News from TripAdvisors Italy Forum

Info in English:

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/italy-extends-covid-mask-rules-15-june.html

I wonder if this means no masks going over on planes since it says “inside Italy” for public transport. . Until the U.S. lifts its testing requirement, I hope it doesn’t mean that. Maybe they know something we don’t yet? Can only hope.

Note that face masks, where required, must still be FFP2 grade (N95 equivalent).

Also note that eff. May 1, proof of vaccination (or recovery) (what Italian call "Green Pass) is no longer needed to enter any venues, however it is still required to enter Italy from abroad. That means that you will need the CDC card to board the plane to Italy, but you don't need to carry it around to enter restaurants, museums, etc.

Italy requires masks on planes, so I doubt they will give exemptions to foreign airlines. International law says that once an airliner enters the air space of a country that airliner becomes territory of that country (unless it's a military airplane) and therefore it is subject to that country's laws.

Thanks Roberto, I’m glad Face masks will be worn on planes for now. Will the KN-95 suffice?

Where would museums/art galleries fall under this?

@Roberto, I believe that you don’t have to be vaccinated to enter Italy per the updates in February and March. You would just have to present proof of recovery from COVID or have a negative Covid test result.

https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/nuovocoronavirus/dettaglioContenutiNuovoCoronavirus.jsp?lingua=english&id=5412&area=nuovoCoronavirus&menu=vuoto&tab=1

You currently don’t even need a mask in museums, except the Vatican.

You absolutely DO need a mask in all museums and churches, restaurants, stores, etc NOW

We are here now, masking required indoors everywhere and it is enforced.

Not sure where you got your info

FFP2 masks have been required in ALL the museums, churches, public transport, supermarkets (basically ALL indoor spaces) that we have been in throughout Italy since we have been here (mid-April).

Restaurants have required one when you're standing, only to be removed whilst sitting at your table.

We have only had to show our Green Pass once - at a restaurant (near Sorrento).

As near as I can see, the Italian Ministry of Culture (state museums, monuments and archeological sites fall under their jurisdiction) has not changed their mask mandate, or not yet, anyway.

https://cultura.gov.it/comunicato/22550

Translated first paragraph:

MUSEUMS, EXHIBITIONS, ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES From 1 April 2022, for
access to museums, archaeological parks, exhibitions, archives,
libraries and other places of culture, the possession of the
reinforced green pass, or the basic one, is no longer required. The
obligation to use surgical masks remains.

Coopculture retains the "Mandatory use of surgical mask text under "Visiting Rules" for the attractions they ticket. Not sure how strongly they enforce it; would have to hear from people in Rome right now.

Posted elsewhere Kathy but masking indoors EVERYWHERE is strongly enforced
museums, churches, restaurants, stores, indoor market, in hotels, in taxis, etc
So far Rome, Orvieto, Florence

There was an American couple at hotel breakfast without masks they were told to mask up or leave
They whined that the didn’t have masks with them and wanted to just finish eating ( one had gotten up to go back to the buffet table)
No way said the employee-go get your masks
Not sure how they snuck past the employee at door to get in maskless in the first place

All N95 or equivalent, don’t think I’ve seen any useless cloth masks

Just want to confirm that N95 masks are fine in Italy. They do not need to be FFP2 masks. I specifically bought FFP2 masks for my trip to Italy. The version I got were tight around the ears and didn't give as good a seal as the N95s I also brought (the FFP2s were in gorgeous colors). The FFP2s stayed in my suitcase. I just want to spare other people the expense of buying FFP2s if they have N95s that work for them (I wear glasses and need to avoid the fogging up problem).

Hi Christine! Yep, I read your previous post; just wasn't sure about enforcement at some of the Coopculture sites which are largely outdoors, such as the Forum and Palatine? Thought there might be people pulling the masks off when they didn't think there was any staff around to give 'em heck.

Hi,
I’ve been in Italy since mid April. N95 masks have been req’d indoors everywhere- museums, restaurants, bars - unless eating. Vax card was only asked for twice as entry into Museums. I notice that some Americans don’t mask up and get reminded by the officers at the entrances.
Hotel req’d masks too! And hotel bkfst buffet- mask up while getting your food, but mask off when eating.
When in doubt - mask up as a courtesy, I think is a good rule of thumb as a ‘guest’ in Italy!

Unless specified by the Government, Privately owned businesses have the right to mask or not mask. It’s just recommended, not mandatory like government controlled venues.

Probably so. It's just that such a large amount of museums and archeological attractions people flock to The Boot to see are state entities so best to be prepared? The list is here, by region, if anyone is curious:

http://musei.beniculturali.it/en/museums

I believe you’d be hard pressed to find any establishment NOT requiring masks indoors

Italy suffered greatly and is serious about ending this pandemic… thank goodness
I feel safer here than I did for the past 2 years at home even with the crowds.

When in Rome…

We'll be in Italy in two weeks and I've been wondering how it would shake out for masking. To be safe, a couple months ago, I ordered a 50-pack of various colored KN95s masks. I'm glad we're prepared.

These 2 articles state masks no longer required in museums:

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/italy-opens-state-museums-for-free-on-1-may.html
https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/italy-bids-farewell-to-covid-green-pass.html

Given the crowds we are seeing and the number of posters reporting testing positive and being stuck for 10 days isolation we will continue to mask.

Captain Obvious, "Wanted In Roma" has changed their info since the April 30th articles you linked above. From today's May 1 article:

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/where-you-need-to-wear-a-mask-in-italy-from-1-may.html

Museums - The wearing of masks is "strongly recommended" when visiting
museums and archaeological sites, according to the websites of some
museums and reports in Italian media. However a statement on the
website of the Italian culture ministry states that surgical
(chiurgica) masks are still required when visiting museums.

That statement, within the info about free Sundays on the Ministry of Culture's site, today reads (translated from Italian):
https://www.beniculturali.it/comunicato/22750

To access monuments, museums, galleries, parks, monumental gardens of
the State, the possession of the reinforced green pass or the basic
one will no longer be required, while the use of surgical masks will
remain. Some locations can be visited by reservation only.

Could that change? Sure, but it apparently hasn't yet at the state museums, monuments, etc. yet. Might private museums have their own rules? Could be but to be safe, best to always have masks with you and be prepared to use them?