Here’s how you can avoid mosquitoes when you are in Italy. But first, a little story about my own, itchy, mosquito issues.
A couple of weekends back I went to two outdoor music concerts here in Milan, Italy, but I carelessly forgot to cover myself in a layer of mosquito repellent. Big mistake, and I paid the price. I was feasted upon by lots of hungry little blood suckers, otherwise known as mosquitoes. They really are the bane of Italy’s otherwise lovely summers.
It took around a week for all the irritating itching to die down.
Once bitten, Twice Shy
Last weekend, I went cycling around Milan to visit a park I had never seen before and to have a look around the lovely Villa Necchi. Remembering my itchy concert experience, before I set off, I covered myself with a good layer of mosquito repellent. I’m happy to report, the repellent kept the nasty little bloodsuckers away.
The moral of this little tale is if you are coming to Italy this summer and want to avoid mosquitoes, bring some mosquito repellent. If you don’t, the annoying itching may well have an adverse effect on your otherwise positive Italy vacation experience.
A Real Pest
Mosquitoes are a real pest here in Milan and out in the Italian countryside too. The mosquitoes come out in the evenings and congregate everywhere tourists do. They love all of Italy’s many tempting outdoor bars and restaurants as much as the tourists do.
Areas like Milan’s lively, inviting Naviglio canal area are infested with the things. You will be the main course on their inevitable evening feeding frenzy menu, unless you take precautions. Be warned!
These little pests are capable of penetrating the light summer clothes you will be most probably be wearing on your tour of Italy. It’s not a bad idea to cover most of your torso with mosquito repellent, or to spray the repellent directly on your clothes. Remember to test a small out of sight area to ensure the repellent does not damage the material. Linen is no obstacle to hungry mosquitoes – as I know from itchy experience.
Cover your face, neck, hands, legs and even your ears with whatever mosquito repellent you have with you. Oh, and take the repellent with you if you plan to stay out for a long time.
By the way, you may find it’s cheaper to buy mosquito repellent before you come to Italy.
Buy Mosquito Repellent Before Coming to Italy
If you do forget to bring some mosquito repellent with you to Italy, you’ll find a varied assortment of creams, wipes and sprays in most, if not all, of Italy’s supermarkets and pharmacies.
Knowing how painfully expensive Italy’s pharmacies can be, I would advise you to invest in some sort of mosquito repellent before you land in Italy and save yourself a few Euros.
UK reader Spence recommends Boots Soltan Aftersun with insect repellent which acts as an aftersun and insect repellent. He says it’s cheap and effective and has used it for years to good effect.
Ask for Mosquito Repellent
In the event that you leave your precious mosquito repellent in your hotel or apartment, you may like to note that restaurants in Italy, those that have outdoor dining areas, often keep a supply of mosquito repellent especially for diners (and staff!).
You’ll probably notice plastic bottles similar to shampoo bottles somewhere in the eatery of your choice. Just point at one of the bottles, say “posso” and it’ll be brought over. Otherwise, just go get it – but don’t pinch it!
Avoid Mosquitoes with This Effective Repellent
The mosquito repellent I used last weekend which helped me avoid mosquitoes is called Autan Family Care Junior. It’s a cream, although the makers refer to it as a gel. Autan Family Care Junior is designed for children, but works just as well on adults, and because it is for children, it is kind to your skin.
Mosquito repellent is a must for anyone coming to Italy in the summer. Only Italy’s high mountain areas remain mosquito free. Be warned, or end up itchy.
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Featured image Mosquito photograph by Alvesgaspar
Merrie says
I’m
Near Venice in Lido di Jesolo by the beach & lol like the elephant man. I took repellent spray and cream and after bite cream and a plug in thingy but alas I now look like the rlephant man. Hard painful and now infected lumps with insane swelling across my body I can no longer see my ankle bones. It appears if they like you they like you. I even went to an Italian pharmacy this morning to try recommended Italian brands after £40 euro still been eaten alive and itching even with piretze. It’s so miserable but doing my best not to ruin my holiday.
louis says
We are going in Sept. to Tuscany ,thank you all for the advice .It would appear I will have
smother myself in every thing .Every thing bites me !!
Alex Roe says
Hi Louis,
September should be cooler and that tends to keep the biters away – you should be fine 🙂
Have fun in Tuscany!
Cheers,
Alex
Vanessa says
Hi,
Just back from Tuscany, got bit to death, but on returning took some antihistamine and it worked a treat in terms if keeping the itching down! So my advice, take some. I had no ideas about mozzies there but they were def the tiger ones and they come out during the day, especially in forest type areas!
On a positive mite we had an amazing time and would recommend visiting San gimignano and cinquetrerre….amazing. Also if you are nr Chianti a v good restaurant is cantina di rignana in greve.
Enjoy! Wish I was still there despite those bloodsuckers
Vanessa
Alex Roe says
Hi Vanessa,
Sorry to hear you got eaten while in Tuscany! Antihistamine can cut down the itching, it’s true – but not getting bitten is better! Repellants do work and are recommended to keep the mini vampires away.
Oddly, I’ve not suffered from Italy’s biters as much in previous years. No idea why.
San Gimignano and the Cinque Terre are both enchanting.
Thanks for the eatery suggestion too.
Cheers,
Alex
Dan says
How were the mosquitoes in cinque terre? We’re going on Sept 23.
Vsnessa says
I didn’t see any during the day but at night I got bitten. Since my return loads of my friends have recommended Avon Skin So Soft, it’s not actually mosquito repellent but has some mystical ingredient that works! Apparently the armed forces use it.
Enjoy Cinque Terre, it really is beautiful x
Juliet Harpe says
God’s Country Botanicals (www.godscountrybotanicals.com) has a great mosquito repellent called Buzz-Off. It contains lots of essential oils that mosquitoes dislike and does not contain nasty DEET.
JENNIFER says
Use genuine CITRONELLA OIL to repel the little beasts – they hate it!
@Sciamannata says
Adding to my previous comment:
1) The antihistamine I was taking is Loratadine. This is the generic name — Clarityn is the brand, but the generic is much cheaper (both are available at Italian chemists without prescription)
2) Importantly, antihistamines should be taken *before* you get bitten 🙂 They are not fast-acting: the thing to do is to take a pill a day, preferably in the evening. If you start taking them after you’ve been bitten, they will help, but only after a few hours really.
3) Even more importantly: antihistamines, of course, are a drug. Loratadine is fairly harmless, but DO READ the leaflet and especially warnings, counterindications, side effects and drug interactions.
@Sciamannata says
Autan is *the* traditional mosquito repellent in Italy.
I have a different tip though, which I discovered serendipitously. If you’re really plagued by the beasties, take antihistamine pills. They won’t repel mosquitos, of course. They’ll still bite you as much as ever, but *you won’t care*.
I discovered this 2 years ago — I was in Milan at the height of mosquito season and I was taking antihistamines for hayfever. After a while I noticed that I was covered in mosquito bites, but I didn’t feel them — I only noticed because I saw them, basically. And then I thought about it and it makes sense. The irritation of mosquito bites is an allergic reaction, and the antihistamines keep it down.
Luca Boccianti says
In case you don’t have a mosquito repellant at hand, I’m told a natural solution could be to rub critical parts with vinegar. Never tested, though, I’m one of the lucky ones who seem to be disliked by mosquitoes. Others say vinegar is a good anesthetic once you’re bite.
Anyway just see/hear one mosquito in my bedroom since summer began, and I spent a night at a concert near an artificial lake in a public roman park without hearing one or being bite. Maybe profilactic measures started by the city council are starting to work: some years before so called tiger mosquitoes were a real hassle.
Alex Roe says
I’ve heard the vinegar tip too, Luca and have tried it, but it did not work too much.
Unlike you, you lucky thing, I am a magnet for the mozzies!
I do know that certain councils do try to kill to do something about the mozzies, but this does not always work. I went to an evening outdoor market yesterday and was assaulted by lots of the horrible little vampires, as usual – until I covered myself with anti-mozzy cream.
Life goes on!
Cheers,
Alex