Italy is relatively safe, but some precautions are necessary: avoid visiting disadvantaged areas (in Rome, for example, they are adjacent to Termini station) women are not recommended to go out alone in the evening.
Since professional pickpockets are active in cities, you should not carry more money with you than you need, demonstrate it in the presence of strangers, carry money and documents in the same pocket or in the same bag. It’s a good idea to make certified copies of documents and carry them with you in place of the originals while moving around the city.
In large cities (especially in Rome and Milan) and in popular resorts, the theft of handbags by motorcyclists is common. It is recommended not to walk along the roadsides, and if Rome-sorcerer still bewitched by the beauty of its highways, you should keep your bags in the opposite roadway. Pickpockets operate in public transport and tourist flea markets near attractions.
Capital, major cities: Rome (Rome), major cities – Milan (Milano), Naples (Napoli), Turin (Turino), Genoa (Genova), Florence (Firenze), Bologna (Bologna), Venice (Venezia).
Difference with Moscow in time: 2 hours behind in summer and 3 hours in winter.
Telephone code: 39.
Currency: Euro/EUR (1 euro = 100 cents).
Visa: you need a Schengen visa, the cost is about 50 EUR.
The cost of a regular dinner is from 20 EUR. Tipping 5-10% of the total order.
Car rental per day from 50 EUR.
The official language is Italian.
The population is about 61 million people.
How to get there
Aeroflot and Alitalia operate daily direct scheduled flights to Rome, Milan and Venice. Meridiana fly flies regularly to Bologna and during the summer also to Cagliari and Olbia. Wind Jet flies to Milan, Catania and Pisa. In summer, there are many charter flights to Naples, Palermo, Catania and Cagliari. In Rimini, charter flights land all year round.
The ski resorts can be reached by flying on a charter flight to Verona, Turin, Brescia or Bergamo. During the New Year holidays, additional flights are introduced. The ski resorts of Val Gardena and Kronplatz can be reached by charter to Innsbruck.
Customs
You can import duty-free 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, 16 liters of beer and 2 liters of wine or 1 liter of spirits with a strength of over 22 ╟C, 250 ml of eau de toilette and 50 ml of perfume. It is also allowed to import jewelry, two cameras, a video camera, a radio, a tape recorder, a bicycle, a boat, two pairs of skis, two tennis rackets, one kayak or surfboard. There are no restrictions on the import and export of local and foreign currencies. You can freely take out up to 10,000 EUR or an equivalent amount in other currencies. The export of amounts exceeding this must be authorized by the customs authorities. For the export of precious stones, works of art,
Transport
According to 800zipcodes, Italy has a well-developed bus and rail network of public transport. Getting to almost anywhere in the country is not difficult. Between distant cities, it is usually most convenient to travel by domestic flights. A tourist ticket for one day (BIG) costs 3-5 EUR and entitles you to unlimited travel on any type of public transport. A ticket for a week (“Settimanale” or CIS) costs 12 EUR. You can buy it only at ATAC kiosks. “Catching” a taxi on the street is quite difficult. It is better to go to a special parking lot or call a car by phone from a hotel, bar or store. The fare is about 1 EUR/km plus the cost of a call in the region of 3 EUR, There is also an additional charge for luggage. There are surcharges for trips at night, on weekends and holidays.
Car rental in Italy
To rent a car, you need an international driver’s license (most are satisfied with the usual Russian rights), a credit card (or in some cases a cash deposit). The age of the driver is at least 25 years old. Rules on the roads – standard European, right-hand traffic. When booking a car, you should pay a little more and take the full insurance service (full insurance, from 10 EUR per day), which includes payment for any scratches and bruises that drivers can get on the trip. Traffic rules in Italy are identical to Russian ones, the main differences are in the culture of driving and courtesy to pedestrians. The traffic police in the country are principled and incorruptible:
Currency exchange
Currency can be exchanged at exchange offices, banks and post offices. At the airport, the exchange rate is less favorable, but the exchange points there work around the clock. Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 13:30 and from 15:00 to 16:15, Saturday and Sunday are days off. In cities, many restaurants, hotels, shops and department stores accept Visa, American Express, Mastercard, Diner’s Club and Carte Blanche. In institutions that accept cards, they usually post a notice “Carta – si” in the window. Most gas stations require cash payment. In rural areas, card payments are difficult.
Alpine skiing in Italy
Probably, even the most stubborn skier will not be able to remember the names of all Italian ski resorts, but what about all of them – even half! There are really a lot of them on the Big Boot: high and low, complex and simple, short and long, with all kinds of exposure and relief. And all this diversity, we must pay tribute to the skillful natives, is maintained in excellent condition and is covered by a whole network of lifts. Add to this generous “ski passes”, sometimes covering entire regions – and the answer to the question “Why do millions of skiers choose Italy every winter, despite quite tangible prices?” will become obvious to you.
The income level of most Italian winter vacationers is average and above (just like the level of their skiing skills), many youth companies and families with children travel to the country. Yes, we almost forgot: there is another category of tourists – lovers of “non-hot” excursions. They go on educational trips around the country during the cold season to avoid the summer heat and pandemonium. However, often the “classic” routes of such travelers at first end in the same place as most of the others – on the mountain slopes.
Shopping and shops
Shops are usually open all day – from 9:00 to 20:00, some are open on Sundays. Lunch break is usually from 13:00 to 15:30. In resort areas, shops are often open until late in the evening and on weekends.
From Italy you can bring straw hats, brooches with different versions of Venetian masks, porcelain dolls and clowns. There are a lot of fur clothes and good shoes, high-quality leather goods (jackets, bags), clothes of Italian fashion designers, knitwear, beautiful linen, porcelain, crystal, jewelry and bijouterie are sold at good prices.
In Italy, there are two periods of seasonal discounts and sales, in Italian sconti and saldi: from January 7 to March 1 and from July 10 to August 31. A trip to the country at this time promises to be even more enjoyable in terms of bargains.
Cuisine and restaurants in Italy
First-class pasta – that’s what awaits tourists in any region of Italy. As well as pizza, polenta and amazing coffee.
The choice of a restaurant in Italy should be approached carefully, otherwise you may unexpectedly find yourself in an institution where one dish costs 100 EUR and more. Therefore, it is worth going to restaurants, at the entrance to which a menu with prices is posted for everyone to see.
Average restaurant prices: appetizer 4-8 EUR, first course 6-9 EUR, second course 10-20 EUR, dessert 3-5 EUR, wine 2 EUR. Additionally, the bill will include “coperto” in the amount of 1.5-3 EUR – table fee.
