Italy - Ιταλία

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Italy is a country in Southern Europe. With Hellas recognized as the birthplace of Western civilization. Not surprisingly, it is also home to the largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. High art and monuments are found all over the country.

It is also known around the world for its wonderful cuisine, modern fashion, luxury sports cars and motorcycles, a variety of local cultures and dialects, as well as its beautiful shores, alpine lakes and mountain ranges (Alps and Apennines). ). No wonder it is often called Bel Paese (the beautiful country).

Two independent mini-states completely surround Italy: San Marino and the Vatican City. While technically not part of the European Union, both countries are also part of the Schengen area and the European Monetary Union (EMU). Apart from the different police uniforms, there is no obvious transition from these states and the territory of Italy and the currency is the same. Italian is also the official language in both countries.

At a glance

Italy is, for the most part, a peninsula located in the Mediterranean, bordering France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia to the north. Shoe-shaped Italy is surrounded by the Liguria and Tyrrhenian Seas to the west, the Mediterranean and the Ionian Sea to the south, and the Adriatic Sea to the east.

Italian is the official language spoken by the majority of the population, but as you travel throughout the country, you will find that there are many distinct Italian dialects depending on the region in which you are located. French is spoken in the northwest and German in the northeast. Italy has a very different landscape, but can be described mainly as mountainous, including the Alps and the Apennines running through the vast majority. Two large islands are part of this country: Sardinia, which is an island off the west coast of Italy, and Sicily, at the southern end ("toe") of the boot.

History

Of course, humans have lived on the Italian peninsula for at least 200,000 years. Neolithic civilizations flourished in prehistoric Italy but were either eliminated or assimilated around 2000 BC. by a group of Indo-European tribes, collectively known as the Italic peoples. These were more or less closely related to each other and were tribes such as the Latins, the Etruscans, the Umbrians, the Samnites, the Sicilians, the Ligures, the Oscans, to name a few. The Etruscan civilization was one of the first to rise in the 6th century BC. and lasted until the late democratic period. it flourished in what is now northern Lazio, Umbria and Tuscany. In the 8th and 7th century BC. Greek colonies were established in Sicily and southern Italy: Etruscan culture was quickly influenced by Greece. This is well illustrated in some excellent Etruscan museums. It is also worth visiting the Etruscan burial sites. Rome itself was ruled by the kings of Etruscans until 509 BC, when the last of them - Tarquinius Superbus - was removed from power and the Roman Republic was founded. After a series of wars, the Romans liberated the nearby Etruscan city of Veii in 396 BC. this caused the collapse of the Etruscan confederation and the Etruscan people themselves began to assimilate.

The Celts settled in what is now Northern Italy, where their civilization flourished in the 1st millennium BC. and began to expand further south. made the mistake of destroying Rome in 390 BC. and the Romans, uncomfortable for revenge, waged wars against them until their people were conquered and assimilated.

Ancient Rome was originally a small village founded around the 8th century BC. Over time, his primitive kingdom grew into a democracy - which would later evolve into an empire - covering the entire Mediterranean and extending as far north as Scotland and as far east as Mesopotamia and Arabia. Its steady decline began in the 2nd century AD. and the empire finally split in two in 285 AD: the Western Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire in the East. The western part was attacked by various Germanic tribes. The Visigoths withdrew Rome in 410 and their Vandals would follow in 455 BC. The Western Roman Empire finally collapsed in 476 AD, and the barbarian leaders divided the Italian peninsula. after that, Italy sank into the so-called Dark Ages.

After a long and bloody conquest by the Byzantines (the so-called "Gothic Wars"), much of Italy was controlled by the Eastern Roman Empire. Needless to say, this will not last long - like a Germanic tribe, the Lombards invaded Italy again in 572. hence the present-day northern region of Lombardy. Like their predecessors, they divided the land among themselves. However, due to their numerical inferiority, they were eventually assimilated by the native population. Only parts of southern Italy - under Byzantine control - and those that later became papal states (ie, Rome and the surrounding area, which were under the Pope) survived as relatively independent entities: indeed, the Church was so independent, who deemed it appropriate to summon other barbarians, the Franks, to get rid of his (now almost entirely humanized) violent, unstable, nervous neighbors. These were defeated in 774 by the aforementioned Franks and then lost their kingdom.

Meanwhile, Veneto was destroyed by the barbarians: some of its inhabitants believed it was safe on the islands of the Venetian lagoon and so founded a city there: Venice was born. The first evidence of what the Italian language will become dates back to this century and more specifically to 960.

Sicily remained in Byzantine hands until the end of the 8th century, when it was conquered by the Arabs, whose reign was short-lived: in 1092 the Normans - after overcoming the Byzantines from the rest of Southern Italy - invaded Sicily. They created the kingdoms of Sicily and Naples (which would later become the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, as a result of the unification of these two kingdoms in 1442 and had its capital in Naples).

In the north, Italy was a collection of small, independent city-states and kingdoms under the rule of the holy Roman emperor. However, they revolted against the then emperor Frederick Barbarossa in 1176 and defeated the imperial army at Legnano, thus gaining their independence. The so-called naval democracies of Genoa, Venice, Pisa and Amalfi remained relatively autonomous and competed with each other for control of the seas and for profitable trade routes with the Far East. This was also the time of the common, independent city-states that were governed by what should have been a close approach to democracy (that is, it was what we would now call "oligarchies" in which the most powerful or prestigious, the families in the city were called to cooperate - at least nominally - for the "public good"). Hohenstaufens, meanwhile, ruled the south and, under Frederick II - who was the patron saint of art - gave birth to a rich civilization.

From the 13th century onwards, Florence became the main cultural point of the peninsula: not only did it host poets such as Dante Alighieri and Petrarch, but it also hosted writers of the Boccaccio caliber. Indeed, their works formed the basis of a standardized form of the Italian language (which in itself is a mixture of Flemish grammar and Roman accent). People seemed to be strong men who could bring order to the cities and so dynasties like the Medici developed in Florence. In turn, these families became patrons of the arts, allowing Italy to become the birthplace of the Renaissance, with the emergence of geniuses such as Leonardo da Vinci, Bramante, Tiziano, Raffaello, Michelangelo and many others. After Frederick II's heir was killed in battle in 1268, the French ruled the south. but they were launched from Sicily in 1282 after a popular uprising, the vespri siciliani, during which thousands of French people were killed (opera fans will surely recognize one of their favorite operas!).

In the late 14th and 15th centuries, Italy hosted some of the richest countries in Europe. However, they were often at war with each other and only Lorenzo il Magnifico's diplomatic skills prevented the many small kingdoms from fighting each other. Apparently, when Lorenzo died in 1492, the Italian states fell into chaos. the king of France took advantage of the situation, crossed the Alps and returned the Kingdom of Naples for himself. He succeeded, but was forced to return to France. Only then did the large Italian companies realize the danger, but it was too late: after a futile victory at the Battle of Fornovo in 1495, the peninsula came to the attention of its European neighbors and was invaded by the French and Spanish. The North finally conquered the Austrians.

The discovery of the New World hurt the already declining Italian economies and most of the Italian states gained foreign dominance: and despite artistic, architectural and literary developments, life in post-reunification Italy became very unhappy. The Compensation, while it managed to limit most of the "earthly" excesses of the clergy, fell even more on the peninsula at a time when it was not so happy. This situation, which was further aggravated by the Italian wars of 1494-59 (during which Rome itself was sacked by the German mercenaries of Emperor Charles II) became even worse in the 17th century, when foreign powers fought each other in a a series of fruitless wars over dynastic rights in the Italian states. The 18th century, while (relatively) more peaceful than the previous one, was, from a cultural point of view, not so great. above that, the Austrians ruled the North with an iron fist, and the once prosperous South was unlucky to be ruled by a highly backward and obscure ruling class.

The birth of modern Italy

Eventually, the French Revolution was "exported" to Italy and revolutionary movements appeared almost everywhere. These ideals had a lasting impact on the future of the peninsula (the Italian flag dates back to 1797). a paradoxical (Neapolitan) Republic was proclaimed in 1799 but crushed by the royals who supported the British fleet ordered by Horatio Nelson. The arrival of Napoleon Bonaparte and the adoption of the Napoleonic Code formed the basis for the Risorgimento of Italy: after the restoration - especially after the revolutions of 1848 - the concept of the Italian nation became popular. in 1849 the peoples of Rome, Milan and Venice rebelled against their oppressors, but were soon crushed (the present-day Italian national anthem was written at this time).

In the same year (1849), the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont, ruled by the House of Savoy, became the focus of the movement supporting the unification of Italy. A devastating war against the Austrians did not stop the delicious Piedmont Prime Minister Camillo Benso, Mr. Cavour, and King Victor Emmanuel II from becoming the people behind the unification process. With the help of France, and after the first two wars of Italian Independence (which ended in 1859), Austria finally won: Lombardy was ceded to Piedmont in Sardinia. Around the same time (1860), Giuseppe Garibaldi embarked on a mission to annex the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (the so-called Spedizione dei Mille or "Expedition of the Thousand"). his volunteer army, the red shirts, landed in Sicily, defeated the enemy troops, despite being numbered 20: 1, conquered the island and went up to invade the rest of the Kingdom. As soon as this process was completed, the peoples of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, who ruled a branch house of the Hapsburg dynasty, Umbria and the Pontian promises of Emilia and Romania belonging to the Pope, revolted and demanded the annexation of St. which had been duly accepted.

The Parliament of Piedmont-Sardinia was then convened at a meeting of Victor Emmanuel II and the Kingdom of Italy was finally proclaimed on March 17, 1861. Turin was chosen as the capital of the newly formed state but moved to Florence in 1865. Why not Rome? The city continued to host the papal states, which were under the protection of the same French emperor - Napoleon III - who helped establish the Kingdom of Italy. In 1866, Victor Emmanuel II managed to annex Venice after the third war of independence. On September 20, 1870, shortly after leaving France due to the Franco-Prussian War, Rome was invaded by Italian troops and became the capital of Italy.

Cavour died in 1861, when the newly formed country was in a rather sensitive phase due to the brigantaggio, a particularly violent recovery from the looting that drowned in the South. Victor Emmanuel II was forced to send an army to suppress the robbers. He died in 1878 and was the first king of Italy to be buried in the Pantheon. He died the son of Umberto I, whose queen, Margherita di Savoia, was honored by a Neapolitan pizza chef who named the pizza margherita after 1889. The same year the death penalty was abolished in Italy.

Francesco Crispi, then prime minister, called for a defensive alliance with the Austro-Hungarian and German empires - despite strong opposition from Italian public opinion (Austria was considered the country's traditional enemy) - and led the nation to join the Triple Alliance in 1882. . In 1890, Italy - a belated route to the "Scramble for Africa" ​​- conquered Eritrea and Somalia, which became colonies.Despite these successes, the economy deteriorated significantly and millions of Italians, mostly from the rural south, were forced to emigrate. In 1896, Prime Minister Francesco Crispi, for the second time, ordered an invasion of Ethiopia: but the ugly campaign was slaughtered at the Battle of Adwa. Crispi was forced to resign due to a public outcry. two years later, she protested in Milan against high food prices but was crushed (Fiorenzo Bava Beccaris, the general who ordered the cannons to be set on fire, publicly congratulated the king himself and even offered him a seat in the Royal Senate).

It was no surprise that King Umberto quickly became popular and was assassinated on July 29, 1900 by the anarchist Gaetano Bresci. His son, Vittorio Emanuele III, succeeded him.

In 1911, war broke out between Italy and the Ottoman Empire, which quickly won and had to cede Libya and the Dodecanese islands as war reparations (this conflict is notable because the aircraft were first used in reconnaissance / bombing roles ). The Italian state, however, had only control of Libya's main cities and coastal areas, as a strong resistance movement prevented full occupation of the country: the situation would last until the mid-1920s, when the fascist regime was overthrown. violent guerrillas.

First World War

Italy, under the 1882 defense pact, did not immediately join the war. Many Italians wanted to regain the so-called terre irredente (these were provinces inhabited by an indigenous Italian dialect and were once part of the old Italian states; until 1915, they were Austrian occupation for a little over a century).

Most intellectuals - including the famous poet, writer and warrior or Gabriel d'Annunzio - were pressured to join the war on the Entente side. The intervention eventually took the upper hand and a secret treaty - the Treaty of London - was signed between Italy, France and Great Britain: by that treaty Italy would have acquired the ethno-Italian provinces of Trentino, Istria and Dalmatia if it joins the war against the Central Powers.

The hostilities began on May 24, 1915 and ended on November 4, 1918. After three years of bloody fighting across the Alpine arch, more than a million Italian soldiers lost their lives, but Italy managed to win the war. the Agreement, however, ignored certain provisions of the treaty and Italy was granted only a part of the territories it claimed.

The rise of fascism and World War II

In October 1922, a small National Fascist Party led by Benito Mussolini attempted a coup d'etat with "March in Rome", resulting in the king forming an alliance with Mussolini. An agreement with Germany was completed by Mussolini in 1936 and the second in 1938. During World War II, Italy invaded the Allies in June 1943, leading to the collapse of the fascist regime and arrest, flight, arrest and death. of Mussolini. In September 1943, Italy surrendered. However, fighting continued on its territory for the rest of the war, with the Allies fighting those Italian fascists who did not surrender, as did German forces.

Democracy and the post-war years

In 1946, King Umberto II was forced to resign and Italy became a democracy. In the 1950s, Italy became a member of NATO and allied with the United States. The Marshall Plan helped revive the Italian economy, which, until the 1960s, enjoyed a period of steady economic growth. In 1957, Italy became a founding member of the European Economic Community. In the 1950s and early 1960s, Italy experienced a period of rapid economic growth and industrial production called "il boom", which saw the country rise from a poor and weak nation to a strong one. During this period, cities such as Rome also returned to popular tourist destinations, expressed in both American and Italian films such as "Holidays in Rome " and "Sweet Life".

However, despite the productive and successful period that lasted until the mid-1960s, from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, the country experienced an economic crisis. There was a constant fear, both inside and outside Italy (especially in the US), that the Communist Party, which regularly garnered more than 20% of the vote, would one day become a government and all the dirty tricks. From 1992 until today, Italy has faced huge public debt and widespread corruption. The scandals concerned all the major parties, but mainly the Christian Democrats and the Socialists, who both disbanded. The 1994 election ousted Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi as prime minister. has won twice, but emerged victorious again in the 2008 election.

The modern 1960 Pirelli Tower in Milan is often considered a symbol of new Italy and post-war economic growth and reconstruction. Despite the unification that lasted more than 150 years, important parts of Italy remain. The northern part of the country is richer and more industrialized than the south and many northerners oppose the effective demand to subsidize the southerners. The Northern League political party is pushing for more autonomy in the north and for reduced capital transfers to the south. The people of the north and south can agree on one thing: no one likes to pay for the huge bureaucracy based in Rome.

Society

Due to its living history, until recently, the concept of "Italian people" would have been heard a little more than a geographical significance for everyday Italian. Italy has for centuries been home to dozens of kingdoms, headquarters and marquises, often separated by mountain ranges and sometimes occupied by foreign powers, with its own history, custom, currency and language, and many of these apartments are still preserved to this day. It is not uncommon for an Italian to identify first with his homeland or region and only secondarily as an Italian. However, over 150 years (sometimes reluctant) of unification processes, especially after the spread of mass education and television culture, today's Italians have acquired a common denominator of an Italian nature, which many do not want or are interested in being challenged. Although the independent movements emerged over time (the most vocal is the Northern League), they rarely managed to mobilize large masses and mainly retreated after a while.

While abroad somewhat retaining its reputation as a highly universal society, the Italian religious reality is in fact very different and fragmented. If churches are ubiquitous in large cities, such as tiny small towns, the practice and mass attendance of professionals is in line with that of other European countries: the older generations are more observant, while the younger ones are more indifferent. All possible Christian names - and an important Jewish community - have made Italy their home for centuries. In addition, in recent decades, Islam and Buddhism have become increasingly visible, partly as a result of mass migration from North Africa and Asia, but also due to sporadic conversions between Italians. Agnosticism or overt atheism has also become common, according to the latest census, which accounts for almost 20% of the population.

Climate

Italy's climate is very different 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. Autumn is generally rainy. Winters are cold and humid (hence often foggy) in the north and milder in the south. Conditions in inland coastal areas can vary greatly from the higher ground and inland valleys, especially during the winter months, when higher altitudes tend to be cold, wet and often snowy. The Alps have a mountainous climate, with cool summers and very cold winters.

Appropriate visit period

Languages

Areas

Important cities

•   Venice - Known as "The Most Serene" and "Queen of the Adriatic".

•   Verona - The city of Romeo and Juliet.

•   Milan - The financial capital of Italy.

•   Naples - The city of Vesuvius.

•   Pisa - The city of the sloping tower.

•   Ravenna - The city's early Christian monuments are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

•   Rome - The eternal City.

•   Florence - Known for its museums and artistic treasures.

Additional tourist destinations

•   Amalfi Coast - Has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.
•   Capri - The most popular island in Italy. It was the favorite resort of the Roman emperor Tiberius
•   Lake Como —
•   Lake Maggiore —
•   Lake Garda —
•   Pompeii - Ruins of the Roman city destroyed by a violent eruption of Vesuvius on August 24, 79 AD.
•   Taormina - One of the most popular holiday resorts in Italy Taormina lies in the place of ancient Tavromeni

• Gallery
• 

  Fontana di Trevi

• 

  Cathedral of Milan

• 

  Cathedral of Florence

• 

  Capri

• 

  Amalfi Coast

• 

  Pompeii

• 

  Μολτράσιο

• 

  Lake Maggiore

• 

  Taormina

How to get there

Italy is a member of the Schengen Agreement.

There are no border controls between the 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. Similarly, a visa issued to any Schengen member is valid in all other countries that have signed and implemented the treaty. But beware: not all EU member states have signed the Schengen agreement, and not all Schengen members are members of the European Union. This means that there may be on-the-spot customs controls but not immigration controls (traveling within Schengen but to / from a third country) or you may need to clear immigration but not customs offices (traveling within the EU but from / Country).

Template: Schengen

Foreign troops entering Italy under an agreement on the status of forces do not require a passport and only need to present their valid military ID and travel orders. However, their dependents are not exempt from the visa requirement.

All non-EU, EEA or Swiss nationals residing in Italy for 90 days or less must declare their presence in Italy within 8 days of arrival. If your passport was stamped on arrival in Italy, the stamp counts as such. In general, a copy of your hotel check-in will be sufficient if you are staying at a hotel (ie a copy of your passport ID will be retained by the hotel staff and will complete the work for you). Otherwise, you will have to go to a police station to complete yourself (dichiarazione di presenza). Failure to do so may result in expulsion. Travelers staying for more than 90 days do not need to complete this declaration, but must have the appropriate visa and a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno).

By air

Italy has a national airline, Rome-based Alitalia, as well as a new competitor in Milan called Air Italy.

Italy is one of the main battlefields for European low cost airlines offering many routes to / from and within Italy. The largest airports, of course, are operated by major European airlines.

Intercontinental airlines mainly arrive in Rome and Milan, with Rome being the main international gateway to the country.

Most international medium-haul flights arrive in the following cities in Italy:

• Rome - with two airports: Fiumicino (FCO - Leonardo Da Vinci) and Ciampino (CIA) for low cost 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 - Fights)
• Genoa (GOA - Cristoforo Colombo)

By train

• From Austria via Vienna, Innsbruck and Villach
• From France via Nice, Lyon and Paris
• From Germany via Munich
• From Spain via Barcelona
• From Switzerland via Basel, Geneva and Zurich

There is no longer a direct connection to Eastern Europe (Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia). The only way to get to Italy by train from these countries is via Vienna or Villach. It is also possible to get there by train Nova Gorica (to Slovenia, then cross the border on foot and take a train to Italy at Gorizia train station.

By road

Italy crosses France, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia All borders are open (without passport / customs controls), except for Switzerland, with customs controls and random passport controls. At other borders, cars can stop behind the border for sampling.

By boat

There are several ferries departing from Greece, Albania, Montenegro and Croatia. Most arrive in Venice, Ancona, Bari and Brindisi.

Some regular ferry services connect the island of Corsica in France with Genoa, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Naples and northern Sardinia. Barcelona is connected to Civitavecchia and Genoa.

Some regular ferry services connect Sicily and Naples to some North African ports.

There is a hydraulic service running from Pozzallo on the southeast coast of Sicily in 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

How to move

By train

Trains in Italy are generally good value, frequent but mixed reliability. There are different types of trains: 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, traveling up to 300 km / h and stopping only at large stations. They connect Rome with Turin, Milan, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Naples and other cities. It is also the most expensive type of train by far. To travel on these trains, you must pay a supplement to the basic ticket, which includes the booking fee. Regional trains are the slowest, cheapest and least reliable, stopping at all stations. Intercity trains are somewhere between high-speed trains and local trains. They are generally reliable, but if you need to catch a flight, for example, it may be better to pay extra for high-speed trains.

In distant trains there are 1st and 2nd classes. A 2nd class ticket costs about 80% of 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. Regular high-speed train services require reservations. This means that your seat is theoretically guaranteed, but it also means that you will need to purchase tickets in advance. In fact, many passengers with tickets for other trains that get it wrong will have to pay the cheap fine in order not to have a seat. As a result, on long journeys or peak hours, you expect to find your seat, in this case simply showing that the ticket is enough to get your seat. During the hours of daily commute, on long north-south routes during the holidays or before and after large political demonstrations, the trains for the lower types of trains can become extremely crowded, to the point that it makes them very uncomfortable. in a tiny folding flap in the hallway, where you have to move to get through.

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 and not on a special high-speed line, with marginally shorter travel times compared to Intercity trains, which means it can be a waste of money. Just check the Trenitalia website [2] or the print schedule, which is usually located near the entrance to each platform, to see how long the trip will take.

On major routes such as Milan - Rome or Milan - Reggio Calabria, Trenitalia has special Treni Notte night trains. They leave around 22.00 and arrive in the morning. Depending on the train, you may be able to choose between regular seats, bunk beds and bed cabins of different categories. Seats are cheaper, but bed cabins are not prohibitively expensive and are a very relaxing way to travel long distances. Also, keep in mind that some trains do not provide air conditioning, so bring your own bottle of water during the hot summer months.

In the train schedules that appear at each station, each train is listed in different colors (ie Blue, Red, Green). Arrival times are listed in parentheses next to the names of each destination. One thing to keep in mind is that some trains run only seasonally or for certain periods of time (for example, during holidays).

Ticket queues can be very long and slow, so you get to the station earlier. There are touch screen ticket machines that are very useful, efficient and multilingual, but there are never many and the queues for them can be very long.

You can also buy tickets online at Trenitalia [3]. you will receive a code (codice di prenotatione (PNR)) used to pick up the ticket from a ticket machine at the station ("Self Service"). For some (but not all) trains you can also choose a ticket-free option, where you can print the ticket yourself. See also below at Trenitalia Ticketless. You can also select an option to print a "correct" receipt on the train if you need one. By default, the site will only display the "best" (usually more expensive) links - you can choose to see "all links" to see if there are slower but cheaper links.

High-speed trains can fill up, so if you are on a strict schedule, you will need to purchase these tickets in advance. In general, you should buy tickets before boarding the train. Italian Railways recently (late 2007) launched an anti-tax evasion campaign and introduced stricter fines (starting at € 50). If you are running really slowly and do not have a ticket, it may be best to talk directly to the conductor (il controllore or il capotreno) outside the train when boarding.

Remember to validate the ticket before boarding most trains by stamping it on one of the yellow boxes (marked Convalida). Traveling with a non-standard ticket is technically the same as traveling without a ticket. It is very important that you do not forget to validate your ticket, as pipelines are generally not tolerant of this particular issue. Exceptions are the tickets that determine the day and time of the trip. as these only apply to a specific train, they do not generally need to be validated.

The cheapest and best way to travel to an area is to buy a zone ticket. A graph that appears near your verifier shows how many bands you have to pay for between stations. To buy a belt card for the next area you will have to get off the train at the last station and because the stops are so short you will have to board the next train (usually in about 1 hour).

A ban on smoking in public places in Italy came into force on 10 January 2005. You will be fined for smoking on any Italian train.

There are also special offers on offer, some of which are intended for foreign tourists and others are available to locals. Some offers are passages that allow travel to a selected period, while other special offers are regular tickets sold at decent prices with some restrictions. Before you choose to buy a ticket, first check if it is cheaper than buying a regular ticket (or better yet, a discounted regular ticket, if available).

If you travel a lot, and you are not Italian and you are a resident of another EU nation, you can get a TRENITALIA PASS: you buy several travel days to use within 2 months, however you still have to pay a supplement to the mandatory bookings, ie TBiz, Eurostar Italia , Intercity Plus and Intercity which will range between 5.00 and 25.00 euros depending on the type of train. Be aware that available seats for Pass holders are limited. In addition, there are significant discounts for advanced bookings, which are often lower than the booking fee for using the ticket. This is especially true for high-speed trains. Also note that there is a second network of private high-speed trains called Italo [4], which does not recognize the passage. the prices are similar and similarly discounted for the deposit. Pass details are on the Trenitalia website, as well as on the RailChoice website at.

Trenitalia Ticketless

The Trenitalia Ticketless option is only available when booking online or at an approved travel agency and only for high-speed and long-distance trains. The Ticketless solution allows you to purchase a ticket online, receive a PNR code by mail, and board the train directly. You can choose whether to receive a receipt via email or pick it up on the train. On board you must inform the pipeline of the PNR code to allow it to issue the receipt or confirm your presence on board if you have already received the proof of payment by e-mail

By car

In Northern and Central Italy there is a well-developed motorway system (motorway), while in the South it is a bit worse in quality and area. Each highway is identified by an A followed by a number on a green background. Most highways are toll roads. Some have toll stations that give you access to an entire section (for example, the tangenziali of Naples, Rome and Milan, for example), but in general, most have entry and exit toll stations. on these highways, you have to collect a ticket at the entrance and the amount of tolls will be calculated at the exit depending on the distance covered. Tolls depend on highways and areas. as a gross estimate, you should expect a tax between € 0.06 and € 0.12 for each kilometer. Do not lose your entrance ticket, because if you do, you will be considered to have entered the highway at the farthest station from your exit, so you will be charged the maximum possible fee. All the blue stripes ("Viacard") of toll stations are vending machines that accept large credit cards as well as prepaid cards (called Viacards) sold at gas stations along the highway or for example in several tobacco companies in cities. If you have problems with the machine (eg your credit card cannot be read), press the Assistenza key and wait for the operator to assist you - be prepared to pay your own fees in cash if the problems persist. Do not back up to move to another lane, even if you may see other locals doing so, unless your staff or police clearly instruct you. backing up toll stations is considered equivalent to highway support and a very heavy fine if caught.

Many Italians use an electronic toll payment device and there are reserved yellow stripes with the symbol "Telepass" or simply "T". Driving in these lanes (controlled by the camera system) without the device will result in a fine and a toll payment for the longest distance. By agreement with other countries, if you are a foreigner, you will also pay extra costs for being located in your own country.

Acceleration on the highway is less common today than in the past, due to significantly increased control in recent years. There are many automatic and almost invisible systems for punishing speeding and dangerous driving. Also, the Italian police highway (Polizia Stradale) operates many unlabeled cars equipped with very advanced speed radar and camera systems. Since 2006, various sections of Italian highways have been equipped with an automatic system called Tutor with automatic license plate recognition, which controls the average speed of all vehicles on a road route. Coverage of this system is expanding to more and more highways. Sometimes, road signs will remind you of the presence of this system.

If virtually all the vehicles around you seem to be behaving, meticulously driving at the speed limit or even a little lower, it is a good hint that some kind of enforcement system is working on this road. As a stranger, it would be best to stay on the safe side and respect the boundaries and rules at all times, even when locals driving like crazy may lead you to think that a certain speed limit or "no crossing" sign »Is a simple sentence: now and then, these locals meet the police on their way.

When Italian drivers flash their lights, it can mean either as a requirement to get away or as an invitation to go first, depending on the situation. A vehicle coming in the opposite direction flashing repeatedly may warn you of a danger or a police car / checkpoint still on the road (although this warning is prohibited).

Unless different limits are set, the general speed limits are:

• 130 km / h on motorways (110 km / h in case of rain, 50 km / h in case of fog);
• 110 km / time on divided motorways divided into gradations marked with blue motorway signs at the entrances, is called a superstrade.
• 90 km / h overall speed limit on highways and roads outside urban areas.
• 50 km / time in urban areas - an urban area that starts with a white sign with the name of the city / town written in black and ends with a similar symbol blocked in red.

Italian laws allow a speed limit of 5% (minimum distance 5 km / h). Fines are generally very expensive. If you have caught more than 40 km / h above the speed limit, you will be fined over € 500 and you will be immediately banned from driving for 1 to 3 months, leaving you on foot at that time (you can reach the destination of your current trip). Non-resident drivers of vehicles with foreign registration are obliged to either pay the fines on the spot if they accept it or to pay interest on the spot if they intend to file an appeal thereafter. you will have to pay something immediately and the police will not hesitate to escort you to the nearest ATM to withdraw the cash you need. While the chances of getting caught are certainly not terribly high, you really do not want all this to happen to you.

From 2003, all vehicles must use headlights at all times outside urban areas, including motorways. Motorcycles must always ride with the headlights at all times.

The issue of driving under the influence of alcohol has received a great deal of attention in recent years following a series of fatal accidents. The tolerable limit is 0.50 g / L in the blood. if it is above this limit it is a crime punishable by heavy fines, revocation of license, imprisonment time and even immediate confiscation of his own vehicle in the most serious cases. The limit for drivers under the age of 21 or less than 3 years of driving experience or professional drivers is zero. Unfortunately, enforcement, although stronger than before, is still insufficient and driving under the influence of alcohol is still somewhat of an issue.

All passengers must wear their seat belts and children under the age of 10 must use the rear seats. Children under the age of 12 must use either an approved car seat or a souvenir seat, depending on age.

At unmarked intersections, you are supposed to perform on any vehicle coming from your right. Be on the lookout for many Italians who seem to ignore this rule and will insist on a non-existent right of way simply because they are heading straight or traveling on what they consider to be the main road, even if the intersection is actually completely unmarked . This is especially true in large cities at night, when the traffic lights at some intersections are turned off. Most of the time the side roads at these intersections will have a "give way" sign, but sometimes they do not, which is confusing at the same time because you never know if the crossroads has a sign or is irrelevant and dangerous because you can expect it. vehicle coming from your left to let you pass while you assume you have a "give way" sign and continue to travel like a sphere.

Be aware that many Italians do not take road signs very seriously (some of them do not even seem to notice that there are road signs ...), which may be strange if you are coming from the north of the Alps. On multi-lane roads, you should always be careful about vehicles in other lanes that invade your lane in curves. The lane markings on multi-lane roundabouts are systematically ignored and almost all motorists will "cut" while negotiating the roundabout again when they exit, of course without signaling. There is a fair amount of confusion in Italy about proper behavior at large roundabouts. you have to be careful there, wait for the vehicles to enter, turn and exit at any time without signaling and never travel side by side with other vehicles at a roundabout, assuming the other one respects the lane markings.

Signs used in Italy are designed according to EU recommendations and mainly use illustrations (not text). Highways (autostrade) are written on a green background, while general road signs (including those on a separate road, on separate routes) are on a blue background and urban or local road signs are white.

When on a schedule, use the bus - marked in green - where available and avoid using the main thoroughfares - marked in blue - for long distances (unless it is a separate road, grade separation). While tolls on the highway can be quite expensive, they significantly reduce your travel time, while general roads are annoyingly slow, as they are heavily used by local traffic, can block trucks, and have many roundabouts or traffic lights. often run through towns and villages without detours. General roads, on the other hand, often offer climbing scenes and should be your first choice if you are not in a hurry and want to explore the true nature of the country.

Fuel prices are slightly more expensive than in Western Europe and are much more expensive than in North America and Japan. As of 2016, prices are staggering around € 1.35 per liter for petrol and € 1.15 per liter for diesel. At most stations, only one type of 95 octane petrol and one type of diesel is available. Others have additional petrol and / or high quality diesel. At many service stations, there is a significant price difference between self-service filling and servito service. The corresponding pumps are marked accordingly when entering the gas station and you have to pull the pumps depending on the type of service you want. If you stop at a pump serviced by an assistant, just wait and an assistant will escape in a matter of seconds.

Traffic in major Italian cities is very heavy and finding a parking spot can range from a difficult to an impossible business at times, so driving to major Italian cities is not appropriate unless you really need to. Basically in any big city, it would be better to park your vehicle in a park-walk or somewhere in the vicinity and using public transport, which is reasonably reliable and quite cheap. Be very careful with the a Traffico Limitato zone or ZTLs (restricted traffic zones). They are limited areas in many medium and large Italian cities, mainly but not only in the historic centers, where only approved vehicles are allowed. The entrance to a ZTL is characterized by signs and cameras, which easily go unnoticed by tourists driving a car. Many tourists each year report being fined (around € 100) for entering a ZTL unknowingly. Tourists who rent a car will end up receiving one or more tickets months later at their homes, including additional fees for the paperwork required to send the documents abroad. Rental companies can also charge € 15-50 to give the driver details to the police. Thus, entry into these zones without authorization can easily amount to a fine of more than 200 euros. If you have booked accommodation in a city center and plan to reach it by car, you should check in advance if it is in such a restricted area and if you are eligible for a permit. If you are planning to rent a car, the following brokers and car rental companies are a good choice: AutoEurope.com, Avis, Hertz, Europcar.

By bus

Buy bus tickets from corner shops, bus company offices or automated machines before boarding (on some systems, tickets can be purchased from an automated machine). Buying tickets from the bus driver is generally not possible. The payment system for the most massive transit in Italy (city trains, city buses, metro) is based on voluntary payment combined with variable enforcement. Tickets are purchased before boarding and validated on the vehicle engine. Inspectors can board the vehicle to check passengers' tickets and issue fines to those who do not have a validated ticket. Bus company inspectors are generally recognizable by an item displaying the company logo. When issuing a fine inspectors are allowed to ask to see your documents and must provide some kind of proof with date, time and location. They are never allowed to collect the fine directly (which can generally be paid by post). Attacking an inspector during his work is a serious offense.

Daily, weekly, monthly and yearly tickets are generally available, except for multipurpose tickets. These may or may not need to be validated. There is a different pricing system in almost every city, so check ticket types and availability in advance. For tourists it can be very convenient to buy daily (or multi-day) tickets that allow you to travel as much as you want in one (or more) days. Every big city also has a kind of City Card, a fixed fee card that allows you to travel on local public transport and visit various museums and offer discounts on shops, hotels and restaurants.

By boat

Approaching Italy by sea can be a great experience and a good alternative to traditional land tourist excursions.

A sailing charterer in Italy is an amazing way to get to know the country. Although the shipping industry is smaller than one would expect for this incredibly popular tourist destination, there are many reasons to choose a yacht in a more conventional onshore approach. The Italian coast, like the French coast, attracts luxury chartered boats to the highest standards. "Touring" Italy from a private boat is surprisingly convenient and comfortable. The dramatic coastline of Italy is better appreciated by the sea and the Italians know it! You can swim whenever you want and many of the most famous attractions are easily accessible from the beach. Cruising on a private boat also offers you a relief from the crowds and traffic that is traditionally unavoidable in Italy's most popular destinations. There are many companies offering luxury yacht charters in Italy.

There are important maritime regions in Italy: Tuscany, Amalfi, Sardinia and Sicily. Everyone has their own taste and focus. Make sure you plan your route carefully, as each area rewards in its own way.

Languages

Unsurprisingly, Italian is the language spoken by most Italians.

Each region in Italy has a separate linguistic dialect (which is, at times, a language) other than Italian which may or may not be the mother tongue of the locals depending on the region: in regions such as Rome or Milan the spoken language language is today is mainly Italian with little local influence, while in rural areas the local language is more common. although people are usually bilingual.

A good phrasebook will be very useful if you go anywhere far away, while in most major cities you will find many people who understand English, Spanish or French. But even in these areas Italians will be happy to hear you try to speak Italian or the local language and try to understand you even if you make a lot of mistakes. If you want to correct your mistakes to help you better understand the language, do not forget to ask before starting a conversation. Italians will rarely correct you differently, as they consider it too rude to do so. They also appreciate your efforts to speak their language, even if you do it badly, and you will not be too upset about your mistakes.

English is widely spoken at various levels of proficiency in well-traveled tourist areas, where it can be used by shopkeepers and tour operators. Besides, you will find that most Italians do not know English, a relatively new subject in schools (first introduced in the 1970s instead of French). While most younger Italians have studied English, due to lack of practice and adequate exposure it tends to be poor. However, the most basic words and phrases usually get stuck and there is often at least one person in a group of younger people who know enough English to help you. Older people rarely know English, but they will try to help you anyway with gestures or similar words and they will surely assume that you understand Italian. If you are going to speak in English, it is polite to start the conversation in Italian and ask if the person understands English before proceeding. Speaking a foreign language, assuming it will be understood, can be considered very arrogant and rude by many Italians.

In South Tyrol, the majority of people also speak German-German dialects as their mother tongue (except in the capital of the Bolzano region, where only a quarter of the population speaks) and German is the official language of the Autonomous Province other than Italian. . This is due to the fact that these regions were part of Austrian Hungary until the end of World War I.

Spanish, French and Portuguese are not so widely spoken, but they are quite similar to Italian so that people can recognize a few words, thus making yourself understood. note, however, that trying to deal with Spanish people - or confusing Italian with that language - is considered rather annoying by the locals. Of the three, especially in interaction with the elderly, French is probably your best bet. In the north-west of the Valle d'Aosta there is a minority speaking French-Provence.

In northern Italy, there are small pockets of other Romance languages, such as Ladin, a Reto-Romanian language associated with Swiss Roman. 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 about 100,000 Albanian speakers in Puglia, Calabria and Sicily - some of whom migrated to the Middle Ages and thus speak the medieval Arberesh language. Italian is the only official language of Italy, but some regions have other languages ​​which are also official: German in South Tyrol, Slovenia in Friuli-Venezia Giulia and French in Val d'Aosta.

Slovenian is a mother tongue in parts of Friuli-Venezia Giulia alongside Italian and is widely spoken in villages near the Slovenian border and Trieste. In all cases, the Slovenian speakers will also speak Italian.

What to see

There are so many who see in Italy that it is difficult to know where to start. Almost every small village has an interesting location or two, as well as a few other things to see.

• Medieval villages and towns are scattered throughout rural Italy, and make for enjoyable day trips or scenic locations for more relaxing holidays. Two notable examples (and UNESCO World Heritage Sites) are San Gimignano, known for its abundance of slender towers, and Assisi, known for St. Francis of Assisi and the Basilica of St. Francis dedicated to St. .
• Etruscan Italy. If you have limited time and can not travel outside the main cities, then do not miss the amazing collection at the Etruscan Museum in Villa Giulia in Rome. Car rental gives access to the painted tombs and the Tarquinia Museum or the huge burial complex in Cerveteri and these are exactly the areas that are easily accessible from Rome.

• The Greek influence. Well-preserved Greek temples in Agrigento in southwestern Sicily and in Paestum, south of Naples, are well aware of the extent of Greek influence in Italy.
• Roman ruins. From the south, to Sicily, to the north of the country, Italy is full of reminders of the Roman Empire. In Taormina, Sicily controls the Roman theater, with excellent views of the mountain. Mount Etna on a clear day. Also in Sicily, do not miss the well-preserved mosaics in Piazza Armerina. Going north than south of Naples, you will find Pompeii and Herculaneum, covered by lava from Mt. Vesuvius and, therefore, surprisingly well preserved. In Rome and on every street in the center it seems to have a few pieces written of Roman stone built on more recent buildings. Do not miss the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Aqueducts, the Appian Way and a dozen museums dedicated to Roman ruins. Further north, the Roman amphitheater in Verona is definitely not to be missed.

• Christian Italy. The Vatican is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church. Although in Rome it has the status of a separate state. Don't miss St Peter's and the Vatican Museum. Rome itself has over 900 churches. a large number of them are worth a quick visit. Throughout Italy there is a truly amazing Christian architecture that covers the Romanesque (700-1200). Gothic (1100-1450); Renaissance (1400-1600); and decorated Baroque (1600-1830) style. Although the theft of works of art has been a problem, large churches and cathedrals retain a huge number of paintings and sculptures and others have been moved to city and church museums. Murals and mosaics are everywhere, and quite impressive. Don't just look for churches: in the countryside there are some fascinating monasteries to discover. 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 called it northern Italy until it exploded by the Lombards in 751. Venice is of course world famous and nearby Chioggia, also in the lagoon, is a smaller version. The churches of Ravenna have some incredible mosaics. A visit to Ravenna requires a little detour, but it is worth it.
• The Renaissance. Start with a visit to Piazza Michelangelo in Florence to admire the famous view. He then went on to explore the many museums, both inside and outside Florence, which house Renaissance works of art. The Renaissance or Renaissance (in Italian Rinascimento) lasted between the 14th and 16th centuries and is generally believed to have begun in Florence. The list of famous names is endless: in Ghiberti architecture (the bronze doors of the cathedral), in Brunelleschi (the dome) and in Giotto (the bell tower). In literature: Dante, Petrarch and Machiavelli. In painting and sculpture: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, Masaccio and Boticelli.
• Roads and squares. You could visit the cities of Italy, never go to church, museum or Roman ruin, and still have a great time. Just wander around, keeping your eyes open. Apart from the northern cities of Po and Adige, most of Italy (including cities) is hilly or mountainous, giving some great views. Look when you walk to see amazing rooftop gardens and classic bell towers. In cities like Rome, note the continuing confrontation of expensive shops with small workplaces for craftsmen. Look for interesting grocery stores 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 play in different cities: Milan, Verona, Parma, Rome, Venice, Spoleto, Florence, Palermo.
• Western Alps. Visit the western Alps and you will have the opportunity to wander among many green valleys, such as Val Pellice, Val Chisone, Val Po and many others, in the shadow of the highest European peaks. All the valleys are full of wandering, in any level of difficulty, whether you want to walk softly around a mountain lake or try something more difficult, in the highest valley, in scenarios of colossal pine forest and space mountain landscapes. People in mountain villages are often very friendly, as long as you show respect for them and the place where they live, obviously. The cities in which you can start your journey are Cuneo, for the southern valleys.
• Eastern Alps. The Eastern Alps include a well-known but amazingly beautiful area, the Trentino-Alto Adige as well as the areas of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The two provinces in the Trentino-Alto Adige region are in fact very different, both culturally and geographically. While Alto Adige is predominantly German, Trentino is part of Italian culture. Trentino is one of the most popular areas in Italy. It has an excellent variety of landscapes such as forests, spacious valleys, streams, waterfalls and lakes. Its mountains, and especially the Dolomite chain, represent a natural monument recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. But Trentino is also an area rich in art and culture with its fairytale castles and modern and sophisticated museums such as the Mart Museum of Contemporary Art in Rovereto and the Muse Science Museum in Trento. Both in summer and in winter the area offers the opportunity to spend holidays enjoying nature, doing sports or just enjoying the local culture.

What to do

Visit the beach

In theory, access to the beach is free for everyone in Italy, but as is the case with many things in this country, the practice may be somewhat different from the law. Many parts of the beach, especially those located near urban areas, are released by private concessions. During the season they cover almost the whole beach with rows and rows of sunbeds (lettini) and umbrellas (ombrelloni). You have the right to go through these shops free of charge to reach the sea and you should be able to walk along the sea in front of them. The beaches in Calabria are more affordable, most of them are free, you will only have to pay for the final equipment you want to rent.

South of Rome there are 20 km. Free beach in Circeo National Park. This is thanks to Dr. Mario Valeriani [17], who was in charge of the area after World War II and never gave permission to build anything, despite the very generous bribes offered by a crowd of investors and private millionaires, considered it a natural miracle. which was to remain as intended. So today we can all enjoy this expanse of nature. You can bring your own chair and sun visor and you will only be charged one parking fee on the main road.

While lettini rentals for the day are not very expensive on the premises, they can be filled very quickly. There are some free beaches everywhere: they are easily recognizable by the absence of adjustable Lettini rows. They can be very crowded: on Saturday or Sunday in the summer you will not find an empty section of the beach anywhere. Most facilities offer full service, such as entertainment, bar and restaurant, fitness classes, kindergarten, and more. Close to urban areas you will never get far from a fish restaurant on the beach or at least a bar. On the beach, naked women are more or less accepted everywhere, but full nudity is completely unacceptable anywhere in Italy and carries a heavy fine and / or arrest.

Visit the vineyards

Italy is famous for its wine. And its vineyards tend to be in the middle of a beautiful landscape. Organizing an organized tour is probably your best bet. Day trips can usually be arranged through your hotel if you live in a large wine region such as Chianti or through your local tour desk. There are several companies offering longer excursions that include meals and accommodation. A simple internet search for "Italian vineyard tours" or "Italy wine tour" will find them. Note that these longer excursions tend to emphasize good food, good wine and a high standard of accommodation and are therefore expensive. If you rent a car and want to organize your own excursions, a useful site is that of Movimento Turismo del Vino. [19] The Italian page has a link to the route which is not available in English. Even if you do not read Italian you can find the addresses and opening hours of some of the wine producers' interests. Note that "su prenotazione" means Appointment Only.

Cycling toursItaly has a passion for cycling and there is no better way to explore the tourist route than by bike. The main hub for the bicycle industry has always been in Northern Italy. Each area varies in the riding style you will find and unique and cultural specialties. There are several companies offering bicycle tours throughout Italy. You can either ride your own bike as a guided tour or a supported tour that provides a guide to assist you during your program. You can take destination tours that change cities every day or walk two or three days to a location before proceeding, there are also different skill levels. A good way to find out more information is to visit a website like [20] or you can google 'Bike Touring Italy' and find various companies offering services. Make sure you do some research so you can find the right tour that suits your driving experience and fitness level.

SailingSailing is one of the best ways to see Italian islands such as Sardinia and Sicily. Most charter companies offer many options from bareboat to cabin crew and cab, with all types of boats.

Take a cooking classItaly is well known for good food. A must-do in Italy: cooking lessons and food tours. Most cooking courses companies offer many options from fresh spaghetti lessons to risk or lessons in Italian sauces or pizza classes. A simple web search for "The Art of Making Pasta" or "Risotto" or "Pizzeria Lessons" will find them. A useful and comprehensive website offers a wide range of cooking and cooking experience courses. [21]

Learn how to make glass beadsCourses: Creating Glass Beads (Lampwork) / Jewelry Design / Mixed Media, Camaiore, ☎ 39 0584-194-4650. Visit the Bijou Arte Creative Studio / Bead store on the main street of Camaiore, in coastal Tuscany! The initial and intermediate glass bead construction courses introduce students to both basic and advanced craftsmanship techniques and help prepare your own artistic voice. In addition, jewelry and jewelry design courses, mixed media workshops, unique European jewelry supplies, astrology readings and more. Come with us! processing

Buy

Italy has the euro (euro) as its sole currency along with 24 other countries that use this common European currency. These 24 countries are: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain European 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 members of the European Union. Together, these countries have a population of over 330 million.

One euro is divided into 100 cents. While every official member of the euro (as well as Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican) issues their own coins with a unique front side, the reverse, as well as all banknotes, look the same throughout the eurozone. Every currency is legal tender in any of the eurozone countries.

Be careful where you exchange money. Large commercial counters located at train stations and airports, while legal, may charge a huge commission of about 20% in addition to published prices plus a fixed amount of euros. Read the small paper first before turning any foreign currency to the agent. The USD100 can easily be converted to € 50 if you are impulsive. Smaller benches located in most tourist areas usually offer friendlier prices: you should get something closer to € 70 for every USD100 you exchange.

Italy can be a very expensive country. As everywhere, large cities and central locations have a higher cost of living than suburban and rural areas. It is a general rule that southern Italy is less expensive than northern Italy, especially for food. this of course will vary depending on the location.

Meals can range from cheap € 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 fried salads and a soft drink from a pub) and generally amount to around € 20 (a buffet, a main course and water from a regular restaurant). Also, for dinner, the wine can be served even without order, and you will almost certainly be charged.

The service is always included, either in the display price or in a coperto line in the account. rejection is therefore not necessary, but it is not blind. Overturning taxi drivers is not necessary, but a hotel porter can expect a little something. Unless otherwise stated, prices include the IVA sales tax (same as VAT), which is 21% for most goods and 10% for restaurants and hotels. In some products, such as books, the IVA is 4%. In practice, you can forget about it as it is generally included in the display price. If you are resident outside the EU, you are entitled to at least a partial VAT refund on purchases of goods exported outside the European Union. Stores that offer this design have a Tax Free sticker outside. Make sure you ask for your tax-free voucher and have your passport and address details (back home) ready before you leave the store. You must purchase products worth at least € 155 (including IVA) from a specific merchant during a business day (although you can make multiple purchases from the same merchant that day). These goods must be unused when you pass the customs checkpoint when leaving the EU.

If you are planning to travel through the countryside or rural areas, you probably do not have to rely on your credit cards, as in many small towns that are only accepted 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 until 3 pm (often between 12.30 and 15.30). Banks, in particular, have short hours, most of which are only open to the public for about 4 hours in the morning and only 1 hour in the afternoon.

Food

KitchenItalian food in Italy is different from what is called "Italian food" in America. Italian cuisine is truly one of the most varied in the world and, in any area or even town and village you go to, there are different specialties. For example, it might be misleading to say that northern Italian cuisine is based on rich potato and rice dishes, in central Italian cuisine, mainly pasta, grilled and meat, and in southern Italian cuisine based on vegetables, pizza, pasta and seafood: there are so many cross-references that you would confuse just trying to categorize. And in any case, Italian cuisine, contrary to popular belief, is not just based on pasta and tomato sauce - this is just a tiny snippet of the nation's food, as in some parts of Northern Italy, pasta is not used at all, and Rice, potatoes, lentils, soups and similar meals are very common in some parts of the country. Italian food is based on so many ingredients and Italians often have very discreet tastes that may seem strange to Americans and other visitors.

For example, a sandwich can sell 4 different types of ham sandwiches that in each case contain ham, mayonnaise and cheese. The only thing that can differ between the sandwiches is the type of ham or cheese used in them. Rustichella and panzerotti are two examples of sandwiches preferred by Italians and tourists alike. Also, Italian sandwiches are quite different from the traditional Italian-American "hero", "submarine" or "hoagie" sandwiches (which in turn means nothing to any Italian). Unlike large meat, vegetable and cheese slaughterhouse sandwiches, sandwiches in Italy are often quite small, very flat (made even more so when heated quickly and pressed in a pan) and contain some simple ingredients with rare, if ever, lettuce. or mayonnaise. The term panini may be a bit confusing for travelers from Northern Europe, where it mistakenly came to mean a flat, heated sandwich on a grill. In Italy, the term is equivalent to "buns" (plural) which can be just rolls or sometimes with a basic filling. However, instead of a sandwich, why not try piadinas which is a flat folded loaf with stuffing, which is served hot and is typical of the Emilia-Romagna coast.

Americans will notice that Italian pasta is usually available with myriad sauces and not just tomatoes and Alfredo. Also, Italian pasta is often served with much less sauce than in America. This is partly because pasta in a restaurant is usually seen as the first course of a three- or four-legged meal, rather than a meal in itself.

Traditional meal structure: despite the stereotype, your average Italian meal consists of a small breakfast, a lunch and a two-course dinner. Coffee is welcome almost every hour, especially around 10:00 and at the end of a meal (unless the meal is pizza). On weekends and restaurants (for other occasions), a meal usually consists of: antipasto (appetizers: marinated vegetables, mixed fish, seafood, etc.), Primo (pasta or rice dishes), a plate known as contorno, and dolce ( dessert).

Like language and culture, food in Italy varies by region. In general, pasta and olive oil are the main ingredients of southern Italian cuisine, central Italian cuisines are based on pasta, meat and olive oil / butter while northern food focuses on rice and butter (but today there are many, many exceptions). . Local ingredients are also very important. In hot Naples, citrus fruits and other fresh fruits play a prominent role in both food and alcoholic beverages, while in Venice fish is obviously an important traditional ingredient. As a guideline, southern cuisine focuses on pasta and desserts, while northern meat is king, but this rule can be very different depending on where you are.

A note for breakfast in Italy: this is a very light meal, often just cappuccino or coffee with pastry (cappuccino e cornetto) or a piece of bread and fruit jam. You do not have to wait for a big breakfast. In Italy, it is not uncommon to eat eggs and bacon for breakfast - the very thought is recurring in most Italians. Indeed, no salty foods are consumed for breakfast. In addition, cappuccino is considered something you will have for breakfast. ordering one after lunch or dinner is considered a strange and typical "tourist". An ordinary coffee is considered much more suitable.

Entertainment

Transactions and purchases

Italy uses euro. It is one of the many European countries that use the single currency. All euro banknotes and coins are legal tender in all countries that use them.

Countries that have the euro as their official currency: EU members Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hellas, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain Countries outside the EU Andorra, Kosovo, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino and Vatican These countries are called the "eurozone".

The euro is divided into 100 cents.

The official symbol of the euro is €, and the ISO code is EUR. There is no official symbol of the euro cents.

• Banknotes: Euro banknotes have the same design in all countries.
• Regular coins: All euro countries issue euro coins with a typical national design on one side and a common design on the other. The coins can be used in any Eurozone country, regardless of the design they depict. (eg a one euro coin from Finland can be used in Portugal).
• Commemorative coins of two euros: These differ from regular two euro coins on their "national" side, and are legally traded. Each country can mint a certain number of them, and sometimes "pan-European" two-euro commemorative coins are minted for important events (eg the anniversary of an important treaty).
• Other commemorative coinsCommemorative coins of other denominations (eg ten euros or more) are rarer, and have a special design, often containing some gold, silver or platinum. While they are technically a legal medium of exchange, their collectible value is greater than their face value, and you are therefore unlikely to find them in the everyday market.

Cost

Local cuisine

Local drinks

Tourist infrastructure

Studies

Job opportunities

Stay safe

Health and precautions

Respect local customs

Communications

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