mask or no mask

An article in La Repubblica a few days ago says that starting in 2022 Venice will impose a tourist tax. I know this has been discussed for several years so it's not terribly surprising, what got me was the description of tourist behavior this summer that finally kicked officials into action.

Jumping off bridges into the canal? Ignoring social distancing, acting as if Covid never happened. I know we've all been cooped up and need to blow off some steam, but really ...

https://www.repubblica.it/viaggi/2021/08/20/news/venezia_2022_a_numero_chiuso_tassa_d_ingresso_e_tornelli-314669789/?ref=search

If you've never visited, it's worth it at least once.

https://www.repubblica.it/viaggi/2020/12/03/news/venezia_caffe_florian_300_anni_francobollo_commemorativo-276837607/

Hi I am looking at traveling to Italy hopefully before the end of 2021 I have autism spectrum disorder and therefore can’t tolerate a mask. At home I am exempt from wearing a mask but I am wondering what I will need in Italy. I currently have a note saying that I can’t wear a mask and my diagnosis both written in English is this sufficient or will I need it translated into Italian?

La Repubblica has a long article today which reveals many particulars of the new carrier (Italia Trasporto Aereo) which will succeed to Alitalia on October 15:

https://www.repubblica.it/economia/2021/07/15/news/ex_alitalia_accordo_tra_mef_e_commissione_ue_ita_volera_dal_15_ottobre-310424306/?ref=RHTP-BH-I304495303-P2-S6-T1

Here are a few particulars:

1. The fleet will start with 7 wide bodies and 45 narrow bodies; next year will grow to 13 wide bodies and 65 narrow bodies; and at the end of 2025 will grow to 23 wide bodies and 82 narrow bodies. 77% of the fleet in 2025 will be new generation aircraft.

2. The Company will start with fewer than 3,000 employees (roughly 30% of the current work force), which will nearly double by the end of 2025.

3. There will be two principal "hubs": Roma Fiumicino and Milano Linate.

4. The airline will fly to 45 destinations, which will grow to 74 by the end of 2025. The company will fly to 21 Italian airports.

5. Long-distance routes for winter 2021-2022 will be New York JFK (from both Rome and Milan), Tokyo, Boston and Miami (all three from Rome).

6. In summer 2022, flights will be added to Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Sao Paolo and Buenos Aires.

Hi,

My wife and I are due to travel to Sicily from the UK for a 2 week trip, last week of September/first week of October. This would be our first visit and we planned to rent a car and tour some of the island staying in a few different places - Palermo, Cefalu, Aelion islands, Taormina, Syracuse.

Now that the yellow zone restrictions have been reintroduced, we were hoping for some first hand experiences as to what impact this might have for us? Ideally from locals or people who have recently visited or are currently visiting Sicily.

We would obviously follow all the local restrictions and mask rules, we are fully vaccinated ourselves, plus both recovered from previous covid infections some time ago. However we have some concerns that our plans to tour around might mean we would be wearing our masks pretty much all day every day (when not driving) and that the restrictions will result in places we would like to visit being closed or very restricted.

So we are now considering whether to book elsewhere and head to Sicily another time. Or are we worrying too much?

BREAKING NEWS:

Italian Media is now reporting that Public Health Minister Roberto Speranza has just signed a new Decree which EXTENDS THE BENEFITS OF THE EUROPEAN DIGITAL COVID CERTIFICATE (GREEN PASS) TO RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES, CANADA AND JAPAN, meaning that they will be allowed entry into Italy for any reason by satisfying any one of the following conditions:

1. 15 days after the first dose of an approved Covid-19 vaccine; or

2. Having proof of having recovered from Covid-19; or

3. Having a negative molecular or antigenic Covid-19 test result performed no more than 48 hours prior to entry.

VISITORS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM WILL NEED TO SELF-ISOLATE FOR 5 DAYS UPON ENTRY INTO ITALY, REGARDLESS OF TEST RESULTS.

https://www.corriere.it/cronache/21_giugno_18/chi-arriva-gran-bretagna-dovra-fare-quarantena-5-giorni-1fac3fae-d02e-11eb-8ae4-82443567179f.shtml

IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT FOR RESIDENTS OF CANADA, JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES SEEKING ENTRY INTO ITALY FOR ANY LAWFUL PURPOSE (including for tourism/leisure)

The Ordinance signed into law today by Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza contains a provision in Article 6 (hyperlinked below) which provides that Canada, Japan and the United States will be moved from List E to List D effective Sunday, May 16.

THIS MEANS THAT SUCH PERSONS WILL BE ALLOWED ENTRY INTO ITALY FOR ANY LAWFUL PURPOSE, INCLUDING TOURISM AND LEISURE TRAVEL, but subject to the entry conditions, which AT THE MOMENT require a negative molecular OR antigenic test performed no more than 48 hours beforehand, 10 DAYS OF SELF-ISOLATION, and a second molecular OR antigenic test at the conclusion of the period of self-isolation. Proof of vaccination or recovery from the virus are NOT for the present recognized conditions for entry into Italy (but this may change soon).

https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/nuovocoronavirus/dettaglioContenutiNuovoCoronavirus.jsp?lingua=english&id=5412&area=nuovoCoronavirus&menu=vuoto&tab=4

THE 10-DAY PERIOD OF SELF-ISOLATION IS WAIVED FOR THOSE ARRIVING IN ITALY ON "COVID-TESTED" FLIGHTS.

THIS MEANS THAT CANADIANS, JAPANESE AND AMERICANS WILL BE ALLOWED ENTRY INTO ITALY STARTING THIS SUNDAY, WITHOUT THE NEED TO SELF-ISOLATE FOR 10 DAYS, PROVIDED THEY ENTER ITALY ON A "COVID-TESTED" FLIGHT.

https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/nuovocoronavirus/dettaglioContenutiNuovoCoronavirus.jsp?lingua=english&id=5412&area=nuovoCoronavirus&menu=vuoto&tab=8

WELCOME BACK TO ITALY!!!!!

https://www.salute.gov.it/imgs/C_17_notizie_5483_0_file.pdf

Lots of questions out there, particularly from US resident tourists. Hopefully these websites help.

Italy’s current entry regulations: https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/nuovocoronavirus/dettaglioContenutiNuovoCoronavirus.jsp?lingua=english&id=5412&area=nuovoCoronavirus&menu=vuot

Entry info based on passport, origin and transit points, itinerary: https://infocovid.viaggiaresicuri.it/index_en.html

EU Green Pass: https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/coronavirus-response/safe-covid-19-vaccines-europeans/eu-digital-covid-certificate_en

US CDC card acceptedin lieu of EU Green Pass https://ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/ambasciata_washington/en/sala-stampa/dall_ambasciata/ingressi-in-italia-dagli-usa-e.html

And for Canadians: https://ambottawa.esteri.it/ambasciata_ottawa/it/ambasciata/news/dall_ambasciata/2020/03/focus-coronavirus.html (English translation button apparently not working but “ Le certificazioni vaccinali e di guarigione rilasciate dalle autorità sanitarie del Canada sono riconosciute come equivalenti alle certificazioni italiane” is what you need to know.

Apologies to residents of Japan for my inability to find a government site specifically confirming acceptance of your country’s vaccination certificate.

For the dPLF required for each adult (minor children to be listed on the form of their accompanying adult): https://app.euplf.eu/#/

Help re completing the dPLF: User manual for help completing the dPLF: https://www.salute.gov.it/imgs/C_17_pagineAree_5411_11_file.pdf

Italian National Tourism Authority guide to Covid-19 regulations: http://www.italia.it/en/useful-info/covid-19-updates-information-for-tourists.html

TA Italy forum “Coronavirus Situation” thread for daily updates re Italy’s situation and updates:: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187768-i20-k13238308-o10-Coronavirus_situation-Italy.html

If anyone knows of other sites that are missing please share.

Hi. I am hoping to visit Italy next year and I’m currently on the lookout for reasonable airfare for the end of March/beginning of April. Is this a pretty good time to come weather wise? Rome is a must do and there are several other places I’d like to see and I have to figure out a reasonable itinerary for 14 nights. Florence, Venice, Bergamo, CinqueTerre, Burano, Lucca, Orvieto, Amalfi Coast, San Gimignano are all on my wish list. This will be my and my husbands first trip overseas. I like culture and my husband likes the outdoors and hiking. I would like to also stay in a agroturismo during part of our stay. I think three full days in Rome would be good and the rest divided up perhaps between Florence, Cinque Terra and Orvieto might work? Perhaps flying in and out of Rome/Florence. Does this sound doable?

Hi,

My partner, our 14 month old and myself are trying to decide whether to take a trip to Italy next month - one that has already been delayed twice due to covid. We would love advice from anyone living in Italy or who has recently travelled there. We’re interested on how keen people living in Italy are to have tourists at the moment, what the atmosphere is like day to day in terms of covid restrictions and any tips on keeping a very very lively and curious 15 month old happy - one who loves to run about, chat to people and be busy...

My partner and I are in our 30s and well travelled (and have done 8 trips in the Uk since the birth of our daughter). We have both been fully vaccinated and are comfortable using masks outdoors and indoors. We are prepared to have and pay for the 5 covid tests necessary and the Uk quarantine anc our trip is already booked but is fully refundable so the stakes are fairly low. All our accommodation hosts are still enthusiastic for us to come.

We’re starting in Venice then had planned to take a train to Florence before hiring a car anc spending some time in a farm stay just north of San Gimoniano. We fly back from Pisa.

We live in London.

Thanks in advance!