We are going to Panarea. I am trying to figure out the ferry/hydrofoil situation. Can I take a car into Panarea and is there a ferry that goes there from Milazzo or close by? If you have to leave your car in Milazzo, is it safe to leave a lot of luggage in the car?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15196 posts
No autos allowed onto Panarea, sorry.
Look for a guarded garage in Milazzo. There are several and some even have a manned Deposito Bagagli (baggage storage) if you don't trust leaving your luggage inside the car. I've checked online and the cost is €10-12 a day. You can even meter park in the street for less (4€ a day). In Sicily they use the scratched ticket method a lot instead of meters. Basically you go to the tobacconist and purchase a parking ticket, then you scratch off the time of arrival using a coin (like lottery cards) and place on the dashboard. Blue stripes on the pavement means metered parking (not handicapped like in U.S.). If you park in a blue stall look for the meter or inquire if you need the scratch off card.
Posted by
Santa Fe, NM, USA
192 posts
So basically to use metered parking (with no meters) you buy a ticket for XX hours/days, scratch off the start time, and put it in your windshield? Right? Are the tickets area, city specific?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15196 posts
Above is an example of a scratch and park ('gratta e sosta') card. They are generally purchased at shops, like Tobacconists, nearby. They are valid within the same City (Comune) where you purchase them.
They come in different denominations (1/2 hour, 2 hour, 6 hours, etc). You buy what you need for the length of stay you need to park.
They don't expire. You simply have to scratch the time, day, month, year of arrival. Then u place it on the dashboard. If it's a 2 hour card, you can park for two hours from the time you scratched off. If you stay longer you get a fine. If parking is allowed for many hours, you can also use multiple tickets of short length denomination instead of one for a long stay. For example if you need 4 hours but you only have 2 hour cards, you can scratch off the first 2 hour ticket from the time of arrival, then you scratch off a second two hour ticket starting from the time of expiration of the first ticket. Put both tickets on the dashboard. That way you have 4 hour parking available to stay there. When the first ticket expires, the new ticket will take over. Make sure there isn't a time limit for parking however. If it's a 2 hr parking zone only you can't put multiple tickets to stay longer than allowed.
This low tech method is used in lieu of the traditional electronic meters by cities that don't want to invest in the cost of more high tech methods, like meters which cost more for the installment and maintenance. Smart, uh?
Posted by
Santa Fe, NM, USA
192 posts
I knew I could depend on you for a great explanation Roberto. Thanks!