Car & Van Hire - Ronchi Dei Legionari

Ronchi Dei Legionari was once a small town in its own right, but today it has become a suburb of Trieste. This city is regarded as Italy's coffee capital. Even in this coffee-loving nation, residents of Trieste drink far more than the national average, so if you're a caffeine fiend, you'll fit right in! The most famous of the city's many cafes is Antico Caffè San Marco, an iconic coffee shop that has stood here since 1914 and seen many famous names drop in for a drink.

As you'd expect from an Italian city, Trieste has a long history and many beautiful old buildings. You can start a tour of the city in the Piazza Unità d'Italia, the central square. This is unlike any other main square in Italy, as it opens onto the sea, giving dramatic views on all four sides. Another top sight is Castello Miramare, which perches right on the water's edge. This castle was built by the Habsburg dynasty and has touches of Austrian and German architecture in its fairytale design.

The best way to get to the castle is on foot, strolling along the Barcola promenade. This lovely path runs along the shore of the Adriatic Sea, letting you admire the water as you wander along. It's a hotspot in the evenings, when locals come out for their evening walk, with the sunset over the sea making a beautiful backdrop.

Take advantage of car rental in Ronchi Dei Legionari to explore the surrounding area. Italy's northeast Adriatic Coast is not as well-known as other parts of the country, so you won't need to worry about tourist crowds. Try visiting Grado, a little town set on a lagoon island. It's very reminiscent of Venice but far smaller and quieter. Its waterways are lined with fishing boats, and it's a great spot to indulge in some seafood or spend a day at the beach.

For an even more relaxing trip, use a car or van rental in Ronchi Dei Legionari to visit Grado. In the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, this town became known as a chic spa resort. It's still a great place to go to chill and get away from it all. Sit back and relax in the soothing thermal waters, then, when you're ready for a spot of exercise, take a gentle stroll around the old port and historic centre.

The airport in Ronchi Dei Legionari is quite small and does not see a lot of traffic. When driving in Trieste, you will need to be aware of the city's two ZTLs, or limited traffic zones. These are common in almost every Italian city, limiting vehicles from entering certain areas, usually around the historic centre. The boundaries of ZTLs are protected by cameras, and drivers who enter them without a permit will face a fine. You will need to learn to recognise the street sign, a red circle with a white centre.

In the case of Trieste, there are two separate ZTLs. In Zone A, vehicles can never enter without a permit. In Zone B, access is limited from Monday to Saturday. Between midnight on Saturday and midnight on Sunday, vehicles can enter. Consult a map before driving in the city so you can see the boundaries of these two zones. The Trieste ZTLs are quite small, covering the historic centre. You can find parking facilities at Rive and Molo IV, both in the port or on Via Pietà, Silos or Foro Ulpiano. These are all a comfortable walkable distance from the centre.

Trieste is the city closest to the Italian border with Slovenia and is also near Croatia and Austria. Some visitors like to start an international road trip from Trieste. All of these countries are members of the Schengen scheme, so there is no border control between them. However, if you have plans to travel internationally, you should discuss them with our representative when renting your vehicle, as there may be implications for your insurance.

When driving around Italy, watch out for toll roads. You will often have to pay a toll to drive on a motorway. For alternative routes that do not involve tolls, look on the map for "strade statali", smaller country roads. These are marked by blue road signs with the letters "SS" in white. They offer indirect routes between cities. However, sometimes your journey may take considerably longer than it would on a motorway. You will also find that some of the SS roads are very narrow and winding, so driving on them can be less comfortable.

Italian law mandates that drivers must keep their headlights on at all times when driving outside cities, even during full daylight. You can turn your headlights off when you enter a city, but don't be surprised if you see vehicles with lights still turned on.