Page 210 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Milan & The Lakes

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Personal Security and Health

In Milan, there is widespread petty crime, a problem common
to all large cities. Stay wary, particularly in crowded areas,
and keep a close eye on personal property such as bags and
cameras, especially in the evening. The towns and villages
around the lakes are very safe areas, however, and there
should be no cause for concern. Should you fall ill during
your stay, Italian pharmacists can advise on minor ailments.

Police and Emergencies What to be Aware of
There are several police forces Pay attention when walking
in Italy. The polizia (state police) alone at night in poorly lit
deal with all kinds of criminal streets away from the city centre.
offences and issue permessi di Unaccompanied women should
soggiorno (residence permits) take particular care. Petty theft
to foreigners and passports to is a perennial problem, so keep a A municipal policewoman directing
Italian citizens. tight grip on your bag, especially traffic in Milan
The vigili urbani (municipal in trams and on the metro.
police) wear blue-and-white Pickpockets are common and Lost Property
uniforms in winter and white well organized. Keep your If you lose documents or other
ones in summer; they regulate handbag closed and do not carry personal property, report the loss
traffic and parking offences. backpacks or shoulder bags on immediately at the nearest police
The carabinieri (military your back. Keep valuables such station. An official report will be
police) deal with everything as your wallet or purse, camera needed for insurance claims. It
from speeding offences to and mobile phone well out of may also be worth contacting the
drug-related crimes. sight. When walking along the city’s Ufficio Oggetti Smarriti
Police stations (questura) street, keep handbags on the (Lost Property Office, c/o Railway
and hospitals (ospedale) with inside, away from the road. Police). If you lose something on
a casualty unit/emergency Visitors with cars should a train or in a station, contact the
room (pronto soccorso) are take all the usual precautions lost property office on the ground
shown on the Street Finder appropriate in a big city. Do not floor of the Stazione Centrale.
maps (see pp222–35). leave personal belongings or Should an interpreter be
For urgent medical attention car radios visible inside the car. needed, ask at your hotel or try
see Hospitals and Pharmacies. Whenever possible, leave your the Yellow Pages (Pagine Gialle;
Emergency phone numbers car in an attended parking space www.paginegialle.it). where
are listed in the Directory. (parcheggio custodito). agencies will be listed. The
Associazione Italiana di
Traduttori e Interpreti (AITI)
also has a list of qualified
translators and interpreters.
Your consulate should be able
to provide interpreters too.
It is advisable to take
photo copies of all important
documents, including passport
pages, before travelling.

Hospitals and
Pharmacies
Milan has state-of-the-art
health facilities should you
become ill during your stay. If
the ailment is minor, go to a
pharmacy (farmacia) first. Italian
pharmacists are well trained to
deal with routine problems.
Pharmacies can be identified by
a neon green cross over the door.
A list of pharmacies open at night
(servizio notturno) and on public
Milanese police at a road block

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