Health & Safety

Health Care

Visitors from the US should check with their insurance companies before leaving home to be sure they are covered if medical care is needed. In some cases insurance companies require you to provide an official translation before they will reimburse you. Travelers may wish to take out additional private insurance for the cost of any emergency care, doctors' fees and repatriation. Be prepared with an adequate supply of any medication you need, as well as a copy of the prescription with the generic name of the drug - this is useful not only in case you run out, but also for the purposes of customs when you enter the country.

If you need an ambulance anywhere in Italy, call 118. For emergency treatment, go to the Pronto Soccorso (Emergency) section of a local Hospital.

Safety

There are a few precautions worth taking, like watching your handbag in public, and not keeping all your documents in one place. The usual safety precautions practiced in any urban or tourist area should be practiced during a visit to Italy.