casello

Casello is an Italian term whose most common meaning is a toll booth on a highway (autostrada). A casello functions as the toll plaza where drivers pay to use a road segment. In practice, it comprises multiple lanes, payment facilities, and barriers that rise after the toll is paid or validated. Toll collection can be performed by cash, cards, or electronic transponders such as Telepass, depending on the location and operating rules. The casello is typically identified by a number or name that corresponds to the highway exit, and signage directs motorists to the appropriate lanes for entry, exit, or payment.

Apart from road tolls, the term can also refer, more generally, to a small gatehouse or guard post at a facility or property where access is controlled or monitored. In historical or architectural contexts, casello may appear in descriptions of fortified entrances or other controlled-entry points, though this usage is less common in contemporary language.

Etymology-wise, casello derives from the root cassa, meaning a box or cash register, with the diminutive suffix -ello, signaling a small box or booth used for exchanging money or controlling access. The word captures the idea of a small structure where a transaction or check takes place.

In modern use, caselli are integral to the operation and financing of road networks, as tolls collected at these points support maintenance and improvements of the routes. They are a familiar element of the Italian transport landscape and often feature automation alongside staffed booths.