( Lonely Planet ) -- So you 're ready to go . You 've booked your flight , arranged your accommodation and booked a rental car . Awaiting is a week of motoring through Italy 's magical countryside . But what 's it really like to drive in Italy ? Is it as nerve-wracking as it 's made out to be ? Do you need the skills of a Formula One driver to cut it on the nation 's dog-eat-dog superstrade ? Certainly , driving in Italy 's main cities can be a white-knuckle experience but head out to the country and you 'll find that the pace slackens and the roads are a lot less stressful . To help you on your way here are some insights based on years of experience and tens of thousands of kilometers . Lonely Planet : Italy for honeymooners . Driving styles . Italian drivers are fast , aggressive and skillful . Lane hopping and late braking are the norm and it 's not uncommon to see cars tailgating at 130km/h . Do n't expect people to slow down for you or let you out . Rather , seize the moment . As soon as you see a gap , go for it . Italians expect the unexpected and react swiftly but they 're not used to ditherers so whatever you do , do it decisively . Road etiquette . Much driving etiquette is dictated by unwritten rules . Flashing , for example , means 'Get out of the way ' or 'Do n't pull out 'coz I 'm not stopping ' . But if an approaching car flashes you , it 's warning you that there 's a police check ahead . Similarly , the car horn can mean everything from 'Watch out ' to 'Ciao ' to 'Let 's celebrate , the traffic light 's just turned green ' . City challenges . When driving in cities watch out for traffic restrictions . Many city centers are off-limits to unauthorized traffic and if you slip into a ZTL ( zona a traffico limitato -- reduced traffic zone ) you risk being caught on camera and fined . City driving also involves dealing with one-way systems , scooters appearing out of nowhere and narrow streets better suited to horse-drawn chariots than modern cars . To escape the worst mayhem , drive in the early afternoon when traffic is at its lightest and parking is easier . Which brings us to ... Parking . Parking is a major headache . Space is at a premium in towns and cities and Italy 's traffic wardens are annoyingly efficient . Car parks do exist but they usually fill up quickly , leaving you to park on the streets . If you park between blue lines make sure to get a ticket from the nearest meter ( coins only ) or tabaccaio ( tobacconist ) and display it on your dashboard . Note , however , that charges do n't apply overnight , typically between 8pm and 8am . Lonely Planet : Driving Burgundy 's Route des Grands Cru . Petrol stations . You 'll find filling stations all over but smaller ones tend to close between about 1pm and 3.30pm and on Sunday afternoons . This is n't as irritating as it might sound as many have self-service ( fai da te ) pumps that you can use any time . Simply insert a bank note into the payment machine and press the number of the pump you want . Remembering , of course , to distinguish between benzina ( petrol ) and gasolio ( diesel ) . What to carry in the car . Apart from your driving license , car documents , insurance papers and reflective safety vest , which you 're legally obliged to carry , it 's worth having some coins for parking meters . Also , if you 're travelling with kids , keep some plastic bags to hand . Car sickness is a real possibility on winding country roads and things can prove messy unless you 're prepared . Car hire . Hiring a car in Italy is easy enough -- agencies are widespread and all the usual rules and regulations apply . But bear in mind that a car is generally more hassle than it 's worth in cities , so only hire one for the time you 'll be out on the open road . Also , think about what kind of car to get . Rural road surfaces are not always the best and many agriturismi and beaches lie at the end of long , axle-busting tracks . Similarly , road signs can be iffy in remote areas , so consider paying for sat nav . Top drives . Here are a few roads to try out . • Bolzano to Cortina d'Ampezzo , Dolomites . • Montepulciano to Montalcino via Pienza , Tuscany . • Sulmona to Pescasseroli via Scanno , Abruzzo . • Chia to Porto Teulada , Costa del Sud , Sardinia . • Vietri sul Mare to Sorrento , Amalfi Coast , Campania . • Potenza to Metaponto , Basilicata . Lonely Planet : How to survive a boring road trip . © 2011 Lonely Planet . All rights reserved .
Italian drivers are fast , aggressive and skillful , so make sure to drive decisively . Watch out for traffic restrictions because many city centers are off-limits to unauthorized traffic . Comment: