The Mystique of the Italian Sciopero

A Sciopero is a common practice of striking in Italy.  All transportation comes to a halt or is slowed down by a temporary work stoppage.  The sciopero can be local or national and may affect the trains and airlines you plan to travel on.  A strike can last from four hours to 1 day depending on what strikers are trying to accomplish.

Although rare, an Italian sciopero has the ability to change travel plans.  The strikes are often announced in advance, however, so you have plenty of time to prepare for them.  The date and time of the work stoppage is posted so you’re able to see it clearly.  Look for the word sciopero and note the date and time of the strike.

You may or may not be able to change your travel plans before a sciopero takes place.  If you’re due to fly into or out of an Italian airport, you may need to book another flight.  Discuss options with the airline you purchased your ticket from so you’ll be prepared in case a strike does take place while you’re traveling.

If a temporary work stoppage occurs while you’re visiting Italy, you’ll need to be flexible with your itinerary as you may not be able to get to where you’re needing to go by foot or bicycle.  That’s the mystique surrounding the Italian sciopero.  Plans are seldom set in stone which means you may discover something incredible to do with your time elsewhere given that your original plans have changed.

Having an adventurous spirit while traveling often leads you to have unique experiences you wouldn’t ordinarily have.  A sciopero forces you to slow down, reevaluate the day’s plans, and find something incredible to do within walking or biking distance.  One option that never disappoints is taking photographs of the day’s stories as they unfold around you.