Italy

Quick Facts

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Local name

Italia

Capital

Rome

Government

Republic

Nationality

Italian

Population

57,998,000

Languages

Italian (official), German, French, Slovene

Religions

Christianity (Catholic)

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Calling Code

+39

Time Zone

UTC+1

Daylight Saving

UTC+2

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Introduction

5 Terre ( Liguria )

© All Rights Reserved Kamar

Italy is the home of the culture, some of soccer's finest teams and the Roman Catholic church. Quite simply, this is a place of such diversity that the only thing that will stop you spending the rest of your days here is an empty wallet. Museums display some of the most beautiful art works ever made; but the living, breathing Italy that operates outside museum doors has enough beauty to suffice the average visitor. Stroll down the streets of Rome, Florence, Naples or Venice, and you will be struck by the wealth of history and culture tied up in the cobbled streets, baroque styled buildings, or beautiful chapels.

Natural beauty abounds, too: gorgeous stretches of coastline; the majestic Alps sealing off the northern border; and the people, of course. Best of all, Italy is the home of pizza and pasta, so expect a culinary experience superior to any Pizza Hut meal you've ever had. Many have flocked to Tuscany and Umbria to find the real Italy. But much to be explored are the Le Marche and laterly The Abruzzo - where property prices are beginning to soar! Each region has its own particular choice of dishes

Italy shares international borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, San Marino and the Vatican City.

Brief History

The history of the Italian peninsula can be divided quite neatly in seven distinct periods, spanning almost three millennia of human civilisation.

Prehistory to Etruscan period

The earliest evidence of human presence on the Italian peninsula dates back to 16,000 BC, although nothing much can be said of the period before the late Iron Age (approx. 800 BC) when early Greeks founded colonies on the southeast of the peninsula and Sicily. Etruscan presence in central Italy dates back to the same period, who were to rule these lands as a kingdom that prospered almost 700 years. The principal remains of Etruscan civilisation can still be visited near Cerveteri; much of the Greek remains can be seen in Campania and on Sicily.

Roman period

The Roman period consists of three main eras. The era of (Etruscan) kings (753 BC - 509 BC), during this time Rome did not extended beyond present day Italy. During the Etruscan era there was very little Greek influence. The Roman Republic, which went from 509 BC to 31 BC, this was the time that the senate ruled Rome and it eventually became more and more corrupt. This lead to Julius Caesar's storming into Rome with his soldiers and making himself dictator. After the Senate organized an assassination which made Rome descend into chaos. Augustus Caesar came to power starting the Roman Empire, which went from 31 BC to 476 AD. With the rise of Christianity the empire changed greatly and started to deteriorate. The empire was split in 286 and at roughly the same time christianity was legalized.

In 476 AD due to great corruption and inability even to protect the city of Rome the western empire fell. Although most areas continued to keep Roman laws and legal systems and the legacy of the Catholic Church can be felt to this day. After 476 AD, the Eastern Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, remained together until 1453 AD with its capital in current day Istanbul. Several times it tried to retake the western empire but was never successful because of cultural difference between Catholics and Orthodox beliefs, also the identity of tribes had grown so strong that rebuilding a larger Roman identity could not be done.

Middle ages

Renaissance

Foreign rules: Austria and Spain

Risorgimento

20th century

Geography

Regions

Italy is divided into 20 regions, which fall into the following areas.

• North - Trentino Alto-Aldige, Friuli Venezia Guilia, Veneto, Val d'Aosta, Piedmont, Lombardy, Liguria, Emilia Romagna
• Centre - Toscana, Marche, Umbria, Latium, Abruzzo, Molise
• South - Campania, Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily, Sardinia

Cities

• Rome
• Milan
• Venice
• Florence
• Turin
• Naples
• Bari
• Palermo
• Trento
• Sorrento

Sights and Activities

Pompeii

Pompeii is a Roman city, near current day Naples, that was buried in ash by an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. The ash from this eruption blanketed the city and killing everyone that lived there. A nice side affect of the ash was that is preserved the city in perfect shape, like a snap shot taken in time. Although not the biggest or most important city in the Roman Empire it was large city and gives people a chance to see hoe regular and wealthy Romans lived their lives. This is a great sight and one of the best ruins in the world.

Colosseum

The Colosseum is the largest Roman amphitheater every built. Its construction was completed in 80 AD and it has been attracting spectators ever since. At its heigh it could hold over fifty thousand blood thirsty people. Although the current day visitor just wants to marvel in its awe and wonder the average Roman citizen wanted to see battles to the death between gladiators. Today the Colosseum is one of the most popular sights in Rome.

The Grand Canal of Venice

Venice is a truly amazing city. Little buildings built on little islands that slowly grew together with narrow alleys and little canals linking them. One can spend days wandering the streets of Venice taking in all the beauty and glory. The Grand Canal of Venice runs through the city in a S shape pattern and links the city. Like all major highways it is constantly busy with traffic, but unlike the highways of the modern world the Grand Canal is teaming with the hustle and bustle of thousands of boats. Standing on one of the few bridges that crosses the Grand Canal a traveller can enjoy the activity below.

The Amalfi Coast

Atrani from near Amalfi

© All Rights Reserved NantesFC

The Amalfi coast is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Stunning white sand beaches hugging steep mountain valleys covered with lemon trees. A romantic place for centuries and enjoyed by almost all. Sorrento is the main city in the area and a good starting spot for wonderful hikes, swimming and sunning on the beach. Remember to enjoy the great limoncello and to watch out for the crazy motorbike drivers on the scenic highway.

• Bus schedules to the Amalfi Coast
• Bus schedules along the Amalfi Coast

Trekking in Italy

Italy is an excellent country for treks. The infrastructure is outstanding, and detailed maps are available for most regions.

• Trekking.it - the web portal for Italian trekking. Itineraries, accommodation, and general information. In Italian.

Other Sights and Activities

• The Pantheon is the best-preserved ancient building in Rome, and the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world till recently.
• The Duomo of Florence is an amazing Church in Florence and well worth a visit.
• Santa Croce is a Church in Florence that has the tombs of some of the most famous people from history buried in it.
• St Marks Basilica (and St. Mark’s Square) is the center of the Venetian world and the Basilica itself hold the remains of Saint Mark.
• Shopping in Milan: Go shopping in the heart of all design and fashion in Milan.

Events and Festivals

Weather

Getting There

By Plane

One of the most convenient ways to get to Italy is by plane. The two airports with flights to and from North America and Asia are Rome Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport (FCO) in Rome and Malpensa International Airport (MXP) in Milan. These airports are served by almost all major international airlines and European airlines.

The cities of Venice, Verona, Turin, Florence and Naples have good airports with flights to most major European and Italian cities. The national airline is Alitalia.

Meridiana is one of several lowcost airlines and has hubs in Florence and Verona its base at Venice Marco Polo Airport. It flies to major cities in Europe, like Paris, London and Amsterdam among other cities. Other lowcost airlines with flights to mainly European destinations are My Air and Volare Airlines.

By Train

From France, Italy can be reached EC train via the coast (Nice - Ventimiglia - Genova) or by TGV via the Fréjus tunnel (Chambéry - Bardonecchia - Turin). From Switzerland, there are frequent EC trains between Basel and Milan, calling at Chiasso. From Austria, there are night and day trains between Vienna and Venice, calling at the border town of Villach. Between Italy and Slovenia, there a connection in the north at Nova Gorica/Gorizia, and one in the south near Sežana, on the route of the Euronight between Budapest and Venice.

International tickets can be booked through Trenitalia or one of the other national carriers involved, or via a travel agency. Note that the online payment facility of the Trenitalia website is known to cause frequent problems when used with non-Italian credit cards. For more information, see the international trains article.

By Car

From France, Italy can be reached by A5 via the Mont Blanc tunnel, by A32 via the Fréjus tunnel, and by A10 via Nice. From Switzerland, there is A9 via Chiasso. From Austria, the A22 enters Italy via Brennero, and A23 in the east near Tarvisio. From Slovenia, there are no highways into Italy, but there are several provincial routes that you can take.

By Bus

If you want to go by bus, Eurolines has direct connections to various destinations in Italy. Milan serves as a major hub in their network with lots of connections to both western and eastern Europe.

By Boat

Italy being a peninsula, there are many possible entry points for those wanting to arrive by water. For bookings on most ferries, you can use Traghetti.com or Viamare. Off-season, you can get much better deals just showing up at the harbour, although this typically requires some flexibility in your travel plans, as many routes don't have daily service.

Italy can be reached across the Adriatic from Croatia, Slovenia and Montenegro. Across the Ionean Sea lie Greece, Albania and Malta (no direct connections with Turkey exist). Across the Mediterranean proper lie Spain, France, Tunisia and Morocco (no direct connections exist with Libya, Egypt and Algeria, nor with Israel, Lebanon and Syria).

Getting Around

By Plane

Of course you can fly around Italy, but why should you? It is quite expensive, and most local airfields are difficult to reach without a car. Basically, flying is only a feasible means of transport if you want to get from Northern Italy (Milan or further up north) to the region south of Naples, including Sicily. On all other itineraries, the train will be about as fast and much cheaper.

By Train

Short of driving a car, going by train is the best way to explore Italy. The Italian railroad network is amazingly widespread, and even remote areas in central and southern Italy have several connections daily to the outside world. On a downside, Italy's national railway carrier Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), is the country's finest example of mismanagement and bureaucracy in state-owned companies, and is excruciatingly slow and inefficient, especially to the 'western' eye. Still, service is cheap, and with a bit of patience and perseverance, gets you everywhere. Just allow for plenty (really, plenty: 4-6 hours is not exaggerated) of extra time when you need to make some kind of deadline.

FS operates the following train types on national connections:

• Eurostar Italia, indicated on timetables as ES* or a flashy kind of 'Д'. Long-distance hispeed day trains between big cities (Rome, Naples, Milan, Florence, Bologna, Venice, plus some minor destinations in northern Italy). Seat reservation compulsory, booking in advance is usually not necessary.
• Espresso, indicated on timetables as an 'exit sign'. Long-distance trains, typically overnight. Seat / bunk reservation recommendable, especially during holidays.
• Intercity, indicated on timetables as IC. Interregional trains, typically with a lot of intermediate stops. No seat reservation .
• ICPlus, indicated on timetables as ICPlus. ICPlus services the same connections as IC, but with slightly vamped equipment. Seat reservation is compulsory, advance booking usually not necessary.
• Regionale, indicated on timetables as R. Regional trains, call on all intermediate stops. Extremely cheap, but a short distance takes a long time.
• Bus. On certain routes, especially in central Italy (Abbruzzo; Umbria) FS operates busses rather than trains.

A map of the Italian railroad network can be downloaded here. Booking and buying tickets can be done at the counter at any FS station, or at ticket machines on larger stations. Personnel operating the counters can be slow and, outside major tourist destinations, not proficient in English, but is usually friendly and patient. Best pay with cash, since foreign debit and credit cards are known to slow down the purchasing even further. Try to avoid the international counters at Roma Termini station; going to another station, for instance Roma Tiburtina, will save you time. Don't bother trying to book tickets over the internet: although the FS website offers that facility, it does not work with foreign accounts.

By Car

If you want to go to out-of-the-way places, exploring Italy by car is your best option. The roads are of good overall quality, ranging from outstanding in the north to average in central Italy, to acceptable in the south and on the islands (Sicily and Sardinia). In the deep south, expect to encounter a lot of potholes and very few gas stations off the highway (E45 / A3 south of Salerno; E55 / A14 south of Foggia). If you bring a vehicle running on LPG instead of petrol or diesel, consult your local AAA beforehand, since availability tends to be seasonal.

The Italians drive assertively, but nothing as crazy as countryside Portugal or South America. Their main issues appear to be the observance of speed limits and lending priority. You need to be over 18 and in the possession of an international driver's licence in order to operate a vehicle. The use of seatbelts is compulsory, as is using your headlights on all highways. Using a cell phone is forbidden while driving. The usual European traffic rules apply. Watch out for cyclists, who can use all roads except national highways. Needless to say, Italy has right-side driving.

Rentals are widely available, mostly at airports. In addition to a valid ID, international driver's license and a credit card, a collision damage waiver and theft protection are mandatory when renting a vehicle; check with your travel insurance in advance. Additional protection in case of accidents etc. can usually be purchased locally. Most agencies, including those that operate internationally, do not allow you to cross the border with your rental; drop-off in other cities is usually possible. Easyterra offers a decent comparison between companies, although booking directly is obviously cheaper. During European school holidays, best book in advance, especially for pick-up locations in the triangle Turin - Venice - Rome.

By Bus

In the unlikely event you want to go where trains can't take you, there's always the option of going by bus. Busses in Italy roughly come in two types: suburban transportation under the supervision of local government, and regional transportation under supervision of regional and/or provincial authorities. The frequency of service can vary tremendously according to region and season, but you can generally count on each route being serviced 3 or 4 times a day. In addition, Eurolines operates a number of long-distance services in Italy.

Bus terminals tend to be located in the outskirts of large cities, or near train stations. The main bus terminal of Rome is Anagnina, which can be reached by subway.

By Boat

Except when visiting Sicily, Sardinia or one of the smaller islands, taking a ferry is not a feasible way to save time or money. Ferries are an excellent option for international travel, though; more information is given above. The main Mediterranean ports in Italy are Civitavecchia near Rome, and Genova; the main Adriatic ports are Ancona and Brindisi.

Red Tape

If you are a European Union (EU) citizen, you may enter without any restriction as per your EU citizenship rights. If you are not an EU citizen, you will need to obtain a Schengen Visa. This visa is valid for any country in the Schengen zone.

Money

See also: Money Matters

Italy has adopted the Euro (ISO code: EUR, symbol: €) as its official currency. One Euro is divided into 100 cents, which is sometimes referred to as eurocents, especially when distinguishing them with the US cents.

Euro banknotes come in denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, €500. The highest three denominations are rarely used in everyday transactions. All Euro banknotes have a common design for each denomination on both sides throughout the Eurozone.

The Euro coins are 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, €1 and €2. Some countries in the Eurozone have law which requires cash transactions to be rounded to the nearest 5 cents. All Euro coins have a common design on the denomination (value) side, while the opposite side may have a different image from one country to another. Although the image side may be different, all Euro coins remain legal tender throughout the Eurozone. The image for Italy coin is the Colosseum in Rome.

Work

Study

Language

The official Italian langue, although closer to its predecessor than any of its Romance relatives, was not codified until 1860 when Alessandro Manzoni wrote I promessi sposi, which is generally recognised as the birth of modern Italian. However, as is often the case with national languages, its use remained restricted to the area of politics and public government for most of its existence, while peple continued to use their local, provincial and regional dialects instead. Only in the last 40 years has standard Italian begun to be a significant influence in culture, news and literature.

Grammatically, Italian strongly resembles the Tuscan dialect, while phonetically, it is much closer to varieties spoken around Padova. Foreigners generally appreciate the clear sound and transparent grammar, although either may pose problems depending on one's own language background. Two areas of Italian syntax that are notorious for causing problems for non-native speakers are the correct inflection and use of the many verbal tenses (the regular verbal paradigm of Italian comprises well over a 100 forms per stem), and the use of impersonal pronouns. In pronunciation, many have trouble dealing with consonant gemination (Italian does not distinguish long and short vowels, but long and short consonants instead) and the various affricate sounds (ts, dz, tch, tsj dzj).

For a long time, English proficiency among Italians has been very poor. This has improved rapidly over the past 15 years, to the extent that at most tourist destinations, you can now get by in English. Outside touristy regions, esp. south of Naples, proficiency is much less, and some knowledge of Italian will be useful. Speakers of French and Spanish should have fewer problems being understood, given the amount of similarity between their languages and Italian. To the north, esp. in Trentino-Alto Adige, you can get by on German. In Istria, Slovene is widely spoken. Any attempt by foreigners to express themselves in Italian is much appreciated.

Italian language classes for foreign travellers are offered by universities and private institutes alike. Perugia is the city with the largest offer, and its institutes are generally considered the best in Italy. But the universities of Rome and Florence also offer special courses for foreigners.

Eat

Some would argue that the main reason to visit Italy is because of the amazing food! Fashion, famous sights, churches, art and beautiful people come second in many peoples perspective when it comes to the great food of Italy. Italy is known for having great food and food items such as pastas, cheeses, dried meats, breads, beef and sea food. Although the food changes from region to region all of it is amazing. And don't forget to drink the right wine for the right meal!

Sleep

From five star resorts to staying in converted medieval monastery to sleeping in a backpacker dorm there is something for everyone in Italy. Although most people stay in pretty regular hotels or youth hostels there are plenty of interesting options scattered across the country. Even in major cities a traveller can still find good priced housing in many of a converted mansion, monastery, factory or garrison. In recent years the cost of lodging has gone up because of the strengthening of the euro.

Drink

Health

Safety

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

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