Car & Van Hire - San Martino Siccomario

San Martino Siccomario is a small town that has now become part of the greater Pavia metropolitan area. A charming, quiet suburb, it makes a good base to explore Pavia and the rest of Lombardy. This is one of the lesser-known parts of Italy, and you won't see as many tourists as in cities like Milan, Venice or Rome. Nevertheless, there is plenty to see and do, and you'll soon realise that this part of Italy is a real hidden gem.

The most impressive building in Pavia is the Duomo. Its dome, the third largest in Italy, can be seen towering over the rooftops from every corner of the old town. Inside, you'll see stunning artwork, but the exterior is notable for its unusual brick facade. Some say that the bricks are there because the builders intended to use marble but ran out of money!

While the Duomo may be the largest religious building in town, it's not the most interesting. That title belongs to the Basilica di San Michele, an 11th-century church where Charlemagne was crowned. The interior is marked by beautiful frescoes.

In its medieval heyday, Pavia was known as the city of 100 towers. Today, just a few remain, most of them in the university district. Pavia is home to the second oldest university in Italy and is still a lively student town today. Among its famous alumni is Christopher Columbus. During the academic year, you can expect plenty of nightlife and a vibrant social scene.

Wherever you go in Italy, it would be a crime not to try the local cuisine. In Lombardy, that means risotto. The most typical styles of risotto are with mushrooms (especially in the autumn) or with sausage, but there are hundreds of variants available. In general, the food here is rich and warming, with butter instead of the olive oil that is used in southern Italy, and lots of hearty slow-cooked dishes.

Car rental in San Martino Siccomario is an excellent way to explore Lombardy. Naturally, the most popular day trip will take you to Milan, the city synonymous with fashion and style. Far larger than Pavia, this city attracts thousands of visitors each year who come to see Da Vinci's Last Supper and enjoy the chic bars and restaurants.

For a touch of nature, take advantage of your car or van rental in San Martino Siccomario and head to Lake Como. You could easily spend a few days driving along its shores, discovering the tiny villages and relaxing on the beaches.

The centre of Pavia is designated as a ZTL. This means it is a limited traffic zone with restrictions on vehicles. Pavia's ZTL is particularly strict: restrictions are enforced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You cannot enter at any time unless you have a permit. Cameras monitor the entrances to the ZTL, and you will be fined if you drive into it. To avoid accidentally crossing the boundary, you will need to learn to recognise the ZTL street sign. It is circular, with a red border around a white centre.

As you drive around Italy, you will often come across more ZTLs. Almost every city has one or more to protect its historic centre, and there are some in smaller towns and villages, too. The rules and timetables can vary from city to city, so check in advance before driving to a new destination.

There are several options for parking your car around San Martino Siccomario and Pavia. Parking spots marked with blue lines are pay and display, while those marked with white lines are free. Watch out for spaces marked in yellow, as they are reserved for residents. Take care when parking. As a student town, Pavia has a particularly high number of cyclists, and the narrow streets mean that you should be especially vigilant.

You won't find much traffic at all in San Martino Siccomario. Pavia is also fairly traffic-free, as a large number of residents are students. However, if you drive to Milan, it's a different story. To avoid rush hour traffic, plan your journey times. Rush hour peaks at 08:00 and again at about 17:00, with traffic flowing into Milan in the morning and out in the evening. At other times of the day, things are a lot smoother.

If you decide to drive into the countryside, you can expect roads that are sometimes very narrow. This is especially true in the case of Lake Como, where the roads are narrow and curved. Drive slowly and carefully. Your reward will be obvious: as you navigate these tight bends and sharp curves, you'll see some truly spectacular views.

When driving in Italy, you will need to keep your headlights on outside cities, even in full daylight. You can turn them off when you enter a city.