① Italian Bathroom Culture
As a tourist, people have basic expectations about the destination. These can range from weather to Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and accessibility. These expectations can be high, especially for first-time travelers who are setting off on a trip to Italy. Whether anticipating life-changing pizza or works of art, Italy generally meets or surpasses these expectations. However, one peculiar aspect can leave travelers perplexed: the bathrooms.
In Italy, just finding a bathroom can be a challenge. Surprisingly, they may encounter a white toilet with no seat even if they succeed. This unexpected toilet situation can cause discomfort and confusion for tourists.
New visitors to some locations might be surprised or uncertain about the absence of a toilet seat, wondering whether this is normal or a mistake. While several hotels, restaurants, and newly built structures have toilets with clean seats, these are uncommon exceptions.
② The Case of the Missing Toilet Seats
People might think broken or stolen seats are the main culprits, but the truth is more complicated and humorous. Italy’s toilet seat crisis, stemming from frequent breakages and bathroom maintenance issues, is the primary cause of the missing toilet seats.
The lack of cleanliness in bathrooms often leads customers to stand or squat on toilet seats, causing them to break. So, most businesses agreed on one solution: entirely removing the toilet seats.
Replacing toilet seats in Italy is complicated and expensive, as toilets come in various sizes and shapes, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Moreover, since seats are usually made of wood or porous plastic and the toilet is ceramic, cleaning becomes easier without a seat.
There are public restrooms available for free in most Italian tourist areas. However, these restrooms may not always have essential items like toilet paper and soap. On the other hand, there are also paid public restrooms in separate buildings, which are staffed and require an entrance fee ranging from $0.60 to $1.20.
Lastly, there are restrooms located in cafes or Italian museums. These are usually accessible only to paying customers.
③ How to Manage in Italian Restrooms
Adapting to Italian bathrooms means accepting local customs and remembering that different cultures have different norms. After all, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Not all the comforts of home are provided abroad. Adjusting to restroom facilities is part of traveling abroad, as is adapting to different foods and languages.
It’s understandable to feel uncomfortable when there’s no toilet seat available. The cold and thin ceramic edges can be quite uncomfortable. If someone is planning a trip to Italy, toilet paper and wet wipes are essentials that travelers should bring. They may also consider squatting over the toilet to get a bit of a workout or covering the seat with paper and sitting down. However, remember that this involves sitting on the rim of the toilet.
Tourists visiting higher-end establishments or recently remodeled facilities are more likely to find clean bathrooms with toilet seats. Children can usually use these facilities for free. Otherwise, always have spare change handy to use the paid public restrooms.
Toilets without seats are not unique to Italy. They can be found in other European destinations like France and Greece. It’s an ordinary European restroom feature. For people traveling to Italy, finding no toilet seat when needed to use the restroom is common.
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