The link is Michelin's driving directions from Milan Central Rail Station to Alba. The directions for leaving the city only say "continue" or "take" with no mention of turns. Does this mean one street turns into another and there are no turns. I'm the navigator and I can already feel the stress!

Michelin Directions

Carole

I screwed up somewhere because the directions disappeared. Anyway, the directions probably aren't really necessary and I just need to know what "continue" and "take" mean.

Carole

Here's my attempt to copy/paste leaving Milan:


Continue along: Piazza Duca d'Aosta (0.6km)
Continue along: Via Vitruvio (0.6km)
Continue along: Via Plinio (0.6km)
Continue along: Viale Abruzzi (0.4km)
TakePiazza Graziadio Isaia Ascoli (<0.1km)
TakeViale dei Mille (0.6km)
TakeViale Piceno (0.5km)
TakePiazza Emilia (<0.1km)
Continue along: Viale Umbria (1.7km)

At the roundabout, Piazzale Lodi, take the 2nd exit Continue along: Viale Isonzo (0.5km)
TakePiazza Trento (0.2km)
Continue along: Viale Isonzo (0.3km)
TakeViale Toscana (0.8km)
TakeViale Tibaldi (1km)
Continue along: Viale Liguria (0.2km)

It's essential to click on the Display Map link on each part of the directions to visualize what they mean. It looks like for the most part "Continue" and "Take" mean that you continue on the same street, which changes name. In the first part, once you're in the correct direction out of Piazza Duca D'Aosta, it looks like the main change of direction is where Via Plinio meets Viale Abruzzi at an angle, and you take an easy right.

Not so much in this part of the directions, but don't count on following route numbers in online route directions, except for autostrada numbers. Follow the map and determine what towns are on the road that you want; that is, watch for signs with town names rather than route numbers.

Andrew, I did click on the display maps but the first one only shows a portion of leaving Piazza Duca d'Acosta. When I click right/left/up/down I still can't figure it out. I would imagine AutoEurope will give us a large map to exit the city. We won't have a GPS so we're on our own!

Carole

There's one Display Map by the green flag, and another by Step 1, which is the first series of turns, and you can zoom and move, at least on my browser. I'm attaching that part; you're eventually finding your way to a major autostrada out of town, so you can hope for good signage, but sometimes you see it too late to get into position to make the turn.

Andrew, I was able to enlarge the display map and did find the right on Viale Abruzzi and was pretty much able to track the route out of Milan but I could not get the various map sections to print. Any suggestions?

Carole

It may depend on your setup, but when the map is zoomed to the level I want, I can right-click on it, select Print, and it prints as shown.

When I right click I don't get a print option. Borrowing a GPS is now in the works and, hopefully, I won't have to concern myself.

Carole

Carole,

I think Google Map directions are superior to Michelin. I just checked at Google Map Milano-Albaand it says things like slight left to stay on via xxx etc, so less ambiguous then Micheln, plus you can make seperate little maps on your printout (and you can drag and drop the route to change directions too. Also get a good Milan Centrale Map as your back-up, I am sure that the rent-car agency will have one, also in the Milan Tourist Information Newspaper there is a decent one. Last tip? Don't leave in rush hour!

I wonder if the advent of these mapping programmes (not to mention all our recent discussions about trying to avoid Florence's ZTL!) has made us all over-anxious? And the route directions, as supplied by both Viamichelin and Google maps, look like a serious case of information overload!

Relax, take a deep breath - and remember one thing only: follow signs for A7 Genova. That's it, that's all you need

Once you're on the autostrada, you've got 64km to sort out the next bit (taking the A21 towards Torino, exiting at Asti Est, and following the SS231 to Alba).

When it comes to overall route planning, I know Google Maps is a bit of a new kid on the block compared with the tried & trusted Viamichelin - but, like Tim, I prefer Google's interface, and their onscreen mapping. (Though for paper maps, I've been happily navigating with Michelin maps for - eek - the last 45 years...).

Jonathan

Ah Johnatan, normally I would agree, and of coyrse signs to A7 are omnipresence, but Milan is one city in Italy I have gotten lost in, even my GPS gets lost there - but it is like me an older model . But a good Milan map plus google directions and the thought of a good Barolo on the other side should suffice

Yeah.

And...even if you follow the google directions or the via michelin directions or the signs to the A7, all you have to do is get into the wrong lane once and turn wrong once and you are then in the black zone of the labyrinth known as Milano.

This is a city where patience is required and the realization that you will get out and in the right direction at some point. Don't stress.

Don't worry Carole. Here is a typical directional sign which you will find in Milan which will make everything clear for you.

It looks like our GPS lender will come through. He's a friend of my husband's daughter and lives in Milan. He is planning on meeting us in Milan with his GPS which we'll mail back to him when we return the car. We only need it for five days and Auto Europe did not have one available for a five day rental. Hopefully, it happens and actually allows us to depart Milan stress free.

Tim, thanks for the Google directions. They're a lot more specific than Michelin and I'll be taking them as a back-up.

Diane, not an atypical sign for Italy!!

Carole