Road signs in Italy
Road signs in Italy conform to the general pattern of those used in most other European countries. They are regulated by the Codice della Strada (Highway Code) and by the Regolamento di Attuazione del Codice della Strada in conformity with the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals.
Design
Distances and other measurements are displayed in metric units.
Warning signs are usually placed 150 metres before the area they're referring to; if they're farther or nearer, an additional sign displays the actual distance in metres. Prohibition signs and mandatory instruction signs, instead, are placed exactly at the beginning of the area of validity.
Colours and shapes
Signs follow the general European conventions concerning the use of shape and colour to indicate function of signs:
Type of sign | Shape | Border | Background colour |
---|---|---|---|
Warning | Triangular | Red | White |
Prohibition | Circular | Red | White |
Mandatory instructions | Circular | White | Blue |
Supplementary | Rectangular | Black | White |
Information | Rectangular | White | White (urban) Blue (other roads) Green (motorway) |
Colours of directional road signs
- On motorways, directional signs are green with white lettering.
- On main roads, directional signs with more than one destination are blue with white lettering.
- Within cities, directional signs with more than one destination are white with black lettering.
On main roads and within cities, the colour of a directional sign with a single destination depends on the type of destination:
- if the destination is a city that is reached by means of a motorway, the sign is green and carries the motorway name as well as the destination
- in the other cases when the destination is a city, the sign is blue
- if the destination is a city district, a hospital or an airport, the sign is white
- if the destination is a tourist attraction, the sign is brown
Typeface
A version of the Transport typeface employed on road signs in the UK, called Alfabeto Normale, is used on Italian road signs. A condensed version, called Alfabeto Stretto, is also used for long names that wouldn't fit. Each name uses one font, but names in Alfabeto Normale and in Alfabeto Stretto can co-exist on one sign.
The font is officially regulated by the 1992 Codice della Strada, article 39 section 125.[1] It defines both Alfabeto Normale and Alfabeto Stretto for uppercase letters, lowercase letters and digits, "positive" (dark on light background) and "negative" (light on dark background). However, there are regulations about the use of Alfabeto Normale dating back to 1969.[2]
Uppercase is used in most cases. Lowercase is sometimes used for city districts and tourist attractions.
Language
The standard language is Italian. In some autonomous regions or provinces bilingual signs are used (mainly Italian/German in South Tyrol, Italian/French in Aosta Valley and Italian/Slovenian along the Slovenian border, but also Italian/Friulan in the Friuli historical region and Italian/Sardinian in Sardinia).
Gallery
Warning signs
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Humps
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Dip
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Trams crossing ahead
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Steep hill upwards
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Road narrows on right
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Road narrows on left
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Opening or swing bridge ahead
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Dangerous verges
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Roundabout ahead
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Loose chippings
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Falling rocks
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Low-flying aircraft
Temporary signs
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Uneven road
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Road narrows
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Road narrows on right
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Road narrows on left
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Loose chippings
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Other danger
Regulatory signs
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Junction with a minor side-road from right
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Junction with a minor side-road from left
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Minimum distance
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No tractors
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No vehicles carrying dangerous goods
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No vehicles carrying goods which could pollute water
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No vehicles over length shown
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Derestriction
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End of no overtaking by heavy goods vehicles
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Drive straight
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Turn left
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Turn right ahead
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Turn left ahead
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Keep right
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Keep left
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Pass either side
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End of minimum speed
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EU Country border
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Stop, pay toll
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End of cycle lane
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End of shared path
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End of bridleway
Indication signs
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Motorway direction
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Primary or secondary road direction
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Urban area direction
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Direction to tourist attraction
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Directions in urban areas
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Directions in urban areas. The green panel indicates a motorway
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Directions on a main highway
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Directions on a motorway
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Motorway number sign
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Motorway spur number sign
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International tunnel number sign
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Main road number sign
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Distance to a motorway service area
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Distance sign on a main highway
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Town name sign
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Village name sign
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End of residential area, with distances to other towns
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Provincial boundary sign (main road)
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Provincial boundary sign (motorway)
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Regional boundary sign (main road)
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Regional boundary sign (motorway)
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Street name sign
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Street name sign with one way
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Town boundary name sign
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River sign
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Directions to tourist destinations
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Direction to an industrial zone
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Directions in an industrial area
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Pedestrian ramp
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Advisory speed limit
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End of advisory speed limit
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End of road reserved for motor vehicles
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Home Zone Entry
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End of Home Zone
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Motorway-like dual carriageway
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Repairs
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Petrol station with LPG
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Tram stop
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Information centre
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Picnic site
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Local radio information
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Refreshments
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Motorail services
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Car ferries
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Distance to a motorway service area
Obsolete signs
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Dangerous bends
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Give way to the line coaches
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No U-turn
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No right turn
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No left turn
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No overtaking for trucks
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End of no overtaking for trucks
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Alternative parking
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Alternative parking
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Motor vehicle lane
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Motorcycle lane
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Two lanes traffic