Rome is right in the middle of a radial road system. These roads follow the ancient paths of the consular avenues which used to connect the city to every corner of the empire.
The GRA (Grande Raccordo Anulare) represents the main orbital road which surrounds Rome like a ring. Highways from all over Italy are connected to it.
You must pay a fee to travel through Italian highways. You can pay in cash, by credit card or cash card at the toll booths, or with a specific electronic device called Telepass.
On highways, road signs are green and the speed limit is generally 130 km/h unless signposts say otherwise. The limit goes down to 110 km/h in case of rain. Speed detection machines are spread out along the highway network.
Driving in the city is an option since a car is not strictly needed. The best way to get around is on foot or by public transport.
If you decide to travel by car be aware of the ZTL areas which are zones that have limited access to traffic. You will find them in the city centre and they can be active both during the day and at night, depending on the area you are in. You can find maps and timetables on the website of the Mobility Agency.
Cars can park for free inside areas marked by white stripes. Blue stripes, on the contrary, indicate a pay and display parking space in certain hours of the day. There are specific signposts telling you which hours of the day require a fee. Usually you will have to pay when you use the space from 08.00 a.m. to 07.00/08.00 p.m. on weekdays. In some streets, you have to pay until late in the evening or even until night time (11.00 p.m. and 03.00 a.m.), especially in central areas included in ZTL zones or in places which are very crowded at night time. Parking meters are placed next to parking spaces and they work with coins. Many work also with cash cards or with Fast Pay services. You can also pay by smartphone, which is convenient since you pay exactly the amount of minutes you use the parking space and you can extend your stay if necessary, without having to return to the parking meter. The apps offering this service are myCicero, EasyPark, Telepass Pyng, ParkAppy, Wolley and TabNet and you can find them on App Store, Google Play and Windows Phone.
Yellow stripes indicate a parking place reserved for special categories of users (such as disabled motorists, local residents, municipal services and utilities).
The Villa Borghese Parking area is the largest and most central and it is open 24 hours a day, all year round. Via Giulia Parking is located a few meters away from some of the most characteristic places in Rome, such as Piazza Navona and Campo de Fiori. On the opposite side of the Tiber, in Piazza Cavour, there is another parking area, close to the Basilica of Saint Peter and to the Vatican Museums.
There are also exchange parking spaces where you can leave your car for a nominal fee and continue travelling to the centre of the city using public transport. You can find a list of these parking areas, and of some placed next to attraction sites, on the ATAC website.
Many other parking areas are available on the MyParking website. Here you can book your parking space online and save time.
ACI offers 24/7 roadside assistance to all drivers, 365 days a year. It is available in the cities and on every road and highway in Italy. You can ask for help by calling 803116 for free.
Another option is to ask the Street Police patrols (+390622101) or use the SOS posts that you can find on highways as they usually have a phone. If you are a foreign driver and your phone works with a foreign telephone company, you can dial 800116800.
The ACI service is not for free and prices vary according to the weight of the vehicle and to the type of viability. You will have to pay extra for night service.
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