Road Signs in Italy

Speed limit/End speed limit.

(In this case, 60kph). In most parts of Italy, this is considered more of a suggestion than a guideline.

Minimum speed/End minimum speed zone.

Frankly, I've no idea why they bother posting these, since Italians seem to observe the speed limit sign as meaning "This is as slow as you should ever be going."

Dead end / no outlet.

Do not enter.

Highway begins/Highway ends.

Note that autostrade (what Americans would call an interstate or "divided highway" and Brits a "dual carriageway" and label M-something) are almost always on green signs, while smaller highways are on blue signs—including strade statali (state highways, abbreviated "SS" before the route number), strade regionali (regional highways, or SR), and strade provinciale (provincial roads, or SP). That means if you see two signs, one blue pointing right and one green pointing left, but both reading "ROMA," you would turn left to take the autostrada to Rome, or right to follow a lesser highway to the Eternal City. As in America, the blue highways are slower, but usually more interesting.

Keep to the right.

(Also available in "Keep to the left" flavor.) This often appears in divided roadway situations or at roundabouts.

No parking.

(On whichever side of the street the sign is hanging/posted).

No parking on either side of the street.

No passing.

They mean it.

Parking.

Ususally, this means paid parking, so look for a common meter down at the end of the block, pop in a few coins, and leave the receipt it spits out on your dashboard.

Right of way.

In this case, you have the right of way over oncoming traffic (a necessary sign on a continent where roads often narrow to significantly less than two full lanes...or, come to think of it, even one full lane).

Yield to oncoming traffic.

Whichever direction of travel has the red arrow has to yield. In practice, it's always wise to yield to any car that is (a) bigger, (b) driving faster, and (c) being driven by an Italian.

Yield.

This is a good direction to follow at all times, regardless of sineage, since the local drivers have a much better idea of what they're doing and where they're goiung than you do.

One Way.

Note that, even though in Italy this seems to mean "It's OK simply to point your car the right way but then put it in reverse and back down the street," this is not a driving technique to be attempted by visitors.

Center of town.

Sometimes accompanied by the Italian for for center, centro, (or centro storico/ historic center). Just follow the bullseye, and you'll find your way to the heart of the city every time.