What does the roundabout sign mean?
'Rotatoria' — ro-ta-TO-rya. Five syllables; stress on the third. The 'ia' is a quick diphthong.
Ask when approaching a circular junction marked on a map or with a blue circular arrow sign. Roundabouts in Italy have specific priority rules that differ from the UK.
'Rotatoria' (or 'rotonda') means roundabout or traffic circle. The sign is a blue circle with three curved white arrows. In Italy, traffic inside the roundabout has priority (since 2001) — the same as UK roundabouts. Before 2001 it was the opposite, so older drivers may still be confused.
Chi ha la precedenza in rotatoria?
Who has priority in the roundabout?
Traffic already in the roundabout has right of way.
Prendo la seconda uscita?
Do I take the second exit?
Count exits from your entry point.
Devo usare la freccia in rotatoria?
Should I use my indicator in the roundabout?
Indicate right when taking your exit.
Italy introduced roundabouts as standard road features in the 1990s and they are now extremely common even in small towns. They are considered safer than traditional intersections. Italy's most famous roundabout is the Gran Madre di Dio in Turin, which is actually a 19th-century piazza that functions as a modern traffic circle.