To get to the Amalfi Coast, you must endure what many describe as the most terrifying drive of your life.
The 50-kilometre stretch of coastline can only be reached by a two-lane road which winds along plunging cliffs and demands white-knuckled drivers squeeze past oncoming buses on precarious hairpin bends.
That hasn't stopped thousands of tourists from braving the journey to the Amalfi Coast for more than a century in search of "la dolce vita", or the sweet life.
But with Italy under a national lockdown to contain a huge coronavirus outbreak, this usually bustling tourist hotspot is suddenly abandoned.
Beaches usually packed with tourists under brightly coloured umbrellas are now empty.
Restaurants which overlook the sorbet-coloured homes clinging to seaside cliffs are quiet.
No one is staging Instagram photoshoots in the lemon groves of Amalfi or working their best Talented Mr Ripley-inspired outfit on the shores of Positano.
With little else to do, Amalfi hospitality workers have been sunbaking on the empty beaches to pass the time.
The ABC's chief photographer, Brendan Esposito, found himself caught in the Italian coronavirus lockdown while visiting his ancestral home in southern Italy.
Even in the winter months, when tourism tends to drop off, he has found the region in the grip of coronavirus to be eerily deserted.
Some Amalfi Coast restaurants and hotels choose to close down during the quiet period, but tourist season officially begins in one month.
COVID-19 has killed 631 people in Italy out of more than 10,000 infected with the novel coronavirus.
Tourism represents 13 per cent of Italy's gross domestic product and the country is bracing itself for a potential economic disaster.
Italy's tourism association, Assoturismo, says up to 90 per cent of hotel and travel agency bookings for March have been cancelled in Rome and up to 80 per cent in Sicily.
The Sistine Chapel, the ruins of Pompeii and hundreds of other tourist attractions are closed.
About 230,000 Australians go to Italy every year, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
But some dream holidays may be in doubt now that the country has been added to Australia's coronavirus travel ban, alongside South Korea, Iran and China.
What should you do if you're booked to go to Italy?
The travel ban means that foreign nationals who have been in Italy will not be allowed into Australia for 14 days from the time they left.
Australian citizens and permanent residents returning from Italy will be able to enter Australia, but need to isolate themselves for a fortnight.
DFAT updated its travel advice to "reconsider your need to travel to Italy" and issued a "do not travel" warning for the epicentre in the country's north.
If you want to cancel or delay an upcoming trip, the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) recommends getting in touch with your airline, accommodation providers and tour operators.
If they refuse to help, you may be able to make a claim on your travel insurance policy — but only if you bought it before the outbreak began.
"Travel insurance policies purchased prior to coronavirus becoming a known event may cover travellers who are overseas for coronavirus-related expenses," the ICA's Lisa Kable says.
The coronavirus outbreak became a known event to insurers between January 20 and January 31 this year.
If you still want to go ahead with your trip, there may be an insurance policy to cover you.
"Some insurers may offer cover for overseas expenses relating to COVID-19. Cancellation cover is also available," Ms Kable says.
But DFAT says it is the traveller's responsibility to reduce their risks overseas.
"Don't expect the Australian Government to be able to get you out of any trouble during your travels," DFAT's Smartraveller website warns.
