Carrying a Backpack in Italy

Actually, backpacks are allowed in most tourist sites. The only restrictions I know are the Vatican Museum. The church is okay. The Uffizi has restrictions. (Bag check.). San Marco church in Venice. (Large bags only must be checked across from the church.)The main tower in Siena has a free locker check at the base. That's about it. You could wear a small "fanny/waist" pack in San Marco. You can also do a small pack at Vatican Museum. (Think purse size.). A small hand carry tote will work. A cross body bag will work. For a masculine sack, check out hiking goods stores or go with a unisex black bag. It's difficult to retrieve a checked bag at the Vatican Museum. So, use a small hand carry or cross body bag there. Sling type bag - small. (About 15 liter size is sufficient for a day pack.). How much space do you need? You could even go smaller.

Some places you have to wear the backpack on your chest not your back (Castle in Verona and someplace else... can't remember where). Other places you check it... Leaning Tower of Pisa, Lamberghini Factory....

They were not allowed at Pompeii in April. My husband's small satchel was also not allowed in. My very tiny cross-body purse was allowed.

Check out the Eddie Bauer stowaway packable sling bag. 10 liter size. It 's masculine. It will work in San Marco in Venice. Your other option is to identify sights where packs are restricted. We can help. Then, leave your pack at the hotel and retrieve it after you visit a particular sight. We did that for the Vatican museum.

The printed restrictions for Pompeii, Herculaneum and related sites:
http://www.coopculture.it/heritage.cfm?id=1#

"STRICTLY FORBIDDEN to introduce inside the excavations of Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis, Stabia and the Museum of Boscoreale, handbags, backpacks, luggage, cases, larger than 30x30x15 cm."

Wendy, having a backpack on one's back can make a person sort of bulky to move around, especially indoors, and can be not a particularly safe way to carry your stuff. For many trips now, I have used an RS Civita day pack, but have always slung it over my shoulder, generally held close to my body toward the front. Although it is actually a light weight and small back pack, it has never been on my back.

Whether or not backpacks are permitted, please show some consideration for other people by wearing the backpack in front. During my first visit to the Colosseum, I took one of the underground tours. A man on the tour had a backpack that he (unintentionally) whacked into other people several times as he turned around. I'm rather short so I had to steer clear of him unless I wanted a smack in the face. If you want to wear a backpack, please be more considerate than this man so everyone can enjoy their visit to the sites. We need as much common courtesy as we can get these days.

I understand the above comments about "whacking" others or artwork with a backpack. I have been guilty of this myself with a larger pack. I find that a small pack 10-15 liter is fine. It can be carried by hand or under one's arm when in a museum or crowded situation. Some museums have a free bag check required at the entrance - so no issue there. At the Vatican Museum - retrieval from the bag check area is very difficult. Sites like Pompeii have to worry about folks removing rubble artifacts as souvenirs. For the most part, a daypack is easy to use. I prefer it to a purse when traveling. I used it a lot in Italy. The other options are a cross body bag or a hand tote or a hip pack.

We have pretty much given up backpacks in cities in favor of cross-body bags. My husband is now a big fan of the masculine cross-body bags that many Italian men carry. It is big enough for even a light, scrunchable jacket as well everything else he needs: wallet, camera, keys, iPad, etc. I think this is the most secure way to carry valuables instead of wallet in the rear pocket. It's very handy! Sometimes he even carries stuff for me so I do not have to have a pig purse. And we don't end up whacking people on the bus.