Italy was hit hard by a devastating 24-hour transport strike Friday, leaving locals and tourists alike either stranded or waiting in long lines at almost every mode of transportation.
According to the Associated Press, the nationwide strike was called by a handful of Italy's smaller unions and resulted in flight cancellations, subway closures and suspended bus service.
Italian Transport Minister Graziano Delrio described it as "a black Friday for transport," according to The Local.
Traffic was moving much slower than usual on major roads going in and out of Rome and the capital's Metro wasn't operating at all. Meanwhile, in Milan, Florence and other parts of the country, train and bus service was extremely limited throughout the day.
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Italy's flag carrier Alitalia has canceled more than 120 flights Friday, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.com. Alitalia confirmed on its website it has already canceled nearly a dozen flights scheduled for Saturday. Travelers are encouraged to contact the airline or their travel agent ahead of time to ensure their flight hasn't been impacted.
The timing couldn't be worse for the troubled airline, which is seeking a buyer after recently filing for bankruptcy in the U.S.
[READMORE] READ MORE: Expert Advice for Your Trip to Italy [/READMORE]
Italian unions typically organize strikes for summer Fridays to maximize frustration and thus have more of an effect. Nonetheless, the country's major unions opposed Friday's strike given the negative consequences for Alitalia, the AP reported.
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