Italy Visitor Guide
Travel Tips and Visitor Guide to Italy
Italy, the birthplace of pasta and pizza provides a wide range of
choices for artwork lovers to experience. A temperate climate exists here with very hot summers and not so cold
winters. The weather is the best in spring and autumn with pleasant temperatures and scenic views. At that time of
the year, the place isn’t crowded much and things can be enjoyed in leisure.
In case of emergency call 112. For fire call 115 and for ambulance call
118.
Italy's capital Rome is an amazing city rich in arts, museums, old
architecture and numerous other holiday attractions. This rich Rome culture makes it one of the most
popular travel destinations in Italy, which attracts a great number of tourists every year.
 |
On your visit to Italy you will encounter many
seaside towns with its colourful buildings,
such as these in Porto Venere. (Image by
Freeimages.com) |
Italian Culture
Italian is widely spoken and is the official language. English isn’t
very familiar to the locals. Family ties are of utmost importance here and hence social courtesies mean a lot to
the locals. There is a great impact of the Roman Catholic Church on the culture here. There is a high content of
chlorine in tap waters, so bottled water is recommended for staying fit during the trip. Since Italian is spoken on
a wide scale, it is highly recommended to learn few common Italian phrases which can be of great use.
Social gatherings call for formal wear, but one can dress in casuals
otherwise. At some religious places, sleeveless shirt and shorts are frowned upon. So they are better avoided.
Purses and wallets should be well guarded and in case of any theft, police should be informed about the
incident.
 |
One of the most popular cities to visit in Italy is Venice, which with its
canals and old buildings is one of the most truly romantic cities in the world. |
Site Seeing
The first thing to check out is the leaning tower of Pisa. At places like museums and art galleries, photography,
especially flash photography is restricted. Check out the ticket counter for more information. Italy should be
majorly discovered on foot for a thorough viewing of all the beautiful buildings and monuments. Coaches and trains
are a good option to get to a tourist spot.
Shopping
Shops here are open from 9am to 8pm, closed for lunch. Quality of
goods is great although the prices are very less. Items like crystals, lacework, leather good, and jewelry can be
bought at the stores. Remember to hold on to the receipt. Tipping of 10% is customary along with the service tax
levied on the bill. Italy is famous for top designers of the world, so do buy clothes and accessories to update
your wardrobe. Cruises have formal gatherings in the evening, so ensure to buy a cocktail dress or some formal
wear, though casuals can be worn at other times.
Electricity
The voltage used is 220 volts and 50 Hz frequency.
 |
Tuscany is one of the most popular regions in Italy,
with its iconic architecture and countryside. (Image by
Freeimages.com) |
Getting there
Alitalia is the national airline of Italy. Many other flights connect
to Italy from USA, Canada and Australia and there is big competition to attract passengers giving a wide range of
offers to travelers. Rome airport is located 26 km away from the city and it takes 45 minutes to get there from the
airport. Trains connect directly to Termini Station from where one can take taxi to get to their destination. Duty
free shops, bank, car hire and restaurants are the other services provided at this airport. Milan has another
famous airport here, which is at a distance of 45km away from the city.
Brindisi, Ancona, Naples and Venice are the major seaports of Italy.
Italian State Railways connects many European cities. But, Eurostar provides the fastest train service.
If choosing to drive, don’t forget to carry international driving
license and international insurance certificate. Roads connect Italy to France, Austria and Switzerland. Many coach
services are provided from the neighboring countries.
Duty Free Items
1. 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250g of
tobacco
2.
2liter of wine and 1liter of spirits (over 22 per cent) or 2liter of fortified or sparkling wine
3.
50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette; 500g of coffee or 200g of coffee extract (if over 15 years of
age)
4.
100g of tea or 40g of tea extract
5.
Gifts not exceeding €89.96 (if entering from an EU country), €175 (if entering from a non-EU country).
|