We flew from Tampa to Boston to Rome on Delta. In Tampa our passports, COVID CDC cards and our European Passenger Locator forms (dPLF) were checked. In Boston, our COVID test results were checked at our gate and our temperatures taken. Arrival in Rome was smooth and efficient and no COVID related documents were checked. We took the train to Rome then on to Siena. No document were checked.
Masks are required on ALL public transportation and inside ALL public buildings. All restaurants are seating primarily outside. All staff are wearing masks. No masks are required walking on the street.
It is a beautiful day, we are in a beautiful city. It is really good to be back in Italy.
Posted by
22 posts
A similar experience. We flew out of Peoria to DFW on American. Cursory look at hard docs in Peoria and no one else has asked to see anything. We did use VeriFLY which I believe is key. We uploaded a hard copy of our Covid test and the QR code for the locator form. So nice to be back in Tuscany. The trains seemed fairly busy but by no means full. We will be carrying our white CDC vaccination card everywhere.
Posted by
Bay Area, California
1661 posts
Happy and safe travels!
Posted by
53 posts
Thanks for the update.
Did you get your pre- Covid tests 72 hours before first flight or landing in Italy?
Did you pre-book your train tickets?
Any lines?
Beautiful Siena- have fun!
We leave 9/30.
Posted by
OP
Florida, USA
251 posts
The test must be 72 hours BEFORE ARRIVAL. The only train tickets we booked were between Rome and Siena. The bus to Siena is actually faster, 3 hours. No lines anywhere so far.
Posted by
Chicago
10 posts
Wonderful! So happy for you! we leave for Florence/Siena on the 19th. How busy is Siena? Would you recommend booking tickets to the Duomo etc. in advance?
Thanks for the report!
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
The only train tickets we booked were between Rome and Siena.
Either Trenitalia finally started running direct trains from Rome To Siena (big news) or you took a train to Florence and backtracked to Siena.
They should have checked your CDC cards on the Rome-Florence train when they checked your tickets.
we leave for Florence/Siena on the 19th
I think All the Florence-Siena trains are not bookable Regionale trains. Buses from Florence and Roma Tiburtina are a better option because they all arrive up in central Siena, whereas the railway station is at the bottom of the hill and the escalators are quite far with luggage
Posted by
OP
Florida, USA
251 posts
Cdtravel - Siena is busy with many young people. We have only seen a couple of tour groups. I wouldn't pre-book tickets for the Duomo the line is rarely long.
Dario - you are right, of course. There is no direct train from Rome to Siena. We took the regional train to Chiusi then changed trains to Siena. We agree that the direct bus would have been faster but for other reasons we chose the train and our COVID cards were not checked.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
Covid cards are checked only on trains with mandatory seat reservation, you took only Regional trains.
Travellers like Cdtravel who'll take also High speed trains should expect conductors to ask for their CDC cards either on board or on the platform.
Posted by
OP
Florida, USA
251 posts
Cdtravel -an update to our earlier response to your question about buying Duomo tickets in advance- the ticket lines to the Duomo di Siena have been very long this week. If you buy the tickets in advance with your QR code on your phone you can go directly to the line outside the church....much shorter.
Posted by
Chicago
10 posts
Thanks for letting me know! I really appreciate it.