We just got back Tuesday after three weeks in Naples, Amalfi and Rome. A quick rundown on masks, testing, etc:
We flew on United nonstop from DC to Rome. Everyone had a mask on while boarding the plane but most came off before the plane left the ground. Arriving in Rome, masks went back on and stayed on through the airport, onto the Leonardo Express, through Roma Termini and onto the Frecciarossa to Naples. Plenty of people in Termini were not wearing masks or had them pulled down. Once under way to Naples, the masks came off again. Arriving in Naples, masks were even less evident than in Rome. We took ours off and rarely ever wore them again. Hotel, restaurant and shop staff pretty much all wear them and you do need one to enter most churches and museums.
The day before we were flying home, we went to a Farmacia to get tested. The testing wasn't done in the Farmacia itself, but at a small white tent outside in the piazza. It took about two minutes in and out. Less than an hour later we received the results in an email which we printed out at our hotel. It's an official EU COVID Certificate – an 8.5" x 11" document that folds twice and fits into your passport. At the first station in the airport, you show it and then proceed to security and on to your gate. All in all, nothing was as bad as we expected. In fact, it was not much of a bother at all.
Posted by
171 posts
I appreciate your "boots on the ground" report." We leave for Rome in two weeks. I was wondering if Italy really cares if I bring my KN95 mask vs. searching for their official FFP2 mask before we leave. It doesn't sound like it.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7277 posts
Do yourself a favor and test again after being home for a few days.
I speak from experience
Posted by
Boston, MA
1829 posts
Gparvin; any place that requires a ffp2 mask is perfectly fine with a N95 / KN95 it is the type of mask not the lettering on it that matters
That said you may not encounter that actual requirement enforced
We had n95s only time it was enforced on similarly recent trip was on the ITA airlines flight Boston to Rome where they were quite adamant about the mask type
Otherwise a medical (blue disposable type) was accepted even if signage may have said otherwise
Posted by
50 posts
I am wondering how crowded it was. I have been reading a report from someone in Cinque Terre and he said it was very crowded there.
Posted by
171 posts
MREYNOLDS, Thank you!! I was considering purchasing FFP2 masks from Amazon and having to rush shipment.
Posted by
9 posts
In Venice, Italy now starting week 3. Crowds have been low until today. Weekend. We started in Milan, Cinque Terre, Florence, Verona and now Venice. No crowds until today. However, all week it was dead. Walked up and got tickets on the spot and no line at Corre Museum. Hope it is just the weekend and not the start of crowds. A lot of Italian school children on field trips.
Posted by
9 posts
N95 mask is what they say but you can wear any mask. Only have to wear on train and bus. Only Milan museum required mask. Delta flight no mask. Pretty laid back here on mask from what I’m experiencing. I only bring a mask if I know I’m going on taxi or train.
Posted by
Florida
276 posts
Regarding the type of masks: on our high-speed train from Florence to Venice yesterday, there was a group of Americans sitting behind me who were wearing a mix of cloth masks and blue surgical masks, rather than the KN95/FFP2 masks. The train official requested that they change them when she checked their tickets, and she brought official masks to the group, no problem. That's the only time I've seen the type of mask be enforced. So it seems like they are occasionally/haphazardly required, but I wouldn't worry about rush shipping; they're easy enough to pick up here.
Posted by
Southeastern US
2645 posts
Helpful information - thanks!
Posted by
26 posts
Thanks for the update- very helpful. We won't have access to a printer (airbnb). Can the Farmacia provide a printed copy of the certificate? Was that an option?
Thanks!
Posted by
Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas
2311 posts
Our farmacia gave us a printed copy but we had to return for it. They requested about 30 min.to print it as they get very busy. We reserved our time for testing online and made the mistake of asking for the “travel” document instead of the “EU certificate”. The EU certificate has the QR code that you need. So, when they print it out for you make sure it has the QR code and looks like the one the OP describes.
Posted by
Gulf Coast, usa
1191 posts
Nice report. Thanks!
Posted by
51 posts
For what it is worth My daughter is right now boarding a flight from Rome to Milan and they required everyone to have the “good” masks before boarding. My daughter has KN95 masks with her and is on the plane. Others with surgical masks were sent running to find the correct masks.
Posted by
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
543 posts
This is helpful. Thanks for your report.
Posted by
20 posts
Do you take the PCR test or the antigen test? Was it a nasal swab? If so, how far up the nose did they go? Thanks for a reply from anyone
Posted by
OP
172 posts
We got Antigen tests. Nasal swab up the nose about an inch at the most. In and out of the test tent in three minutes – 95% of which was the paperwork.