Dealing with Emergencies
We certainly hope that you will never find yourself in an emergency, but should you ever feel you are in need of urgent help, call 112 immediately from any public or private telephone free of charge.
While also being the official number for the Carabinieri (Police), 112 is also recognized as the European Universal Emergency number, which is the equivalent to 911 in the United States. No matter your emergency, the operator will be able to assist you, even in English, and put you in contact with Medical or Fire responders.
Italian Emergency Contacts
For reference below you can find useful Emergency Numbers in Italy:
- 112 – Carabinieri (Police) – Universal European Emergency Number
- 113 – Polizia (Police)
- 115 – Vigili del Fuoco (Fire Department)
- 116 – Roadside Assistance (Italian Automobile Club – A.C.I)
- 117 – Guardia di Finanza (Customs & Excise Police)
- 118 – Soccorso Sanitario (Medical Emergency)
- 176 – International Enquiries
Travel Health Insurance Plans
It is unwise to travel anywhere in the world without travel insurance—it is always better to be safe than sorry! No one plans to get sick or needing to visit the local ER while traveling, but at times it becomes a necessity and knowing that you are covered will give you peace of mind during stressful situations. Going to the ER without health coverage can result in hefty bills, so we strongly recommend purchasing travel health insurance.
A good policy should include comprehensive health insurance including medical care and emergency evacuation. There are many providers available online and sometimes choosing one can be overwhelming. For those reasons, we recommend using World Nomads. They are a very reputable leader in insuring travelers and we trust their services. Obtaining a quote with World Nomads is easy and it only takes a few minutes. Click here to get a quick quote.
Pharmacy (Farmacia)
If you are experiencing minor illnesses, a pharmacists can give you valuable advice and sell over-the-counter medication. They can also advise if you need specialized help and point you in the right direction.
Pharmacies generally follow local shop hours (usually 9:00AM – 1:00 PM and 4.00 – 8:00 PM Monday through Saturday) with local variations. Nighttime and Sunday service is provided on a rotating basis. Outside each Pharmacy you can find the Night-time and Sunday rotation Calendar, which allows you to know the Pharmacy that will be open during those times.
No grocery store (or any other store) in Italy has a pharmacy section or sell prescription or over-the-counter medicines – only Pharmacies can do that.
Need someone to run your ideas by? Have an idea for an itinerary but don’t know how to make it fit together or what the best solution is? Or do you simply want a curated food & wine adventure? Contact Us!