Instructions
Health issues and emergencies:
The phone number to call an ambulance is 118. Pharmacists (Farmacia) are often able to speak English and to help chose medication that doesn't require prescription. Doctors for tourists are also available for reasonable prices and can be found online.
Safety tips:
Italy is a generally safe country (Homicide Rate of 0.5 per 100k inhabitants, for reference the US is 5.7), and Salento is safe by national standards. The main danger is cars and busses, so beware as you cross the street and do not expect cars to slow down for you at crosswalks. Also, petty crime is common in high-traffic areas (like train stations), and scams abound. If you buy a ticket for something, or pay for a service, make sure you check the business you are paying has online reviews and it is legit.
How to drive:
As in any foreign country, the best way to stay safe driving in Italy is being observant, and match the flow of traffic. I would advise against speeding, and strongly warn that intoxicated driving is taken very seriously by Italian law. Also note that there is no right on red, and the streetlight will be on your end of the intersection (so much closer to you than you are used to, try to stop behind it). Further, in urban centres traffic may create or erase lanes relative to those you see painted on the ground, so pay attention. The most important difference between driving in Salento vs. the US is how you merge on a highway: DO NOT expect traffic to slow down for you, come to a full stop before merging. Occasionally cars will pull to the left lane to let you merge (and will flash their headlights to let you know), but most of the time you are expected to treat the merging lane as a stop sign, and wait for a gap wide enough for you to get to speed. Also, on the freeway the left lane is supposed to be a passing lane, however it is often a legal gray area where some people like to go very fast. I would advise against matching their speed and recomend keeping mostly to the right. Be warned that if you linger in the left lane going at normal speed, often people who intend to go fast will get scarily close to you and be annoying.
Where to stay:
If you want to experience living in a quaint Italian town with all modern amenities, I reccomend you stay in Lecce. The best neighbourhoods are San Lazzaro, Piazza Mazzini, or the Historic Centre. The city has shopping, restaurants, historic sites, museums, all within walking distance, and is perfectly self-contained. If you would prefer to stay on the beach, I reccomend the seaside town of Torre dell'Orso. Recomendations for Hotels and BnBs will be gradually added to the website, but feel free to ask and we will look into it.