Italy Travel Guide

Full Name

Italian Republic

Former Name

Kingdom of Italy

Capital City

Rome

Government Type

Republic

Area Size

301,338 sq km 116,346 sq miles

Time Zone

UTC/GMT +1 hour (GMT + 2 from the last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Climate

Summer temperatures in the south are far hotter than in the north – especially in the mountain regions which have heavy winter snowfalls. The north is the wettest area, while the wettest months are October to December.

Geography

Italy is a long peninsula shaped like a boot, surrounded on the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea and on the east by the Adriatic. It is bounded by France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia to the north. The Apennine Mountains form the peninsula's backbone; the Alps form its northern boundary. The largest of its many northern lakes is Garda (370 sq km); the Po, its principal river, flows from the Alps on Italy's western border and crosses the Lombard plain to the Adriatic Sea. Several islands form part of Italy; the largest are Sicily (25,708 sq km) and Sardinia (24,090 sq km).

Languages

Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)

Culture

Italy, as a state, did not exist until the unification of the country in 1861. Due to this comparatively late unification, and the historical autonomy of the many regions that comprise the Italian Peninsula, many traditions and customs that we now recognise as distinctly Italian can be identified by their regions of origin. Despite the political and social isolation of these regions, Italy's contributions to the cultural and historical heritage of Europe remain immense. In fact, Italy is home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites (41) to date.

History

Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the city-states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist dictatorship. His disastrous alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946 and economic revival followed. Italy was a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC). It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include illegal immigration, organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, sluggish economic growth, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern Italy compared with the prosperous north.

Travel Information

The national airline is Alitalia (AZ). Rome (FCO) (Fiumicino) is 32km southwest of the city. There is a direct rail link to Termini Station in central Rome and a bus service every 15 minutes. Taxis are also available to the city. Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, car hire, ATMs, bank and bureau de change and bar/restaurants. Rome (CIA) (Ciampino) is 15km from the city. Buses are available to the underground station Anagnina, and to the city centre. Taxis are also available. Facilities: Bank/bureau de change, car hire, duty-free shop and souvenir shop and cafe. Pisa (PSA) (Galileo Galilei), is 1.6km north of Pisa. Trains and buses run from Pisa airport to the centre of Florence. Rail services connect with arrivals and departures of all international flights and major domestic services. Facilities: Bank/bureau de change, car hire, shops and cafe. Milan (MXP) (Malpensa) is 45km northwest of the city. The Malapensa Express train connects terminal one with the centre of Milan. A free shuttle bus connects the airport terminals. Taxis are available. Facilities: Duty-free shops, banks/bureaux de change. Main ports: Ancona, Brindisi, Naples and Venice. Main ferry operators: Superfast Ferries, SNAV, Ustica Lines and Navigazione Libera del Golfo. The main international routes are from Greece, the Greek islands and Croatia. Trenitalia runs regular services covering national and international routes. The Artesia Service is the fastest railway link between France and Italy. Routes to Italy run through Austria, France, Slovenia and Switzerland and most routes use the tunnels under the Alps and Apennines. Eurolines runs regular coach services from the UK to Italy.

Accommodation

There are more than 30,000 hotels throughout the country. Charges vary according to class, season, services available and locality. The Italian State Tourist Board publishes the official list of all Italian hotels and pensions (Annuario Alberghi) every year. Service charges are included in the rates. VAT (IVA in Italy) operates in all hotels at 10% (19% in deluxe hotels) on room charges only. Visitors are required by law to obtain an official receipt when staying at hotels.

Visa Requirements

Visas are not required by all nationals of the EU, Astralia, Canada and USA for the following durations: nationals of EU countries for an unlimited period apart from nationals of Bulgaria and Romania who may stay for up to 90 days; nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA for stays of up to 90 days. Nationals not referred to above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements. Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred toabove except: EU nationals holding a valid national ID card. EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU Member State. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed. Italy is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.

Getting Around

Alitalia (AZ) and other airlines run services to all the major cities. Main ports: Cagliari, Civitavecchia, Genoa, Livorno and Naples. A number of car and passenger ferries operate throughout the year linking Italian ports. Regular boat and hydrofoil services run to the islands of Capri, Elba, Giglio, Sardinia, Sicily and the Aeolian Islands. Trenitalia (FS) runs a nationwide network at very reasonable fares. There are more than 479,688km of roads in Italy. Tolls are charged at varying distances and scales. Coach: Good coach services run between towns and cities and there are also extensive local buses. Self-drive hire is available in most cities and resorts. Many international and Italian firms operate this service. Generally, small local firms offer cheaper rates, but cars can only be booked locally. Travellers should be aware that tickets for public transport need to be endorsed in a ticket machine before the journey. All the big towns and cities have good public transport networks. In Rome there are two underground lines – Metropolitana A and Metropolitana B. Milan also has a three-line underground system, with tickets useable on both underground and bus. There is an extensive network consisting of eight routes in Rome; Milan, Messina and Turin also have tram services. Bus services operate in all main cities and towns. In Rome, the network is extensive and complements the underground and tram systems. Taxis are available in all towns and cities. Government-regulated taxis are either white or yellow. Visitors should avoid un-metered taxis. They are generally relatively expensive, with extra charges for night service, luggage and taxis called by telephone. Water taxis in Venice are extremely expensive; a much cheaper public ferry service is available. Taxis can only be hailed at official ranks or booked by telephone.

Health & Safety

There are no specific health risks associated with travel to Italy. It is recommended that travellers visiting the country from November through April get an influenza vaccine. EU citizens can make use of Italy's health services provided they have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The Italian Government has warned that the risk of an international terrorist attack in the country has increased, and tourists should be vigilant in public places and tourist sites. Tourists are vulnerable to pick-pocketing and muggings in the bigger cities, particularly on public transport, in crowded areas and around tourist sites, and should exercise caution when carrying large amounts of cash and valuables. Be particularly careful on bus 64 to St Peter's Square and around the main train station, Termini. Visitors should be wary of groups of children, some of whom will distract attention while the others try to steal what they can. Strikes by transport workers take place regularly throughout Italy and delays are possible.

National Holidays

1 Jan - New Year’s Day. 6 Jan - Epiphany. 9 Apr - Easter Monday. 25 Apr - Liberation Day. 1 May - Labour Day. 2 Jun - Anniversary of the Republic. 15 Aug - Assumption. 1 Nov - All Saints’ Day. 8 Dec - Immaculate Conception. 25 Dec - Christmas Day. 26 Dec - St Stephen’s Day.

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Electricity

230 volts AC, 50Hz.

Working Hours

Office hours: Mon-Fri 9.00am - 5.00pm.

Emergency Numbers

Ambulance: 113 or 118, Fire: 113 or 115, Police: 113 or 112