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Traveling in Italy...

Basic Touring Information
Arrivals & Departures
Blending In
Driving In Italy
Traffic & Parking Signs
Italian - American Recipes

Stuff On The Regions...

Tuscany North Of Siena
Tuscany South Of Siena
Chianti Classico
Umbria
Emilia Romagna
Lake Maggiore and Lake Como
Italian Riviera
Cinque Terre
Lazio And Latium
Calabria
Aosta Mountains
Sicily
Unknown Sabina
Pantelleria
Ischia

Touring The Cities...

Florence
Rome
Venice
Tips on Venice
Siena
Lucca
Palermo
Naples

A Little Background On Traveling To Italy

Currency Exchange & Traveling With Money

For those new or recent to traveling abroad, gone our the days of taking travelerÕs checks and wads of cash bulging your pockets, like a chipmunk's cheeks in Fall. No dear traveler all that is required is a debit card. In fact we suggest taking a couple debit cards, and a credit card: 2 ATM cards just in case one gets eaten by a machine; credit cards is best a VISA or MasterCard. AmEx is not taken in many places. Yes, ATM machines, which are called "BANCOMAT" are found in small towns and large. And as reported by many a magazine, you will get better exchange rates from a BANCOMAT than from those rip-off currency exchange shops that hang on like barnacles at well traveled sights, and better rates than a bank teller or traveler's checks.

The currency in Italy, for those of you that have been sleeping for the past 5 years, is the Euro. Sure there are many Italians that bemoan the end of thousands of lire being required to purchase an espresso (so do we matter of fact), and there is even a scrappy bunch that are moving to repeal its use in Italy (YES WE CAN!), but for convenience the euro with its American similarity is hard to fight. A uniform currency for all the countries of the Euro Zone in denominations similar to the USD. The exchange rateÉwellÉthereÕs a sad story full of finger pointing. For current rates go to xe.com - thatÕs what we use.

Passports & Visas

In today's world, you need a passport to get in and out of every country these days. Like a driver's license, a passport has become just another identification required by the global citizen. For U.S. and Canadian citizens, visas are not required unless staying longer than 90 days and if you are from another country, check with the Italian consulate in your country.

Healthcare

Italy has no medical program that covers foreign nationals while traveling in the country. If you become ill or have an accident you risk not getting medical attention and high out-of-pocket costs for treatment. Travelers are advised to have an overseas health insurance plan in place before their journey begins. Check your domestic plan, HMO or other before leaving to see if overseas coverage is provided. If you find you do not have coverage and would like to obtain a reasonably priced plan before departure, please ask us. We work with a respected insurance company that specializes in this very coverage just for your trip.

Electric Current

Electric Current in Italy is AC and the voltage is usually 125 or 220. Travelers are advised to bring transformers and adapters. There are both two and three prong units of varying sizes and often can require adapters themselves, found in Italian hardware stores and COOP's (the large supermarket chain found all over).

Tax Refunds

Foreign tourist making purchases in Italy can claim a tax rebate providing they spend over 100 euro. In order to collect the rebate, a proper receipt from the vendor is needed and a description of the purchase. A stamp must be obtained from either Italian customs or customs of the last Common Market country visited on your way back. The receipt must then be mailed back to the vendor, no later than 90 days after the date of purchase. The vendor can then forward the IVA rebate. Good luck on this one.

Public Telephones

Public telephones in Italy, and much of Europe use euro coins and/or telephone cards which come in values of 15 euro or 30 euro. You can buy these cards in small general stores, the traditional Tabacchi shop, post offices and other public places. Like many things in Italy, there is always an exception to the rule. Not all telephones take the telephone cards and not all take coins - be prepared for both scenarios.
Calls within the commune (for example a call to a Siena landline telephone from a Siena landline telephone) are relatively cheap and do not require the area code that preceed the local number. Calls outside the commune and from a mobile require the area code. Direct calls to the U.S. and other countries can be made from any telephone. When calling the U.S., using your phone card (AT &T, Sprint or MCI) number is highly recommended and easily accomplished by dialing the following from any telephone:

ATT: 01721011
MCI: 01721022
Sprint: 01721877
Verizon - ? Drop me a line if you know.
and following the instructions in English through your phone card provider.

Italian telephone numbers are by commune (area code) and local number. Thankfully, the national telephone system has adopted similar dialing standards as the rest of Europe. It is very simple: if you are placing a call to a number outside the area you are in, you must dial a "0"in front of the area code regardless of where you are. Hooray. If you are calling a person within the same town or city you are in, no area code is required.
When you have done something wrong, you will hear a recorded Italian voice. A lovely voice reminiscent of Sophia Loren. Of course for those of us that do not speak Italian, you won't know what she is saying so politely. This recording is probably telling you that something is wrong in the number (the above scenario), the number does not exist or you don't have enough money.

U.S. Cell Phones In Italy

As an American, unless you have a special cell phone, you are not going to be able to use it in Europe. You need a GSM. Don't have that do you? Many don't. It has to do with the frequency, or magnification or some such thing - not our area of expertise. You can rent telephones for International travel, or we suggest just buying one if you're there for any length of time. Try this company out: Mobal.com.

Tipping

Italians embrace tipping, even if not the cultural norm like you find in America and even if a tip may be included in the bill. Many restaurants will have "servizio incluso" (service included) or "coperto" (technically a charge covering bread) on the bill. But if you liked the waiter, leave a few coins behind on the table, a couple of euro at most. Same at a bar/cafe where many a coffee is taken. Leave a little coin behind. Here's a general rule to follow:

Hotels: A service charge of 15-18% is added to the hotel bill but it is still customary to leave an additional tip for individual services:
Concierge: 2 euro per day
Porter: 50 euro cents per bag
Doorman: 50 euro cents

At the rental where there is maid/butler service: It is customary to leave money where maid service is provided - just like a hotel. You may wish to bring a gift for the owner... a bottle of wine is always welcomed by an Italian.

Waiters: 5-10% of check
- Cafes and Bars: 15% if you're served at a table or if the bill does not include a service charge; 25 cents while standing at a counter or bar; 50 cents while standing at a bar or counter having alcoholic beverages, sandwiches or desserts.

Theater Ushers: 50 cents or more

Taxis: 10%

Tour Guides: 1 euro minimum per person for a half day's tour and 2 euro minimum per person for a full day's tour or 15% of the cost of the tour.

Service station attendant: 50 cents or more.

BUGS!

Yes there are bugs in Italy...and the pesky ones are those we will address. Top of the list is the mosquito. Not that they have any more in Italy than you would find in...say....any mid or southern U.S. state. But what you don't find in Italy are screens on the windows. "This would stop the fresh air from blowing in from the countryside," they tell us. So be prepared with a little repellent and close the shutters from dusk to dawn.

Scorpions can occasionally be found in the countryside throughout Italy. "These are teeny, tiny scorpions" we have been reminded. "Not Scorpions from James Bond!" If you see one (and in all of our trips to Italy we have not yet seen one) there is no reason to be concerned about these little creatures. They are less a problem than a bee sting.

Personal Hygiene (Reads: Bidets and Toilets)

There are two utilities you find in Europe which are utterly different from that which you find in the US and Canada - the bidet and the commode. It leaves some of us wondering how to use them. So why are we talking about these? Honestly, if we don't tell you about this, who will?

The Bidet

"Just what is that little porcelain thing with the knobs?" you may ask yourself when in Europe. Small, low to the ground, has faucets. That's a bidet, and even in this office where we have been in and out of 100's of houses with owners, we have never broached the subject on how to use them.....so in our silence, the mystery remained....what is it for? How do you operate it? Who uses it and when?

The bidet is for washing your private parts after having using the toilet. It is for both men and women, and amounts to the same function as if you were washing your hands. Too use the bidet, you sit on it (straddling) facing the wall so that the hot and cold faucets are in front of you for ease of control. You may want to adjust these prior to sitting. The spray is generally upwards, as it should be. Grab some soap, scrub up and rinse off.

Other Uses for the Bidet

Bidets can be used for many other things as well. In essence they are small wash basins, at a convenient height. It is a natural to use them for washing your feet, chilling champagne, filling it with water for the dog, bathing a small baby! What else...use your imagination, dear reader.

The Commode: Italian and French Toilet (and brush)

The toilets in Italy are wholly different than those in the US and Canada. First, they are not made by American Standard. Second, they have much less water in the tank and in the bowl, where less than a liter of water awaits. Third, with their narrow sides they seem purposely designed for creating a mess when you go to the bathroom. So with it's narrow sides and little water, taking a (with your kind permission) crap is raised to a higher level where you constantly seek to perfect your aim. In fact by the end of your vacation, a sense of pride is born by how good a shot you have become. Truly a new dimension to traveling. But it takes a while to get there.

And that's where the ubiquitous toilet brush comes in, cleaning the mess as you flush. For those that are astute in this subject, you realize that this can leave a mess on the brush. But if you are smart about this business, you can flush the mess from the brush as well. We personally think the system is about as dumb as you get, but there it is. Environmentally, it does use less water than ours. Anyway, here are some suggestions to reduce the mess - lay some minimal toilet paper on the sides before use, flush during the process of using the toilet, use the brush while flushing, and lastly - take good aim!

There. We said it, because no one else would.

Time Zones & Hours

Italy is 6 hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time. Italian Daylight Savings is from March 21 to October 22 and clocks are adjusted accordingly.
Often, especially with train schedules, times are posted in 24 hour segments. For example:
12:00 noon is 12:00 hours.
1:00 PM is 13:00 hours.
12:00 midnight is 24:00 hours and so on..

Hours for nearly all commerce are:
Open 9:00 am to 12:30 p.m..
Closed 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m..
Reopen at 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m..

Again, as part of the charm of the place, there are exceptions to this as well. A note of caution: gas up the car before noon because you may not have another chance until 3:30 (please note that many a ristorante and trattoria are open from 12:00 to 3:30 and this is a good way to spend the time!. However in some of the smaller towns in the countryside, it may be harder to find one open during these hours.) For most Americans, these hours at first appear primitive and quaint. You will be surprised to find how quickly you get into the groove of the afternoon "break" and how disappointing it is to return home to a round-the-clock busy schedule without the "break".

National Holidays

There are 10 national holidays throughout the year in Italy. Banks, government offices, museums, galleries and most of the shops close. Some but not all restaurants are open. If you want to see and do things on a national holiday, we advise being near a popular tourist destination where closing for the holiday may be less absolute:

January 1 Capodanno (New Year's Day)
January 5 and 6 Befana (Epiphany) - Italy celebrates the quaint event of Befana, (Epiphany) on the night of January 5 and 6. It is a holiday (a mix between Christmas and Halloween) where an old witch comes to the houses and for good children candies and candles are brought, while for the bad ones onions and coal are brought. It is a holy feast inspired by when the three kings came from the East to bring gifts to Jesus (sound familiar?), but in a uniquely Italian twist the kings have been replaced by a witch and gifts are sometimes not so pleasant. So the kids are lucky - Christmas and the Epiphany back to back.
Changeable Date Lune di Pasqua (Easter Monday)
April 25 Fiesta della Liberazione (Liberation Day)
May 1 Fiesta del Lavoro (Labor Day)
August 15 Ferragosto (Assumption Day)
November 1 and 2 Ognissanti (All Saints' Day)
December 8 L'Immacolata Concezione (Immaculate Conception)
December 25 Natale (Christmas Day)
December 26 Santo Stefano (St. Stephen's Day)

A common practice in Italy, when a holiday falls on either a Thursday or Tuesday, is to carry over the holiday to Monday or Friday as well. A wonderful practice.