The Mystery of the Missing Toilet Seat in Italy

A field guide for public restrooms that leave you standing

It might be interesting to share how we pulled off living in Italy for part of the year. I will post some steps and what we are learning along the way. We love every minute of it, and what was once a dream is our life!

We live in Tuscany in the Fall, then back again in the Spring, and in California for the rest of the time (in a previous blog, I explained why we live in Italy only part of the year).

As we explore areas in Italy, we discover some gems worth sharing. Some are well-known tourist magnets, and others are lesser-known but always amazing.

Step 1: This week, let's explore why toilet seats are missing in some public restrooms in Italy

Have you ever found yourself in this situation? You are traveling, or away from your lodging in Italy, and you really need to find a bathroom. You rush in, check for toilet paper (what a relief!), and then turn to sit down, only to discover there is no toilet seat.

How do you react? (No swearing, please.)

Step 2: Experience

Today, I walked into the bathroom at our gym in Tuscany and noticed, once again, the absence of a toilet seat. I decided to ask the manager about it. I also spoke with some locals about the shortage of toilet seats, and at times toilet paper. Here is what I discovered.

Step 3: Why?

The first reason for the lack of toilet seats is breakage. Our gym manager explained it this way:

"It's not a matter of cultural differences; it's about usage. I've replaced the toilet seat six times, and each time it was broken. People come in, and because they don't want to touch the seat, they squat on it, or even stand on it! Naturally, this causes the seat to break, so I just stopped replacing them."

The second reason, as locals have told me, is that there is no "one size fits all" toilet seat in Italy. The U.S. has a handful of standard sizes, but Italy has many different types of toilets and seats, which makes finding a replacement for an older one surprisingly difficult.

Our gym manager also mentioned a toilet paper dilemma: "Every time I put toilet paper in the bathroom, someone steals it. When I put hand sanitizer there, it disappears too. I have no idea why, so I stopped providing it."

A local also pointed out that it is hard to find staff willing to clean public restrooms. The dirtier a restroom gets, the less willing people are to sit on the seat, which pushes them toward standing or squatting instead.

By the way, I cannot imagine how anyone aside from an acrobat could actually stand on top of a toilet seat and use it.

Step 4: Dealing with it

Instead of complaining about the mystery of the missing toilet seat, it is more practical to have a plan. Here is what I carry:

1. Disinfectant wipes

2. My own toilet paper or tissues

3. Something to cover the rim before sitting down

Wipe the rim first, then place your covering down, sit, relax, and enjoy. Clean up with your own paper or wipes, then wash your hands. Now face the world with confidence.

Insights

With a little planning, the mystery of the missing toilet seat does not have to ruin an outing. Instead, it can become one more memory that brings a smile, if you are prepared.

More next time.

If a small mystery like this one makes you smile, there are more where it came from.

If you have enjoyed reading about our life in Italy, my memoir goes deeper into where it began.

Stories from Puglia: Two Californians in Southern Italy — the memoir of finding our way through the towns, food, and people of the deep south.

"This book elevated my trip. Well written and fun." — Amazon reviewer. https://a.co/d/0340l3Ak