Can I use French plugs in Italy

[MrsFogi]

or will I need an adaptor?

They will both be 2-pin round I think? Should be fine

I have got a multi adaptor, and Italy is on a different face from France/Germany.

Ive just checked it, and it is 3 prongs in a straight line.

Italy is 2 round prongs in a line, a couple of cms apart

piece here about Italian electrics - some Italian appliances do have 3-prong plugs, but you can still plug into the 2 outer holes of the socket and ignore the middle one.

Some French things have an extra prong above the 2 middle ones, don't they? - if you're taking something like that with you there will be problems!

NB that piece is aimed at Americans, you can ignore the voltage information

our sockets in our house in italy were 3 round holes, and most of our electrical goods had a plug with three prongs as nighby describes

might be different in a hotel

we needed adapters for anything with UK plugs, or German plugs ( two round prongs )

Europe is just so inconsistant!

The middle prong is just for show, as far as I can work out

All continental European plugs appear to be universal. I have used Italian appliances in Cuba, Bulgaria and Greece, as well as France and Germany. I've also quite happily used a hairdryer bought in Bahrain without having to change the plug. I've only ever had to buy an adapter for the UK.

HTH

PS. agree with Sputnik that the 3rd prong appears to be ornamental only, a lot of older Italian appliances only ever had 2 prongs.

I meant Turkey, not Greece.

No, it's not just for fun, honest - it's for earthed appliances, usually the ones that use more power and/or are in contact with water, to stop you getting electrocuted.

The top prong of an English plug has no wire attached to it for most small appliances, but it does for eg washing machines and kettles. With the continental ones they just don't bother putting the prong on at all (French ones have an extra prong at the top when earthed I think)