The terrain in Italy? I need to know....?

Question

Is there more walking than driving...do people often ride bikes...are there pavements or is it cobblestone...dirt sidewalks...are more comfortable shoes like sneakers or hiking boots worn or high heels for women...

Answer 1

Italy is a country, not a single city. Obviously it depends on where you are planning on going.

Anyway, in most of the country people often ride bikes and you will find pavements. You don't need hiking boots unless you go hiking.

Answer 2

oh i got this one.  Ok, so its about the same as in America when it comes to driving. There are more small cars because the roads are not as wide.  Walking has less stigma then in america, because in america when your walking people think your only walking because you dont have a car. Here people walk so often because of the scenery. and the climate is so pleasant. There are bike riders, and skooter riders. i dont do either. There is both pavement and cobblestone.  Pavement on the highways and in the cities main streets and in small villages there is both.  so you have to be prepared to switch from one to the other and then back again.The small roads have beautiful cobblestones and its a joy to walk on them, especially in the summertime. So now to the SHOES. Ok tricky subject because italians love nice shoes but the sidewalks and roads are indeffinitly harder to walk on.  I found any shoes that had no tread on the bottom are difficult.  Also any shoes that have a stem heel are hard to walk in too. I reccomend boots (fasionable but easy to walk in), that are comfortable in the winter. and in the summer you want a flat sandle or any flat shoe, maybe the cute flat ballet shoes that are popular right now. Love em. I also wear sneakers. Im not down with hiking boots but im sure they would be acceptable too.  italians dont wear flip flops as much as americans, but whatever.  I think if you look good and are confident, you'll look great. i know it'll be hard to pack, I made some mistakes with stelettos (spelled that wrong) that i can never wear because the thin heel gets caught in between the cobble stones and I stick into the sidewalks. So learn from me and keep the heel at least a little thick. Have fun and i hope i helped

Answer 3

It does depend a lot on where you're going, but if you're in the big cities (like Florence, Rome, or Venice) you will definitely appreciate comfortable footwear like sneakers or comfy sandals for the cobblestone streets, although bring some dressy shoes if you plan on dining in a nice restaurant or going out to a more formal event.

Because so many things are within walking distance, it does make sense to do a lot of walking.  Even if you use public transportation (buses, trains), you still have to walk between stations/stops and your destination; there may also be a lot of standing in lines for really popular tourist destinations.  Again, you'll be happy for comfy footwear, but hiking boots (unless you're actually hiking) will look out of place and aren't necessary.

The locals usually get around by walking, riding scooters or motorbikes, or by driving tiny little cars.  Most Italian drivers seem to be a little crazy, so I would not recommend trying to bike in any city, although it might be really nice out in the countryside.