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Currency – Euro (€)
Language – Italian
Vaccine – No vaccinations are required.
Electricity – 230V. 50 Hz. Power plugs and sockets are of type C, F & L
EMERGENCY TELEPHONES
National Police: 113
Medical emergency: 118
Italy is a country that, from north to south, offers a wide range of tourist attractions. Its mythical cities, such as Rome, Florence, Milan, and Venice, as well as medieval towns and turquoise-colored beaches.
Traveling to Italy means visiting the country with the most UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage. Because of its long and complex history, it has a remarkable cultural and artistic diversity.
Italy is situated between the Iberian Peninsula and the Balkans, and is known as “Southern Europe.” It is bordered on the north by the Alps mountain range, which divides it from Switzerland, on the northwest by France, and on the northeast by Croatia and Slovenia.
It is bordered on the west by the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea, and on the east by the Ionian and Adriatic Seas.
Italy has several islands in addition to its peninsular geographical area. Sicily and Sardinia are the two main islands in the Mediterranean Sea.
Italy is a land of breathtaking natural beauty, with mountains that caress the sky, lakes that aspire to be oceans, beaches whose turquoise waters attract us, countless routes through natural parks where we are absorbed by its lush trees, snowy peaks from which we can see coasts where people bathe.
TOURIST SITES OF ITALY
Rome – Rome, the eternal city, today trodden by travelers but the cradle of Mediterranean civilization and whose influences throughout history have laid the foundations of today’s culture, provides us with an enormous variety of sensations, and thus visiting it is like taking many trips at once. The romantic Tiber, the good food in Trastevere, the views of Rome from the dome of Saint Peter, and the overflowing art of the Roman museums are all good reasons to visit Italy’s capital.
Venice – Its popularity comes from the fact that it is the only one in the world to be located in the middle of a lagoon. This was done in order to defend itself from hostile invasions. It was an autonomous Republic and one of Italy’s wealthiest, allowing for the construction of several buildings that are now considered genuine works of art. The Basilica of San Marcos offers spectacular views of the region.
Florence – It is considered as the most medieval of all, having produced artists and architects such as Miguel Angel, Brunelleschi, Leonardo da Vinci, and a long list of others. Florence is unquestionably one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. A city that has left us imposing landmarks such as the Ponte Vecchio, Santa Maria de las Flores, and the Uffizi Gallery, as well as being the birthplace of the European Renaissance.
Naples – Naples has a charming taste of decadence that speaks of a glorious artistic history and is full of ancient palaces. Visit Bourbon palaces after passing via Plaza del Plebiscito. Porta Capuana will transport you to imperial Rome’s ancient splendor. City is known for its street food, as the food available for purchase when walking through its small stalls are delectable, some of which are made from fried pasta dough and packed with a variety of spicy and non-spicy ingredients.
Pisa, Siena, Arezzo, Lucca, Verona
All of them are fantastic cities in which to indulge the senses. They blend cultural and artistic curiosity with outstanding gastronomy.
Pompeii and Herculaneum, ancient cities of imperial Rome that were covered by Vesuvius’ ashes and fire, are exceptional cases. They were frozen in time, and for someone who has never seen it, it is one of those life-changing experiences.
General Information about Italy
DAILY LIFE
Family is an extremely important value within the Italian culture. Italians love spending time with their families and have regular family gatherings.
IN BARS AND RESTAURANTS
Lunch hours are between 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. At night from 8:00 p.m.
TIPS
In Italian restaurants, a gratuity of 10-20% is often added to the bill, so make sure you’re not already paying the tip before adding more to your bill. If it isn’t, a tip of 10-15% is recommended.
Tipping is not mandatory in Italian hotels, but it is often appreciated. €5 is a decent price for a porter to carry your bags, while €1-2 is fine.
RELIGION
83.3% Christians
12.4% are irreligious, atheist or agnostic
3.7% are Muslims
0.6% other religions
HOLIDAYS
1 of January: New Year.
January 6: Epiphany.
April 25: Liberation Day.
May 1: Labor Day.
August 15: The Assumption.
November 1: All Saints.
December 8: Immaculate Conception.
25th December: Christmas.
December 26: Saint Stephen.
1st. Sunday of June: Proclamation of the Republic.
1st. Sunday of November: National Unity Day.
Moveable festivals: Good Friday, Easter Monday.
CLIMATE
Moderate climate, hot and humid in July and August. Daytime and nighttime temperatures are the monthly average for the last 25 years. The rains and sun numerically reflect the average of the same, for each month, in recent years.
Gastronomy of Italy
TYPICAL DISHES
Pizza
Fonduta: eggs and white truffles.
Osso bucco: veal.
Abbachio: lamb.
Fegato alla Veneziana: liver.
Zuppa di datteri: mollusk soup.
Agnoletti: ravioli filled with rice.
Lasagna: pasta.
Tortellini: pasta.
Saltimbocca alla Romana: escalope.
Rissotto a la milanesa: rice.
Gnocchis: pasta.
Spaghetti carbonara: pasta.
BEVERAGES
Limoncello – This typical Italian drink was born around 1900 in a small hotel on the island of Capri and they never imagined that it would become a representative symbol of the country.
Fernet – Fernet is an alcoholic drink with a very bitter taste and is made from various herbs including chamomile, myrrh, cardamom, among others, which are macerated in wine alcohol.
Grappa – Liqueur obtained from the distillation of grape pomace and waste that is not used in the harvest.
Nocino – Nocino is a liquor made from green nuts macerated in alcohol, with a viscous dark amber color whose origin is located in the Emilia-Romagna region, in northern Italy.
Sambuca – Made based on the steam distillation of anise seeds.
Strega – Originates from the Benevento region. It is the oldest liquor in Italy and typical Italian drink today.
Bellini – Bellini is a delicious peach-based cocktail with a touch of raspberry liqueur, it is an amazing mix of flavors.
LOCAL FRUITS
Zuccata, Apple, Lemon, Oranges, Figs, Peach
Transportation in Italy
AIR TRANSPORT
Fiumicino Airport in Rome, which has five terminals, and Malpensa Airport in Milan are the two most important airports. There are secondary airports in major cities, such as Ciampino in Rome or Orio al Serio in Milan, due to heavy air traffic and the growth of low-cost carriers. Almost all airports have international flights.
Train stations that run directly to the city center link the major airports to the cities. If there isn’t a rail line that takes you to the city center, you can take a bus, either on a standard state line or privately operated.
Rome is about 32 kilometers from Leonardo da Vinci (Fuimicino) airport.
There is a 45-minute bus ride to Termini Station. Termini Station is served by a fast train. Taxis are not cheap.
Some charter flights land at Ciampino Airport, and buses depart from the Anaquina metro station.
BOAT TRANSPORT
Due to the amount of lakes and rivers and the many existing islands, there are innumerable means of fluvial and maritime transport that exist. In the major cities, there are regular ones, for the daily transport of their inhabitants or of a tourist type. There is also maritime transport between the islands and the mainland.
BUS TRANSPORT
The buses are not costly and run daily, although they are crowded during rush hour. The ticket must be purchased from an ATAC-accredited newsstand.
You can purchase 10-ticket vouchers, weekly tickets, or three-day tourist tickets. They circulate every half hour at night. The stops are optional, and you must request the stop by pressing a button
RAILWAY TRANSPORT
The rail service connects Rome to all of Italy’s major cities.
Rome’s metro (Metropolitana) has just two lines. You can purchase a ticket that is valid for 24 hours.
ROAD NETWORK
It takes a lot of courage to circulate in Rome. Driving is a nightmare, traffic signals are ignored, and traffic queues are unavoidable. Parking is paid in most tourist areas; don’t be hesitant to pay; it will make things easier.
Autosilo Sara has a guarded parking lot. Next to Termini station is Piazza Independenza.
Via Ludovisi and Villa Borghese have underground parking.
DRIVING
Driving is on the right. The maximum speed allowed goes from 30 in zona 30 to 150 km/h. on motorways
RENTAL CARS (We recommend reserving us in advance):
They will charge you 20% more tax when renting your car in Italy.
RENT A CAR at Rome International airport >>>
TAXIS
Yellow. Both at stops and on the phone, they are extremely difficult to find. They are equipped with a meter and are very costly. At night, there is a nightly rate. Before you take it, inquire about the price.
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