Since there is not that much information on this forum about Canadians travelling to Europe I thought I would share my pre trip info, since I have spent a lot of hours doing research.
First idea was to visit black Forest and Alsace but husband change his mind and wanted to go to Puglia.
Vaccinated Canadians are aloud to enter Italy with an antigen or PCR test taken 72 hrs prior to arrival.
Italy accepts all vaccines given by Canada even the mixed doses. As long as you had your second 14 days prior to entering Italy.
Purchased medical covid19 insurance from securiglobe (1million for covid and 10 million other illness or accident) plus 150$ per day per person for food and lodging in case we need to quarantine if we test positive prior ro returning to Canada. Cost 70$ per person
Shoppers drug mart are now offering antigen test for 40$
Results and certificat in 20 minutes. You need to call to make an appointment.
You will need a copy of each vaccin dose, paper or digital.
To enter italy you need to register for the Passenger Locator form
https://app.euplf.eu/#/
You then should received a QR code by email. (i will do it this weekend and can report back)
If test is negative, we should be on our direct flight from Toronto to Rome in 11 days. Flying direct was important to me, it is hard enough to deal with the entry rules of one country.
Once at Rome airport I have read that it goes smoothly since all the paperwork will have been taken care of in TO.
Italy requires a green pass to enter, museums, eat in indoors, travel on trains or buses etc.
The green pass is only available to those who have been vaccinated in Italy. Our canadian vaccine certificate should be the equivalent.
We rented a car and will be visiting
Matera 3 nights
Gallipoli 2 nights
Otranto 2 nights
Ostuni 3 nights
Rome 2 nights
we will do daytrips to Monopoli, Alberobello, Locorotondo, Lecce.
If you have suggestions for things not to be missed, that would be great. My husband is looking for a cooking class somewhere in these cities.
For Puglia and Basilitica regions you also have to complete a passenger locator form
I have found the one for Puglia
https://limesurvey.istsvc.regione.puglia.it/index.php/119341?lang=it
But i am still looking for the one for basilitica
Once we return the car, we will spend 2 nights in Rome, this will be our 4th visit to Rome. We would probably have gone somewhere else but we need a PCR test 72 hours or less prior to returning to Canada. PCR test are available in big cities only, i could not find a place in Puglia which offered PCR test.
For 60€ you can have a PCR test at artemisia lab. You can book an appointment online. They have many locations. They garantee the result by the next day if the test is taken prior to 6pm.
https://artemisialab.it/molecular-swabs-rt-pcr-with-qr-code-saliva-tests-antigenic-rapid-tests-serological-tests/
They send the result by email.
For our flight back to Canada we will need to complete the arrivecan form or use the app.
For vaccinated people no quarantine necessary if
you have a negative PCR test and have a quarantine plan in place if necessary.
If I forgot something please let me know.
I hope this will help others, not an easy process but in the end it should be worth it.