Vroom! Vroom!
Italy, Mid December
Godzuki! is not a modern vehicle and is subsequently subject to all sorts of rules and regulations as to where he can and can’t be driven. The app I use to identify green zones, low emission zones, etc. shows that Italy has not implemented any. Happy days, I think, but I should have been a little suspicious and I stand accused of being naive.
Italy, it turns out, has many low emission zones, traffic prohibited zones and additionally, winter specific smog zones. The app doesn’t mention any of these because there is no sticker or permit for them to sell.
We discover that we are in the middle of the zone in Modena while trying to find somewhere to stop to visit the Ferrari museum. I assume it will be similar to the French or German systems, whereby you’ll be okay unless you get caught, so carried on and enjoyed the excellent museum, along with the sister museum at Maranello.
I’d still rather have a Lotus, but that’s because I watched too many Bond movies in the eighties. I did once drive a Ferrari 308, the model driven by Magnum PI, around Goodwood for a few laps. I made the instructor swear and it’s still my favourite Ferrari.
At Imola we make the pilgrimage to Ayrton Senna’s memorial. The track encircles a tranquil park, seemingly at odds with one another. Senna’s memorial an intense yet somber place, ideal for reflection and the statue embodies this. We are not the first to visit, flags, mementos, messages adorn the catch fencing opposite that fatal corner.
Further around the track, Roland Ratzenburger doesn’t get a memorial, just a collection of photos, flags and more mementos. But at least he’s remembered.
I do a bit more research and discover that Italy’s emission zones are very real and policed by cameras. Bugger. Additionally, we are currently parked in one, just outside the race track. Double bugger. I prepare myself for big fines and plan our escape before the zone becomes operational at 8am the next morning.
It’s hard work trying to find out where Italy’s emission zones are and we struggle to find information, but discover some of our planned route will take us into them. We scratch Florence and Pisa from the list.
Flickr Albums: Ferrari Museums (Maranello and Modena) | Imola
Scratch Florence!? Why on earth would you do that? We also have a “no go” camper but always park up outside a LEZ zone and take public transport to the city. In such P&R parks it’s much cheaper parking and mostly bus ticket is included in the price. And the app Waze would tell you where the LEZ starts.
So, OK, skip Pisa, but Florence?
LEZ induced madness? It was looking a bit complicated and we figured Florence isn’t going to change anytime soon so we’ve saved it for the future. We have plans to return to Italy. I think it’s worked out for the best, it gave us time to visit some other places, like Montepulciano which was a fantastic place. Thanks for the tip on Waze, I didn’t know it gave that information – that will be useful when we get back into Europe.