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Woman traveling solo in southern Italy

Hello: I'm a 70 YO woman who's thinking about traveling to the heel and toe of southern Italy. I haven't done a lot of research yet, but I definitely wish to see the Trulli houses in Alberobello. I'm wondering if it's safe for me to do so. I'd be renting a car and driving. Thank you so much!
Candy

Posted by
4217 posts

I would have no qualms about traveling solo in Puglia. I think Calabria would require more specifics about your destinations. Some of the drives could be quite long and desolate (not because I necessarily think the Ndrangheta will be after you).
It is strongly advised to leave nothing unattended in your car ever--even dirty laundry in the trunk.

Posted by
4526 posts

70 should make it, but do ensure you check rental car company maximum age. Some are lower than others.

Posted by
2668 posts

Besides Alberobello, what do you want to see? Are you researching family? How comfortable are you traveling solo and driving by yourself?

My sister-in-law and I went on the RS South of Italy tour in 2019. Pre-trip we spent a few days in Rome. Post-trip we rented a car in Naples and drove to Calabria for an overnight visit to the village her grandparents were from. The combination of the tour and independent travel worked good for us, giving us a chance to see what we wanted and go places we would not have visited on our own. It had been years since I had been in Europe and never Italy. She had never traveled outside of the US. At the time I was 68 and she was 71. Except for getting lost returning to rental car in Naples, we felt safe everywhere we went.

Posted by
3812 posts

What are you exactly afraid of? Car break-ins when you are not near the car? Car theft while you are sleeping in your room? Puglia is notorious for both, but aside from that I can't see why it should be different from other regions. Both problems can be easily solved with a good insurance and not leaving your stuff in the car.
The capital of car break-ins is Pisa, further north.

Nobody will have a gun in the dashboard, so an angry honk with a visible finger are the worst things other drivers can make.