Italian Mosquitos

I get bitten frequently. Recently in Italy, Venice, Verona, Lake Como,
Milan, CT, Assisi, Rome...... I was bitten. I usually carry a DEET spray or lotion to put on my arms and legs at the least.

Never had a problem with them in Venice, Rome or Pisa but Florence is mosquito land at night, ditto rural Tuscany. Take your repellant and use it and don't forget your face, neck and ears at night before bed if you hear any in your bedroom. Once there's a hard frost you should be fine. Great time of year for Italy. Have something with fresh truffles (say a pasta dish). You'll love it or hate it. We shared a Florentine Style steak with truffles in Sienna that I still talk about - 6 years later!

Just back from northern Italy. There were some zanzara in Pisa, the Tuscan hillsides and in Venice.....but not too bad. We did not use any repellant, and only got two or three bites over the week and a half we were there. None in the CT.

Spent 17 days in Italy this past July--Venice, Florence, Amalfi Coast and Rome. Got some bites in Venice and on A. Coast but the worst was Florence. I couldn't believe how many bites I had on my arms and legs and they were big, red and itched like crazy. I don't know if this summer was worse than usual? On numerous summer trips and several fall trips I have never had a problem. Had some anti-itch cream that came in handy.

October is not as bad, although Florentine mosquitoes never die, not even in January. There is no need to carry repellent in October. You are not going to the Amazon. Just get a "Vape" mat tablet and plug in hot plate there if you need it at night. Hotels often provide it. Just plug it in the socket and it will keep the insects away. http://www.vape.com/en/prodotti_vape_volanti.html

A trick I have learned here, in the land of no screens, is to rub salt on the bites as soon as possible. Reduces itch and swelling in minutes. Wish I'd known this in Minnesota when I was a kid.

It's funny because my experience was the opposite of some others who have posted. I lived in Tuscany for a fall/winter - never had problems there, but was eaten alive in a Venice apartment/hostel. Anyway, because of the variety of answers I would be prepared to deal with it just in case!

I was in a rural area yesterday between Padova and Venice and I got absolutely eaten alive. I was wearing shorts and I've got bites all over my legs, I really could have used some repellent. The big problem here the past couple years are these tiger mosquitos, they are aggressive and draw blood quickly.

Just came back from Venice, Florence, and Rome. Got bit twice in my right hand in Florence. Didnt have any bug problems in Venice or Rome.

A little late...we've had some issues with mosquitoes and no see ums! My wife has been biten several times. I have only been bit one time. I attribute that to me consuming more wine. But seriously, there are bugs in the Panzano area. We have started using a mosquito coil outside our room. Have a great time!

Here's a weird fact. If you put a spoon under quite hot running water for a minute and then press the bottom of the spoon to the bite the itching will go away remarkably fast. Disperses the antihistamines causing the itching. Weird but medically validated. I knew I was paying for that boys medical school for a reason - lol.

OK, thanks to you all, I have just bought a box of "Off" towelettes, that I will take with me to Italy next week. Hopefully they will chase any zanzare away, but if I do get any bites, I will certainly remember the spoon remedy! Marie. Does a tablespoon work any better than a teaspoon? I assume spoons made out of plastic or that potato or corn based stuff will likely not work as well, probably not at all.

I have never heard of the spoon remedy, but if you take your fingernail and make a crisscross in the bite it will also help stop the itching. Really works...

OK, OK, I'll take my fingernails along too. But it's getting harder and harder to stick to just a carry-on bag.