Verstehen Bearbeiten Toskana hat zwei sehr unterschiedliche Gesichter - die Kunststädte wie Florenz. Siena. Lucca und Pisa einerseits und die Landschaft andererseits. Die kleinen Städte, Dörfer, Burgen, Villen und Weinberge der Toskana machen eine willkommene Abwechslung vom Verkehr und Lärm einiger der großen toskanischen Städte. Holen Sie sich in Edit Mit dem Flugzeug Edit International Internationale Flüge kommen gewöhnlich nach Mailand oder Rom. Wo man ein Auto mieten kann und die drei-stündige Fahrt zur Toskana. Florenz und Pisa haben wichtige Flughäfen. Jede größere Stadt hat einen Bahnhof. Pisa International Flughafen Galileo Galilei 1. befindet sich 1,5 km (1 Meile) südlich von Pisa Stadtzentrum. Florenz Flughafen Amerigo Vespucci 2. Das Hotel liegt vier Kilometer vom Zentrum von Florenz. Bitte beachten Sie, dass Delta Airlines (US Carrier) jetzt einen Direktflug von New-York JFK nach Pisa und bietet eine billigere Alternative zu fliegen in Florenz. Mit dem Zug Bearbeiten Florenz, Pisa und Grosseto sind wichtige Bahnziele. Florenz hat zwei große Bahnhöfe, Santa Maria Novella (SMN) in der Innenstadt und Campo di Marte (CdM) ein wenig weiter entfernt. Verbindungen von Florenz zu den restlichen Italien mit dem Zug sind in der Regel schnell und häufig und EuroStar Italia Dienstleistungen zur Verfügung stehen. Einfache Verbindungen sind zu finden: Nachtzug-Dienstleistungen sind von Florenz zu bekommen: Umgehen Edit Mit dem Zug Bearbeiten Vom Hauptbahnhof von Florenz erreichen Sie leicht die meisten Orte in der Toskana, darunter: Mit dem Bus Edit Toscana Mobilit hat eine nützliche Website (busfoxtimetable ) Für Buslinien und Fahrpläne in der Toskana. Die Website ist meist auf Italienisch, ist aber einfach zu bedienen. (Die toskanischen Busunternehmen Siena Mobilit, Tiemme und Toscana Mobilit scheinen angeschlossen zu sein.) Die Website für Siena Mobilit (sienamobilita. itorari. html) hat Busfahrpläne (orari) für und zwischen einigen beliebten Städten der Toskana einschließlich Florenz (Firenze In der Zeitplan), Siena, San Gimignano, Arezzo, Cortona, Montepulciano und Chiusi unter anderem. Lokale Dienstleistungen für mehrere Städte sind markiert urbano. Die Zwischenstationen sind alle unter der Registerkarte servizio extraurbano. Google-Karten identifizieren Bushaltestellen in der gesamten Toskana sowohl für lokale und interurbane Routen. Wenn Sie auf die Bushaltestelle klicken, erhalten Sie eine Liste der Buslinien, die diese Haltestelle bedienen. Mit Google Streetview können Sie häufig identifizieren, auf welcher Seite der Straße die Haltestelle liegt und somit die Fahrtrichtung von der Haltestelle bedient wird. Busfahrer sollten ihre Bustickets kaufen, bevor sie in den Bus einsteigen. Die meisten Tabacchi-Shops (Tabakladen) verkaufen Bustickets. Manchmal können Kioske und Bars auch Tickets verkaufen. Sie müssen dem Ticketverkäufer Ihre Destination mitteilen, damit Ihr Ticket für die korrekten Tarifzonen gültig ist. Nach dem Einsteigen in den Bus stempeln Sie Ihr Ticket in der Maschine hinter dem Fahrer. Seien Sie sich bewusst, dass viele Routen haben entweder reduziert oder keinen Service an Samstagen, Sonn-und Feiertagen. Termine zeigen reduzierten Service als festivo während der regelmäßige Arbeitstag Zeitplan ist feriale. Viele Bushaltestellen haben Pläne veröffentlicht. Blue-coloured Busse sind für den interurban Service, während orangefarbene Busse für lokalen Service sind. Interurbane Busse können lokale Haltestellen entlang der Route dienen. Denkmäler und Museen Kathedralen bearbeiten. Jede toskanische Stadt hat eine Kathedrale (Duomo), jede hübscher als die andere. David David. 3. Michelangelos Meisterwerk ist in der Galleria dell Accademia delle Bella Arti in Florenz 4. Kopiert in der gleichen Stadt auf der Piazza della Signoria und Piazzale Michelangelo. 160dit Lehnender Turm. Das sofort erkennbare Wahrzeichen ist in Pisa auf dem Platz der Wunder, Piazza dei miracoli. 160dit Uffizien Galerie. 5. Die beste Sammlung der Renaissance-Kunst in der Welt ist in Florenz. 160dit Museo Galileo (formell genannt Institut und Museum für Geschichte der Wissenschaft). Florenz, Piazza dei Giudici, 1. 6. Das in Florenz gelegene Museum enthält 5000 Exemplare aus der Medici-Sammlung von Apparaten und wissenschaftlichen Instrumenten und der Lorenesischen Sammlung von Instrumenten und didaktischen und experimentellen Geräten. 160dit Leonardo Da Vinci Museum. Castello dei Conti Guidi, 50053 VINCI - FI - Italien (das Museum ist täglich von 9:30 bis 18:00 Uhr geöffnet.), 39-0571-56055. 7. Im mittelalterlichen Castello Guidi (11-12 Cen.) Dominiert das Leonardos-Museum die kleine Stadt Vinci. Ansicht Da Vincis Werke, blättern Sie durch die Bibliothek und mehr 8. 160dit Parks Edit Der Nationalpark des Tusco-Emilian Apennins 9. erstreckt sich längs für ca. 60 km von den hohen Tälern der Berge torrents von Parma und Baganza bis zum Passo Delle Forbici, auf der toskanischen Seite das Kalkmassiv der Pania di Corfino und in Emilia die Kette der Succiso-Berge, des Monte Cusna, das Tal des Flusses Secchia und das isolierte Gebiet des Pietra di Bismantova . Der Nationalpark des toskanischen Archipels 10. Der Park wurde 1996 gegründet und erstreckt sich über eine Fläche von über 18.000 Hektar zusätzlich zu 40.000 Hektar Meer. Es wird von einer gleichnamigen Organisation betrieben, die ihren Hauptsitz in Portoferraio (auf der Insel Elba) hat. Der Park fällt unter die Zuständigkeit der Provinz Livorno und der von Grosseto. Der Nationalpark der Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona und Campigna 11. Nach dem Arno stromaufwärts gelangen Sie in den Stadtteil Casentino, der von Bergen im Norden und Osten umgeben ist. Hier bietet der Nationalpark der Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona und Campigna ein einzigartiges und unvergessliches Erlebnis: die Entdeckung eines der ältesten Wälder Europas. Der Regionalpark Maremma 12. Der Regionalpark Maremma (Parco Regionale della Maremma), auch bekannt als Uccellina Park (Parco dellUccellina) umfasst eine Küstenregion zwischen Principina a Mare und Talamone bei Grosseto. Magliano in der Toscana und Orbetello. Bis hin zur Bahnlinie Livorno Roma. Der Park der Apuanischen Alpen 13. Der Park von Migliarino, San Rossore und Massaciuccoli 14. Der Park von Migliarino, San Rossore und Massaciuccoli wurde 1975 gegründet und erstreckt sich über 24.000 Hektar zwischen Pisa. Viareggio. San Giuliano Terme, Vecchiano und Massarossa entfernt. Was diesen Park so besonders macht, liegt an seinen Grenzen: das Tirrenische Meer, der Massaciuccoli-See und die Flüsse Arno, Serchio, Canale dei Navicelli und Morto e Burlamacca. Der Naturpark Montioni, der von den Stadtverwaltungen von Grosseto und Livorno verwaltet wird. Park-Status von 1998. Der Park erstreckt sich über 7000 Hektar und steigt auf 300m in Poggio al Checco, seinem höchsten Punkt. Das Gebiet hat ein großes künstlerisches und kulturelles Erbe, von alten archäologischen Funden bis zu etruskischen und römischen Überresten, die unter mittelalterlichen Bauten wie den Pievaccia, den Ruinen des Schlosses Montioni Vecchio und der Thermalbäder von Montioni gefunden wurden. Der Livorno Hills Park 16. Der Livorno Hills Park umfasst ein weites Gebiet zwischen den Bezirken von Livorno. Collesalvetti und Rosignano Marittimo. Sein Spitzname ist die verlorene Insel aufgrund der Tatsache, dass diese Strecke von Land war eine Insel, bis es sich an das Festland vor Tausenden von Jahren. Der Park verfügt nicht nur über außergewöhnliche Naturschönheiten, sondern auch über interessante archäologische, künstlerische und kulturelle Entdeckungen. Der archäologische Park von Poggibonsi 17. Der Besuch beginnt mit einem kurzen Dokumentarfilm, der die Ergebnisse der zwölf Jahre der Ausgrabung und die wichtigsten archäologischen, architektonischen und naturalistischen Aspekte der Poggio Imperiale Seite illustriert. Die Parks des Val di Cornia 18. Die Parks des Val di Cornia, in der Toskana, erzählen eine tausendjährige Geschichte, die mit den etruskischen Völkern beginnt und Zeugnis ablegt für Jahrhunderte der Extraktion und der Bearbeitung von Metallen , Küsten und Hügellandschaften. Das System umfasst 2 archäologische Parks, Naturparks, 3 Museen, 1 Dokumentationszentrum, im Bereich der fünf Gemeinden im äußersten Süden der Provinz Livorno. Gegenüber der Insel Elba. Der Zoologische Park der europäischen Fauna in Poppi 19. ist der erste und einzige der europäischen Fauna gewidmete Park in der Gemeinde Poppi (Arezzo). Der Pinocchios Park. 20. Der Pinocchios Park befindet sich in Collodi. Das seit dem letzten Jahrhundert praktisch unverändert geblieben ist. Seine charmante Ansammlung von Häusern, eingebettet zwischen den Hügeln, führt den Weg zur Villa Garzoni und seinem reizenden Garten des 19. Jahrhunderts, häufig betrachtet zu den schönsten in Europa. Neben wandern in schönen Städten und Blick auf Renaissance-Kunst, gibt es viele andere Dinge, die Sie in der Toskana tun können. Zum Beispiel können Sie lernen, zu kochen oder einfach nur schmecken toskanische Küche, tun Trekking, Golf oder gehen Sie zu einem Kurort. Die meisten wichtigen traditionellen Weinproduzenten befinden sich entlang der Achse, die von Florenz und Siena gebildet wird. Die bekannteste Region ist Chianti mit dem benachbarten Montalcino und Montepulciano. Die Weißweine sind weniger berühmt als die Rotweine, aber als Ausnahme ist die Vernaccia von San Gimignano als DOCG-Wein anerkannt. Die toskanische Weinindustrie hat sich in den letzten 30-40 Jahren stark entwickelt, und das Ergebnis ist ein sogenannter Super-Toskana-Wein, berühmt in Bolgheri, aber auch in der Maremma und vielen anderen Teilen der Toskana. Glasperlen, die Klassen bilden (Lampwork). 39 055 239 9182. 21. Erfahren Sie, wie Glasperlen im Herzen von Florenz, Italys Handwerker Bezirk, der Oltrarno machen. Anfänger amp intermediate bead machen Klassen vorstellen Studenten sowohl grundlegende und fortgeschrittene Lampenarbeit Techniken und helfen, ebnen den Weg zu finden, Ihre eigene künstlerische Stimme. Gruppen - und Gruppenunterricht für 2 Personen. 160dit Weinführungen in der Toskana (Weinreise Italien), Via Mazzini, 71 - 56037 Peccioli - Pisa - Italien. 39 0587 672088. 22. 09.00-18.00. Arianna amp Friends, ein Reiseveranstalter, der sich auf Weinerlebnisse spezialisiert hat, organisiert Weinführungen mit Kellereibesuchen und Weinproben, um die Weinherstellung zu erleben, mit erfahrenen Führern, die mehrere Sprachen sprechen, verborgene Schönheiten kennenlernen und über lokale Traditionen lernen. 160dit Toskana ist auch berühmt für Radfahren. Kaum ein Radfahrer findet so viel Landschaften, die sich in einer Region konzentrieren. Eine Schönheit, die sich auf einem Kontinuum entfaltet, das jedes kleine Dorf durchdringt, das sich in den endlosen Museen, in der Architektur des Landesspezialisten (Alimentari), im bissigen Sarkasmus der Einwohner fortsetzt. Radfahren ist der beste Weg, um in der Lage sein, diese Magie und den Reichtum, dass die kleinen Straßen zu denen, die es ausnutzen zu erfassen. Trinken Edit DOC, DOCG, IGT Toskana bietet über 30 Weine mit einem Denominazione di origine controllata Zertifikat, von denen einige auch die Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita Zertifikat erhalten haben. Die Bezeichnungen zeugen von der starken Hingabe der Menschen dieses Landes zum Weinbau und ihrer tiefen Kenntnis der Weintechniken. Aber einige der besten toskanischen Weine sind mit der weniger strengen Indicazione geografica tipica Bezeichnung gekennzeichnet, oft ein Zeichen für eine moderne, internationale Wein. Die Frage, was in der Toskana zu trinken ist einfach zu beantworten. Die Region ist berühmt für seine Weine, vor allem die sangiovese roten Chianti. Brunello di Montalcino und Vino Nobile di Montepulciano und die weißen Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Von diesen kann Chianti alles von preiswerten, trinkbaren Plonk zu, wenn es um die besten Beispiele des Chianti Classico kommt. Ein Weltklasse-Wein. Die Weine von Montalcino und Montepulciano sind in der Regel von hohem Standard, und vor allem Brunello erhält regelmäßig viele Preise (etwas spiegelt sich auch auf dem Preis). Wenn Sie nicht bereit sind, ein Vermögen für Ihren Wein bezahlen, aber immer noch etwas etwas schöner, sowohl Montalcino und Montepulciano haben die gemeinsame mans Version ihrer Weine, Rosso di Montalcino und Rosso di Montepulciano. Von diesen traditionellen Weinen vielleicht nur Brunello hat die Macht, ein großes Florentiner Steak, bistecca alla fiorentina begleiten. Für etwas Fleischer müssen Sie sich an die Super toskanischen Weine wenden. Diese häufig verwenden Cabernet Sauvignon zu ergänzen oder vollständig zu ersetzen, die traditionellen Trauben. Berühmte Beispiele sind Sassicaia und Tignanello. Sleep Edit Siehe einzelne Provinzen. EditItaly (Italienisch) ist ein Land in Südeuropa. Zusammen mit Griechenland. Es wird als der Geburtsort der westlichen Kultur anerkannt. Es ist nicht überraschend, dass es auch die Heimat der weltweit größten UNESCO-Welterbestätten ist. Hohe Kunst und Denkmäler sind überall im ganzen Land zu finden. Es ist auch weltweit bekannt für seine köstliche Küche, seine modische Modebranche, Luxus-Sportwagen und Motorräder, diverse regionale Kulturen und Dialekte sowie für seine schöne Küste, Alpenseen und Gebirgsketten (Alpen und Apenninen). Kein Wunder, dass es oft genannt wird das Bel Paese (das schöne Land). Zwei unabhängige Mini-Staaten sind ganz von Italien umgeben: San Marino und Vatikanstadt. Obwohl technisch nicht Teil der Europäischen Union, sind diese beiden Staaten auch Teil des Schengen-Raums und der Europäischen Währungsunion (WWU). Abgesehen von verschiedenen Polizei-Uniformen gibt es keinen offensichtlichen Übergang von diesen Staaten und Italys Gebiet, und die Währung ist die gleiche. Italienisch ist auch die Amtssprache in beiden Ländern. Verstehen Editieren Italien ist zum größten Teil eine Halbinsel am Mittelmeer, angrenzend an Frankreich. Schweiz. Österreich. Und Slowenien im Norden. Italien, das bootförmig ist, ist von den Ligurischen und Tyrrhenischen Meeren im Westen, dem Mittelmeer und Ionischen Meeren im Süden und der Adria im Osten umgeben. Italienisch ist die offizielle Sprache, die von der Mehrheit der Bevölkerung gesprochen wird, aber während Sie im ganzen Land reisen, werden Sie feststellen, dass es je nach Region verschiedene italienische Dialekte gibt. Im Nordwesten wird Französisch gesprochen und im Norden Französisch gesprochen. Italien hat eine sehr abwechslungsreiche Landschaft, kann aber vor allem als bergig beschrieben werden, darunter die Alpen und die Apenninen, die durch die überwiegende Mehrheit davon laufen. Zwei große Inseln sind Teil dieses Landes: Sardinien. Die eine Insel vor der Westküste von Italien und Sizilien ist. An der südlichen Spitze (der Spitze) des Stiefels. Geschichte Das Pantheon, ein riesiger römischer Tempel, der ein Symbol der römischen Zivilisation in Italien ist. Gewiß, die Menschen bewohnten die italienische Halbinsel für mindestens 200.000 Jahre neolithischen Zivilisationen blühte im prähistorischen Italien, sondern wurden entweder ausgelöscht oder assimiliert, um 2000160BC von einer Gruppe von indoeuropäischen Stämmen, die gemeinsam als die koreanischen Völker bekannt sind. Diese waren mehr oder weniger eng miteinander verwandt und umfaßten Stämme wie die Lateiner, Etrusker, Umbrier, Samnites, Sicels, Ligures, Oscans, um nur einige zu nennen. Die etruskische Zivilisation gehörte zu den Ersten, die im 6. Jahrhundert v. Chr. Aufstiegen und bis zur späten republikanischen Periode in der heutigen norditalienischen Region blühten. Umbrien und Toskana. Im 8. und 7. Jahrhundert v. Chr. Wurden in Sizilien und im südlichen Teil Italiens griechische Kolonien gegründet: die etruskische Kultur wurde rasch von der Griechenlands beeinflusst. Dies ist gut illustriert an einigen ausgezeichneten etruskischen Museen Etruskischen Grabstätten sind auch einen Besuch wert. Rom selbst wurde von etruskischen Königen bis 509160 v. Chr. Dominiert, als der letzte von ihnen - Tarquinius Superbus - von der Macht vertrieben wurde und die römische Republik gegründet wurde. Nach einer Reihe von Kriegen, die Römer entlassen die nahe gelegene etruskische Stadt Veii in 396160BC dies löste den Zusammenbruch der etruskischen Konföderation und die etruskischen Menschen selbst begannen assimiliert werden. Die Kelten ließen sich in dem heutigen Norditalien nieder, wo ihre Zivilisation im 1. Jahrtausend v. Chr. Blühte und sich weiter im Süden ausdehnte. Sie machten den Fehler, Rom in 390160 v. Chr. Zu entlassen, und die Römer, die sich auf Rache beugten, führten Kriege gegen sie Wurden erobert und ihr Volk assimiliert. Das antike Rom war zuerst ein kleines Dorf, das um das 8. Jahrhundert v. Chr. Gegründet wurde. Mit der Zeit wuchs ihr primitives Reich zu einer Republik, die sich später in ein Reich verwandeln sollte, das das ganze Mittelmeer bedeckte und sich weit nach Norden bis Schottland und weit nach Osten als Mesopotamien und Arabien ausdehnte. Sein stetiger Rückgang begann im 2. Jahrhundert n. Chr., Und das Reich schließlich brach in zwei Teile in 285 AD: das Weströmische Reich und das Byzantinische Reich im Osten. Der westliche Teil wurde von verschiedenen germanischen Stämmen angegriffen. Westgoten zogen Rom in 410AD und ihre Vandalen folgten in 455AD. Das westliche Römische Reich brach schließlich in 476160AD zusammen, und die barbarischen Häuptlinge teilten die italienische Halbinsel unter sich, nachdem Italien, tauchte in das sogenannte Dunkle Zeitalter ein. Nach einer langen und blutigen Wiedereroberung durch die Byzantiner (die sogenannten Gothischen Kriege) wurde ein Großteil Italiens vom östlichen Römischen Reich kontrolliert. Unnötig zu sagen, dass dies nicht lange dauern wird - als ein germanischer Stamm, die Lombards, eingedrungen Italien noch einmal in 572 daher die heutige nördliche Region der Lombardei. Wie ihre Vorgänger, teilten sie das Land unter sich aber aufgrund ihrer zahlenmäßigen Unterlegenheit wurden sie schließlich von der einheimischen Bevölkerung assimiliert. Nur Teile von Süditalien, die unter byzantinischer Herrschaft waren, und die späteren päpstlichen Staaten (das heißt, Rom und die umliegende Region, die unter der Autorität des Papstes stehen) überlebten als relativ unabhängige Instanzen So unab - hängig, daß es geeignet war, andere Barbaren, die Franken, anzurufen, um ihre (jetzt fast vollständig romanisierten) gewalttätigen, unruhigen, neugierigen Nachbarn der Lombarden zu beseitigen. Diese wurden im Jahre 774 von den vorgenannten Franken besiegt und später ihr Reich verloren. Inzwischen wurde das Veneto von den Barbaren verwüstet: Ein Teil seiner Bewohner dachte, sie seien auf den Inseln in der venezianischen Lagune sicher gewesen und gründeten dort eine Stadt: Venedig wurde geboren. Der erste Beweis dessen, was die italienische Sprache werden würde, stammt aus diesem Jahrhundert und genauer aus 960. Sizilien blieb in byzantinischen Händen bis zum Ende des 8. Jahrhunderts, als es von den Arabern erobert wurde, deren Herrschaft jedoch kurzlebig war 1092 fuhren die Normannen - nachdem sie die Byzantiner aus dem übrigen Süditalien gestürzt hatten - nach Sizilien ein. Sie schufen die Königreiche von Sizilien und Neapel (die später durch die Vereinigung dieser beiden Reiche 1442 zum Königreich der Zwei Sizilien wurden und ihre Hauptstadt in Neapel hatten). Im Norden war Italien eine Sammlung von kleinen, unabhängigen Stadtstaaten und Königreichen, die unter der Autorität des Heiligen Römischen Kaisers lagen. Allerdings widersetzten sie sich gegen den damaligen Kaiser - Friedrich Barbarossa - 1176 und schlugen die kaiserliche Armee in Legnano und gewannen damit ihre Unabhängigkeit. Die so genannte repubbliche marinare (maritime Republiken) von Genua. Venedig. Pisa und Amalfi blieben relativ autonom und konkurrierten gegeneinander für die Kontrolle der Meere und für die der lukrativen Handelswege mit dem Fernen Osten. Dies war auch die Ära der comuni. Unabhängigen Stadtstaaten, die von einer engen Annäherung der Demokratie geleitet wurden (das heißt, sie waren es, die heute eine Oligarchie nannten, in der die mächtigsten oder prestigeträchtigsten Familien in der Stadt aufgerufen wurden, - zumindest nominell - Für das öffentliche Wohl). Mittlerweile regierten die Hohenstaufen im Süden und unter Friedrich II., Der Schirmherr der Kunst war, eine reiche Kultur. Ab dem 13. Jahrhundert wurde Florenz zum wichtigsten kulturellen Hotspot der Halbinsel: Es war nicht nur Heimat von Dichtern wie Dante Alighieri und Petrarch, sondern auch Schriftsteller des Kalibers von Boccaccio. Ihre Werke bildeten die Grundlage einer Standardform der italienischen Sprache (die selbst eine Mischung aus florentinischer Grammatik und römischer Aussprache ist). Die Menschen sahen zu starken Männern, die den Städten Ordnung bringen konnten, und so entwickelten sich Dynastien wie die Medici in Florenz. Im Gegenzug wurden diese Familien Mäzene der Künste, so dass Italien der Geburtsort der Renaissance, mit der Entstehung von Genies wie Leonardo da Vinci, Bramante, Tiziano, Raffaello, Michelangelo und viele andere geworden. Nachdem der Erbe Friedrichs II. Im Jahre 1268 getötet worden war, beherrschten die Franzosen den Süden und wurden nach einem Volksaufstand, den vespri siciliani, 1282 aus Sizilien vertrieben. Während der Tausende von Franzosen getötet wurden (Opernfans werden sicherlich eine ihrer Lieblingsopern erkennen). Im späten 14. und 15. Jahrhundert beherbergte Italien einige der reichsten Staaten Europas, doch waren sie oft im Krieg miteinander und nur die diplomatischen Fähigkeiten von Lorenzo il Magnifico verhinderten die vielen kleinen Königreiche, sich gegenseitig zu bekämpfen. Vorhersehbar, als Lorenzo im Jahre 1492 starb, die italienischen Staaten ins Chaos stürzte der König von Frankreich nutzte die Situation, überquerte die Alpen und eroberte das Königreich Neapel für sich. Er gelang, war aber gezwungen, nach Frankreich zurückzukehren. Erst dann erkannten die italienischen Majors die Gefahr, aber es war zu spät: Nach einem vergeblichen Sieg in der Schlacht von Fornovo im Jahre 1495 kam die Halbinsel den europäischen Nachbarn zur Kenntnis und erlitt eine Reihe von Invasionen aus den Franzosen und den Franzosen Spanisch. Der Norden wurde schließlich von den Österreichern dominiert. Die Entdeckung der Neuen Welt beschädigte die bereits rückläufigen italienischen Volkswirtschaften und die meisten Italys-Staaten kamen unter ausländische Herrschaft: und trotz der künstlerischen, architektonischen und literarischen Entwicklungen wurde das Leben in der post-reinassance Italien ziemlich miserabel. Die Gegenreformation, während es gelang, die meisten Kleriker irdische Exzesse zu unterdrücken, stürzte die Halbinsel weiter in eine nicht so glückliche Zeit. Diese Situation, die durch die italienischen Kriege von 1494-59 noch verstärkt wurde (in der Rom selbst von den deutschen Söldnern von Kaiser Karl V. entlassen wurde) wurde im 17. Jahrhundert noch schlimmer, als die auswärtigen Mächte in einer Reihe von meist unbrauchbaren Kämpfen kämpften Kriege über die dynastischen Rechte an den italienischen Staaten. Das 18. Jahrhundert, während (verhältnismäßig) friedlicher als das vorangegangene, war, kulturell gesehen, nicht so großartig, dass die Österreicher den Norden mit einer eisernen Faust beherrschten und der einst wohlhabende Süden das Unglück hatte Von einer besonders rückständigen und obscurantistisch herrschenden Klasse regiert zu werden. Die Geburt des modernen Italien Edit Schließlich wurde die französische Revolution nach Italien exportiert und revolutionäre Bewegungen tauchten fast überall auf. Diese Ideale hatten einen dauerhaften Einfluss auf die Zukunft der Halbinsel (die italienische Fahne stammt aus dem Jahre 1797) eine partenopeanische (neapolitanische) Republik wurde im Jahr 1799 proklamiert, wurde aber von den Royalisten unterstützt von der britischen Flotte unter der Führung von Horatio Nelson zermalmt. Das Aufkommen von Napoleon Bonaparte und die Annahme des napoleonischen Codes bildeten die Grundlage für das Risorgimento. Oder Wiederaufleben von Italien: Nach der Wiederherstellung - besonders nach den Revolutionen von 1848 - wurde 1849 die Vorstellung eines italienischen Nationalstaates populär, die Romer, Mailand und Venedig rebellierten gegen ihre Unterdrücker, wurden aber bald zermalmt Nationalhymne wurde in dieser Zeit zusammengesetzt). Im selben Jahr (1849) wurde das Königreich Sardinien-Piemont - von dem Haus Savoy geleitet - zum Drehpunkt der Bewegung, die die Vereinigung Italiens befürwortete. Ein katastrophaler Krieg gegen die Österreicher stoppte nicht den schlauen piemontesischen Premierminister, Camillo Benso, conte di Cavour. Und König Victor Emmanuel II. Aus dem Werden der Menschen hinter dem Vereinigungsprozess. Mit der Hilfe Frankreich und nach den ersten beiden Kriegen der italienischen Unabhängigkeit (die 1859 endete) wurde Österreich schließlich geschlagen: Die Lombardei wurde nach Piemont-Sardinien abgetreten. Etwa zur gleichen Zeit (1860) führte Giuseppe Garibaldi eine Expedition ein, um das Königreich Sizilien (die sogenannte Spedizione dei Mille oder die Expedition der Tausend) anzugreifen, seine freiwillige Armee, die in Sizilien gelandeten Redshirts, geschlagen Die feindlichen Truppen, obwohl sie 20: 1 unterlegen waren, eroberten die Insel und zogen in den Rest des Königreichs ein. Sobald dieser Prozeß abgeschlossen war, revolten die Menschen des Großherzogtums der Toskana - die von einem Kadettenzweig der Habsburger Dynastie regiert wurde -, Umbrien und die päpstlichen Legationen (Provinzen) von Emilia und Romagna -, die dem Papst angehörten Beantragte die Annexion nach Piemont-Sardinien, ein ordnungsgemäß erlassener Antrag. Das Parlament von Piemont-Sardinien wurde dann zu einem Treffen von Victor Emanuel II. Berufen und das Königreich Italien wurde schließlich am 17. März 1861 ausgerufen. Turin wurde als Hauptstadt des neu gebildeten Staates gewählt, wurde aber 1865 nach Florenz verlegt. Warum nicht in Rom Die Stadt war immer noch die Heimat der päpstlichen Staaten, die unter dem Schutz desselben französischen Kaisers - Napoleon III Das Königreich Italien. Im Jahre 1866 gelang es Victor Emmanuel II., Venedig nach dem dritten Unabhängigkeitskrieg zu errichten. Am 20. September 1870. Kurz nachdem Frankreich es wegen des französisch-preußischen Krieges aufgegeben hatte, wurde Rom von den italienischen Truppen gestürmt und wurde die Hauptstadt von Italien. Cavour starb 1861, als das neugebildete Land in einer ziemlich empfindlichen Phase wegen des brigantaggio war. Das heißt, eine besonders heftige Rekrutierung der Brigandage, die in den Süden Victor Emmanuel II wütete war somit gezwungen, senden Sie die Armee, um die Räuber zu unterdrücken. Er starb 1878 und war der erste König von Italien, das im Pantheon begraben wurde. Ihm folgte sein Sohn Umberto I., dessen Königin Gemahlin Margherita di Savoia von einem neapolitanischen Pizzakoch benannt wurde, der 1889 die Pizza margherita benannte. Im selben Jahr wurde die Todesstrafe in Italien abgeschafft. Francesco Crispi, damals Ministerpräsident, suchte eine defensive Allianz mit dem österreichisch-ungarischen und deutschen Reich - trotz des heftigen Widerstands der italienischen Öffentlichkeit (Österreich wurde als traditioneller Feind des Landes gesehen) und machte die Nation 1882 zur Dreier-Allianz Im Jahr 1890 eroberte Italien - ein Nachkomme für das Rüstzeug für Afrika - Eritrea und Somalia, das trotz dieser Erfolge zu Kolonien wurde, die Wirtschaft deutlich verschlechterte sich und Millionen von Italienern, vor allem aus dem ländlichen Süden, wurden gezwungen, zu emigrieren. Im Jahre 1896 erhielt Francesco Crispi, Premierminister zum zweiten Mal, den Befehl, in Äthiopien einzudringen: die schlecht geführte Expedition wurde jedoch in der Schlacht von Adwa massakriert. Crispi wurde gezwungen, wegen eines öffentlichen Aufruhrs zwei Jahre später zurückzutreten, ein Protest fand wegen der hohen Preise der Nahrung statt, wurde aber grausam zermalmt (Fiorenzo Bava Beccaris, der General, der befahl, die Kanonen an der Menge zu feuern, war öffentlich Gratulierte vom König selbst und erhielt sogar einen Sitz im königlichen Senat). Nicht überraschend wurde König Umberto schnell unpopulär und wurde am 29. Juli 1900 von einem Anarchisten Gaetano Bresci tödlich erschossen. Sein Sohn, Vittorio Emanuele III. Folgte ihm. Im Jahre 1911 brach der Krieg zwischen Italien und dem Osmanischen Reich aus, das schnell besiegt wurde und Libyen und die Dodekanesischen Inseln als Kriegsreparationen abtreten musste (dieser Konflikt ist bemerkenswert, weil Flugzeuge zum ersten Mal in Aufklärungsrollen eingesetzt wurden). Der italienische Staat hatte jedoch nur die Kontrolle über die libyschen Hauptstädte und Küstengebiete, da eine starke Widerstandsbewegung es verhinderte, das Land vollständig zu besetzen. Diese Situation würde bis zur Mitte des 20. Jahrhunderts andauern, als das faschistische Regime die Rebellen brutal unterdrückte. World War One Edit Italien, infolge des Verteidigungspaktes von 1882, nicht in den Krieg sofort. Viele Italiener wünschten jedoch, die sogenannte Terre irredente zurückzuerobern (das waren Provinzen, die von einer autochtonen, italienischsprachigen Mehrheit bewohnt wurden und 1915 einst ein Teil der vergangenen italienischen Staaten waren, das waren österreichische Besitztümer für wenig mehr als ein Jahrhundert). Die meisten Intellektuellen - darunter der berühmte Dichter, Schriftsteller und Kriegsheld Gabriele dAnnunzio - drängten auf den Ententeskrieg. Die interventionistische Fraktion erhielt schließlich die Oberhand, und zwischen Italien, Frankreich und Großbritannien wurde ein geheimer Vertrag - der Londoner Vertrag - unterzeichnet: Auf Grund dieses Vertrages hätte Italien die ethnisch-italienischen Provinzen Trentino, Istrien und Dalmazia gewonnen Wenn es dem Krieg wieder die Mittelmächte beigetreten. Die Feindseligkeiten begannen am 24. Mai 1915 und endete am 4. November 1918. Nach drei Jahren blutiger Kämpfe im ganzen Alpenbogen verloren mehr als eine Million italienische Soldaten ihr Leben, aber Italien gelang es trotzdem, den Krieg zu gewinnen, den die Entente jedoch ignorierte Einige der Verträge Bestimmungen und Italien wurde nur ein Teil der Gebiete, die es behauptet. Der Aufstieg des Faschismus und der Zweite Weltkrieg Im Oktober 1922 versuchte eine kleine nationale faschistische Partei, die von Benito Mussolini geführt wurde, einen Putsch mit ihrem Marsch auf Rom, der dazu führte, dass der König eine Allianz mit Mussolini bildete. Ein Pakt mit Deutschland wurde 1936 von Mussolini geschlossen und 1938 ein zweiter. Während des Zweiten Weltkriegs wurde Italien im Juni 1943 von den Alliierten überfallen, was zum Zusammenbruch des faschistischen Regimes und zur Festnahme, Erfassung und Tod von Mussolini. Im September 1943 kapitulierte Italien. Jedoch kämpften die Kämpfe auf seinem Gebiet für den Rest des Krieges, mit den Verbündeten, die jene italienischen Faschisten kämpfen, die nicht aufgeben, sowie deutsche Kräfte. Die Republik und die Nachkriegsjahre Edit Im Jahr 1946 wurde König Umberto II gezwungen, abdanken und Italien wurde eine Republik. In den 1950er Jahren wurde Italien Mitglied der NATO und verbündete sich mit den Vereinigten Staaten. Der Marshall-Plan half, die italienische Wirtschaft wieder zu beleben, die bis in die sechziger Jahre eine Periode des anhaltenden Wirtschaftswachstums genoß. Im Jahre 1957 wurde Italien Gründungsmitglied der Europäischen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft. In den 1950er und frühen 1960er Jahren erlebte Italien eine Phase des schnellen Wirtschaftswachstums und der industriellen Produktion, genannt il Boom, die die Länder aus einer armen und schwachen Nation zu einem mächtigen gesehen. Während dieser Zeit auch Städte wie Rom zurück zu beliebten touristischen Destinationen, die sowohl in amerikanischen und italienischen Filmen wie Roman Holiday und La Dolce Vita zum Ausdruck gebracht. Der Trevi-Brunnen, Symbol des 18. Jahrhunderts Barock Italien. Trotz einer produktiven und erfolgreichen Periode, die bis Mitte der 1960er Jahre dauerte, von den späten 60er Jahren bis Ende der 1980er Jahre erlebte das Land eine Wirtschaftskrise. Es gab eine ständige Angst, sowohl innerhalb als auch außerhalb Italiens (besonders in den USA), dass die Kommunistische Partei, die regelmäßig über 20 Stimmen abstimmen würde, eines Tages eine Regierung bilden würde und alle möglichen schmutzigen Tricks ausgeheckt wurden, um dies zu verhindern. Von 1992 bis heute hat Italien massive Staatsschulden und umfangreiche Korruption konfrontiert. Skandale haben alle großen Parteien, aber vor allem die Christdemokraten und die Sozialisten, die beide aufgelöst wurden beteiligt. The 1994 elections put media magnate Silvio Berlusconi into the Prime Ministers seat he has twice been defeated, but he emerged triumphant again in the 2008 election. The modern 1960s Pirelli Tower in Milan is often considered a symbol of the new Italy, and of post-war economic growth and reconstruction. Despite Unification having lasted for over 150 years, there remain significant divisions in Italy. The northern part of the country is richer and more industrialized than the south and many northerners object to being effectively asked to subsidise southerners. The Northern League political party pushes for greater autonomy for the north and for reduced fund transfers to the south. On one thing the people of the north and the south can agree: none of them likes paying for the enormous bureaucracy that is based in Rome. Climate Edit The climate of Italy is highly diverse, and could be far from the stereotypical Mediterranean climate. Most of Italy has hot, dry summers, with July being the hottest month of the year. Winters are cold and damp in the North, and milder in the South. Conditions on peninsular coastal areas can be very different from the interiors higher ground and valleys, particularly during the winter months when the higher altitudes tend to be cold, wet, and often snowy. The Alps have a mountain climate, with cool summers and very cold winters. Literature Edit Non-Guidebooks about Italy or by Italian writers. Italian Journey (in the German original: Italienische Reise) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe a report on his travels to Italy via Innsbruck and the Brenner Pass. He visited Lake Garda. Verona. Vicenza. Venice. Bologna. Assisi. Rome and Alban Hills. Naples and Sicily from 17867, published in 18167 The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone 8212 a biography of Michelangelo that also paints a lovely portrait of Tuscany and Rome Brunelleschis Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture by Ross King 8212 a compelling story of one of the greatest structural engineering achievements of the Renaissance. The story of the building of the immense dome on top of the basilica in Florence, Italy. Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes 8212 an account of a woman who buys and restores a holiday home in Cortona, Italy. Full of local flavor and a true taste of Tuscany. The Sea and Sardinia by D. H. Lawrence 8212 describes a brief excursion undertaken by Lawrence and Frieda, his wife aka Queen Bee, from Taormina in Sicily to the interior of Sardinia. They visited Cagliari, Mandas, Sorgono, and Nuoro. Despite the brevity of his visit, Lawrence distills an essence of the island and its people that is still recognisable today. Also by D. H. Lawrence is Etruscan Places . recording his impressions of Cerveteri. Tarquinia. Vulci and Volterra . Italian neighbours and A season with Verona by Tim Parks. Two portraits of nowdays life in Italy as seen by an English writer who decided to live just outside Verona. Winter Stars by Beatrice Lao 8212 poems born between the Alps and the Tyrrhenian by the oriental poetess, 988979991X The Travels of Marco Polo by Marco Polo 8212 stories about China by the Venetian traveller A Tivoli Companion by Tim Cawkwell 8212 illustrated essay about history and gardens of Tivoli, Lazio Regions Edit Regions of Italy Milan (the Piazza del Duomo, with the stunning city medieval cathedral) There are no border controls between countries that have signed and implemented this treaty - the European Union (except Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Likewise, a visa granted for any Schengen member is valid in all other countries that have signed and implemented the treaty. But be careful: not all EU members have signed the Schengen treaty, and not all Schengen members are part of the European Union. This means that there may be spot customs checks but no immigration checks (travelling within Schengen but tofrom a non-EU country) or you may have to clear immigration but not customs (travelling within the EU but tofrom a non-Schengen country). Please see the article Travel in the Schengen Zone for more information about how the scheme works and what entry requirements are. Foreign military entering Italy under a Status of Forces Agreement do not require a passport and need only show their valid military identification card and travel orders. Their dependants, however, are not exempt from visa requirements. All non - EU, EEA or Swiss citizens staying in Italy for 90 days or less have to declare their presence in Italy within 8 days of arrival. If your passport was stamped on arrival in Italy . the stamp counts as such a declaration. Generally, a copy of your hotel registration will suffice if you are staying at a hotel (i. e. a copy of your passport ID page will be retained by hotel staff and they will complete the paperwork for you). Otherwise, however, you will have to go to a police office to complete the form ( dichiarazione di presenza ) yourself. Failing to do so may result in expulsion. Travellers staying longer than 90 days do not need to complete this declaration, but must instead have an appropriate visa and must obtain a residence permit ( permesso di soggiorno ). By plane Edit Italy has a national airline, Alitalia. as well as several smaller carriers, such as Meridiana. Germanys Lufthansa started an Italian subsidiary that tries to become a main rival for Alitalia with a hub in Milan. Italy is one of the main battle grounds for European low cost airlines several routes tofrom and within Italy are offered. The larger airports are, of course, served by the major European airlines. Intercontinental airlines mainly arrive in Rome and Milan, with Rome being the main international gateway into the country. Most of mid-range international flights arrive to the following Italian cities: Rome - with two airports: Fiumicino (FCO - Leonardo Da Vinci) and Ciampino (CIA) for budget airlines Milan - with two airports: Malpensa (MXP) and Linate (LIN) in addition, Bergamo (BGY - Orio al Serio) is sometimes referred to as Milan Bergamo Bologna (BLQ Guglielmo Marconi) Naples (NAP - Capodichino) Pisa (PSA - Galileo Galilei) Venice (VCE Marco Polo) in addition, Treviso (TSF - Antonio Canova) is sometimes referred to as Venice Treviso Turin (TRN Sandro Pertini) Palermo (PMO - Punta Raisi) Catania (CTA - Vincenzo Bellini) Bari (BRI - Palese) Genoa (GOA - Cristoforo Colombo) By train Edit Direct connection by train with eastern Europe (Croatia. Hungary. Romania. Serbia and Slovenia ) no longer exists. The only way to reach Italy by train from these countries is via Vienna or Villach its also possible reach by train Nova Gorica (in Slovenia. then cross the border by foot and take a train in Italy in the railway station of Gorizia. By car Edit Italy borders on France. Austria. Switzerland and Slovenia. All borders are open (without passportcustoms checks),except for the Swiss one, with customs checks and random passport checks. In the other borders cars can be stopped behind the border for random checks. By bus Edit Eurolines has are regular buses between Ljubljana, Slovenian coastal towns and Istria (Croatia) and Trieste (Italy). These services are cheap and from Trieste onward connections with the rest of Italy are plentiful. Theres also a bus that goes from Malm. Sweden via Denmark, Germany and Switzerland to Italy. By boat Edit Some regular ferry services connect Sicily and Naples to some North African harbours. There is a hydrofoil service running from Pozzallo on the south-eastern coast of Sicily to Malta. There is a year-round service between Trieste and Albania and summer services between Trieste and Pirano (Slovenia) and Parenzo and Rovigno in Croatian Istria. The service between Trieste and Rovigno takes less than 2 hours which is quicker than the bus service. Get around Edit By train Edit Trains in Italy are generally good value, frequent but of mixed reliability. There are different train types: high-speed trains (Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Frecciabianca, Eurostar Italia), Intercity . regional trains (Regionali, Regionali Veloci) and international trains (Eurocity, Euronight). High-speed trains are efficient and very comfortable, travelling up to 300 kmh and stopping only at major stations. They connect Rome with Turin, Milan, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Naples and other cities. They also are the most expensive train type by far. To travel on these trains you are required to pay a supplement to the standard ticket, which includes the booking fee. Regional trains are the slowest, cheapest and less reliable, stopping at all stations. Intercity trains are somewhere in between high-speed and local trains. They are generally reliable, but if you need to catch a flight, for example, it might be better to pay extra for the high-speed trains. On long distance trains there are 1st and 2nd classes. A 2nd class ticket costs about 80 the price of a 1st class ticket. On high-speed trains you can also choose between basic, standard and flexible tickets. Basic tickets are of course the cheapest. On high-speed trains seating reservation is compulsory. This means your seat is theoretically guaranteed, but it also means you will need to purchase tickets in advance. Actually, many passengers with tickets for other trains that take a wrong one will have to pay the cheap fine for not having a seat reservation. As a result, on major routes or peak hours, expect to find your seat taken, in this case just showing the ticket is enough to get your seat. During commuter hours, on major north-south routes during the holidays, or before and after large political demonstrations, trains on the lower train types can become extremely full, to the point where it gets very uncomfortable, in which case you could find yourself sitting on a tiny fold out flap in the hallway, where youll have to move for everyone passing by. While between Milan and Naples (including Bologna, Florence and Rome) high-speed trains cut travel times in half, on other routes, such as between Rome and Genoa, Naples and Reggio Calabria, Venice and Trieste, high-speed trains travel on the traditional line rather than on a dedicated high-speed line, with only marginally shorter travel times compared to Intercity trains, thus taking them might be a waste of money. Just check the Trenitalia website 1 or the printed schedule, usually located near the entrance to each platform, to see how long the trip will take. On long routes, such as Milan - Rome or Milan - Reggio Calabria. Trenitalia operates special night trains Treni Notte . They depart around 22.00 and arrive in the morning. Depending on the train, you may be able to choose between normal seats, couchette and sleeper cabins of different categories. Seats are cheapest, but even sleeper cabins are not prohibitively expensive and are a very relaxing way to travel long distances. Also keep in mind some trains do not provide air conditioning so bring your own water bottle during the hot summer months. On the train schedules displayed at each station, every train is listed in different colours (i. e. blue, red, green). The arrival times are listed in parentheses next to the names of each destination. One thing to watch out for is that certain trains only operate seasonally, or for certain time periods (for example, during holidays). The queues to buy tickets can be very long, and slow, so get to the station early. There are touch-screen ticket machines which are very useful, efficient, and multilingual, but there are never that many, and the queues for those can be very long too. You can also buy tickets online on the Trenitalia 2 website you will receive a code (codice di prenotatione (PNR)) that is used to pick up the ticket from a ticket machine in the station (Self Service). For some (but not all) trains you can also choose a ticketless option, where you print out the ticket yourself. See also below at Trenitalia Ticketless. You can also choose an option to have a proper receipt printed on the train, should you need one. By default the site will only show the best (usually more expensive) connections - you may select to show all connections to see if there are slower but cheaper connections available. High-speed trains can fill up, so if youre on a tight schedule you should buy those tickets in advance. In general, you should buy the tickets before boarding the train. The Italian Rail recently (end of 2007) started a campaign against fare evasion, and introduced heftier fines (starting at 50). If youre really running late and you have no ticket, its probably best to directly talk with the conductor ( il controllore or il capotreno ) outside the train when boarding. Remember that you must validate the ticket before boarding most trains, by stamping it in one of the yellow boxes (marked Convalida ). Travelling with an unstamped ticket is technically the same as travelling without ticket. It is quite important not to forget to validate your ticket as the conductors are generally not tolerant in this particular matter. The exception are tickets which specify the day and time of travel since those are only valid for one specific train they generally do not need to be validated. The cheapest and best way to travel in a region is to buy a zone ticket card . A chart displayed near the validating machine tells you how many zones you must pay between stations. To buy a zone card for the next region you would have to get off the train at the last station and because the stops are so short you would have to board the next train (usually in about 1 hour). As of January 10, 2005 a smoking ban in public places went into effect in Italy. You will be subject to fines for smoking on any Italian train. There are special deals offered too, some of them are reserved to foreign tourist and others are available to locals. Some deals are passes that allow travel during a chosen period, while other special offers are normal tickets sold at decent prices with some restrictions. Before you choose to buy a pass, check first if it is cheaper than buying a normal ticket (or better, a discounted normal ticket, if available). If you are traveling a lot, and youre not Italian and a resident of another EU nation, you can get a TRENITALIA PASS: you buy a number of days of travel to be used within 2 months, however you still have to pay a supplement on the compulsory reservation services, i. e. TBiz, Eurostar Italia, Intercity Plus and Intercity which will between EUR 5.00 and EUR 25.00 depending on the train type. You should be aware that reserved seats available for pass holders is quite limited. Additionally, there are substantial discounts for advanced reservations which can often be lower than the reservation fee for using the pass. This is particularly true of the high speed trains. Also note that there is a second network of private high speed trains called Italo3 which do not recognize the pass prices are similar and similarly discounted for advance booking. Pass details are on the Trenitalia website 4. and also on RailChoice website at 5. Trenitalia Ticketless Edit Trenitalias Ticketless option is only available when booked online or at an approved travel agency, and only for high-speed and intercity trains. The Ticketless solution allows you to buy a ticket online, get a PNR code via mail and board the train directly. You can choose whether to obtain a receipt by email or pick it up on board the train. On board you must tell the conductor your PNR code to allow himher to issue the receipt, or confirm your presence on board if you have already obtained the payment receipt by email. By car Edit In Northern and Central Italy theres a well-developed system of motorways ( autostrade ), while in the South it is a bit worse for quality and extent. Every motorway is identified by an A followed by a number on a green backdrop. Most motorways are toll roads. Some have toll stations giving you access to a whole section (particularly the tangenziali of Naples, Rome, and Milan, for example), but generally, most have entrance and exit toll stations on those motorways, you need to collect a ticket upon entrance and your toll amount will be calculated upon exit depending on the distance covered. Tolls depend on the motorways and stretches as a rough estimate, you should expect a toll between 0.06 and 0.12 for each kilometre. Dont lose your entrance ticket, for if you do, it will be assumed you have entered the motorway at the farthest station from your exit, thus you will be charged the maximum toll possible. All the blue lanes (marked Viacard ) of toll stations are automatic machines accepting major credit cards as well as pre-paid cards (called Viacard ) that are for sale at service stations along the motorway or for instance at several tobacconists in cities. If you have problems with the machine (eg, your credit card cant be read), press the assistenza button and wait for an operator to help you - be prepared to have to pay your toll in cash if problems persist. Do not back up to move into another lane, even if you might see other locals doing it, unless the personnel or the police clearly instruct you to do so backing up in toll stations is considered equivalent to backing up on the motorway and very heavily fined if you get caught. Many Italians use an electronic pay-toll device, and there are reserved lanes marked in yellow with the sign Telepass or a simply T . Driving through those lanes (controlled by camera system) without the device will result in a fine and a payment of the toll for the longest distance. Due to agreement with other countries, if youre foreigner, youll pay also extra cost for locating you in your country. Speeding on the autostrade is nowadays far less common than in the past because of sensibly strengthened control in the last years. There are a number of automatic and almost invisible systems to punish speeding and hazardous driving, also Italian Highway Patrol ( Polizia Stradale ) operates several unmarked cars equipped with very advanced speed radars and camera systems. Since 2006, several sections of the Italian Highways are equipped with an automatic system called Tutor with automatic license plate recognition, which checks the average speed of all vehicles over a road stretch. The coverage of this system is being extended to more and more motorways. At times, road signs will remind you of the presence of this system. If virtually all vehicles around you seem to behave, scrupulously driving at the speed limit or even a bit below, this is a good hint that some kind of enforcement system is in operation on that road. As a foreigner, it will be better to stay on the safe side and respect limits and rules at all times, even when locals driving like crazy might lead you to think a certain speed limit or no passing sign was a mere suggestion: every now and then, those locals do encounter the police on their way. When Italian drivers flash their lights it may be meant either as a demand to get out of the way or as an invitation to go first, depending on the situation. A vehicle coming in the opposite direction flashing repeatedly might warn you about a danger or a police carcheckpoint further on the road (even though this warning is forbidden). Unless different limits are posted, general speed limits are: 130kmh on motorways ( autostrade ) (110 kmh in case of rain) 110kmh on divided, grade-separated highways marked with blue motorway signs at the entrances, called superstrade 90kmh general speed limit on highways and roads outside urban areas 50kmh in urban areas - an urban area beginning with a white sign with the towncity name written in black, and ending with a similar sign barred in red. Italian laws allow a 5 (minimum 5kmh) tolerance on speed limits. Fines are generally very expensive. If you are caught doing more than 40kmh over the speed limit, you will be fined in excess of 500 and will receive an immediate driving ban from 1 to 3 months, leaving you on foot that very moment (you may reach the destination of your current journey). Non-resident drivers of vehicles with foreign registration are required either to pay their fines on the spot if they accept it, or to pay a deposit on the spot if they intend to appeal afterwards either way, you must pay something immediately and the police wont hesitate to escort you to the nearest ATM to withdraw the cash you need. While the chances of getting caught are admittedly not terribly high, you really dont want all of this to happen to you. As of 2003, all vehicles must use headlights at all times outside urban areas, including motorways. Motorbikes must drive with headlights on at all times everywhere. The issue of drunk driving has received a great deal of attention in the last years after a series of lethal accidents. The tolerated limit is 0.50gL in blood being above this limit is a crime punishable by heavy fines, license revocation, jail time and even immediate confiscation of ones own vehicle in the most serious cases. The limit for drivers under 21 years of age or less than 3 years of driving experience or professional drivers is zero . Unfortunately, enforcement, although stronger than before, is still insufficient and drunk driving is still somewhat an issue. All passengers are required to wear their seat belts and children under 10 must use the back seats. Children under 12 years of age must use either an approved car seat or a booster seat, depending on the age. At unmarked intersections, you are supposed to yield to any vehicle coming from your right. Be on the look-out because many Italians seem to ignore this rule and will insist on an non existent right of way just because they are going straight on or they are travelling on what they think is the main road, even if the intersection is actually completely unmarked. This especially occurs in large cities at night time, when traffic lights at some intersections are switched off. Most times, the minor roads at those intersections will have a give way sign, but sometimes they dont, which is both confusing, because you never know if the crossing road has a sign or is unmarked, and dangerous because you might expect the vehicle coming from your left to let you pass while it will assume you have a give way sign and will carry on travelling like a bullet. Be advised that many Italians dont take road markings too seriously (a few of them dont even seem to notice there are any road markings. ), which can be odd if you come from north of the Alps. On multi-lane roads, you should always be wary of vehicles on other lanes invading your lane in curves. Lane markings in multi-lane roundabouts are systematically ignored and virtually all motorists will cut off while negotiating the roundabout and again when exiting, of course without signalling. There is a fair amount of confusion in Italy about the correct behaviour in large roundabouts you should exercise caution there, expect vehicles entering, turning and exiting at any time without signalling and never travel side by side with other vehicles in a roundabout assuming the other will respect the lane markings. Signposts used in Italy are patterned according to EU recommendations and use mostly pictographs (not text). Motorway ( autostrade ) directions are written on a green background while general highway signs (including those on the divided-carriageway, grade-separated superstrade ) are on a blue background, and urban or local road signs are on a white one. When on a timetable, use the autostrade - marked in green - where available and avoid using the general highways - marked in blue - for long distances (unless they are the divided-carriageway, grade-separated superstrade ). While the toll on the autostrade can be rather expensive, they significantly decrease your travel time, whereas general roads can be annoyingly slow since they are heavily used by local traffic, can be clogged with trucks, can feature lots of roundabouts or traffic lights and will often run through towns and villages without bypasses. On the other side, general roads often offer breath-taking sceneries and should be your first choice if you are not in a rush and want to explore the real nature of the country. Fuel prices are a bit more expensive than in western Europe and considerably more expensive than in North America and Japan. As of 2016, prices wander about 1.35 per litre for gasoline and 1.15 per litre for diesel. At most stations, only one sort of 95-octane gasoline and one sort of diesel is available some others additionally have premium gasoline andor premium diesel sorts. At many service stations, there is a considerable price difference between self-service filling ( self-service ) and having an attendant do it ( servito ). The respective pumps are marked accordingly when you enter the gas station, and you are supposed to pull up to the pump(s) according to the type of service youd like. If you stop at an attendant-served pump, just wait and an attendant will pop out within seconds. Traffic in large Italian cities is really heavy and finding a parking spot can vary from a challenging to an impossible enterprise at times, so driving in Italian large cities is not advisable unless you really need to. Basically in any large city, youll be better off parking your vehicle at a park-and-ride facility or somewhere in the outskirts and using public transport, which is reasonably reliable and quite cheap. Be very careful with Zone a Traffico Limitato or ZTL s (Limited Traffic Zones). They are restricted areas in many medium-sized and large Italian cities, mostly but not only in the historical centres, where only authorized vehicles are permitted. The entrance to a ZTL is marked by signs and cameras, which go easily unnoticed by tourists driving a car. Many tourists every year report being fined (about 100) for entering a ZTL unknowingly. Tourists renting a car will end up receiving one or more tickets months later at their homes, including additional fees for the paperwork needed to send the papers abroad. Also, the renting companies may charge 15-50 to give the driver details to the police. So entering those zones without authorization might easily add up to a fine of more than 200. If you booked accommodation in a city centre and plan to reach it by car, you should check in advance if it lies within such a limited zone and if you are entitled to an authorization. If you plan to rent a car, the following car rental brokers and companies are a good choice: AutoEurope, Avis, Hertz, Europcar. By bus Edit Buy town bus tickets from corner shops, bus company offices or automated machines before boarding (on some systems, tickets might be bought on-board from an automated machine). Buying tickets from the bus driver is generally not possible. The payment system for most mass transit in Italy (urban trains, city buses, subway) is based on voluntary payment combined with variable enforcement. Tickets are bought before boarding and validated on an on-board machine inspectors may board the vehicle to check the passengers tickets and issue fines to those who do not have a validated ticket. Bus company inspectors are generally recognizable by some item displaying the companys logo. When issuing a fine inspectors are allowed to ask to see your documents, and they have to give some sort of receipt with date, time and location. They are never allowed to directly collect the fine (which generally can be payed at a post office). Assaulting an inspector during his work is a serious offense. Daily, weekly, monthly and year-round tickets are generally available, in addition to multi-use tickets. These may or may not need to be validated. In almost every city theres a different pricing scheme, so check in advance ticket formulas and availability. For tourists it may be very convenient to buy daily (or multi-day) tickets that allow you to travel as much as you want in a single (or more) day. Every major city also has some type of City Card . a fixed-fee card allowing you to travel on local public transportation and visit a number of museums and giving you discounts in shops, hotels and restaurants. Check for both these possibilities at local Tourist Offices or on the citys website (which is often of the form comune. cityname. it as for example comune. roma. it). By thumb Edit Hitchhiking in Italy is related with the 1960s hippies and on the road kind of culture. Therefore, it is considered out-dated and useless. You will almost never find Italians hitchhiking unless theres a serious problem with the bus or other means of transportation. Also, it is nowadays common to spot prostitutes by the side of the road pretending to hitchkike to attact clientele so its advisable to avoid being mistaken for one. Hitchhiking in the summer in touristy areas works okay because youll get rides from Northern European tourists, and it works okay in very rural areas as long as there is consistent traffic (because youre still playing the odds), but hitchhiking near large cities or along busy routes is extremely frustrating . Hitchhiking along expressways and highways is forbidden by law. Off the Autostrada things are also a bit difficult: Italians are generally friendly people, but theyre less likely to pick up hitchhikers than anyone else in the world. It is easier to hitchhike out of the Bronx than it is to hitchhike in Italy. By boat Edit Approaching Italy by sea can be a great experience and is a good alternative to traditional onshore tours. A yacht charter to Italy is a fulfilling way to experience the country. Although the yacht charter industry is smaller than one would expect for this incredibly popular tourist destination, there are many reasons to choose a yacht over a more conventional onshore approach. The Italian coast, like the French coast, attracts luxury yacht charters of the highest standards. Touring Italy from a private yacht is surprisingly convenient and comfortable. Italys dramatic coastline is best appreciated from the sea and the Italians know it You may take a swim whenever you like, and many of the most famous sights are within easy reach of the seashore. Cruising on a private yacht also offers you a certain relief from the crowds and traffic that are traditionally unavoidable in Italys most popular destinations. There are many companies offering luxury yacht charters in Italy. There are major distinct nautical regions in Italy: Tuscany. Amalfi Coast, Sardinia and Sicily. Each has its own flavour and focus. Be sure to plan your itinerary carefully as each region is rewarding in its own particular way. Not surprisingly, Italian is the language spoken natively by most Italians. Every region in Italy has a distinct native Romance dialect (which is, sometimes, a language) in addition to Italian that may or may not be the native language of the locals depending on the area: in areas like Rome or Milan the spoken language is nowadays mostly Italian with slight local influence, whereas in rural areas the local language is more common though people are usually bilingual. A good phrasebook will be very useful if youre going anywhere remote, while in most big cities you will find many people understanding English, Spanish or French. But even in those areas Italians will be happy to hear you trying to speak Italian or the local language, and will try to understand you even if you are making many mistakes. If you want your errors to be corrected to help you better learn the language, dont forget to ask before starting a conversation. Italians will rarely correct you otherwise as they consider it very impolite to do so. They also appreciate your efforts to speak their language, even if you do it badly, and wont make too much fuss about your mistakes. English is widely spoken at varied levels of proficiency in the well-traveled touristic areas where it may be used by shopkeepers and tourist operators. Outside of that, you will find that most Italians are not conversant in English, a relatively new subject in schools (first introduced in the 1970s instead of French). While most younger Italians have studied English, due to a lack of practice and exposure proficiency tends to be poor. Nevertheless, the most basic words and phrases usually stick, and there is often at least one person in a group of younger people who knows enough English to help you out. Senior citizens rarely know English, but theyll try to help you anyway with gestures or similar words and they will most surely assume you understand Italian. If you are going to speak in English, it is polite begin the conversation in Italian and ask if the person understands English before proceeding. Speaking in a foreign language while assuming it will be understood might be considered very arrogant and impolite by many Italians. In South Tyrol the majority of people also speaks Austro-Bavarian dialects of German as their native tongue (except in the regions capital Bolzano where it is spoken by only about a fourth of the population), and German is an official language of the autonomous province in addition to Italian. That is because those regions used to be part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of World War I. Spanish . French and Portuguese are not as widely spoken but as they are similar enough to Italian that people might be able recognise some words, thus making yourself understood note however that trying to address people in Spanish - or confusing Italian with that language - is considered rather annoying by the locals. In the northwesternmost Valle dAosta region there is a Franco-Provenal speaking minority. In the northern part of Italy, there are small pockets of other Romance languages like Ladin, a Rhaeto-Romance language related to Switzerland s Romansh. Friulano, another Rhaeto-Romance language, is still spoken by a small minority in the border province near Slovenia. There are several small pockets of Greek - speaking communities in the southern regions of Calabria and Puglia and there are an estimated 100,000 Albanian speakers in Puglia, Calabria and Sicily8212some of which have migrated in Middle Ages and thus speak rather medieval Arberesh language. Italian is the only official language of Italy but some regions have other languages which are also co-official: German in South Tyrol, Slovene in Friuli-Venezia Giulia and French in Val dAosta. Slovene is a native language in parts of Friuli-Venezia Giulia alongside Italian and is widely spoken in villages near the Slovenian border and Trieste. In all cases Slovene speakers will also speak Italian. There is so much to see in Italy that it is difficult to know where to begin. Virtually every small village has an interesting location or two, plus a couple of other things to see. Medieval villages and towns are dotted across rural Italy, and make for pleasant day trips or scenic places for a more relaxed holiday. Two notable examples (and UNESCO World Heritage sites) are San Gimignano. known for its profusion of thin towers, and Assisi. known for Saint Francis of Assisi and the Basilica di San Francesco dedicated to the saint and filled with breathtaking frescos. Etruscan Italy. If you have limited time and no potential to travel outside the main cities, then dont miss the amazing collection at the Etruscan Museum at Villa Giulia in Rome. Hiring a car gives access to the painted tombs and museum of Tarquinia or the enormous burial complex at Cerveteri and those are just the sites within easy reach of Rome. Roman bikinis. Mosaic from the Villa Romana at Piazza Armerina. Sicily. The Greek Influence. Well-preserved Greek temples at Agrigento in the southwest of Sicily and at Paestum. just south of Naples, give a good understanding of the extent of Greek influence on Italy. Roman ruins. From the south, in Sicily, to the north of the country Italy is full of reminders of the Roman empire. In Taormina. Sicily check out the Roman theatre, with excellent views of Mt. Etna on a clear day. Also in Sicily, dont miss the well-preserved mosaics at Piazza Armerina. Moving north to just south of Naples, you find Pompeii and Herculaneum. covered in lava by Mt. Vesuvius and, as a result, amazingly well preserved. To Rome and every street in the center seems to have a few pieces of inscribed Roman stone built into more recent buildings. Dont miss the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Aqueducts, the Appian Way, and a dozen or so museums devoted to Roman ruins. Further north, the Roman amphitheatre at Verona is definitely not to be missed. Florences cathedral bell tower by Giotto to the left and the tower of the Palazzo Vecchio in front Christian Italy. The Vatican is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church. Although inside Rome it has the status of a separate state. Dont miss St Peters and the Vatican Museum. Rome, itself, has over 900 churches a large number of these are worth a quick visit. Throughout Italy there is some truly amazing Christian architecture covering the Romanesque (700-1200) Gothic (1100-1450) Renaissance (1400-1600) and ornate Baroque (1600-1830) styles. Although theft of artwork has been a problem, major city churches and cathedrals retain an enormous number of paintings and sculptures and others have been moved to city and Church museums. Frescoes and mosaics are everywhere, and quite stunning. Dont just look for churches: in rural areas there are some fascinating monasteries to be discovered. When planning to visit churches, note that all but the largest are usually closed between 12.30 and 15.30. The Byzantine Cities. The Byzantines controlled northern Italy until kicked out by the Lombards in 751. Venice is of course world famous and nearby Chioggia, also in the Lagoon, is a smaller version. Ravennas churches have some incredible mosaics. Visiting Ravenna requires a bit of a detour, but it is well worth it. The Renaissance. Start with a visit to Piazza Michelangelo in Florence to admire the famous view. Then set about exploring the many museums, both inside and outside Florence, that house Renaissance masterpieces. The Renaissance, or Rebirth, ( Rinascimento in Italian) lasted between 14th and 16th centuries and is generally believed to have begun in Florence. The list of famous names is endless: in architecture Ghiberti (the cathedrals bronze doors), Brunelleschi (the dome), and Giotto (the bell tower). In literature: Dante, Petrarch and Machiavelli. In painting and sculpture: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, Masaccio and Boticelli. The Streets and squares. You could visit Italys cities, never go in a church, museum or Roman ruin, and still have a great time. Just wander around, keeping your eyes open. Apart from in the northern Po and Adige valleys most of Italy (including the cities) is hilly or mountainous, giving some great views. Look up when walking around to see amazing roof gardens and classical bell towers. In cities such as Rome, note the continued juxtaposition of expensive stores with small workplaces for artisans. Search for interesting food shops and places to get a good ice cream ( gelato ). Above all, just enjoy the atmosphere. Operas. If you are interested in the famous italian Operas, they are on play in various cities: Milan, Verona, Parma, Rome, Venice, Spoleto, Florence, Palermo. Western Alps. Visiting Western Alps you will have the chance to wander amongst lots of green valleys, as Val Pellice, Val Chisone, Val Po, and many others, in the shade of the highest european peaks. All valleys are full of wandering paths, of any difficulty level, whether you want to softly walk around a mountain lake or try something harder, in the higher valley, inside scenarios of colossal pine woods and space-like high mountain landscapes. People in mountain villages are often quite friendly, as long as you show respect to them and to the place they live in, obviously. The towns you might start your trip from are Cuneo, for the southern valleysLago Lungo and Monte Granero (3171 mt - 10404 ft), Val Pellice Pinerolo, for the central ones, Susa and Lanzo for the northern, all easily reachable from Turin. Eastern Alps. Eastern Alps include a little known but surprisingly beautiful region, Trentino-Alto Adige. The two provinces comprised in the region are actually quite different, both culturally and geographically. While Alto Adige is mostly German-speaking, Trentino belongs to the Italian cultural area. Trentino is one of the most popular Italian regions. It holds an extraordinary variety of landscapes such as woods, wide valleys, streams, waterfalls and lakes. Its mountains, most importantly the chain of the Dolomites, represent a natural monument recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. But Trentino is also a territory rich in art and culture with its castles which offer a fairy-tale atmosphere and its modern and sophisticated museums such as The Museum of Contemporary Art - Mart in Rovereto and the Science Museum Muse in Trento. Both in summer and in winter the region offers the opportunity to spend a holiday enjoying nature, practicing sports or simply enjoying the local culture. 160edit Monuments Edit Islands Edit Museums Edit The Uffizi gallery in Florence, regarded as being one of the most prestigious art museums in the world. Every major city has a number of local museums, but some of them have national and international relevance. These are some of the most important permanent collections. Uffizi Museum 6 in Florence, is one of the greatest museums in the world and a must see. Given the great number of visitors, advance ticket reservation is a good idea, to avoid hour-long queues. Brera art gallery 7 in Milan is a prestigious museum held in a fine 17th-century palace, which boasts several paintings, including notable ones from the Renaissance era. The Etruscan Academy Museum of the City of Cortona 8 in Cortona, Tuscany. Egyptian Museum 9 in Turin, holds the second-largest Egyptian collection in the world, after Egypts Cairo Museum collection. The Aquarium 10 in Genoa, one of the largest and most beautiful in the world, is in the Porto Antico (ancient port) in an area completely renewed by architect Renzo Piano in 1992. Science and Technology Museum 11 in Milan, one of the largest in Europe, holds collections about boats, airplanes, trains, cars, motorcycles, radio and energy. Recently has also acquired the Toti submarine, which is open to visitors. Roman Civilization Museum 12 in Rome, hold the worlds largest collection about ancient Rome and a marvellous reproduction (scale 1:250) of the entire Rome area in 325 A. D. the age of Constantine the Great. National Cinema Museum 13 in Turin, located inside the wonderful Mole Antonelliana . historical building and symbol of the city. Automobile Museum 14 in Turin, one of the largest in the world, with a 170 car collection covering the entire history of automobiles. The Vatican Museum . Not, strictly speaking, in Italy as the Vatican is a separate territory. Visit the museum to see the Sistine Chapel, the rooms painted by Raphael, some amazing early maps and much, much more. The Etruscan Museum at Villa Giulia, Rome . Amazing collection of Etruscan art. Discriminatory pricing Museum 15 Some of the State Museums such as the Uffizi, Palazzo Pitti, Accademia and the Medici chapels offer free tickets to European citizens under the age of 18 or over 65. EU citizens between the age of 18 and 25 are eligible for reduced price tickets. BUT remember to bring your passport as a valid form of identity. Visit the beach Edit In theory beach access is free to all in Italy but as with a lot of things in this country the practice may be somewhat different to the law. Many stretches of beach, particularly those close to urban areas, are let out to private concessions. In the season they cover almost all the beach with rows and rows of sunbeds (lettini) and umbrellas (ombrelloni). You have the right to pass through these establishments without being charged to get to the sea, and should be able to walk along the sea in front of them. More affordable are the beaches in Calabria. most are free, you will only need to pay for the eventual equipment you want to rent. South of Rome there are 20km of free beach at the Circeo National Park. This is thank to Dr. Mario Valeriani 16. who was in charge of that area after WWII and never gave permissions to build anything, in spite of the very generous bribes offered by a multitude of would be investors and private millionaires, as he thought this was a natural marvel that was to remain as it was intended. So today we can all enjoy this stretch of nature. You can bring your own chair and sun cover and you will only be charged a parking fee on the main road. While renting lettini for the day is not particularly expensive at establishments, they can fill up very quickly. There are some free beaches everywhere: they are easily identifiable by the absence of regimented rows of lettini. They can get very crowded: on a Saturday or Sunday in the summer you wont find an empty stretch of beach anywhere. Most establishments offer full services including entertainment, bar and restaurant, gym classes, kindergarten and much more. Close to urban areas you will never be far from a fish restaurant on the beach or, at the very least, a bar. On the beach, topless women are more or less accepted everywhere but complete nudity is absolutely not accepted anywhere in Italy and it carries a hefty fine andor arrest.17 Visit the vineyards Edit Italy is famous for its wine. And its vineyards tend to be in the middle of some beautiful scenery. Taking an organized tour is probably your best bet. Day trips can usually be organized through your hotel if you are staying in a major wine area such as Chianti or through the local tourism office. There are several companies offering longer tours that include meals and accommodation. A simple web search for Italian vineyard tours or wine tour Italy will find them. Note that these longer tours tend to emphasise good food, great wine and a high standard of accommodation and are thus expensive. If you rent a car and want to organize your own trips, a helpful website is that of the Movimento Turismo del Vino. 18 The Italian page has a link to itinerari which is not available in English. Even if you dont read Italian you can still find addresses and opening hours of some interesting wine producers. Note that su prenotazione means By Appointment Only. Cycling tours Edit Italy has a passion for cycling and there is no better way to explore off the tourist path, than by bicycle. The main hub for the bicycle manufacturing industry has always been in Northern Italy. Each region is varied in the style of riding you will encounter and unique and cultural specialities. There are several companies that offer cycling tours throughout Italy. You can either cycle on your own as a self guided tour or a supported tour that provides a guide to help you during your program. You can do destination tours changing cities each day or ride two or three days in one location before moving on, also there are various skill levels. A good way to find out more information is to visit a web site like 19 or you can google Bike Touring Italy and find several companies offer services. Be sure to research well so that you find the right tour that suits your riding experience and fitness level. Sailing Edit Sailing is one of the best ways to see the Italian islands such as Sardinia and Sicily. Most charter companies offer many options from bareboat to crewed and cabin charter, with all types of the boats. Charter a yacht to discover Italys numerous islands or to visit hidden coves and beaches that are not accessible otherwise. Local yacht charter companies to consider: Silver Star Yachting is a yacht charter company based in Ischia, Naples. Take a Cooking Class Edit Italy is very famous for good food. A must-do in Italy: cooking classes and food touring. Most cooking classes companies offer many options from fresh pasta making classes to risotto classes or Italian sauces classes or pizza classes. A simple web search for The Art of Making Pasta Classes or Risotto classes or Pizza Making Classes will find them. A helpful and comprehensive website offers a wide range of Cooking Classes and Culinary Experience. 20 Learn Edit Glass Bead Making amp Jewellery Design Classes. 21. Learn the ancient Italian art of glass bead making (lampwork) in the stunning medieval village of Apricale (Liguria). FEATURED COURSE: Combo Bead Making amp Jewellery Design Class. A 4-day Beginner level workshop with glass artist Tim James and jewellery designer Lily Morda. Our SummerFall season begins on June 15th, 2016. Book now to secure the dates most convenient for you 160edit Italy has the euro () as its sole currency along with 24 other countries that use this common European money. These 24 countries are: Austria. Belgium. Zypern. Estonia. Finland. France. Germany. Greece. Irland. Italy . Latvia. Litauen. Luxembourg. Malta. the Netherlands. Portugal. Slovakia. Slovenia and Spain (official euro members which are all European Union member states) as well as Andorra. Kosovo. Monaco. Montenegro. San Marino and the Vatican which use it without having a say in eurozone affairs and without being European Union members. Together, these countries have a population of more than 330 million. One euro is divided into 100 cents. While each official euro member (as well as Monaco, San Marino and Vatican) issues its own coins with a unique obverse, the reverse, as well as all bank notes, look the same throughout the eurozone. Every coin is legal tender in any of the eurozone countries. Be careful as to where to exchange money. Big-branded foreign exchange stalls that you find in train stations and airports, whilst legitimate, may charge a huge commission of approximately 20 on top of the published rates plus a fixed amount of euro. Read the small print first before turning over any foreign currency to the agent. Your USD100 may easily turn into just 50 if you are impulsive. The smaller stalls found in more touristy areas usually offer friendlier rates: you should get something closer to 70 for every USD100 you exchange. Italy can be quite an expensive country. As everywhere, major cities and central locations have a higher cost of life than suburban and rural places. It is a general rule of thumb that Southern Italy is less expensive than Northern Italy, especially for food this will, of course, vary by location. Meals can be had from as cheap as 3 (if you are happy with a sandwich, panini or falafel from a street vendor) restaurant bills are rarely less than 10 (a burger with friessalad and a soft drink from a pub) and generally go to about 20 (a starter, main course and water from a regular restaurant). Also, for dinner, wine may be served even without ordering, and you will almost certainly be charged. Service is always included, either in the display price or a coperto line on the bill tipping is thus not necessary, but neither is it frowned upon. Tipping taxi drivers is not necessary, but a hotel porter may expect a little something. And unless otherwise stated, prices are inclusive of IVA sales tax (same as VAT ), which is 21 for most goods, and 10 in restaurants and hotels. On some products, such as books, IVA is 4. In practice, you can forget about it since it is universally included in the display price. If youre a non-EU resident, you are entitled to at least a partial VAT refund on purchases of goods that will be exported out of the European Union. Shops offering this scheme have a Tax Free sticker outside. Be sure to ask for your tax-free voucher and have your passport and address (back home) details ready before leaving the store. You need to purchase at least 155 worth of goods (inclusive of IVA) from a particular merchant during the course of one business day (although you can pool together multiple purchases from the same merchant on that day). These goods have to be unused when you pass the customs checkpoint upon leaving the EU. If you plan to travel through countryside or rural regions you probably should not rely on your credit cards . as in many small towns theyre accepted only by a small number of shops and restaurants. Remember that in Italy (even during the winter months) it remains very common for shops, offices and banks to close for up to 3 hours during the afternoon (often between 12.30 and 15.30). Banks, especially, have short hours with most only being open to the public for about 4 hours in the morning and barely 1 hour in the afternoon. What to buy Edit Italy is a great place for all forms of shopping. Most cities, villages and towns, are crammed to the brim with many different forms of shops, from glitzy boutiques and huge shopping malls, to tiny art galleries, small food stores, antique dealers and general newsagents. Food is definitely one of the best souvenir you can get in Italy. There are thousands of different shapes of pasta (not only spaghetti or maccaroni). Then, every Italian region has its typical food like cheese, wine, ham, salami, oil, winegare, etc. Dont forget to buy Nutella. Italian fashion is renowned worldwide. Many of the worlds most famous international brands have their headquarters or were founded in Italy. Milan is Italys fashion and design capital. In the city one can find virtually every major brand in the world, not only Italian, but also French, English, American, Swedish and Spanish. Your main place for the crme de la crme shopping is the Via Montenapoleone, but the Via della Spiga, Via Manzoni, Via Sant Andrea and the Corso Vittorio Emanuele are equally luxurious, if not slightly less prominent, high-class shopping streets. The Corso Buenos Aires is the place to go for mass-scale or outlet shopping. And, the beautiful Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in the centre and Via Dante boast some designer boutiques, too. Virtually every street in central Milan does boast at least some clothing stores of some kind. However, Rome and Florence, are too, serious fashion centres, and boast being the birthplace of some of the oldest fashion and jewelry houses in Italy. When in Rome, the chic and beautiful Via dei Condotti, leading to the Spanish Steps, will be your primary point of shopping reference, with boutiques but subsidary streets such as Via dei Babuino, Via Borgognona, Via Frattina, Via del Corso and the Piazza di Spagna. In Florence, Via de Tornabuoni is the main high-fashion shopping street, and there youll find loads of designer brands. However, in both cities, youll be able to find a plethora of chic boutiques, designer or not, scattered around the centre. Jewellery and accessory shops can be found in abundance in Italy. There are loads of jewellery and accessory stores which hail from Italy. Vicenza and Valenza are considered the countrys jewellery capitals, which are also famous for their silverware and goldware shops. All over Italy, notably Vicenza, Milan, Valenza, Rome, Naples, Florence and Venice, but also several other cities, you can find hundreds of different jewellery or silverware boutiques. Apart from the famous ones, there are some great quirky and funky jewellery stores scattered around the country. Design and furniture is something Italy is proudly and justifiably famous for. Excellent quality furniture stores can be found all over, but the real place to buy the best deals is Milan. Milan contains amongst the top design rooms and emporia in the world. For the newest design inventions, attend the Fiera di Milano in Rho, where the latest appliances are exhibited. Many Italian cities have great antique furniture stores. So, you can choose between cutting-edge, avant-garde furniture, or old world antiques to buy in this country, which are, by average, of good quality. Glassware is something which Venice makes uniquely but which is spread around the whole of the country. In Venice is famously the capital of Murano (not the island), or glassware made in different colours. Here, you can get stunning goblets, crystal chandeliers, candlesticks and decorations made in stunning, multi-coloured blown glass, which can be designed in modern, funky arrangements, or the classical old style. Books can be found in bookshops in every small, medium sized or big city. The main book and publishing companiesstores in Italy include Feltrinelli, Giunti, Mondadori, Hoepli or Rizzoli. Most big book stores are found in Milan, Turin and nearby Monza, which are the capitals of Italys publishing trade (Turin was made World Book Capital in 2006) however cities such as Rome and more boast loads of book shops. 99 of the books sold are in Italian. Art shops can be found all over in Italy, notably the most artistic cities of Florence, Rome and Venice. In Florence, the best place to go for buying art is the Oltrarno, where there are numerous ateliers selling replicas of famous paintings or similar things. Usually, depending in what city youre in, you get replicas of notable works of art found there, but also, you can find rare art shops, sculpture shops, or funky, modernold stores in several cities. How to buy Edit In a small or medium sized shop, its standard to greet the staff as you enter, not when you approach the counter to pay. A friendly Buongiorno or Buonasera warms the atmosphere. When paying, the staff usually expect you to put coins down on the surface or dish provided, rather than placing money directly into their hands (old money-handling etiquette to avoid messy coin droppings), and they will do the same when giving you your change (il resto). This is normal practice and is not intended to be rude. Haggling is very rare and only ever takes place when dealing with hawkers. They will generally ask for an initial price that is much higher than what they are willing to sell for, and going for the asking price is a sure way to get ripped off. Be advised that often times hawkers sell counterfeit merchandise (in some cases, very believable counterfeits), and that hoping to buy a Gucci purse for 30 off the street might not be in your best interest. In all other situations, haggling will get you nowhere. Cuisine Edit Italian food inside of Italy is different to what is called Italian food in America. Italys cuisine is truly one of the most diverse in the world and, in any region, or even city and village you go, there are different specialities. For instance, it could be only misleading to say that Northern Italian cuisine is based on hearty, potato and rice-rich meals, Central Italian cuisine mainly on pastas, roasts and meat, and Southern Italian cuisine on vegetables, pizza, pasta and seafood: there are so many cross-influences that youd only get confused trying to categorize. And in any case, Italian cuisine, contrary to popular belief, is not just based on pasta and tomato sauce - thats only a tiny snippet of the nations food, as in some parts of Northern Italy, pasta isnt even used at all, and rice, potatoes, lentils, soups and similar meals are very common in some parts of the country. Italian food is based upon so many ingredients and Italians often have very discriminating tastes that may seem strange to Americans and other visitors. For instance, a sandwich stand might sell 4 different types of ham sandwiches that in each case contain ham, mayonnaise, and cheese. The only thing that may be different between the sandwiches is the type of ham or cheese used in them. Rustichella and panzerotti are two examples of sandwiches well-liked by Italians and tourists alike. Also, Italian sandwiches are quite different from the traditional Italian-American hero, submarine, or hoagie sandwich (which by the way mean nothing to any Italian). Rather than large sandwiches with a piling of meat, vegetables, and cheese, sandwiches in Italy are often quite small, very flat (made even more so when they are quickly heated and pressed on a panini grill), and contain a few simple ingredients with rarely, if ever, lettuce or mayonnaise. The term panini may be somewhat confusing to travellers from Northern Europe where it has erroneously come to mean a flat, heated sandwich on a grill. In Italy the term is equivalent to bread rolls (plural) which can be simple rolls or sometimes with basic filling. However instead of a sandwich why not try piadinas which are a flat folded bread with filling, which are served warm and are typical of the coast of Emilia-Romagna. Americans will notice that Italian pasta is usually available with a myriad of sauces rather than simply tomato and Alfredo. Also, Italian pasta is often served with much less sauce than in America. This is, in part, because pasta in a restaurant is usually regarded as the first course of a three - or four-course meal, not a meal in itself. Structure of a traditional meal: despite the stereotype, your average Italians meals consist of a small breakfast, a one-dish lunch and a two-dish dinner. Coffee is welcomed at nearly every hour, especially around 10:00 and at the end of a meal (unless that meal is pizza). At the weekends and in restaurants (for other occasions), a meal typically consists of: antipasto (appetizers: marinated vegetables, mixed coldcuts, seafood, etc), primo (pasta or rice dish), secondo (meat or fish course) often with a side-dish known as contorno . and dolce (dessert). Like the language and culture, food in Italy differs region by region . Generally speaking pasta and olive oil are the staples of Southern Italian food, the Central Italian cuisines rely on pasta, meat and olive oilbutter while northern food focuses on rice and butter (but today there are many, many exceptions). Local ingredients are also very important. In warm Naples, citrus and other fresh fruit play a prominent role in both food and liquor, while in Venice fish is obviously an important traditional ingredient. As a guideline, in the south cuisine is focused on pasta and dessert, while at north meat is king, but this rule can be very different depending on where you are. A note about breakfast in Italy: this is a very light meal, often just a cappuccino or coffee with a pastry ( cappuccino e cornetto ) or a piece of bread and fruit jam. You should not expect a large breakfast. In Italy, it is not customary to eat eggs and bacon for breakfast - the very thought of it is revolting to most Italians. Indeed, no salty foods are consumed for breakfast. Additionally, cappuccino is considered something youd have for breakfast ordering one after lunch or dinner is considered an oddity and a typical tourist thing. An ordinary coffee is considered much more appropriate. Another enjoyable Italian breakfast item is cornetto (plural: cornetti ): a croissant or light pastry often filled with jam, cream or chocolate. Lunch is seen as the most important part of the day. In the past, many shops used to close down and resume after the two hour break period and to compensate for this, businesses used to stay open later than in most other European towns, often until 20:00. However, this is no longer the case and now the business hours of a typical Italian day are comparable to those in the rest of Western Europe but still a lot shorter than in North America or Asia. Good luck trying to find a place open during the so-called pausa pranzo (lunch break), when visiting a small town, but this is not the case in the biggest cities or shopping centres. Dinner (i. e. the evening meal) is generally taken late, usually around 20:00. In summer, if you are in a restaurant before 20:00 you are likely to be eating on your own, and it is quite normal to see families with young children still dining after 22:00. Cuisine is considered an art. Great chefs like Gualtiero Marchesi or Gianfranco Vissani are seen as half-way between TV stars and magicians. Italians are extremely proud of their culinary tradition and generally love food and talking about it - however, they are definitely not so fond of common preconceptions, such as that Italian food is only pizza and spaghetti. They also have a distaste for bastardized versions of their dishes that are popular elsewhere, and many Italians have a hard time believing that the average foreigner cant get even a basic dish right. A note about service: do not expect the kind of dedicated, focused service you will find in American restaurants. In Italy this is considered somewhat annoying and people generally prefer to be left alone when consuming their meal. You should expect the waiter to come and check on you after your first course, maybe to order something as second course. You should consider that Italys most famous dishes like pizza or spaghetti are quite lame for Italians, and eating in different areas can be an interesting opportunity to taste some less well known local speciality. Even for something as simple as pizza there are significant regional variations. The pizza of Naples has a thick, soft crust while that of Rome is considerably thinner and crustier. When dining out with Italians read the menu and remember that almost every restaurant has a typical dish and some towns have centuries-old traditions that you are invited to learn. People will be most happy when you ask for local specialities and will gladly advise you. In Northern Italy at around 17:00 most bars will prepare for an aperitivo especially in cosmopolitan Milan, with a series of plates of nibbles, cheese, olives, meat, bruschetta and much more. This is NOT considered a meal and should you indulge yourself in eating as if it was dinner, you would most likely not be very much appreciated. All this food is typically free to anyone who purchases a drink but it is intended to be just a snack before the main meal. An interesting piece of trivia mostly lost on tourists and locals alike, is that the tomato did not make its way into Italian cuisine until well into the 17th century. The tomato plant is native to South America and as such, was not discovered by Europeans until its introduction in the late 1600s and early 1700s. No, Da Vinci didnt eat pizza with tomato sauce and Michelangelo didnt dine on it either. Specialities Edit Almost every city and region has its own specialities, a brief list of which may include: Risotto - Arborio rice that has been sauted and cooked in a shallow pan with stock. The result is a very creamy and hearty dish. Meat, poultry, seafood, vegetables, and cheeses are almost always added depending on the recipe and the locale. Many restaurants, families, towns, and regions will have a signature risotto or at least style of risotto, in addition or in place of a signature pasta dish (risotto alla Milanese is a famous Italian classic). Risotto is a typical dish in Lombardy and Piedmont. Arancina - A deep fried ball of rice with tomato sauce, eggs, and cheese. Its a southern Italian speciality, though are now quite common all over. It is NOT to be confused with suppl . which are a strictly Roman speciality and are pretty much unheard of in the rest of the peninsula. Polenta - Yellow corn meal (yellow grits) that has been cooked with stock. It is normally served either creamy, or allowed to set up and then cut into shapes and fried or roasted. It is a very common dish in northern mountains restaurants, usually eaten with deer or boar meat. Gelato This is the Italian word for ice cream. The non-fruit flavours are usually made only with milk. Gelato made with water and without dairy ingredients is also known as sorbetto. Its fresh as a sorbet, but tastier. There are many flavours, including coffee, chocolate, fruit, and tiramis. When buying at a gelateria, you have the choice of having it served in a wafer cone or a tub in northen Italy youll pay for every single flavour ball, and the panna (the milk cream) counts as a flavour in Rome you can buy a small wafer cone (around 1.80) a medium one (2.50) or a large one (3.00) without limit of flavours, and the panna is free. Tiramis Italian cake made with coffee, mascarpone, and ladyfingers (sometimes rum) with cocoa powder on the top. The name means pick-me-up. Pizza Edit Pizza is a quick and convenient meal. In most cities there are pizza shops that sell by the gram. Look for a sign Pizza al taglio . When ordering, simply point to the display or tell the attendant the type of pizza you would like (e. g. pizza margherita, pizza con patate (roasted or french fries), pizza al prosciutto (ham), etc.) and how much (Vorrei (due fette - two slices) or (due etti - two-tenths of a kilogram) or simply say di pi - more, or di meno - less, per favore). They will slice it, warm it in the oven, fold it in half, and wrap it in paper. Other food shops also sell pizza by the slice. Remember, getting your meal on the run can save money but some touristy sandwich shops charge an additional fee if you want to sit to eat your meal. Also, in many parts of the country pizzas have a thinner base of bread and less cheese than those found outside Italy. The most authentic, original pizzas is found in Naples - often containing quite a few ingredients (tomato and oregano, or tomato and mozzarella). The Neapolitan one is the only traditional Italian pizza. You can eat it in Naples, of course, but you can also find some few pizzerias in other big cities which make a pizza quite similar to the real Neapolitan pizza. The traditional, round pizza is found in many restaurants and specialized pizza restaurants ( pizzerie ). It is rare to find a restaurant that serves pizza at lunchtime, however. Take-away pizzerias ( pizzerie da asporto ) are becoming ubiquitous in many cities and towns. Quality may vary, though they are almost always cheaper than restaurants (4-5 for a margherita on average) and are also open at lunchtime (a few are also open all day long). Some will also serve kebab, which may also vary in quality. Though take-away pizzas are also considered second-class pizza by most Italians, they are quite popular among the vast population of university students and they are usually located in residential areas these are not to be confused with the ever so popular pizza al taglio shops in Rome, which are a sort of traditional fast food in the Capital and can be found at every corner. Quality is usually very good and pizza is sold by the weight you choose the piece of pizza you want, then they put it on the scale and tell you the price. Cheese and sausages Edit In Italy you can find nearly 800 kinds of cheese, including the famous Parmigiano Reggiano, and over 400 types of sausages. If you want a real kick, then try to find one of the huge open markets, which are always open on Saturdays and usually during other days, except Sunday, as well. You will find all types of cheese and meat on display. Restaurants and bars Edit There are numerous restaurants in Italian cities (like this one, in the exclusive Via Veneto, Rome) Italian bars in the centre of major cities charge more (typically double whatever the final bill is) if you drink or eat seated at a table outside rather than standing at the bar or taking your order to go. This is because bars are charged a very high tax to place tables and chair outside, so since most people do not use tables anyway, they had decided long ago to only charge those who do. The further away you are from the center streets, the less this rule is applied. When calling into a bar for a coffee or other drink you first go to the cash register and pay for what you want. You then give the receipt to the barman, who will serve you. Restaurants - with the notable exception of Rome and the surrounding Lazio region, where such a charge is forbidden by law - charge a small coperto (cover charge). Some years ago attempts were made to outlaw the practice, with limited success. You can be charged for bread, but if you dont want to pay for it just send it away. Some restaurants now levy a service charge, but this is far from common. In Italian restaurants a large tip is never expected. The customary 15 of the United States may cause an Italian waiter to drop dead with a heart attack. Just leave a euro or two and they will be more than happy. The traditional meal can include (in order) antipasto (starter of cold seafood, gratinated vegetables or ham and salami), primo (first dish - pasta or rice dishes), secondo (second dish - meat or fish dishes), served together with contorno (mostly vegetables), cheesesfruit, dessert . coffee, and spirits. Upmarket restaurants usually refuse to make changes to proposed dishes (exceptions warmly granted for babies or people on special diets). Mid-range restaurants are usually more accommodating. For example, a simple pasta with tomato sauce may not be on the menu but a restaurant will nearly always be willing to cook one for kids who turn their noses up at everything else on the menu. If you are in a large group (say four or more) then it is appreciated if you dont all order a totally different pasta. While the sauces are pre-cooked the pasta is cooked fresh and it is difficult for the restaurant if one person wants spaghetti . another fettuccine . a third rigatoni . a fourth penne and a fifth farfalle (butterfly shaped pasta). If you attempt such an order you will invariably be told that you will have a long wait When pizza is ordered, it is served as a primo (even if formally it is not considered as such), together with other primi . If you order a pasta or pizza and your friend has a steak you will get your pasta dish, and probably when youve finished eating the steak will arrive. If you want primo and secondo dishes to be brought at the same time you have to ask. Restaurants which propose diet food . very few, usually write it clearly in menus and even outside others usually dont have any dietetic resources. People with coeliac disease may be surprised that many restaurants and shops offer gluten-free ( senza glutine ) food and the disease is generally well known. Gastronomia Edit A Gastronomia is a kind of self-service restaurant (normally you tell the staff what you want rather than serving yourself) that also offers take-aways. This can give a good opportunity to sample traditional Italian dishes at fairly low cost. Note that these are not buffet restaurants. You pay according to what you order. The Cesarine of Home Food Edit The Cesarine of Home Food . present in many Italian places, spread and enhance the traditional recipes, the peculiarities of the territory of the local products and welcome guests within their houses, preparing for them courses from a menu in which intertwine skills, gastronomic tradition and unforgettable flavours. The Home Food project. with the patronage of the Ministry of Agriculture and the University of Bologna, stands for the protection and preservation of traditional food culture and typical products of Italy. Through the creation of a virtuous circle and non-profit, Home Food, allows its members to be Guests at the table of Italian families and enjoy the food prepared by the lady of the houses, which are friendly called with the epithet of Cesarine, and are the depositories of the ancient culinary know-how. Drink Edit Bars, like restaurants, are non-smoking. Italians enjoy going out during the evenings, so its common to have a drink in a bar before dinner. It is called aperitivo . Within the last couple years, started by Milan, a lot of bars have started offering fixed-price cocktails at aperitivo hours (18 - 21) with a free, and often a very good, buffet meal. Its now widely considered stylish to have this kind of aperitivo (called Happy Hour ) instead of a structured meal before going out to dance or whatever. While safe to drink, the tap water in some parts of Italy (e. g. Sardinia, or parts of the South) can be cloudy with a slight off taste. Some Italians prefer bottled water, which is served in restaurants make sure you let the waiterwaitress know you want regular water (acqua naturale or acqua liscia) or else you could get water with either natural gas (acqua effervescente) or with added carbonation (acqua frizzante or acqua gassata) usually the waiter will ask which one you want with phrases like Liscianaturale o gassatafrizzante (Still or sparkling water). Rome, in particular, has exceptional pride in the quality of its water. This goes right back to the building of aqueducts channeling pure mountain water to every citizen during Roman times. Dont waste plastic bottles You can refill your drinking containers and bottles at any of the constant running taps and fountains dotted around the city, safe in the knowledge that you are getting excellent quality cool spring water - try it Italian wine is exported all over the world, and names like Barolo, Brunello and Chianti are well-known. In Italy wine is a substantial topic, a sort of test which can ensure either respect or lack of attention from an entire restaurant staff. Doing your homework ensures that you will get better service, better wine and in the end may even pay less. DOC, DOCG, IGT The Denominazione di origine controllata certificate restricts above all the grape blend allowed for the wine, and in itself it is not yet a guarantee of quality. The same applies to the stricter Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita . These two denominations are indications of a traditional wine typical of the region, such as Chianti. and often a good partner for local food. But some of the best Italian wines are labeled with the less strict Indicazione geografica tipica designation, often a sign of a more modern, international wine. So before reaching Italy, try to learn a little about the most important wines of the region you are planning to visit. This will greatly increase you enjoyment. Italian cuisine varies greatly from region to region (sometimes also from town to town), and wine reflects this variety. Italians have a long tradition of matching wines with dishes and often every dish has an appropriate wine. The popular color rule (red wines with meat dishes, white wines with fish) can be happily broken when proposed by a sommelier or when you really know what you are doing: Italy has many strong white wines to serve with meat (a Sicilian or Tuscan chardonnay ), as well as delicate red wines for fish (perhaps an Alto Adige pinot noir ). Unlike in the UK, for example, the price mark-ups charged by restaurants for wines on their wine list are not usually excessive, giving you a chance to experiment. In the big cities, there are also many wine bars, where you can taste different wines by the glass, at the same time as eating some delicious snacks. Unlike in many other countries it is unusual for restaurants to serve wine by the glass. The vino della casa (house wine) can be an excellent drinking opportunity in small villages far from towns (especially in Tuscany), where it could be what the patron would really personally drink or could even be the restaurants own product. It tends to be a safe choice in decent restaurants in cities as well. Vino della casa may come bottled but in lower-priced restaurants it is still just as likely to be available in a carafe of one quarter, one half or one litre. As a general rule, if the restaurant seems honest and not too geared for tourists, the house wine is usually not too bad. That said, some house wines can be dreadful and give you a nasty headache the next morning. If it doesnt taste too good it probably wont do you much good, so send it back and order from the wine list. Italians are justly proud of their wines and foreign wines are rarely served, but many foreign grapes like cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay are increasingly being used. Although wine is a traditional product, beer is very common as well. Beer did not quite belong to the Italian tradition in the way that wine does, but in the last 30-odd years there has been an explosion of Irish-style pubs in every big town, with usually a huge selection of any kind of beer, ale, stout and cider, from every country in the world. Major Italian beers include Peroni and Moretti and these are usually the ones offered by cafs. If you are serious about beer drinking, there are many bars that specialise in serving a wide range of bottled beers (see city articles for more details), as well as Irish pubs and similar establishments. There is an increasing number of micro-breweries around the country. They often are run by local beer enthusiasts turned brewers, running small breweries with a pub attached. Their association is called Unionbirrai 22. In the Trieste region it is far more common to drink Slovenian beers and the most popular brands are Union and Zlatorag. Other drinks Edit A cold limoncello on a warm night Limoncello . A liquor made of alcohol, lemon peels, and sugar. Limoncello can be considered a moonshine type of product (although usually made with legally obtained alcohol) as every Italian family, especially in the middle-south (near Napoli) and southern part of the country, has its own recipe for limoncello. Because lemon trees adapt so well to the Mediterreanean climate, and they produce a large amount of fruit continually throughout their long fruit-bearing season, it is not unusual to find many villas yards filled with lemon trees bending under the weight of their crop. You can make a lot of lemonade, or better yet, brew your own limoncello. It is mainly considered a dessert liquor, served after a heavy meal (similar to amaretto), and used for different celebrations. The taste can be compared to a very strong and slightly thick lemonade flavor with an alcohol tinge to it. Best served chilled in the freezer in small glasses that have been in the freezer. It is better sipped than treated as a shooter. Grappa is made by distilling grape skins after the juice has been squeezed from them for winemaking, so you could imagine how it might taste. If youre going to drink it, then make sure you get a bottle having been distilled multiple times. Limoncello and grappa and other similar drinks are usually served after a meal as an aid to digestion. If you are a good customer restaurants will offer a drink to you free of charge, and may even leave the bottle on your table for you to help yourself. Beware that these are very strong drinks. Coffee Edit Bars in Italy offer an enormous number of possible permutations for a way of having a cup of coffee. What you wont get, however, is 100 different types of bean nor will you find gourmet coffees. If you like that kind of stuff, better take your own. A bar will make coffee from a commercial blend of beans supplied by just one roaster. There are many companies who supply roast beans and the brand used is usually prominently displayed both inside and outside of the bar. There are various kinds of coffee, the most popular of which are: Caff (known to foreign tourists as espresso). This is the basic kind of coffee, which is normally consumed at breakfast or after a meal. Caff ristretto . This has the same amount of coffee, but less water, thus making it stronger. Caff lungo . Like ordinary coffee, but additional water is allowed to go through the coffee beans in the machine. Caff americano . This has much more water and is served in a cappuccino cup. It is more like an American breakfast coffee but the quantity is still far less than you would get in the States. So far so good. But here the permutations begin. For the same price as a normal coffee, you can ask for a dash of milk to be added to any of the above. This is called macchiato . Hence, caff lungo macchiato or caff americano macchiato . But that dash of milk can be either hot (caldo) or cold (freddo). So you can ask, without the barman batting an eye, for a caff lungo macchiato freddo or a caff americano macchiato caldo . Any one of these options can also be had decaffeinated. Ask for caff decaffeinato The most popular brand is HAG and it is quite usual to ask for caff HAG even if the bar does not use that particular brand. If you are really in need of a pick-me-up you can ask for a double dose of coffee, or a doppio . You have to specify this when you pay at the cash register and it costs twice as much as a normal coffee. All the above permutations still apply, although a caff doppio ristretto may be a bit strange. Additionally, if you need a shot of alcohol, you can ask for a caff corretto . This usually involves adding grappa, brandy or sambuca corrected being the Italian expression corresponding to spiked. Normally it is only a plain coffee that is corrected but there is no reason why you should not correct any of the above combinations. Then there are coffee drinks with milk, as follows: Cappuccino . Needs no introduction. If you dont like the froth you can ask for cappuccino senza schiuma . Caff latte . Often served in a glass, this is a small amount of coffee with the cupglass filled up with hot milk. Latte macchiato . This is a glass of milk with a dash of coffee in the top. The milk can be hot or cold. Hinweis . latte is the Italian word for milk. If you ask for one, what youll be getting is a glass of milk. and a perplexed look. Finally, in the summer you can have caff freddo . which is basically plain coffee with ice, caff freddo shakerato (shaked ice coffee) or cappuccino freddo . which is a cold milky coffee without the froth. This list is by no means exhaustive. With a vivid imagination and a desire to experiment you should be able to find many more permutations. Enjoy Sleep Edit In major cities and touristic areas you can find a good variety of accommodations, from world-class brand hotels to family-managed bed amp breakfasts and room rentals, but hostels are really few. Camping is a good way to save money and camping sites are usually well managed, but especially during summer, managers tend not to accept last-minute groups of young people (given the high chance of problems that such groups of Italian guys tend to cause), so youd better book in advance. Farmstays are an increasingly popular way to experience Italy, particularly in rural areas of Tuscany. Piedmont. Umbria. Abruzzo. Sardinia and Apulia. They provide a great combination of good and healthy food, wonderful sights and not-so-expensive prices. If you prefer self-catering accommodations, its quite simple to find them on the wonderful Amalfi Coast or the less commercial and more genuine Calabria coast. Hotel star ratings can only be taken as a broad indication of what you will get for your money. There are many marvellous 2-star hotels that you will want to return to every year and many 5-star hotels that you will never want to set foot in again. The star rating, as in all countries, is based on a bureaucratic assessment of the facilities provided and does not necessarily relate to comfort. Often the only difference between a 3-star and 4-star hotel is that the latter offers all meals while the former only offers breakfast. Electricity . Italy uses 220V, 50Hz. Italy has its own electrical plug design. The standard European two-prong plugs will fit, but grounded (three-prong) plugs from other countries will not. German-type Schuko sockets can also be found quite often, especially in the north, and youll find adapters for that system in virtually all supermarkets. Adapters for other systems (including US plugs) are not that ubiquitous but can be found at airports or in specialised shops. If youre using American appliances that were designed for standard US household 110V, 60Hz current, make sure you get a voltage converter, not just a plug adaptor. The higher voltage will damage or destroy your appliance, and could injure or kill you as well. Note that if you have a USB plugcharger, it is likely rated for 100V-220V (usually written on the device), so may only need a plug adapter to charge your phone andor camera. If not, they are cheap, so you may want to pick one up in country rather than lugging around a converter. Power surges and power failures are virtually unknown in Italy, even less so than in the States the energy, water and gas systems are state-run and very well equipped and maintained since even before WW2 the electrical system is fully updated to the latest tech specs and every household is required to comply when renovating. That includes the remote villages in the South, too. Learn Edit For English-speakers looking to study in Italy, there are several options. In Rome, Duquesne University, John Cabot, Loyola University Chicago and Temple University maintain campuses. Right outside of Rome the University of Dallas maintains its own campus in Marino. St. Johns University has a graduate program in Rome for International Relations and MBA. New York University has a study-abroad program in Florence available even to freshmen and maintains its own campus at Villa La Pietra. It depends on how you want to learn. Are you interested in studying in a huge touristy city like Florence or Rome Or, are you interested in learning from a small town on the Italian Riviera. The smaller cities have better opportunity to learn Italian because theres not a lot of English going around. No matter where you decide, Italy is one of the best spots geographically to travel while youre not studying. However, keep in mind that in many places of Italy people still speak their local dialects. This is particularly true in the South. Think about learning what the Italians are best at: food, wine, Italian language, architecture, motors (cars and bikes) and interior design. Work in Italy is not easy to find. Many young adults are without a job. Starting salaries in shops, offices, etc range from 450 to 800 a month. Theres a huge underground black market though, where youll find many people working. This doesnt mean working in some kind of obscure crime syndicate: it simply means not being book-regulated. Most black workers can be found in small business such as cafs, pubs and small shops, or as construction workers. Although this kind of job is illegal (but legal consequences fall mostly on the employers shoulders) theyre probably the easier thing to find if youre looking for a temporary job. If youre thinking about establishing a small business be sure to get in contact with local Chamber of Commerce and an accountant and they will help you to sort out the Italian laws. Italy is the main destination for Romanians working abroad. Unofficial statistics reveal that there are approximately one million Romanians in Italy. However these numbers have been dwarfed in recent years by immigration from Africa. Stay safe Edit For emergencies, call 112 . This phone number works for every type of emergency, as youll speak with an operator that will contact the appropriate authority (police, fire department. ) In case of emergency or inconvenience, the Italian Ministry for Tourism has implemented a multilingual contact centre providing information and assistance to tourists. Easy Italia operates seven days a week, 09.00-22:00, and its telephone number (39 39 039 039) can be dialled from anywhere in the world from either a landline or a mobile. If youre currently in Italy, you can also contact them by dialling the toll-free number 800 000 039 from landlines and payphones. The service is also available on Skype (easyitalia) and you can also ask information for free by filling in a web form Italy is a safe country to travel in like most developed countries. There are few incidents of terrorismserious violence and these episodes have been almost exclusively motivated by internal politics. Examples include the 1993 bombing of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence by the Mafia. Almost every major incident is attributed to organized crime or anarchist movements and rarely, if ever, directed at travelers or foreigners. Crime Edit Violent crime rates in Italy are low even compared to most European countries. If youre reasonably careful and use common sense you wont encounter personal safety risks even in the less affluent neighborhoods of large cities. However, petty crime can be a problem for unwary travelers. Travelers should note that pickpockets often work in pairs or teams, occasionally in conjunction with street vendors the usual precautions against pickpockets. Instances of rape and robbery are increasing slightly. You should exercise the usual caution when going out at night alone, although it remains reasonably safe even for single women to walk alone at night. Italians will often offer to accompany female friends back home for safety, even though crime statistics show that sexual violence against women is rare compared to most other Western countries. Prostitution is rife in the night streets around mid and large towns. Prostitution in Italy is legal though authorities are taking a firmer stance against it than before. Brothels are illegal and pimping is a serious offense, considered by the law similar to slavery. In Italy, it is an offence even to stop your car in front of a prostitute. Due to the ambivalent situation regarding prostitution, a lot of prostitutes fall victim to human trafficking. In general, being the client of a prostitute falls in an area of questionable legality and is inadvisable. Being the client of a prostitute under 18 is a criminal offence, even if you claim to be unaware of the prostitutes age . There are four types of police forces a tourist might encounter in Italy. The Polizia di Stato (State Police) is the national police force they wear blue shirts and grey pants and drive light-blue-painted cars with POLIZIA written on the side. The Carabinieri are the national gendarmerie they wear very dark blue uniforms with fiery red vertical stripes on their pants and drive similarly colored cars. The Guardia di Finanza is a police force charged with border controls and fiscal matters they dress fully in light grey and drive blue or gray cars with yellow markings. Finally, municipalities have local police, with names such as Polizia municipale or Vigili Urbani. Their style of dressing varies among the cities, but they will always wear some type of uniform and drive marked cars, which should be easy to spot. After leaving a restaurant or other commercial facility, it is possible, though unlikely, that you are asked to show your bill and your documents by Guardia di Finanza agents. This is perfectly legitimate (they are checking to see if the facility has printed a proper reciept and will thus pay taxes on what was sold). For all practical matters, including reporting a crime or asking for information, you may ask any of the aforementioned kinds of police. Recently, the military has been directly tasked with protecting key locations, including some city highlights you may want to visit in case of emergency you can, by all means, ask them for help, but understand that these are not policemen and will very likely have to call actual police for you to report a crime and so on. Policemen in Italy are not authorized to collect fines of any kind and have no authority to ask you for money for any reason (unless you are pulled over in your foreign vehicle and fined, see Get aroundBy car above). Possession of drugs is always illegal, but it is a criminal offence only above a certain amount. The main emergency number, handled by the State Police, is 113. The medical emergency number is 118, but personnel of the 113 call centre are trained to handle mistakes and will immediately hook you up with actual medical emergency services. There are many bars in Italy that cater to tourists and foreigners with home country themes, calling themselves such things as American bars or Irish pubs. In addition to travelers, these bars attract a large number of Italians who, among other reasons, go there specifically to meet travelers and other foreigners. While the motivation for the vast majority of these Italians is simply to have a good time with new friends, there can be one or two petty criminals who loiter in and out of these establishments hoping to take advantage of travelers who are disoriented or drunk. Traveling to these places in groups is a simple solution to this problem. Alternatively, if you are alone, avoid getting drunk When entering with a car into a city, avoid restricted, pedestrian-only areas (ZTL 23 ) or you could be fined about 100. As in other countries, there are gangs known for tampering with ATMs by placing skimmers in front of the card slot and get a clone of your card. Check carefully the machine and, if unsure, use a different one. Travellers in search of employment in agriculture, either permanent or seasonal, should be aware that abuse in this industry has increased exponentially especially in Southern Italy and Sicily. There are numerous reports of people who had their passsports taken away, forced into slave labour with long hours without pay and even sexual abuse with little or no reaction from the local authorities. Tourist Scams Edit Read up on the legends concerning tourist scams. Most of them occur regularly in bigger cities such as Rome, Milan, or Naples. A particular scam is when some plainclothes police will approach you, asking to look for drug money, or ask to see your passport. This is a scam to take your money. You can scare them by asking for their ID. Guardia di Finanza (the grey uniformed ones) do customs work. A recent scam involves men approaching you, asking where you are from, and begin to tie bracelets around your wrists. When they are done they will try to charge you upwards of 20 for each bracelet. If anyone makes any attempt to reach for your hand, retract quickly. If you get trapped, you can refuse to pay, but this may not be wise if there are not many people around. Carry small bills or just change, in your wallet, so if you find yourself in cornered to pay for the bracelet, you can convince them that 1 or 2 is all you have. When taking a taxi, be sure to remember license number written on the card door. In seconds, people have had a taxi bill risen by 10 or even more. When giving money to taxi driver, be careful. Around popular tourist sites, there are groups mostly of men trying to sell cheap souvenirs. They may also carry roses and say they are giving you a gift because they like you but the minute you take their gift they demand money. They are often very insistent and often the only way to get rid of them is to be plain rude. Do the best you can to not take their gifts as they will follow you around asking for money. Simply saying no or vai via (go away) will get them off your back until the next vendor comes up to you. Yet another scam involves being approached by a man, asking you to help break a large bill - usually 20 or 50. Do not give him your money. The bill he is giving you is fake, but at first glance it might seem real. On train platforms, you may be approached by people who act like train conductors or station personnel, offering to help you find your carriage and seat. The moment you hand over your ticket they will tell you that you are running late, and rush you to your carriage. They usher you to your seat and then help you put your baggage onto the racks then they ask for an extortionate fee (something like 5 euros per person). There is no way to get rid of them without being extremely rude and causing a scene. Make sure to ignore everyone on the train platforms unless heshe is wearing a station uniform The best advice to avoid scams is to get way from anyone that you have never seen before who starts talking to you. Racism Edit Unfortunately racism is still present in Italy the country only started having a significant non-white presence in the last 20 years and, while racially-motivated violence is rare (it does make the news a few times a year), it is generally perpetrated at the expense of immigrants. Some Italians may assume a person with prominent foreign features to be an immigrant and, regrettably, treat them with some measure of contempt or condescension. This especially happens towards persons who may look like gypsies or Maghreb Arabs. Tourists can generally expect not to be insulted to their face but, unfortunately, casual racism and bigotry is not absent from conversation (especially bar talk and especially if matches featuring non-white players are on TV). On the other hand, antisemitism is mostly absent in Italian society and Italy itself never really had a history of it (save for part of the Fascist era). Stay healthy Edit Italian hospitals are public and offer completely free high-standard treatments for EU travellers, although, as anywhere else, you may have a long wait to be served. Emergency assistance is granted even to non-EU travelers. For non-emergency assistance, non-EU citizens are required to pay out-of-pocket, there is no convention with US health insurances (although some insurance companies might later reimburse these expenses). Nonetheless, a requirement for a Schengen visa is that you have valid travel insurance which includes emergency expenses covering your entire trip anyway. Water in southern Italy might come from desalination and sometimes may have a strange taste, due to extended droughts. If in doubt use bottled water. Elsewhere tap water is perfectly drinkable and very well maintained. Or else, a NON POTABILE warning is posted. Respect Edit Italy has a reputation for being a welcoming country and Italians are friendly and courteous, as well as very used to interacting with foreigners. The Italian society is however slightly more formal than the Northern European or English-speaking ones, and it can be more sensitive to issues of respect or lack thereof, so it is wrong to assume everyone will be gregarious and laid-back. If you are polite and civil you should have no problems, but dont expect that the average Italian speaks or even understands English (except for young people). Italians greet family and close friends with two light kisses on the cheek. Males do, too. To avoid ending up kissing on the lips note that you first move to the right (kiss the other person on their left cheek) and then to the left. In general, when joining or leaving a group, you will shake hands individually with (or kiss, depending on the level of familiarity) each member of the group. If it is a business related meeting you just shake hands. To make friends, its a good idea to pay some compliments. Most Italians still live in their town of origin and feel far more strongly about their local area than they do about Italy in general. Tell them how beautiful their townlakevillagechurch is and possibly add how much you prefer it to RomeMilanother Italian towns. Residents can be fonts of knowledge regarding their local monuments and history, and a few questions will often produce interesting stories. Clothing Edit Whole essays can be written about the Italians relationships with clothes. Three of the most important observations: Some Italians (especially young ones from the upper and upper-middle social classes) can be very appearance-conscious. Its important, however, not to judge people by their choice of clothing. Styles do not necessarily carry the same connotations in Italy that they would in Britain or some other countries. Some youths lounge about in skin-tight tee-shirts and casually-knotted knitwear (and are very perplexed by the response they get when they take their sense of style and grooming to a less sophisticated climate). Sometimes, clothing rules are written. To visit a church or religious site you will need to cover yourself up no bare backs, chests, shoulders and sometimes no knees. Sometimes museums and other attractions can also be strict no bathing costumes, for example. If you want to visit a church or religious site its a good idea to take something to cover yourself up with for example a jumper or large scarf. Some churches supply cover-ups, such as sarongs are loaned to men with shorts so that they can modestly conceal their legs. Even where there are no written rules, its worth noting that bare chests and large expanses of sunburnt skin are unacceptable away from beaches or sunbathing areas, whatever the temperature is. Its considered unpolite for a man to wear a hat inside of any Catholic church. Politics Edit Italians are usually modest about their countrys role in the world. It should be easy to talk to people about history and politics without provoking arguments. People will listen to your opinion in a polite way as long as you express yourself politely. Fascism is out of the mainstream of Italian politics. Despite this, avoid such topics. Some older people who lived under Benito Mussolini (the Fascist dictator who was killed by the Resistance) could easily get upset. April 25 in Italy is the Liberation Day, celebrating the liberation from Nazi-Fascist rule however, in recent years the holiday has become more and more divisive. You may even find that some people, although not looking like typical thugs, claim to be supporters of Fascism and Mussolini but this is, as just said, a sensitive topic. In the South mafia could be a sensitive topic, so it is probably wise not to talk about it. GLBT rights in Italy Edit Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Italy may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is legal in Italy, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples. Italian opinions have changed and people are now more supportive of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) rights, but tend to be more repressive than other European nations. Tolerance of others is part of the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church, which, at the same time, calls for repentance for those with same-sex attraction. Nevertheless, there is a significant liberal tradition, particularly in the North and in Rome. Conservative Italian politicians such as former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi have expressed opposition to increasing gay rights. A Eurobarometer survey published on December 2006 showed that 31 of Italians surveyed support same-sex marriage and 24 recognise same-sex couples right to adopt (EU-wide average 44 and 33). A recent 2007 poll found 45 support, 47 opposition and 8 unsure on the question of support for a civil partnership law for gays. While more information can be found on LGBT-specific websites, a brief summary of the situation is as follows: while violence is uncommon against openly gay people, most Italians are still disturbed by public displays of affection from same-sex couples and stares are almost guaranteed most same-sex couples prefer to avoid public attention. As is the case elsewhere, the younger generations tend to be more open minded than older folks, but assumptions should not be made in either direction. Patriotism Edit Despite generally being accepting of criticism, Italians are still a proud people and, when talking about their countrys role in history and politics, it is best to do so with respect. Under no circumstances should you mock Italy. Follow this rule: its not a good idea to talk much about Italys past politics, since many Italians dont like Berlusconi nor like the international image he gives to Italy therefore, never make comparisons between Berlusconis policies and Italy itself. Contact Edit Internet access Edit Wi-Fi Edit There are plenty of public Wi-Fi hotspots in Italy that are free of charge to use. By law, all public-access internet points must keep records of web sites viewed by customers, and even the customers ID: expect to be refused access if you dont provide identification. Hotels providing Internet access are not required to record IDs if the connection is provided in the guests room, although if the connection is offered in the main public hall then IDs are required. Publicly available wireless access without user identification is illegal, so open Wi-Fi hotspots (like the ones you might expect to find in a mall or caf) all have some form of (generally one-time) registration. Certain internet activities are illegal. Beside the obvious (child pornography, trading in illegal products like drugs and weapons), copyright infringement is technically illegal even if no profit is made. However enforcement of copyright laws against P2P users is lax and cease amp desist letters from providers are unheard of, unless using a Universitys Wi-Fi. Certain websites (mostly related to online gambling and copyrighted material) have been blocked in Italy following court rulings. You can rent a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot (4GLTE) for short term period at a reasonable price. Some companies such as My Webspot provide unlimited internet for the duration you need in Italy (from 5 per day). It is delivered to your hotel or at the airport. A good solution to stay connected, and place international calls with your favorite Apps, for cheap. Mobile Edit Mobile (3G or HSDPA) internet connectivity is available from all major Italian carriers. Beware though that internet plans are generally much more expensive than in other European countries. Also, contracts often contain little-publicized usage limitations, eg, a plan that is advertised as 3 GB per month but actually has a daily limit of 100MB. Retailers will often fail to mention these limitations and quite often are themselves ignorant that they exist, so it is advisable to double check on the carriers website. Also keep in mind that, generally speaking, internet plans only include connectivity when under a specific carriers coverage. When roaming, internet costs can be very high. Coverage of major carriers is widespread, but it would be wise to check whether your carrier covers your area. Telephone Edit Both the fixed and mobile phone systems are available throughout Italy. Telephone numbers of the fixed system used to have separate prefixes (area codes) and a local number. In the 1990s the numbers were unified and nowadays, when calling Italian phones you should always dial the full number . For example you start numbers for Rome with 06 even if you are calling from Rome . All land line numbers start with 0. Mobile numbers start with 3. Numbers starting with 89 are high-fee services. If you dont know somebodys phone number you can dial a variety of recently-established phone services, the most used being 1240, 892424, 892892, but most of them have high fees. To call abroad from Italy you have to dial 00 country code local part where the syntax of the local part depends on the country called. To call Italy from abroad you have to dial international prefix 39 local part . Note that, unlike calls to most countries, you should not skip the starting zero of the local part if you are calling an Italian land line. Payphones are widely available, especially in stations and airports. However, the number of payphones has consistently been reduced after the introduction of mobile phones. Some payphones work with coins only, some with phone cards only and some with both coins and phone cards. Only a limited number of phones (just a few in main airports) directly accept credit cards. Italians use mobile phones extensively, some might say excessively. The main networks are TIM (Telecom Italia Mobile, part of Telecom Italia, formerly state controlled), Vodafone, Wind, and 3 (only UMTS cellphones). Note that cellphones from North America will not work in Italy unless they are Tri-band. Nearly all of the country has GSM, GPRS and UMTSHDSPA coverage. If you arrive from abroad and intend making a lot of calls, buy a pay-as-you-go SIM card (termed prepagato for prepaid and ricaricabile for rechargeable) and put it in your current mobile (if compatible and if your mobile set is not locked). You need to provide a valid form of identification, such as a passport or other official identity, to be able to purchase the SIM card. Unless you already have one, you will also be required to obtain a Codice Fiscale (a tax number) - the vendor may generate one for you from your form of identification. Subscription-based mobile telephony accounts are subject to a government tax, to which prepaid SIM cards are not subject. Sometimes hotels have mobile phones for customer to borrow or rent. Call costs vary greatly depending on when, where, from and where to. Each provider offers an array of complex tariffs and it is near impossible to make reliable cost estimates. The cost of calls differs considerably if you call a fixed-line phone or a mobile phone. Usually there is a difference in cost even for incoming calls from abroad. If you can choose, calling the other partys land line could be even 40 cheaper than mobile. Many companies are shifting their customer service numbers to fixed-rate number (prefix 199). These numbers are at the local rate, no matter where are you calling from. According to national regulations, hotels cannot apply a surcharge on calls made from the hotel (as the switchboard service should be already included as a service paid in the room cost), but to be sure check it before you use. Calls between landlines are charged at either the local rate or the national rate depending on the originating and destination area codes if both are the same then the call will be local rate. Note that local calls are not free. Emergency numbers Edit 112 is the pan-European emergency number and is always free to call. Hinweis . in both Lombardy and the (former) province of Rome 112 - much like 911 or 999 - has replaced the previous emergency numbers which are, however, still in use throughout the rest of the Peninsula 112 - Carabinieri . This is a general-purpose emergency number: the Carabinieri usually intervene more quickly than the Police. 113 - Police . Another general-purpose emergency number by dialling 113 youll be put in contact with the Police. 115 - Firemen . 117 - Guardia di Finanza . The restaurateur tried to pad your bill Youve just been scammed Shady deals going on Then call the GdF. 118 - Medical emergency should you ever need an ambulance, this is the number to call. 1515 - Corpo Forestale dello Stato . The Italian equivalent of park rangers - call them if you see a forest fire, poachers, and whatnot. 1530 - Guardia Costiera . An emergency number specific to the Italian Coast Guard. Is the ship youre in or do you see one sinking Then youd better call them. 803-116 - Automobile Club dItalia . Your car has broken down and theres no one in sight Call this number and assistance will be given. This service is provided for free to subscribers by A. C.I. or other automobile clubs associated with ARC Europe if youre not associated to any of these automobile clubs youll be asked to pay a fee (approx. 80). All calls to numbers listed above are free and can be made from payphones without the need to insert coins these emergency numbers can also be dialled from any mobile phone (even if you have no credit or if youre in an area covered only by a different network). Always carry with you a note about the address and phone number of your embassy. If at all possible wait until you leave Italy before posting postcards, greetings cards and other items to friends and family back home. The Italian post was notorious for being slow, expensive and unreliable, but things have improved in the past years. In border towns and cities near the borders with France, Austria and Switzerland it may be best to cross the border to post - postcards from Slovenia to Britain can take just 2 days compared with over a week when posted across the border in Trieste, Italy it costs less than 1 to post from France to anywhere outside Europe, whereas it costs roughly twice as much to do the same from Italy. Moreover, unlike most other European countries, only cash is accepted to buy postage, hence the little Euro coinsbanknotes you have may be drained as they are expensive. Postboxes are red and can be found very easily. Avoid using the globepostalservice (GPS) stamps. These are stamps sold by a private owned company through the tobacco shops using black mailboxes (the public ones are red) which charges more than normal and there have been lots of complains of delayed delivery and sometimes failure of delivery. Ask instead for the normal stamps. Post Offices can be found in every town and most villages - look for the PT symbol. When entering the post office you will usually have to take a ticket and wait for your number to appear on the screen when its your turn. There will be different tickets for different services but for posting a parcel look for the yellow symbol with the icon of an envelope. Most post offices close about 13:00 or 14:00 and only a central post office in most towns will re-open in the late afternoon.
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