Health and Safety

Water Quality

Drinking water from the tap in Italy is considered safe. Tap water in the major cities and towns around Italy is safe for consumption, and there are thousands of old-style water fountains dotted around cities, like Rome, where you can fill up water bottles. Some very rural areas in Italy may have water that is not safe to drink. If there is a sign reading ‘acqua non potabile’, this means that the water is not safe to be ingested. If you wish to drink purified water, bottled water is abundantly available in stores, especially in tourist areas. However, be aware of your environmental impact when purchasing water in plastic bottles, and consider filling a reusable bottle or canteen with water from your hotel for your day of sightseeing instead.

Common Local Disease

  1. Ischemic heart diseases
  2. Cerebrovascular disease
  3. Cancer of tranchea, bronchi and lungs
  4. Chronic diseases of the lower respiratory tract
  5. Dementia

Natural Disasters

1. Forest fires

Forest fires are a risk during the extended summer months. Forest fires are highly dangerous and unpredictable; check with local authorities if you’re considering travelling to affected areas. Take care when visiting or driving through woodland areas and report fires to the emergency services.

2. Flooding

High waters known as “acqua alta” are a common occurrence in Venice during the winter months and can cause flooding in parts of the city. You should monitor local media and weather reports and follow the advice of local authorities in affected areas.

3. Earthquakes

Many parts of Italy lie on a major seismic fault line. Minor tremors and earthquakes are a regular occurrence.

Common Crimes

1. Murder

In 2012, national murder rate was about 0.9 per 100,000 population, one of the lower rates in Western Europe. There were a total of 530 murders in Italy in 2012.

2. Organized crime

Many worldwide crime organizations originated in Italy, and their influence is widespread in Italian society, directly affecting a reported 22% of citizens and 14.6% of Italy's Gross Domestic Product. Public figures such as former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi have been charged with association in organized criminal acts. War against organized crime caused hundreds of murders, including judges (Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino) and lawyers (like Roberto Calvi).

3. Sexual violence

According to Police authorities data, the rate of sexual assaults per 100,000 inhabitants is significantly higher in the Northern region than in the Southern ones. In 2009, Lombardia and Emilia Romagna were the regions with the highest rate of sexual offences per 100.000 inhabitants (9.7); followed by Trentino Alto Adige and Tuscany (9.5); Piedmont and Liguria (8.6); Umbria (8.4). In this respect, all major Southern regions like Sicily (6.8); Calabria (6.5); Apulia (6.2); Campania (6,0) were the safest in the national territory, with the only exception of Friuli Venezia Giulia (5.1) in the North.

4. Fraud

Fraud is a major contributor to Italy's crime rate, with some level of fraud appearing in all sectors of the economy since the country's founding in 1861. Notable cases of financial fraud include the collapse of Parmalat in the early years of the 21st century, and the Lockheed bribery scandal in the 1970s.

5. Corruption

Political corruption remains a major problem in Italy, particularly in Southern Italy including Calabria, parts of Campania and Sicily where corruption perception is at a high level. Political parties are ranked as the most corrupt institution in Italy, closely followed by public officials and Parliament, according to Transparency International's Global Corruption Barometer 2013.

6. Drug-related crimes

Italy is considered one of the drug portals to Europe thanks to its geolocation and omnipresence of organised crime groups. Substantial amounts of illegal drugs are smuggled through the country with the goal of reaching other European nations. These narcotics are exported from drug producing regions principally via maritime route but also via air and land. Areas such as South America, specifically Colombia produce and supply cocaine, Southeast Asia and Afghanistan principally supply heroin, whereas north-western and south-eastern Europe, Morocco and Albania cultivate and deliver cannabis. The drugs are bought and distributed both in Italy and in the rest of Europe by organised crime groups.

Emergency Contact Numbers

You can report anything on 112, the single European emergency number, whose operators will direct you to the relevant services. But knowing the direct number to call could get you a faster response in a situation where time is critical.

Within Italy, the general number for all emergencies – the equivalent of 999 in Malaysia – is 113.

You can also directly call the numbers below.