Car rental and Driving in Italy/Autonoleggio e Guidare in Italia
It might be helpful to know some Italian if you decide you want to rent a car to visit any towns, sites, and wineries off the beaten path. And if you do, it’s probably a good idea to know common road signs and understand some basic directions. BTW, there are a number of map apps that can help you find the places you want to visit, but from my driving experiences in Italy, MAPS.ME, is a highly reliable (and free) offline GPS navigation app: http://maps.me/en/home
Pronunciation/Pronuncia
Here’s one of many videos on Italian pronunciation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Some key words and common road signs/Alcune parole chiave e cartelli (or segnale) stradale commune
Area di servizio (on Autostradas and highways)
Gas station with other services, including restrooms, real food and coffee (sometimes a sit-down restaurant), Wi-Fi service, children's play areas, and more.
Check out these articles on the infamous Autogrills:
The Autogrill Rest Stop on the Autostrada
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/
A Day of Autogrills: Eating through Italy's highway rest stops
http://www.saveur.com/article/
Assicurazione
Insurance
Attenzione
Caution
Autostrada
Expressway with tolls
Benzina
Gas
Benzina senza piombo
Unleaded gas
Benzinaio
Gas station
Casello
Toll both
Centro
Center of Town
Corsia
Lane
Dare la precedenza
Yield
Deviazione
Detour
Entrata
Entrance
Entrata Vietata
No Entry
Lavori In Corso
Road Work Ahead
Limite di velocità
Speed limit
Macchina
Car
Parcheggio
Parking
Parcheggio a pagamento
Pay parking
Parcheggio Vietato
No Parking
Patente
Driver’s license
Pedaggio
Toll
Pedaggio autostrada
Toll road
Rallentare
Slow Down
Ritirare il biglietto
Take a ticket
Semaforo
Traffic light
Senso unico
One way
Stop (on a street sign)
Stop
Strada
Street
Strada statale (abbreviated as SS)
State highway
Uscita
Exit
Via
Road/street
Vietato l'Accesso
Keep Out
Vietato parcheggiare
No parking
Zona Pedonale
Pedestrian Zone
Check out these links to see the various road signs in Italy:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
http://italyexplained.com/
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/
Directions/Direzione
East
Est
Left
Sinistra
North
Nord
Right
Destra
Straight (straight ahead)
Diritto
South
Sud
West
Ovest
Davanti a . . .
In front of
Di fianco a . . .
Besides
Dietro a . . .
Behind
Di fronte a. . .
Opposite
Dopo il . . .
Past the . . .
Giri a destra
Turn right
Giri a sinistra
Turn left
Lontano
Far away
Prima del . . .
Before the . . .
Verso il . . .
Towards the . . .
Vicino a . . .
Next to
Phrases/Frasi
How do I get to _____ ?
Come si arriva a _____ ?
... the airport?
...all'aeroporto?
...the American Consulate?
...al consolato Americano
...the American Embassy?
...all'Ambasciata Americana
... the bus station?
...alla stazione dell'autobus?
...downtown?
...in centro?
...the hotel?
...all'albergo/hotel?
...the nearest gas station?
...benzinaio più vicina?
... the railway station?
...alla stazione ferroviaria?
... the restaurant?
... al ristorante ?
... the winery?
... all'azienda vinicola?
… (name of town)
... ____________________?
Can I get insurance?
Posso avere un'assicurazione?
Can I park here?
Posso parcheggiare qui?
Fill it up with unleaded gas, please
Metta il pieno di benzina senza piombo, per favore.
How long can I park here?
Quanto tempo posso parcheggiare qui?
How much does parking cost?
Quanto costa il parcheggio
I have a flat tire
Ho una gomma a terra
I want to rent a car.
Vorrei noleggiare una macchina.
Which is the road for __________?
Quale è la strada per __________?
Al semaforo prenda la prima via a destra
At the lights take the first street on the right
All’ incrocio prenda la seconda via a sinistra
At the intersection take the second street on the left
Alla rotonda giri nella seconda via
At the roundabout turn into the second street
Sempre dritto fino al semaforo
Go straight to the lights
Sempre dritto fino all’incrocio
Go straight to the intersection
Sempre dritto fino alla rotonda
Go straight to the roundabout
