U.S. warns travelers to ‘exercise increased caution’ at top pilgrimage site in Europe

If you’re planning that summer trip to Italy, whether it be for a romantic honeymoon or on a pilgrimage for religious reasons, you might want to take some extra precautions before you go.

The U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory to Italy, advising travelers to take extra precautions in the country due to terrorism.

Here’s what you need to know if you plan on traveling to Italy.

What does the latest travel advisory to Italy mean to you?

The agency gave a “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” advisory to Italy because of a terrorism risk in the country.

The advisory states that terrorists may attack with “little to no warning” in highly populated locations, including tourist destinations, religious sites, transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls and local government facilities.

This includes hotels, clubs and restaurants, as well.

What is the highest travel advisory?

There are four levels of travel advisory, Level 1 through Level 4.

When planning a vacation, you should check the current travel advisory for that destination. So, which level is the most concerning?

• Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions – This is the lowest level of advisory; it is advised that there is some risk in that area, and travelers should take precautions while on their visit.
• Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution – There is a heightened risk for safety and security in that area, and travelers need to take extra caution.
• Level 3: Reconsider Travel – There are serious risks to safety, and travelers are advised to reconsider their travel plans to this destination.
• Level 4: Do Not Travel – This is the highest level of advisory, and it is strongly recommended not to travel to any destinations with a Level 4 advisory, due to many factors, one of which is that the U.S. government might not be able to provide travelers any assistance in the event of an emergency.

What should travelers to Italy do in light of this travel advisory?

Travelers to Italy should “stay alert in tourist” locations and monitor local media.

The State Department also suggests to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency and purchase travel insurance.

You can also remain aware of terrorism risks in the country by checking Italy’s Security Report and prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations using the Traveler’s Checklist.

You can find more information and advice related to this travel advisory here.

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Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.