the gastronomic topic, I’ll note: I was once again convinced that you can’t eat on well-trodden tourist trails. The day before, on the way to Santa Maria delle Grazie, we had lunch in a regular cafe with local office plankton. It was twice as tasty and twice as cheap.

All the sights of Milan have been described more than once, but I want to offer my own, accidentally discovered. Several high-rise buildings were visible from our windows and one day we decided to go to them. The place is called Porta Nuova. This is Moscow City stretched out in length. But in Moscow City they simply squeezed the maximum amount of money out of every square centimeter, and it’s nice to just be in Porta Nuova. Houses, bridges, a few shops, restaurants, a fountain, design... The area is under development. But it is already clear what will be an attraction.

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At the end there are just rambling Milanese notes.
In Italy, Maserati is like our Zhiguli. Just as infrequent and just as unique.
Abyss of design. Furniture, shoes, lamps, jewelry, interior items, kitchen equipment... It's nice to just stand and look at the display cases. Italy is the birthplace of design. It is given to her for free, like oil to us.
Lots of Russians around. All with shopping. At breakfast at the hotel, a handsome tablemate in a suit, mustache and sideburns, looking like a suddenly rich British boatswain, took the ringing phone, listened and answered: “Ivan Ivanovich. Can I call you back in half an hour.”
Please remember that women are asked to cover their bare shoulders when entering churches. For those who don’t remember, the kind envoys of Africa will help you find shelter for a few euros.
We spent 3 days in Milan. Enough for everything.
From Milan, we went to Brescia by car, but first we stopped in Bergamo.

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We had a few hours in Bergamo and spent it in Upper town. I left the car in an underground parking lot near the funicular (down the street from it). Maybe in vain, because already in the Upper Town we came to the gate behind which cars drove. I’m not really sure if civilians can enter there.
I liked Bergamo very much. We needed to spend at least a day here.
The Colleoni Chapel, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore - extraordinary beauty. As I read from someone “The Ninth Wave” of luxury.” Unfortunately, there wasn't a single decent photo. But take my word for it. A very pleasant city.

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In Brescia we stayed at the Hotel Vittoria. Beautiful hotel. Old building. High ceilings. Furniture from the beginning of the century. Delicious breakfasts served both in the restaurant and outside, in the gallery along the hotel. The hotel has several parking spaces on the street. If everyone is busy, the car is driven into the parking lot. Parking is free. Rooms facing the street and into the well yard. Neatly painted, beige, not cramped, but still a well. The hotel is well located between the three main squares of the city. Since during our trip the temperature fluctuated from +35C to +40C, I remember the city as somehow sleepy, lazy and smooth. Simply created for slowly looking at and sitting under the awnings of cafes in squares. The Dome Square (in the photo), scorched during the day, is filled with people in the evening. There is nowhere to sit in popular places. Noise until late at night. It can be seen that no one is going to the plant by 8:00 tomorrow.

At night, a vacuum cleaner was running, which seemed to vacuum out not only debris from under cars, but also poorly secured cobblestones. Then they loaded some kind of truck the size of cruise ship. It seemed as if empty metal barrels were being kicked into it. Some rolled back onto the pavement and were kicked again. To avoid oversleeping, a bell was rung nearby every 15 minutes. Then suddenly everything calmed down, and I fell asleep with a smile on my lips. When I woke up, I looked out the window and gasped. The entire street to the horizon was lined with a weekend manufactured goods market. They sold everything except cars and furniture. The maximum price visible to me from the third floor was 5 euros.

In Piazza della Loggia, in front of the entrance to a beautiful building, there was a poster with ancient instruments. I went in and asked what was there. It turned out to be the city hall. The security guard asked for my license, carefully wrote something off, gave me badges and let me in, showing me the door where I was not allowed to enter. Not only outside, but also inside the city hall is a palace. At the top there is a large hall where cellos, double basses and lutes from the 16th century were displayed. On the monitor is a film about the making of bowed instruments. We left the city hall shocked by the beauty and openness. I think the people of Brescia will be somewhat surprised at the Moscow City Hall.
We happily spent 2 days in Brescia, one of which we went to the Franciacorta Outlet Village, located nearby.

Verona

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On the way to Padua we stopped in Verona. The city is beautiful in itself, but it is also a brilliant marketing project. On the main square, the mayor's office should erect a golden statue of Shakespeare, the size of our Peter, make his birthday a city day, and give the English free beer all year round.
Just for fun, I just opened the first few links for the query “Verona attractions”. If not in first place, then in second place is Juliet's House.

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I myself live in Moscow near the Rostovs’ house, but I don’t observe any madness around this point. Everything related to this wonderful invention is successfully sold here. The first time I was in Verona many years ago, and even then I was amazed by the crowds of literature lovers. If you can rub Juliet’s chest for free (1. well, don’t really rub her nose, 2. one statue has already been successfully rubbed, now they are rubbing the second), then in order to see Juliet’s house, bed, balcony, you need to pay money. There is a computer in Juliet's office where you can write her a letter. Can you imagine a person writing a letter to Ilya Muromets or Mumu? They take us separately to Juliet’s grave.

I wonder why Juliet’s maternity hospital, Juliet’s kindergarten and school remain undeveloped?
But that's just me. From envy of other people's successes. In our own country, the Tsar’s cannon never fired and the Tsar’s bell never rang. Of course, we took part in everything suggested (we missed the grave again) and took pictures everywhere to compare them with previous photos.

Everything is generally described, just don’t forget to climb the Lamberti Tower (Torre dei Lamberti). Wonderful views of the entire area. There are stairs and an elevator for participants of varying levels of fitness.
This is the wall of the fortress...

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And this is the bridge wall...

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It can be seen that they ordered it from the same company that made the Kremlin wall in Moscow.
The city is very beautiful. Of course, a few hours is not enough. You can live quite well for a couple of days.

We lived at Hotel Donatello. Nice hotel, with a parking lot that is not easy to get into. A guest book from the 1930s is displayed in the hall. In the corridor leading to the restaurant, there are old photographs on the walls, one of which is of this hotel in 1918 (photo below). Tanya was not surprised and said that this is Italy, and here you can find photos of hotels and 1st century BC. e.

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We arrived in Padua in the evening. The hotel was located near St. Anthony's Cathedral, somewhat away from the main attractions, and the city seemed deserted and sleepy. But Padua has a university, one of the oldest in Europe, and the next day the city turned out to be young and crowded.

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It was Saturday evening and a restaurant covering several hectares was open in the Piazza of Signori. There were no empty seats. The picture and sound track resembled a bird market.

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The next morning, at checkout, I asked the receptionist if it was possible to leave the car in the hotel parking lot until lunch, since we wanted to explore the city. I received the expected refusal (the hotel would be full any minute) and good advice to leave it in the parking lot behind Prato della Valle. At the entrance the barrier was open and I thought that parking was free on Sunday. But when I picked up the car, it turned out that I had to pay 1 euro (for the fact of standing, regardless of time), get a ticket and use it to leave. I was pleased with such a progressive organization. But maybe it's only on Sunday? This parking lot is also convenient because Prato della Valle is the farthest attraction on the map of Padua. Convenient to start inspection.
Next to the parking lot is the Basilica of Santa Giustina, inside it is amazing in size. In our areas they place cottage villages. The middle nave was empty. Nearby, we entered the Cathedral of St. Anthony with difficulty. There was literally no free space. The local community listened to the sermon, and the guards herded tourists into the side naves. Here it was cool, echoing and almost empty. Only when I reached the middle did I see a few people in the side nave listening to their priest. I was surprised by this Christian humility. I thought they could put up a regular fence with the text “Don't walk. There is a service going on,” but they moved... A dove flew right next to my head and I felt as if someone had blown hard on my temple. Materialized Christianity.

Prato della Valle is a surprisingly harmonious place. How did such a huge space remain undeveloped? They didn’t have their own Luzhkov.

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Moving along the list, we reached the Scrovegni Chapel and discovered that the earliest entry time was in a few hours. You'll have to take their word for it about the beauty of Giotto's frescoes. Once again, all tickets must be purchased at home before your trip.
One of the attractions of Padua is the tram-trolleybus, which runs along the rails on rubber wheels. The cosmic view of this object against the backdrop of old buildings...

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It seemed like we saw everything that was prescribed, but it was right to stay there one more day. After lunch we headed to Venice.

Venezia

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I was afraid to go to Venice. I had a sad experience of Las Vegas, which on the first visit I remembered as a fairy tale city, and on the second, as a long, well-lit street. The magic has dissipated. With Venice, thank God, this did not happen.

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If you are going to take photos and videos, prepare your cameras in advance. Before entering Venice, there begins a huge industrial zone, built specifically to set off the fairy tale. Then the view from the bridge is like from an airplane landing.

In general, the holiday has already begun.

I booked parking in advance at the San Marco garage http://www.garagesanmarco.it/en/. We repacked our things in advance. We put everything we needed into a small suitcase, with which we went to the hotel. The rest was left in the car.
We lived in Pesaro Palace. I liked the hotel. An ancient building on the Grand Canal. Vaporetto stop in front of the hotel, no need to rattle your suitcases across the bridges. If they had told me in advance that a room decorated in two colors: gold and dark red was beautiful, I would not have believed it. Now I believe. The entire furnishings are stylized as antique. The room was superior, still did not overlook the canal, but did overlook the garden, behind which there was a canal. The location is convenient. We can get to everything.
The next day we went to San Marco Cathedral and the Doge's Palace.

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The day before, I tried to buy a ticket on the websites, but it was not possible for the cathedral, and tickets for the palace were only available in a few days. We went to take it by storm in the morning. The queue for the cathedral disappeared over the horizon, and after 20 minutes we entered the palace. While I was standing, Tanya ran to a secret ticket office, read on some forum, where all the tickets were skip the line, but she returned with nothing. The Doge's Palace is a monstrous concentration of beauty. Not a centimeter of whitewashed walls or plank floors.

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You just get tired of the beauty. When we left, about two hours later, there was no line at the ticket office.
It is impossible to walk around Venice with a guidebook. There are approximately 1.5 million attractions there. We walked in different directions, and everywhere we said: “Look how beautiful it is.”

It is very useful to go off the beaten path. As soon as the line of those walking in front of you disappears, the places where the Venetians themselves live begin.

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Not far from our hotel there was a workshop where oars and rowlocks for gondolas are made. We found ourselves in the “industrial zone” of the island, at least a place where there were many workshops in one room. One day on the next canal I saw several boats with the inscription “Ambulanza”.

Nearby there was a hospital in a complex of ancient buildings. The signs for taking tests looked strange on these walls. One end of the hospital overlooked the island-cemetery of San Michele, which probably stimulates patients to recover. The other end, decorated with sculptures, faces the square, where it neighbors the cathedral. A cathedral, a hospital, a cemetery, here you will inevitably become a philosopher.

We entered from the main entrance. The huge hall is decorated with sculptures. The main staircase. Do they really treat anything other than bloodletting?
Returning to Moscow, I discovered Bilzho’s book “My Venice” among my relatives. Opening the book in the middle, I came to a chapter about this square, the hospital. Such rhymes are not uncommon in my life.
We spent three days in Venice. We walked, according to my feelings, about 100 kilometers. This is not a figure of speech, but an approximate figure. If you are not ready for such feats, then it makes sense to buy a vaporetto pass. One day costs 20 euros, two - 30, etc. Each trip is 7.5. It is useful to download a diagram of their movement.
We had two days planned on the main island and one on the others.

Murano

One day, near San Marco, I didn’t dodge and received a flyer in my hand offering a free trip to a glass factory in Murano. While I was looking for familiar words in the Italian text, a lively fellow explained to me that they would take us by taxi to the factory, because there were a lot of Chinese fakes around. As someone who grew up in the USSR, I am suspicious of free philanthropy.
- What if I don’t buy anything? - I asked.
- Nothing. No obligations.
- And if I don’t buy anything, how do I get back?
“Swim,” the young man answered seriously.
And I agreed. The fellow handed us over to his colleague and within a couple of minutes we were flying on a boat, with another couple, towards Murano. A trip along the Venetian coast at a speed of about 100 km/h is unforgettable.

The wind and steep turns tried to tear me away from the boat, but I resisted and scored about 500 MV in my phone.

At the factory, we were first taken to the workshop, where the master blew out a vase and a conic in front of us. I have already been to similar events several times, but the making of the horse amazed me. So deftly the master took out legs, a head from a piece of glass, and made a wavy mane. Just a couple of minutes and the horse is ready. She stood gracefully on her hind legs and I was sure that they would give me a piece of hot glass and I would make one. It looked so easy.

Then the actual sale began. A handsome man who looked like a university professor was assigned to us. He took us to a board with photos of celebrities at their factory, where he showed us some of our governors and athletes.
-Where are you from? - asked the professor.
“From Moscow,” I answered and he was delighted.
—Where do you work?
“We are pensioners,” I answered modestly, and he became a little saddened.
We walked around the store, which occupied several rooms and looked more like a museum. Lots of very beautiful things. Prices of thousands and tens of thousands of euros made you just look at them through glass. The professor became even more sad and led us to art worth hundreds of euros. Here we have already begun to take something into our hands. As a result, we liked a vase worth 170 euros. Just in case, I asked if there were any discounts. The professor replied that if we pay “cash” then the price is 85 euros. Such an Arab market in Russian terms surprised me very much and I offered “cash” and 40 euros.
“No,” the professor was taken aback by such trading dynamics, “this is the final price.” Well, after all, this is Italy, I thought, receiving a wrapped vase, very beautiful, irregularly shaped, not smooth with millefiori, it was obvious that it was handmade.
As a result of such sophisticated trading, I paid 35 by card and 50 in cash.
Having received the money, the professor somewhat lost interest in us. After reminding him about the taxi back, he went to ask the second couple about their plans. Then he returned, said that they were staying in Murano and offered to show them the Vaporetto stop.
- What about the promised taxi in both directions? - I asked.
- If you were returning together, of course by taxi. But we only received 85, and a taxi costs 40,” the professor explained about the adjustments to the contract.
We left the factory somewhat disappointed. Still, some kind of eastern trade, somehow it didn’t work out like a Venetian.
At the vaporetto stop, in the store, I saw a vase, just a copy of ours, only bigger. The price turned out to be 90 euros, and something told me that it was not final. On the way back, Tanya convinced me that we had been scammed, and I listed with innate optimism:
Firstly, the vase is from a factory and definitely not Chinese.
Secondly, even though we overpaid a little, there was a boat trip and a show and they cost a lot.
Now I looked at the vase and thought how good it was that I didn’t dodge the flyer.

Lido

When I got off the vaporetto at the Lido, I was amazed to see a car. Less than two days have passed, and I’m already accustomed to the fact that you can get around on foot or by vaporetto, doctors and police rush around on boats,

construction workers and delivering groceries to stores on large boats (I even saw a TNT boat).

Then a bus drove by and completely distorted the harmonious picture of the world.
We walked right through the island and came out to the opposite shore. There was a beach there. People swam in the sea. A completely surreal life.
I liked the Lido. Beautiful resort place. But the wide roads and cars were annoying and we happily returned home, to our island, to reality, where houses go into canals, thousands of bridges, narrow passages and crowds of colleagues.
If last time we rode a gondola at dumping prices, this time the market was orderly. At each bridge there is a sign with the price of 80 euros per half hour and the rules of conduct on board. Communication difficulties did not allow us to clarify the economics of transportation. Although the gondolier honestly tried to work off the money he received, occasionally pointing to famous houses and patiently taking pictures with us.
Traffic along the internal channels is intense and traffic jams occur periodically.

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One day, someone else’s gondola flew into oncoming traffic and almost snatched the golden horse on ours. The drivers were figuring out who was to blame for the accident as they went along, and I noticed that they understood everything almost verbatim.
In the end - without words. Photo only.

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At 13:00 I put the car in the garage, at 13:00, 3 days later, and picked it up. On the way to Forte dei Marmi, at lunchtime, the Autogrili did not serve lunch. Only the snack part. At first I was surprised, but then I agreed to have a sandwich.

Forte dei Marmi

Forte dei Marmi and neighboring towns have hectares of cottage buildings and 2-4-storey hotels along the sea.
We lived at Hotel Eden. A small hotel, like everything around it. Maybe because I booked shortly before arrival, the price seemed high. The room is modest. And I liked everything else. Quiet. Not far from the sea. Delicious breakfasts. From the 3rd floor you can see the sea. Michelin hotels since 2007. Bicycles, regular and with child seats, are provided free of charge. A bicycle is useful in these places. The main means of transportation. Cyclists here are not intimidated people, they are the masters of the road. They are not fighting for life at all.
The attraction of these places is the beaches. Usually behind the road along the sea there is an open space of the beach. Some sit on a towel, some lie on a paid sun lounger with an umbrella. I drove 6 km in both directions from the hotel and the picture was the same everywhere. Along the road there is a wall of bushes and trees and entrances to the beaches. Each has a name and number. Almost everyone has parking. A few beaches away is a restaurant. Inside there are swimming pools, bars, storage cabins with showers (rooms the size of our combined bathroom) and tents with furnishings on the beach. The beaches are very wide and there are rows of tents reaching down to the sea. Lifeguards at the pool and at the sea. We had an argument about whether it was possible to come with a towel and lie by the sea for free, but no one tried to do that. My daughter didn’t get a storage cabin with a shower (there were none available), but there was an awning with a table, a drawer for things, and a pair of sun loungers, chairs and deck chairs. This set cost 2000 euros per month. In Spain, you can rent a hotel for that kind of money.

I saw regular, free beaches twice. Once when I was cycling towards Massa and the second time behind the dunes. Not far from us, along the sea, large areas of dunes were fenced off. So between them and the sea there was a beach. There, delighting the eye with chaos, on multi-colored mats, vacationers lay. Some were hiding under small umbrellas. They (umbrellas, not vacationers) were sold by two Afro-Italians, located on both sides of the aisle. When I crossed the invisible line connecting them, one said without looking at me:
- Buy an umbrella.
“Thank you,” I responded.
When I was returning, I again crossed this invisible line and again heard the dispassionate:
- Buy an umbrella.
I realized that the merchants were working in photo finish mode. They would be sent to sales training.
It may be the season, but there were a lot of jellyfish in the sea. And not ordinary ones - flat, but umbrella-shaped, with hanging tentacles. I swim with goggles and used to swim in the sea until I spotted the first jellyfish. After that, I turned around and swam back. This strategy seemed safe to me. But on the penultimate day, some invisible jellyfish still burned me. Me! Swimming all his life and in dozens of seas and oceans! I've heard of jellyfish stings, but it turned out to be bearable. The rescuer, whom I contacted with a wound, soaked me in cotton wool in two bottles of clear liquids and ordered me to wipe the wound for 10 minutes. Everything went away.
From Forte dei Marmi they moved in different directions:

Having opened the first couple of sites with attractions that I came across, I discovered around us a view point “... with amazing views of...” and the Carrara quarries. In the hotel lobby, a lot of albums were laid out on numerous tables, which made it look like a beautiful and convenient second-hand bookstore. Among them there were several albums with amazing photos from quarries of Carrara marble. Now I understand why. The kind hotel staff helped me find view point and marble developments in the navigator. Moreover, on the way to marble, they advised us to stop in the town of Calonnata and try the local specialty - lardo. We first went for marble. We drove through the flat part of the road quite quickly and entered a serpentine road. The road became one lane and went through occasional settlements. The higher in the mountains, the more often giant dump trucks began to appear. I don’t remember how we parted ways with them.

Souvenir shops began to appear in horizontal areas. Tanya stopped reacting to external stimuli even where the road became single-lane. She was hanging on the handle above the door and looking forward in horror. After leaving for the next site, the navigation lady dispassionately said “turn right.” I turned and found a road going up at about 60 degrees. Then I got scared and turned the steering wheel to the left and stayed on the site. It was another 6 minute rollercoaster ride to our destination. The area was spacious. There was a shop on it where we bought ice cream and an egg made of Carrara marble. There were a lot of souvenirs, but, in Tanya’s opinion, they all resembled tombstones. She responded to all my suggestions: “A small tombstone. Bigger tombstone." Unfortunately, it is impossible to get closer to the marble developments; everything is fenced off with a mesh. A jeep covered with white dust as thick as a finger came down from the road where I didn’t dare go up. The driver saw more beauty than ours.

We visited the aquarium in Livorno and took the children to see the fish. I didn’t go to the aquarium itself and walked around this part of the city for an hour. Everything looked poor. A lot of cafes with obligatory asocial personalities without a clear inclination towards productive work, sitting relaxed on chairs at the entrance. In a shop window on the embankment, I saw a citizen looking through me at the sea and devouring a watermelon in large jerks. Because the sun was at its zenith, the temperature in the shade was between 37 and 39, and around me there were all 80, I clearly felt how cold and wet this watermelon was. Inside, the catering point turned out to be just our USSR factory canteen with trays that need to be moved along aluminum tubes. The visitors are port employees who have come for lunch. Standing in line, I remembered what I had read yesterday that the Italian Communist Party was organized in Livorno. Under the surprised looks of the distributors, I walked past all the food and at the end at the cash register I took two servings of watermelon. It wasn't burgundy, but it was very sweet and cold. I made two more approaches to the cash register and ate everything for my success communist party Italy in all upcoming elections.
The adults didn't like the aquarium. They said it was small and poor. So I had the best time in Livorno.

We went to Florence to the Uffizi Gallery. Do I need to write that the tickets were purchased in advance? This was my third time in Florence and I had previously watched the week-long queue in bewilderment. But before we got to the gallery, we had trouble with parking. Usually, as I wrote above, I found the parking lot closest to the required place in Sijik and drove without fear. Here I did the same and, approaching the ancient gate on Porta Romana Square, I saw a traffic restriction sign. The navigator suggested driving further, but I already knew how much it would cost. After hanging around the square, I entered a residential area, trying to read the long Italian texts on the signs. After about 10 minutes of ironing, I met the police, who explained to me that parking spaces should be painted blue and that there is a parking lot there, at Porta Romana. I argued that there was a sign, but they stood their ground. I drove around in circles some more and finally found an empty place.

Way back

In order not to have to rush to the plane, we rented a hotel near the airport in Milan and decided to slowly stop by Parma and Piacenza. The journey did not go well right away. It all started when I passed the turn to Parma. I already wrote that Google, if you plan the route in advance, will lead you even without the Internet. True, it is unstable. Hanging and hanging. My mobile data turned out to be turned off, I plotted the route using the hotel wi-fi and did not notice that the map was not moving. After a while, Tanya said that we passed the turn to Parma and then everything opened up. U-turns on the highways in these places are infrequent, and I drove 15 km before the promise of a quick U-turn. At the congress there was a huge mall, which turned out to be an outlet village. Tanya said: “This is fate, this is a pointing finger,” and I turned to the local one, where this finger was pointing.
Needless to say, we reached Parma by lunchtime. By lunchtime in our understanding. In tourist places this European oddity is leveled out, but in Parma you could only have ice cream and dried slices of pizza for lunch. At first we came across a restaurant where they offered several dishes, one of which I asked about:
- What is this?
“A horse,” the waitress answered calmly.
- Horse? - I was surprised.
“Yes,” she answered.
Maybe I misunderstood something. Nothing impressed us and we left. We soon realized the mistake, but we didn’t want to go back. Experience said that it was useless to look for lunch, but it was scorching hot below 40, and an inner voice said: “There will be lunch. Will". Next best offer Turned out to be coffee and pastries at a bookstore. But we didn’t lower the bar. Why did we give up horse meat for nothing? We came across tourist information. There they advised me to wait until 17-00, assuring me that before then the kitchens would not open anywhere. My brain was already dripping, mixing with sweat, and I was hungry, as if the last time I had eaten was the day before yesterday. I woke up on the street when the smell of air-conditioned cold came from the open door. Pizza and bread were baked on the premises. The worker was just pulling out a baking sheet with pizza from the oven. There were no tables inside, but it was cool and smelled of food.
—Can we eat pizza here? - I asked plaintively.
The worker gave permission and within a few minutes we, sitting comfortably on the counter, were eating fresh pizza, washing it down with warm water from our bottle. The establishment was popular. Customers took pizza with them, looking at us suspiciously. But the apotheosis of the event was the arrival of the couple. They conferred in an unfamiliar language, and then asked in English: “Can I eat pizza here?” Ours are in the city!
After such a feast, I didn’t want to walk in the heat and explore the city at all, so we went to Piacenza. On the way, having calculated, we realized that we wouldn’t really have time to see anything. Therefore, on the outskirts of Piacenza, we ate, bought cheese to replace import substitution, at least for a short time, and headed to the hotel.
Hotel Villa Delle Rose is an ordinary airport hotel, but it performs its function well. 15 minutes to the airport. There is a gas station nearby. The only thing I remember was aggressive mosquitoes the size of a small dog.
Milan Malpensa Airport can safely count on a prize place in the competition for the most hidden car return. It's not that there weren't signs. Were. But small ones, nailed down in the most unexpected places and mimicking the environment. You can definitely find it after the second or third run.

Today, many tourists increasingly prefer travel around Italy with your own or rented car. In my opinion, this travel option provides an opportunity to get to know the country in more depth, to see ancient cities and mountain villages, which are usually very beautiful and have unique architecture, but which are very rarely included in tourist routes.

If you decide to travel around Italy by car, I advise you to plan your route in advance.

For the trip you will need:

• international passport with a valid visa;
• vehicle registration certificate;
• international driving license;
• travel insurance;
• car insurance;
• navigator;
• knowledge of a foreign language (English or Italian).

Travel insurance for Italy

A mandatory step in obtaining a visa to Italy is the purchase of insurance. These days, you can get insurance online without spending a lot of time or money. .

Advice: use a navigator to travel around Italy Tom Tom, in which they are installed detailed maps Italy, with the help of this navigator you can easily find hotels, parking, gas stations and restaurants.

Rent a car in Italy

If you decide to rent a car directly in Italy, then you will need to take into account that some agencies provide cars only to drivers with a certain experience; if your experience is 5 years, then you should not worry about this. I also advise you to overpay and take out full insurance, which covers even minor damage to the car (scratches, small dents). .

Traffic Laws

Traffic rules in Italy are practically no different from other countries; the main difference is the driving culture and polite treatment of pedestrians. I would like to note that in northern Italy drivers are more disciplined, although this is a subjective opinion.

And in the south, in particular in Naples, it is advisable not to leave the car unattended at all. long time, because the city has the reputation of being the most criminal in Italy.

The maximum permissible speed on autobahns is 130 km/h, in populated areas— 50 km/h, outside the city — 90 km/h

When traveling around Italy by car, you also need to know that the police do not take bribes, probably because they already have good wages and don’t wear uniforms. Prado sews, so you can be arrested for giving a bribe.

Traffic violations are recorded by special radars with a camera, after which the fine is sent by mail. By the way, in large cities they are located at almost every step, and on highways you can find speed measurement systems Tutor or Autovelox. They are used for security, not to collect fines. Therefore, the location of these cameras can be found on the official website www.autostrade.it

Speed ​​control in Italy is carried out using automated cameras: to measure speed - autovelox and systems for measuring average speed - tutor

A very common sight on country roads is police officers with radar. Therefore, when traveling around Italy by car, follow the traffic rules. Another interesting fact that really surprised me is that here they also “blink” the headlights in order to warn about the police standing ahead. Of course, this rarely happens, and I have only seen it in the south of Italy.

Gas stations and network of Autogrill complexes

Driving along expressways you will encounter complexes - .

Autogrill S.p.A. is an Italian company that operates in the catering and retail industries

Here you can have lunch, top up your mobile account (only Italian operators), wash your windows and find a lot of useful and interesting things (road maps, chargers, souvenirs, books and much more). But the prices here are much higher than in regular stores. Therefore, knowledgeable Italian drivers, if possible, prefer to get off the motorway into cities where breakfast or lunch will cost much less. Also in the complexes There is free toilets and gas stations.

If you often come to Italy with your car, then I recommend getting a card to receive bonuses for each refueling, which you can then spend on something useful.

When traveling by car in Italy, you need to know that fuel is filled for a certain amount, that is, you say: “10 euros, 20 euros, 50 euros ...”, or a full tank (pieno). Having approached the pump with the inscription “fai da te” you will refuel the car yourself, selecting the amount on the panel; after refueling, do not forget to pay at the cash register. And if you drive up to a pump with the inscription “servito“, then the gas station employee will do everything for you, all you have to do is pay and go again.

Gas stations are open 24 hours a day, but at night there is no one at the gas station, so you will have to refuel the car yourself. To do this, you need to select the amount (for which you want to refuel) on the control panel, then insert the bill into the bill acceptor and press the number of the column from which you will refuel, and refuel your car.

Motorway

Motorways in Italy are toll roads. But the section of the road from the city of Salerno to Sicily is still free, since construction work is still underway here. Payment for tolls on highways is carried out using an electronic system Telepass.

Telepass is an electronic payment system that is used to collect tolls on motorways in Italy

When entering the toll road you pass Telepass where you get your ticket. Then, when exiting the highway, again at Telepass present your ticket and pay for travel, depending on how far you have traveled. Payment can be made in cash or by credit card.

Car tow truck

Car towing services for passenger cars will cost 95-125 € plus 3-4 € per kilometer, according to the official ANCSA tariff. More detailed information can be found on the website www.ancsa.it.

Parking in Italy

Places for paid and free parking in Italy, lined with certain colors. Blue color is paid, white color is free. Near the parking spaces there must be a sign indicating the rate for 1 hour and time, and if this is paid parking, there must also be a special parking machine in which you can buy a ticket. The machine displays information about tariffs and parking conditions.

Typically the minimum parking time is 1 hour.

After the car is parked, the parking ticket is left under the windshield on the dashboard. The same applies to free parking, but instead of a ticket you put a parking disc (disco orario) on which you indicate the start time of parking.

Also in big cities and near airports, there are underground parking lots, but the payment method here is slightly different. When entering such a parking lot, you need to take a ticket from the machine, which will indicate the time of your entry (the machine is usually located near the barrier at the entrance). Then, when leaving, you will need to pay for parking using a ticket. Parking costs will vary based on time.

Italy is the dream country of so many. If you think that the road to Italy is a long process, only possible with air travel, then you are very mistaken. You can get to Italy by the most ordinary car. How many kilometers from Moscow to Italy by car? We will tell you in this article. This will be much more convenient, since Italian cities you will be able to travel without any problems using your own transport. Economical, convenient, fun! The main thing is to choose the right company.

So what is the distance from Moscow to Italy by car? Only 3,065 km to Rome and approximately 2,750 km to Venice. How long does it take by car from Moscow to Italy? The approximate travel time without stops will take 31 hours. From Moscow to Italy by car - reality. Italy is a country very well suited for road travel. On each route you can find gas stations and restaurants. There are a huge number of motels for tourists throughout the country. The roads are amazing in their quality. There are no holes or holes. Traveling by car to Italy from Moscow takes place on comfortable roads. Isn't this an ideal country to start exploring the sights by car?

What to take with you?

It is worth knowing about several important things that should always be with you when covering long distances, including while following the route from Moscow to Italy by car:

• First aid kit.
• Fire extinguisher.
• Copies of important documents.

It is worth noting that to travel from Moscow to Italy by car you will need a fairly large number of documents:

• International driving license.
• Insurance.
• Documents for the car.
• State license plate on the vehicle.
• Identification sign of the country of residence.
• Visa.
• Foreign passport.
• General passport.

Gas station in Italy

When traveling 3,000 km from Moscow to Italy by car one way, be aware of fuel costs.

The cost of gasoline in Italy is 1.6-1.8 euros. The most famous 95 gasoline in Italy is called Natural Benson.

In almost all of Europe there are two types of refueling dispensers: Self and Serv.

• Self - dispenser for self-refueling, prices correspond to those written on the sign. The payment machine accepts notes in denominations of 10, 20, 50 euros; change is not given out.
• Serv - involves refueling with the help of employees; the price of service is added to the price of gasoline.

Toll roads in Italy

When traveling by car to Italy from Moscow, know that in this country, as in all of Europe, you can cross the entire territory from north to south along a toll highway. The fare will be 70 euros.

How to use toll roads when traveling 3,000 km from Moscow to Italy by car?

• When entering a paid road, you need to press the red button on the machine and get a ticket. When leaving, you need to insert it into the machine or give it to an employee.
• Next you need to pay for travel. It is advisable to have change, as not all machines accept large bills.

In southern Italy, all roads are toll-free.

You can travel to the island of Sicily by ferry. The cost towards the island is 38 euros, in the opposite direction - 40 euros.

Parking in Italy

City parking behind the white line is free, behind the red and yellow lines - with tickets, prices for all parking lots are different. It is important to know that in Italy there are parking lots exclusively for residents of one area.

Parking is free at most resorts. If you plan to stay overnight in a large city, it is advisable to book accommodation with parking.

On car trip It is worth allocating approximately 2 weeks. In 14 days you can see a sufficient number of cities, and you won’t have to do it at a frantic pace. Later in the article one of the possible routes will be presented.

Moscow - Brest

Our journey begins along the route Moscow - Brest. The distance between points is 1,100 - 1,300 km. The approximate travel time, calculated without stops and overnight stays, is from 12 to 15 hours.

It must be taken into account that 12-15 hours of travel without stops is not entirely possible. But by thinking through your stops in advance, you can save time. You can stay at the Russian Style hotel complex. Cost per room from 1,000 rubles. Modest, but the kitchen is of a good standard. You can eat deliciously and relax a little.

Before traveling around Belarus, you should consider several nuances:

• Currency, if desired, can be changed at the border.
• Parking is prohibited closer than 15 meters from the edge of the intersecting roadway.
• Stopping within 50 meters of a railway crossing is prohibited.
• Parking with the engine running is prohibited.
• Towing is prohibited on highways. The fines are very high, so it’s better not to violate them.
• It is important to have a medical certificate and green card with you.
• There are no excess gas stations on the road, so it is better not to let the situation with gasoline become critical and refuel in advance.
• The use of mobile phones and other similar equipment is prohibited while driving.
• It is best to take food with you, as roadside cafes often have problems with the quality of food.
• If you decide to stay in Brest, it is better to think about booking a hotel in advance.

For example, the Hermitage is, according to tourists, a wonderful hotel. Located in the center. The rooms are well decorated and very spacious. Nearby there is a park, the Brest Fortress, the railway station and the center. There is parking. Room rates from 234 Belarusian rubles.

If you are interested in something for a more modest price, then you may be interested in Dream House Brest - a hostel located in the center of Brest. Free Wi-Fi. The cost is approximately from 20 Belarusian rubles.

Route Brest - Krakow

The distance between points is 480 km. The approximate travel time without stops is about six hours.

Features of the route:

• Green card.
• Driver license.
• (one for each passenger).
• In winter - winter tires (not studded).
• Passengers with a height of less than 135 cm can sit exclusively in the rear seats, in a special chair.
• Passengers with a height of 135 to 150 cm can travel in the front seat, in a special chair, or in the rear seat, fastened with a seat belt.
• There should be no problems with gas stations and hotels. It is advisable to book accommodation in advance. In this case, you can save a lot.

One of the wonderful hotels in Krakow - Hotel Novotel Krakow Centrum, will cost you from 5,000 rubles. The hotel is located next to the old town. Therefore, restaurants, cafes and city attractions are within walking distance. There is a sauna and swimming pool.

One of the inexpensive accommodation options is Hostel Faust. Located in historical center, near Wawel Castle. Booking cost from 500 rubles.

Where to go in Krakow?

If you decide to see, and not just drive through Krakow, then it is important to decide in advance what you want to see. Market Square is a well-known place located in the very center of Krakow. It is from this point that you should start exploring the entire city, since the main attractions are not far away.

A fabulous place is Wawel Castle, which is definitely worth a visit. Historical Museum Krakow is an ideal place to get acquainted with the history of the city in a short time. By visiting the Collegium Maius, you will get acquainted with the building of one of the main universities in the country, which is famous for its appearance and is one of the oldest buildings in Poland.

Krakow - Vienna

The distance between Krakow and Vienna is 470 km. The approximate travel time without stops is about five hours. There is a good motorway from Krakow to Vienna. It is better to buy vignettes for driving on Austrian roads at a gas station. The gas station information board says winietki in large letters.

Features of movement include:

• It is strictly forbidden to talk on the phone while driving.
• Be sure to buckle up in the car.
• Passengers up to 150 cm tall can only be transported in a special seat.

Vienna is a city that certainly deserves your attention. And the choice of hotels is very large: they vary in price and quality. We can recommend you best hotel- Hotel de France. The chic 19th century hall will enchant you with its splendor. And in the bar you will relax to classical music and immerse yourself in the past. Cost from 9,000 rub.

One of the best budget hotels, City Rooms is stylish and affordable for an overnight stay in the trendy Josefstadt district. The rooms have a homely feel. The cost will be from 2,200 rubles.

Wombats City Hostel Vienna is located near the Vienna State Opera and the Hofburg Palace. This is a modern hostel with friendly staff, where you can treat yourself to inexpensive beer. The cost of an overnight stay will be from 1,100 rubles.

In the very center of Vienna is the Town Hall Square, which is the best place to start exploring the city. Explore the home of the great composer Mozart, where most of his works were written. By visiting the Butterfly House, you will immerse yourself in the atmosphere tropical forests. An island of heat in the center of cloudy Vienna. The Museum Quarter is one of the most modern places in Vienna. A cultural place where there are not many tourists.

From Vienna to Bled

What should you pay attention to in this place? The main attraction of the city and all of Slovenia is Bled Castle. The structure amazes with its majesty, and the nature around is breathtaking. Bled is the most popular holiday destination in Slovenia at any time of the year. It attracts nature lovers at any time of the year. In winter you can go skiing here, and in summer you can swim in the warm water of the beautiful lake and stroll through the beautiful surroundings.

The pearl of Slovenia is Lake Bled. It has its own world of quiet nature and clean water. After a long journey, you can fully enjoy all the delights of this Alpine resort. Before you even have time to notice, you have traveled from Moscow to Italy by car, a distance of 2,450 km.

From Bled to a city in northeastern Italy. Venice

The distance between the cities is about 300 km. The approximate travel time is a little more than three hours.

We covered a distance of 2,750 km from Moscow to Italy by car.

Features of movement along this route:

• Traveling on toll roads will most likely take an order of magnitude less time than traveling on free roads.
• In Venice, you can leave your car in one of the city parking lots, since viewing the river city by car is not a good idea.

You can stay at guest house Venice Garden House, price from 1,900 rubles. It's quite affordable and convenient option to live in the great and serene Venice. If you want to admire views of the Grand Canal while enjoying cocktails on the terrace, then the Canal Grande Boutique Hotel is for you. The historical environment and classic design are what will surround visitors. The cost of living will be from 13,000 rubles.

What to see in Venice? Of course, the Grand Canal is the most famous waterway in Venice. It runs through the entire city and amazes with its size and majesty. It is a symbol of the city.

The Doge's Palace is the former seat of the Venetian government. One of the most famous buildings in the city. The Jesuiti Church is also worth a visit. This is an amazing place where you can see a huge amount of works of art (paintings, sculptures) without paying a single euro.

The Tintoretto House is also worthy of your attention. To enter the creator's house, unfortunately, at the moment impossible, but it’s worth a stroll through one of the city’s most famous districts. Especially if you want to see the real Venice.

The Basilica of San Marco is the most majestic and famous building in the city. It will definitely amaze you from the inside. indescribable beauty. The cemetery of San Michele is a graveyard that is more reminiscent of a park area. A truly Italian place, shrouded in beauty and mystery.

We continue our journey through Italy: route Venice - Rimini

Continuing our journey by car from Moscow to Italy, according to traveler reviews, it is impossible to pass by Rimini. This city is located in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna on the coast Adriatic Sea. The distance between Venice and Rimini is 270 km, the journey is approximately three hours. Along the way you will come across several toll sections of the highway.

Rimini has snow-white beaches and warm seas. Remember this if you covered the distance from Moscow to Italy by car (3,020 km) in the summer. Be sure to enjoy the most popular resort Adriatic.

What to see in Rimini? The main square of Rimini is called Cavour. It is most convenient to start examining small and cozy city.

• Tempio Malatestiano is a building with an amazing history, which is definitely worth hearing and reading already near the cathedral.
• The Tiberius Bridge is a five-arched structure that has stood in Rimini for 2000 years. Something you need to see at least once.
• The Italy in Miniature Park is a stunning place where, after walking no more than 5 kilometers, you can get acquainted with the sights of all of Italy.
• The Arch of Augustus is one of the oldest buildings in Rimini. An amazing building, where a huge part of the city’s history lies.

If you want to relax while listening to music, jazz fans can go to the embankment in the evening to enjoy the musicians playing. In Rimini, you must try the regional cuisine. Pay attention to wines, tiramisu, piande, lasagne and local cheeses. Many restaurants in Rimini serve excellent quality food, the portions are quite large, and the prices will pleasantly surprise you.

From Rimini to Nago Torbole

To continue your journey by car from Moscow to Italy, we recommend driving through the small town of Nago-Torbole. The distance between Rimini and Nago-Torbole is 350 kilometers. Travel time is about four hours. From Moscow to Italy, the distance traveled by car by this time will be 3370 km.

Living in Torbole is a complete delight for travelers. Many hotels attract tourists with low prices on certain days when promotions are held. The most famous hotels in the city: Hotel Lago di Garda, Hotel Residence Torbole, Hotel Santoni Freestyle.

There are many cafes and restaurants in Torbole where you can have a delicious meal and relax after a long journey. Such establishments as Aqua Restaurant & Lounge Cafe, Ristorante Pizzeria Al Porto Torbole sul Garda, La Terrazza, Casa Beust, Gelateria Liberty can boast reasonable prices and good quality. A great idea would be to go diving, windsurfing and yachting. The city is famous for its nature.

We are moving along the route Nago-Torbole - Innsbruck

The center of Innsbruck is relatively small, and all the important and interesting places are very close to each other. The symbol of the city is a house with a golden roof. The Ferdinandeum, a local collector's museum, will introduce you to the history of the region.

Innsbruck City Tower is one of the fabulous places cities. The ancient, mysterious tower amazes with its beauty and majesty. If you want to see Innsbruck in full view, you just need to climb up the cable car Nordkette. A stunning view that will help you see the city in its entirety.

The Hofburg Imperial Palace, which seems to have moved onto the streets of Innsbruck from a medieval fairy tale, is also worthy of your attention. If you get hungry in Innsbruck, don't miss the chance to try Austrian strudel. The apple roll that you have tried before in restaurants in different countries cannot compare with the strudel prepared by the residents of Austria.

Road Innsbruck - St. Pölten

The distance between destinations is 420 km. Approximate travel time is about four hours.

There is a lot to see in St. Pölten. This city is famous for its huge number of castles: Wasseburg, Wyhofen and others. They are well worth your attention.

The ancient pharmacy “At the Golden Lion” has been operating since 1545. The place amazes with its ancient and mysterious atmosphere. You can go shopping in the city. Here are a few shopping centers: Center Sud, Merkur Center Sud, Traisenpark, Traisencenter, Promenade.

You can pamper yourself with Austrian cuisine in the following establishments: Citykulinarik Schwarzer Adler, as well as Galerie, Restaurant Alt Wien and, of course, Restaurant-Cafe Bueno.

St. Polten - Warsaw

The distance between the cities is approximately 800 km. Approximate travel time without stops is 8 hours.

On the way, you can stop and have a snack at a roadside cafe or at a gas station; there are quite a lot of them along this route. The large number of hotels in Warsaw is simply surprising. Hotels attract tourists with their wealth and splendor. But not everyone is able to pay a large amount in one night.

Here are a few hostels that, according to travelers, are inexpensive and quite comfortable: Hostel Oki Doki, Chmielna 5, Wilson hostel. The latter is located far from the center, but it has a peculiar twist. These are capsules in which guests sleep. Staying overnight in such a hostel will be extremely interesting. Accommodation will cost from 700 to 3,000 rubles.

The route includes a short stop in Warsaw, so it is worth paying attention to the Warsaw Hop-on Hop-off tourist bus. The cost of the excursion is 15 euros, approximately 1,200 rubles. The bus travels around all the sights in 60 minutes. Those who are hungry and want to save money on food should pay attention to the public canteens Bar Mleczny.

Following the route Warsaw - Moscow

The approximate distance between these cities is 1,300 km, travel time is about 15 hours. If you are very tired, you can go to Minsk and spend the night there. The choice of hotels is presented in different price categories.

So we have completed 3,370 km - the distance from Moscow to Italy by car. Each kilometer covered gave many pleasant and unforgettable impressions. To these were added 2,770 km, which we had to travel in the opposite direction. This is a lot of positive emotions and a wonderful experience of traveling by car.

Whatever program of independent travel by car you have planned for yourself, it will be useful to read this memo as general recommendations for road travel in Italy.

Car rental

My advice - buy a car ONLY in a large network company. I had a case when the turbocharger motor of a car that my friend rented from AVIS malfunctioned. The car drives, but neither acceleration nor more than 100 km/h is possible. We got to the nearest bus station, where they fixed what turned out to be a minor problem. But when I called AVIS, they told me the two closest cities where I could replace the car. Fortunately, it wasn’t necessary, but the very opportunity to change a car in the nearest city warmed my soul. Buy the card right away. At any airport there is a stall, the so-called “Edikola”. Edikola is a tobacco shop + press trays + every little thing. Cards are also sold there.

Credit cards

You can’t even rent a car or book a hotel on the Internet using just any credit card. Ask your bank if your card allows you to book remotely, if there is a possibility of holding (this is a temporary retention of funds until you fulfill your obligations - checking into a hotel, renting a car...). Just in case, link this card to a separate account with a moderate amount: from 3 to 5 thousand EUR. This will protect you from fraudulent withdrawals large sums, if you suddenly use this card not in the most reliable stores and restaurants.

Navigator

Today the price-quality ratio of navigators is such that I would recommend having one even for a week-long road trip. Just make sure that the electronic map of Italy is downloaded. These files can be searched and downloaded on the Internet.

Telepass=

This is a device that attaches to your windshield and automatically causes highway barriers to open. I don’t know if tourists have the opportunity to buy a TV pass in Italy. At least my telepass is linked to my current account, and I ordered this service from the bank. But even if there is such an opportunity, the game is not worth the candle: you will use toll highways only a few times - rarely more than once a day. That is, don’t bother, although this thing is convenient for Italians who travel often. The main thing is not to enter or exit the freeway at the exit where the letter “T” is painted on a wide yellow sign. There is nowhere to get a ticket or pay there. You will have to “back away”, which will cause inconvenience to those behind you.

Toll highways - how to enter and how to pay

The website of the public-private company that manages the highways is www.autostrade.it. There is a version in English. Green signs lead to highway entrances. When you approach a freeway, choose the right exit. At small entrances (up to two gates), any barrier has machines for obtaining a coupon. Immediately choose a place in the car where you will always put the ticket, and do not lose it. In theory, if you leave without a ticket, the cashier will be obliged to charge you the fare as if you had entered at the farthest point in Italy relative to the place where you exit the motorway. This is often around 100 EUR. Sometimes even up to 180. But if you lose it, say: “Sono touristo, o perso il biletto.” They can easily forgive you if you name the entry point. So, you drive up to the gate where the ticket is drawn, stop close to the machine, take out the cardboard ticket and enter. You need to quickly find your bearings - whether you want to go right or left.

Choosing the right path is not easy at first: at first it will not always be clear to you in the direction of, say, Ancona or Bologna. But more on that a little later. So, you have reached your exit from the freeway. You need to remember two things: the ticket and the correct gate. When there are many barriers, one or more exits are often designated only for holders of a telepass or a special card. Your exits are where the hand or coins are shown: that is, where you can pay. If you have a hand, then you give the ticket to the cashier, and the monitor in front of you will show how much you are charged. You pay. If you drive up to a payment machine, first insert your ticket, the machine will “swallow” it and show you how much the trip on the motorway cost. Pour coins or bills into the tray. Change will pour into the bottom tray and the barrier will open. Take your change and leave.

Stop to think

When you enter a freeway and don’t know whether you should go right or left, turn on your emergency lights and drive close to the fork all the way. Give cars the opportunity to pass you on both sides. Take out the map and figure it out. Usually the directions are indicated major cities in the area up to 300 km. There are exceptions: the southernmost and northernmost points of the country begin to appear on signs more than 500 km away. Don't rush: there's nowhere to turn around on the highway - you'll have to get off and go through the procedure again. Have you chosen? Drive in carefully, changing the hazard lights to turn.

Gas stations on toll highways

These are comfortable zones for cars and people. First, drive up to the bar. Park the car on the markings. Not every gas station on the motorway has a full-fledged cafeteria, but each one has a toilet, a store, a bar that sells drinks and so-called paninis (sandwiches). An example of a freeway bar chain: www.autogrill.com. The bar is always located closer to the entrance to such a car zone, and the gas station is closer to the exit, so first coffee, then fuel. You need to punch the check at the cash register, naming what you want, so take a pen and a piece of paper and write down the names of your wishes from the display case. You can show the piece of paper to the cashier so that you don’t have any difficulty pronouncing the names from your order. When you pay the check, first go to the sandwich seller, he will give you your order, then show the same check to the bartender who handles the drinks. The Italians have the most vigorous espresso at Cafe Normale. It's a small pour, but very strong. A little more diluted - cafe lungo. Cappuccino is, of course, familiar to you. I recommend getting freshly squeezed orange juice from bars on highways. It is called "spremuta". Moreover, a set: coffee + spremuta + cake or sandwich is always cheaper than ordering separately.

Let's refuel

On toll highways there are two ways to refuel: “Fai da te!” (in our “do it yourself”) and “Servito” - they will take care of you. I recommend Servito - the difference in fuel prices is very insignificant, and you don’t even have to get out of the car. The easiest way is to fill it up to full; to do this, just say “pieno”, which means “full” (tank). Just clearly state what to fill. Or “la benzina” (aka “la benzina normale” or “la benzina senza piembo”, which means “without lead”). Or “diesel” - say it like “diesel” in Russia. It will turn out like this: “la petrol normale pieno” or “diesel pieno”. You don’t have to worry about the quality and brands of gasoline. It is not necessary to give a tip, but the gas station attendant will be happy with one EUR and wish you a safe journey.

When refueling, clean the windshield (midges stain it at high speeds). Usually, near each machine there are buckets of washing liquid and half-brushes - half-mops. If you are not too lazy to learn in Italian “potrebbe pulire la parabrezza?” (could you clean the windshield?), then the gas station attendant will fulfill the request. If you want to warm up, wash it yourself with the solution.

Speed ​​on toll highway

The rules provide for an upper limit of 130 km/h. But often, especially when repairing roads, more stringent restrictions apply. Radars are installed quite densely on the roads, and excess is fraught with a fine, which, by the way, is technically difficult to pay from Russia. But if the car is rented, the fine will be deducted from your credit card. Locals know where the radars are installed and often speed in areas that seem safe to them. However, many highways already have systems that analyze the entire flow of traffic. If the car could not, while observing the prescribed speed limit, reach this point, a fine would be issued for exceeding it, even if the radar did not detect a direct violation. Judicial precedent has established this practice, and, apparently, the widespread introduction of such control is a matter of the coming years.

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Features of traffic rules in Italy

Although in theory the rules are almost the same, there are nuances in driving practice. But first, about one significant difference. In Russia, for some reason, those entering a roundabout have priority right. In Italy, the rotunda is almost always treated as a crossroads, and whoever is on the circle has priority. Thus, at the entrance to the rotunda there is almost always a “give way” sign. And rightly so: rotundas are common, and in many places they have replaced traffic lights due to convenience. The rest is the same as in Russia, BUT! In Italy, in fact, you can’t overtake on the right - no one expects such overtaking, and when changing lanes they don’t even look in the right mirror. You cannot drive on the side of the road behind a continuous line: this is a serious violation - along this line the police or ambulance really quickly arrive, say, at the scene of an accident. You can’t hold up the left lane: immediately someone behind you will press tightly against you and demand you move to the right. And, of course, it is imperative to allow pedestrians to pass.

Speed ​​measurements on a country road

The cops don't hide in the bushes, but sometimes they still catch you at speed. The basis for speed enforcement is automatic radars. In recent years, radar-traffic light systems have been installed in many villages, especially in front of schools. The permissible speed in populated areas in Italy is 50 km/h. If you pass through a village at an excess speed, 100 meters after the radar you will be greeted by a red traffic light. No fines, no sanctions, just stand there for half a minute, and next time you go slower. I think that in the coming years these systems will become ubiquitous: today it is inexpensive, and even powered by solar panels.

Bribe the police

God forbid you try to “resolve the issue on the spot.” I heard that this still happens in the south of the country, but even there this kind of corruption is fading away. The policeman will simply be obliged to arrest you if you try to give him a bribe. Therefore, if you are caught, say, talking on the phone while driving or not wearing a seat belt, be prepared to show your documents, spend 15 minutes filling out protocols, and pay an official fine. Plus 1 EUR for postal services for sending - this is exactly 1 EUR the policeman takes without a receipt. By the way, not everywhere. I don’t know why.

Refuel without a gas station

On almost all roads, except toll highways, there are many small gas stations without staff. And on Saturday and Sunday, even most large gas stations operate only in automatic mode. Then you drive up to the pump (pay attention to the type of fuel - gasoline/diesel), remember the pump number, go to the payment terminal, place a bill (I advise, especially the first time, no more than 20 EUR), you see that the terminal recognizes (it will indicate “credito 20 euro ", select on the terminal the number of the pump from which you will refuel, and only then remove the refueling nozzle and refuel.

Parking

In tourist areas, parking is usually difficult during the season. To ask where the parking is, you need to say: “Scusi, dove il parquejo?” Italians are friendly and will give you advice. If parking is indoors, payment usually proceeds as follows: at the entrance, in order for the barrier to open, you need to press a button and receive a ticket. Save it and when you pick up the car, give it to the cashier. The ticket will be “rolled”, after which you will have 15 minutes to leave. At the exit, place it in the machine, the barrier will open. Outdoor parking lots have blue markings. Parked and look for a parking meter. A little detail is very necessary here: by throwing coin after coin, you see on the screen how the paid time increases. Then press the main button, and put the receipt that fell out inside the car so that the paid time can be easily seen through the windshield.

No entry

In addition to the usual “brick”, there is a limiting sign with the inscription something like “Zona traffico limitato” (limited traffic zone). Often times are specified when such entry is prohibited. It is especially expensive to violate this sign in popular tourist areas: such fines actually come.

I wish you a pleasant road trip through Italy!

Prices on the page are as of March 2019.

After our first successful road trip to Prague in New Year holidays 2012-2013, we, feeling a surge of optimism and self-confidence, set our sights on our old dream - to visit Venice without the help of travel agencies, according to our own scenario. And they not only took aim, but also visited. And not only in Italy, but in six other countries. This is perhaps our most memorable European two-week holiday on wheels.

Is it possible to go to Italy by car from Moscow?

Travel agents ourselves, upon arrival from Prague, we began to carefully think through and develop the upcoming summer route from Moscow to Italy by car . We dug through a bunch of information on the Internet, reviews from experienced people and questions from newbies like us. As a result, this route was born...

Route: Moscow - Rimini

1. Moscow - Brest (border crossing "Domachevo") - Krakow (Poland - overnight) - 1500 km;
2. Krakow - Vienna (Austria - overnight) - 500 km;
3. Vienna - Mödling - Graz - Bled (Slovenia - overnight) - 420 km;
4. Bled - Postojna - Venice (Italy - overnight) - 300 km;
5. Venice - Rimini (Italy - 5 nights) - 270 km.

Route: Rimini - Moscow

1. Rimini (Italy) - Torbole (Italy - overnight) - 330 km;
2. Torbole - Innsbruck (Austria - overnight) - 230 km;
3. Innsbruck - St. Pölten (Austria - overnight) - 420 km;
4. St. Pölten - Voskreznice (Poland - overnight) - 940 km.
5. Voskreznitsa - Brest (border crossing "Brest Bridge") - Moscow - 1100 km.

We had: two weeks of legal vacation in July, a faithful Korean-made four-wheeled friend, a budget of about 120,000 rubles for two (the euro exchange rate in 2014 was about 50 rubles) and a desire to see Europe in all its glory along the entire route. At the same time, the main condition was to spend five days at sea and not deny yourself anything.

Looking ahead, I will say that we managed to do this: while traveling in Austria, we dropped into a cute provincial town, the hometown of Arnold Schwarzenegger - Graz, in Slovenia we visited the city of Postojna, admired medieval castle, where the famous Jackie Chan filmed his film “Armor of God”.

In Venice we managed to ride on. And from Rimini we went to the republic.

The road home was not boring either. On the way we walked around. A stop in Innsbruck gave children the delight of visiting a unique place. On the way we unexpectedly stopped at Lake Mondsee and the city of Melk. In general, the trip was very eventful, but not very tiring.

If you really want something and show maximum ingenuity, hard work and patience... Nothing is impossible. And at the appointed time, without missing a beat, we sat on the embankment in Venice, ate amazing Italian ice cream and admired the sunset over.

Route to Italy on the map

Where to start and what is most important when traveling by car to Europe

Our preparations for a long trip to Europe by car look something like this:

1. First of all, for a trip to Europe you need. In total, we stayed in Italy for the largest number of days, so the visa was issued in the Italian visa center. The Italians are generous with their annual visas.

To obtain a Schengen visa (if you are traveling to Europe with your own car) you will need a whole bunch of documents. But it’s not so scary, some of them can be obtained without leaving home. The Internet rules... In particular,

• detailed and hotel reservations along the route. The reservation must be for each night of stay in the European Union zone.

Therefore, take a thorough and serious approach to planning your route and... For example, we try to make travel from country to country no more than 500 km. Otherwise, everything is cultural - historical features will remain only outside the car window. And the driver (and we have only one) will soon look like a “cornered horse.”

And so, there is enough time to stop at some interesting places along the way, see the main attractions at the place where you will spend the night and have a good rest and dinner in the evening with a glass or two of local beer.

• Medical insurance (Step-by-step instructions for purchasing insurance online).
• IDP is also one of necessary documents to obtain a Schengen visa.

Since we are traveling by car, we must have an IDP (). There are many opinions and discussions on this subject on various thematic forums, but it is better, as they say, to play it safe. This is not such a big financial investment, but if an emergency situation arises on the road, you will save much more nerves.

• Also, when traveling by car, “” - international insurance is required. Of course, the MTPL policy does not work in the European Union.

As for documents, you also need to take care of the necessary kit for crossing the border, a standard list.

If you already have an open Schengen visa, do not forget about travel health insurance. In order to purchase it, you do not have to waste time going to the insurance company. You can compare insurance prices and buy the most profitable one without leaving your computer, using one of the services, for example Cherehapa.ru:

2. It is very important to plan the route correctly, distribute distances and rest time. This takes an enormous amount of time. I want to see a lot, walk around different cities, embrace the immensity. But the main thing here is to avoid fanaticism, so that there is no feeling of “galloping across Europe.”

Although there will still be ☺, there are so many interesting things along the way and there is always a catastrophic lack of time.
Along the way, as a rule, the route is adjusted for various reasons - unplanned traffic jams, bad weather, fatigue, mood... whatever. We were never lucky enough to see some of the sights. This is nothing, because more often, just as unplanned, you manage to visit completely unexpected places and see something interesting that you didn’t even know about. That's what's good about it independent travel by car.

3. Since the route from Moscow to Italy runs through the territories of different countries, we study information about traffic rules in different countries along the route and all sorts of specific ones. And also the rules on the roads, because even in neighboring countries they can differ and you can easily get into trouble. Why do we need unnecessary problems and frustrations? He who is forewarned is forearmed.

Personally, we always find a lot of relevant information related to driving a car abroad on the website: autotraveler.ru (the cost of gasoline, innovations in traffic rules and fines for violating them, speed limits, what you must have in a car and what is prohibited from using, and many other things useful up-to-date information). Take the time to study these questions. I even printed some out and took them with me on a trip. For example, in which countries should you purchase a vignette and where to stick it correctly. Yes, yes, everything is written on the vignette, but it’s calmer and faster.

4. We update maps in navigators in advance (usually there are two of them, just in case: the irreplaceable “i go” and the mobile “Google navigator with current traffic jams”).

5. We take care of mobile Internet in advance, which functions when moving from country to country. This is always a lifesaver. We refused the Goodline Internet SIM card (there are a lot of bugs and the support leaves much to be desired.

We tested the international SIM card Dreamsim, we were satisfied, we recommend it. I will definitely write more about it.

What makes life easier when traveling and saves valuable time

From personal experience- useful for properly organizing a road trip...

• If you have a Google account (if not, then registering is easy, the registration procedure is standard).

When the travel route and overnight cities are known, I study the main attractions nearby, as well as restaurants and cafes where you can have a tasty and inexpensive meal. Then I mark them with an asterisk on Google Maps. They are saved in my account and are always at hand if there is Internet or wi-fi. It's very convenient. Helped me out more than once. Indeed, in addition to the address, in Google maps you can quickly find up-to-date information about the object (opening hours, address of the official website, restaurant menu, etc.).

Thus, when I am in an unfamiliar city, I always know what I need to visit and where I will have lunch or dinner. A huge amount of time is saved. As for restaurants and cafes, I was convinced that it is much more convenient to choose them at home. You can look at the menu in advance using the translator, find out the average cost of dinner, choose an establishment with a traditional local cuisine, as well as read customer reviews.

• Also, before the trip, I make sure to enter the coordinates of all important objects into the navigator (border crossing points, hotel addresses, important attractions) and on the road all that remains is to select the desired destination in just a few clicks.

So, all the preparatory efforts to prepare for the Moscow-Italy trip in your own car are over. Let's go tomorrow. The first destination is the city of Krakow.

To be continued…