On holiday in Italy: can you drink the tap water there?
I once became seriously ill from the tap water in Cape Verde. Great for losing a few kilos, but less so when your sightseeing doesn’t get any further than the hotel room. That’s why I now look up in advance whether I can drink the water wherever I go. So, what about tap water in Italy?
Can you drink tap water in Italy?
Luckily, you can refill your water bottle in Italy without any problems. You can simply drink the tap water throughout Italy. However, it can sometimes be a little cloudy because Italian water contains more chlorine and limescale, or minerals from the mountains.
Although chlorine in your water may not sound very appealing, it isn’t harmful. It can taste a little strange, though. In Sicily, for example, the chlorine content is so high that Sicilians themselves prefer to drink bottled water. Come across a spring marked “non bere, acqua non potabile”? Then it’s best not to drink it.
Public fountains
One of the nice things about Italy is that many large cities have public fountains where you can refill your water bottle. In Rome, these water fountains are called nasoni, meaning ‘big noses’. They have been in Rome since 1874. You’ll also find drinking fountains in other major cities. In Milan, they are called fontanelle. Fancy some fizz? In Florence, near Piazza Signoria, you can even get sparkling water straight from the drinking fountain.
If you want to quench your thirst and there isn’t a fountain nearby, you can use this app to find one as quickly as possible.
Also read:
- How much difference does the water make to an ice cube?
- Why does tap water taste different everywhere in the Netherlands?
- Fact or fiction: is Spa Rood (or other sparkling water) bad for your teeth?
Source: Italiamo
