Orange weather alert in five regions, Frattamaggiore and a transport strike in Milan
A Friday of heavy rain from central to northern Italy, the town of the day just north of Naples, the ATM strike in Milan and the rail calendar for 20 and 21 November.
Mid-November is the quietest stretch of the year for travelling in Italy: no queues at the museums, low hotel prices, Christmas markets not yet open. It is also the month when the weather decides the day, and today it does so firmly: in Liguria, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Umbria and Lazio, plan indoor visits.
The calendar remembers Saint Antioco of Sulcis and Saint Brizio of Tours. The town of the day is Frattamaggiore, 15 kilometres north of Naples: for centuries it lived on hemp and rope, and the medieval centre huddles around the basilica of San Sossio, built in the 10th century and a national monument since 1904. The nearest festival is San Felice in Nola on Sunday 15.
The news of the day is the Civil Protection orange alert covering parts of five regions, with strong thunderstorms expected in the afternoon over Liguria, Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany. Before setting out, check the regional bulletin and your trains; in Milan, ATM buses, trams and metro are guaranteed only until 8.45 am and between 3 and 6 pm.
Saint of the day
Today is the feast of Saint Antioco of Sulcis, patron saint of 3 municipalities: Ozieri, Palmas Arborea and Ulassai.
Today is the feast of Saint Brizio of Tours, patron saint of 3 municipalities: Calimera, Cossogno and Avise.
Town of the day
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domainFestivals and fairs this week
Useful news for travellers
- Orange weather alert today in Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Liguria, Tuscany and Umbria (Source: Fanpage, 12 November, 4.24 pm)
The Civil Protection has extended the previous day's warning: orange alert for flood and landslide risk in several sectors of the five regions (including the Bologna and Modena plains, the Serchio and Arno basins, Versilia, Lunigiana, eastern Liguria, the Aniene and Liri valleys), yellow in the remaining sectors and in Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Marche and Molise. Heavy rain in the north in the morning, strong thunderstorms in the afternoon over Liguria, Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany, rain all day in Umbria and Sardinia. Several schools are closed in the orange regions. - Milan: 24-hour ATM strike today, Friday 13 (Source: Sicurauto, 10 November)
Metro, trams and buses are guaranteed from the start of service until 8.45 am and from 3 to 6 pm; at other times service depends on how many staff join the strike. Called by AL Cobas and Confial Trasporti and confirmed by ATM. The Passante and Trenord regional trains run normally. - General strike on Friday 20 November and trains stopped from 9 pm on the 20th to 8 pm on the 21st (Source: Money.it, 2 November)
The CGIL general strike on 20 November covers local transport, trains, flights, taxis and ferries, with the minimum services required by law. It is followed by a rail staff strike (Trenitalia, Italo, Trenord) called by CUB Trasporti and SGB Ferrovie from 9 pm on Friday 20 to 8 pm on Saturday 21, and on the 21st twelve local transport companies also stop, including GTT, EAV, Trentino Trasporti and SAD. On Saturday 21 ENAV air traffic controllers strike from 1 to 5 pm; on Sunday 22 ENAV at Malpensa and security staff at Venice airport. The picture is as of 2 November: check again the day before.