Changes

You can get a free map of whole Italy at almost every gas petrol station (autogrill) with all gas petrol stations listed in the map.

'''Hitchhiking (Il)legal?''' - Hitchhiking on the ''autostrada'' is not legal (there are big signs saying ''no autostop'' at all highway entries), but it is unclear even to Italians whether this extends to gas petrol stations (''area servizio'') on the autostrada. It's probably just meant to stop people from walking on highways. An American that encountered police (''polizia'', who drive light blue cars) at an ''area servizio'' on the highway was simply warned not to walk on the ''autostrada'' and to stay at the station until finding a ride. Once you are on the highway, don't put your thumb out, not even at the exits of service stations - then the police will warn you. Try rather asking drivers inside the station.

If you're on a gas petrol station it's a good idea to stay on friendly terms with the staff. When starting, it's probably a good idea to find a spot before drivers encounter the ''no autostop'' sign; once you have passage onto the ''autostrada'' it is fairly simple to skip from one service area to the next until you arrive at your destination. It's less likely that you will encounter problems if you're not Italian -- and, if you speak Italian, don't reveal this to police (or the armed forces ''carabinieri'').