 Italy is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world all year round. In summer, Italy is an international playground, with visitors from all continents mingling with the locals in famous resorts. Spring comes early to Italy and autumn lingers – and so will the wise traveller wishing to enjoy the art centres at a more leisurely pace. Spring and autumn are also ideal seasons to enjoy the large cities and holiday resorts such as those in the Lombardy lake region.
In winter, the Italian Alps are famous for scenery and skiing. In northern Italy are some of the world’s most renowned winter sports resorts. This region is easily reached from Turin, chief city of the Piemont region; from Milan, hub of the central mountain and lake district; and from Venice, leading city of the eastern region. Skiing is also a summer sport in the Turin Alps and the lofty mountains surrounding the Aosta Valley.
From the sunny southern slopes of the Alps to the lush orange groves of Sicily, Italy offers enormous variety in its natural scenery and historical backgrounds. Italy was once a collection of independent city-states and therefore customs and food vary greatly from region to region. This rich history is preserved in the colourful folklore festivals that take place in all of Italy’s regions throughout the year.
Italy’s beaches are sunny for most of the year, with 5,310 miles of shoreline bordering Italy and its islands. History is always in season: choose any time of year to tour historic buildings and view the world’s greatest art treasures, for this is a land that has been writing and preserving its history for over three thousand years.
Capital
Rome, population 2,644,000.
Map
Italy is about 300,000 sq. km, less than half the size of New South Wales, with a population of almost 58 million. There are 20 regions in Italy.
Time zone
Central European time (CET) equals GMT plus one hour. Daylight savings occurs during European summer. Time difference is 10 hours during European winter, eight hours during European summer.
When to go/Weather
The moderating influence of the sea and the protection given by the Alpine barrier from the cold north winds join to bless Italy with a temperate climate. Nevertheless, the weather varies considerably according to how far one is from the sea or the mountains. Winter is very cold in the Alps, cold and foggy in the Po Plain and the central mountains; mild and even warm on the Ligurian coast, the Neapolitan coast and in Sicily. Summer is hot and dry, but the temperature is mitigated on the coast by sea breezes and in the mountains it is pleasantly cool. In mountain areas, winter is ideal for skiing, and summer for excursions. Beach and lake resorts, with their excellent hotel facilities, have a busy tourist season in summer, while the cities that are rich in art treasures are ideal in spring and autumn. Apart from the Alps, which have a mountain climate that varies with altitude, Italy has a continental climate in the north and a Mediterranean one in the south. Summer temperatures average 24°C throughout the nation, but winter temperatures range from a January average of 1°C in Bolzano, to 7°C in Rome, and 12°C in Palermo, Sicily. Rainfall is average in the central and northern part of the country.
Where to stay
Hotels
There are about 38,000 hotels in Italy. Every hotel has rates fixed in agreement with the Provincial Tourist Board. Most hotels quote all-inclusive rates, which include taxes, service, heating or air-conditioning. If the all-inclusive rates do not include the IVA (GST), it should be added. The current IVA tax for deluxe hotels is 21%. The tax for hotels of all other categories is 20% for both room and restaurant services.
Hotels are classified: 5-Star Deluxe, 5-Star, 4-Star, 3-Star, 2-Star and 1-Star. The term pensione (or pension), that describes a small hotel, is no longer used in Italy. Pensions are now called 1-Star or 2-Star hotels. For a complete list of hotels in Italy, please visit www.enit.it or contact the Italian Government Tourist Office.
Motels along the road: Italy has an extensive network of motels that provide motorists with modern and comfortable accommodation, parking facilities and delicious regional food. Many motels also have swimming pools, private beaches, tennis courts, small parks and gardens.
Bed and breakfast: Bed and breakfast establishments in Italy are usually 1-Star and 2-Star hotels, small hotels offering bed and breakfast only.
Religious institutions: For listings of convents, monasteries and other religious institutions offering accommodation, please contact the Italian Government Tourist Office.
Private homes: Accommodation in private homes is available in most cities and towns in Italy. Contact the local tourist office of the city or town and request un elenco di affittacamere (list of persons letting rooms). Private homes are not official establishments and, as such, are not rated by the tourist office.
Youth hostels and student accommodation: Youth Hostels can be found all over Italy in the major cities and are run by the AIG (Associazione Italiana Alberghi per la Gioventu’), affiliated to Hostelling International (HI). An HI card is not always required, but it is recommended to have one. For details on how to get one you can contact: www.ostellionline.com, The Italian Youth Hostels Association (Associazione Italiana Alberghi per la Gioventú) AIG, Via Cavour, 44, 00184 - Rome; Tel. +39 06 4871152, Fax +39 06 4880492. Operates over 50 hostels throughout Italy (www.informagiovani.it).
Student hostels exist in many Italian towns and are available not only to students taking courses but, when available, also to students visiting the country for holiday. The Guide for Foreign Students giving detailed information on student hostels and other student facilities can be obtained by applying to:
The Italian Ministry of Education, Viale Trastevere – 00153 Roma.
Other useful addresses:
Centro Turistico Studentesco (CTS), Via Nazionale 66 – 00185 Roma, Tel. +39 06 46791 Fax +39 06 4679207 www.cts.it
Centro Turistico Giovanile (CTG), Via della Pigna 13/a - 00186 Roma, Tel. +39 06 6795077 Fax +39 06 6795078 www.ctg.it
For something different, Italian cottages and farmhouses are available for holiday rental. Camping is also very popular in Italy and over 1,700 official camping sites are now in full operation. Nominal fees are charged per person on a daily basis.
If you’d like to stay in an Alpine hut, the Club Alpino Italiano (Via Petrella 19 20124 Milano, Tel. +39 02 /2057231, Fax +39 02/ 205723201) owns nearly 600 huts in the mountain districts and publishes a yearly book with a map and information on access, equipment and tariffs for each according to grade. www.enit.it (Corso Italia 10, 20122 Milan, Tel. +39 02 85261 Fax +39 02 8526320) publishes several volumes giving detailed mountain itineraries and excursion information that includes the huts. www.cai.it
 Food and Drink
It is estimated that every year more than two million tourists visit the Italian countryside and its famous wine cellars. Italian cuisine, which is extremely popular in its simple and genuine tastes, takes its origin from a large range of products offered in great quantity from nature reflecting the warm climate. There are itineraries which include visits to wine cellars with their own vineyards opened to the public. There are also historical buildings and museums where visitors can taste various homemade products.
Shopping for families
Shops are generally open from 9:00am to 1:00pm and from 3:00 or 4:00pm to 7:00pm. However, most shops in the city centres remain open throughout the entire day, with the exception of one morning per week (usually Mondays).
Banks are usually open Monday to Friday from 8:30 or 9:00am to 12:30 or 1pm and from about 2:30pm to 4:00pm.
Climate/What to wear
Apart from the Alps, which have a mountain climate that varies with altitude, Italy has a continental climate in the north and a Mediterranean one in the south. Summer temperatures average 24ºC throughout the nation, but winter temperatures range from a January average of 1ºC in Bolzano, to 7ºC in Rome, and 12ºC in Palermo, Sicily. Rainfall is average in the central and northern part of the country.
Dress for the heat in the summer months (June to August) and be prepared for cool weather in winter or in higher elevations.
Many churches do not allow entry to people with exposed shoulders or shorts, so if you’re planning to visit any cathedrals, wear trousers or a longer skirt and bring light jumper to cover your shoulders if wearing a sleeveless top.
FAST FACTS
Health precautions
Italy is generally a safe and healthy destination, with a high quality of food preparation and drinkable water. You don't require any vaccinations.
Population
Almost 58 million people.
Language
Italian, though English is widely spoken in larger cities.
Time
Central European time (CET) equals GMT plus one hour. Daylight saving during European summer. Time difference: 10 hours during European winter, eight hours during European summer.
Currency
Italy uses the Euro, which is divided into 100 cents. For up-to-date currency conversions, click here.
Tipping
Tips are customary in Italy, but not essential. The tradition of the tip remains impervious to change, even though cafe or restaurant prices now more and more often include both cover charge and service. When paying the bill, if it is paid in cash it is a matter of leaving a few notes from the change, or saying to the waiter "va bene così " (it's all right), when the difference between the amount paid and the actual bill automatically becomes the tip. When using a credit card, there are two possibilities: if the total on the credit card slip is the same as the bill, again leave some notes as a tip; but if the amount or the total is blank, simply round up the total to include the tip when signing the credit card slip.
Hotels
A service charge of 15% to 18% is added to hotel bills. When all-inclusive prices are quoted, the service charge is already included. It is customary to leave an additional tip even when the service charge is already included. Only as a guideline, and depending on the category of your hotel, the following tips are suggested: chambermaid €0.75 a day; concierge €1.00 additional tip for extra services; bellhop or porter: €0.50 - €1.00; doorman (for calling a cab) €0.25; room service waiter 0.50 € minimum; more depending on amount of bill; valet service €0.50 minimum; hotel bar: 15%.
Restaurants
A service charge of approximately 15% is added to all restaurant bills.
It is customary, however to leave a small tip for good service as follows: waiter: 5% to 10%. You are now required by law to obtain an official receipt when eating at restaurants. If sitting at a table at a cafe or bar and your bill does not already include service charge, add 15% gratuity. Tip taxi drivers 5% to 10%, though Italians rarely tip drivers. Tip minimum €1.00 minimum per person for sightseeing/tour guides, or approximately 15% of the price of the tour. Porters at railroad stations and airports charge a fixed rate per suitcase; tip an additional €0.25 per person, more if the porter has been very helpful. Theatre ushers and service station attendants can be tipped about €0.50 for extra service.
Electricity
You'll need an adaptor if you want to use Australian equipment in Europe. Plugs have two round pins and a receptacle for male grounding pin, and work on 220/230 volts. Adaptors are available at the airport or you can purchase one before you leave.
Tap water
Tap water is generally safe to drink, though bottled water is widely available and very popular with locals and tourists alike.
Passport and Visa Requirements
There are no visa requirements for holders of Australian or New Zealand passports for stays up to three months. For information on longer stays and work permits, please contact the Italian Consulate in your city.
Italy for families
Rome
There are endless possibilities for fun with kids in Rome! Stroll through timeless monuments, piazzas, gardens, museums and ruins. You can’t miss the famous Gardens, Sistine Chapel, Colosseum. Kids must try every flavour of gelato.
Colosseum – An architectural marvel of antiquity and symbol of the Eternal City throughout the world, the Amphitheatre is the largest structure for entertainment with gladiators and wild animals ever built by the Romans. Erected in 8 years (72-80 AD) by the Flavian dynasty using 100.000 square metres of travertine and 300 tons of iron, the Colosseum was inaugurated with 100 days of games. The 60.000 spectators that it could hold entered through the 80 numbered arches at street level and, after spending the entire day there, could leave in under 20 minutes. The programme offered hunts with wild animals in the morning, executions of condemned criminals at midday and gladiator combat in the afternoon. The underground section at the centre of the arena was used to keep the cages with the animals and the equipment for the games.
The Roman Forum is the most important archaeological area in the city. It was once the centre of public life of the ancient city.
One of the most impressive architectural masterpieces of all times, the Pantheon was built by the Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AC as a temple dedicated to the major gods of the pagan religion. It is wonderful to notice how through the centuries the city has grown around the Pantheon, incorporating it and maintaining it at the heart of its existence. Meeting friends here, in front of a monument built 1800 years ago, comes natural to both Romans and visitors and allows us, just as naturally, to perceive the presence of the many generations who have done the same before us.
The Trevi Fountain is the celebration of water as a symbol of life, health and change. The charm of the fountain is enhanced by the contrast between its large size and the small square that contains it and seems to almost compress it, along with its location on the side of a building that does not allow the viewer to walk around it as it normally occurs. The overall effect is a unique combination of sculpture, architecture and nature in which we can imagine the building blending with the rocks and the gushing water. Don’t forget to throw the famous coin to ensure your return to the Eternal City…to respect the “proper procedure” one must stand with one’s back to the fountain and throw the coin with the right hand over the left shoulder.
The Vatican City – The Basilica of St. Peter offers one of the most impressive experiences of architectural space available anywhere. St. Peters Square can contain 300,000 people. It is the site of important ceremonies tied with the pope’s direct relationship with the people, such as audiences and blessings. The Vatican Museums and their immense wealth of art offer an extraordinary experience in which the relevance of the works on display is heightened by the splendour of the structures in which they are displayed, and that are well worth a visit. The Museums offer a great variety of collections, including ancient Greek as well as Roman art, Egyptian and Etruscan art and, of course, the great masterpieces of Renaissance art with the frescoes of the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel. This is a great opportunity to realize how coming to Rome often has more to do with remembering what we have always somehow known, than with discovering things for the first time.
 Venice
Venice is the only city of its kind in the world and kids will have a great time exploring the canals and bridges. It was built on over 100 islands in a lagoon four kilometres from the mainland and two kilometres from the Adriatic Sea. The entire historic centre is a treasure from both an artistic and architectural point of view.
Built in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, St Marks Cathedral with its five imposing oriental-style domes and gilded oriental mosaics dominates the piazza, a masterpiece of Romanesque-Byzantine architecture. The façade is covered with marble and Byzantine mosaics. The interior, in the form of a Greek cross, contains splendid Byzantine and Venetian mosaics from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
The Grand Canal is the most important means of communication in the city. Almost four hundred meters long, thirty to seventy meters wide, it divides the historic centre into two parts and is crossed by vaporetti and traditional gondolas. Along its banks the most beautiful Venetian palaces from the Middle Ages up until the eighteenth century have been built.
St Marks Square is one of the most famous piazzas in the world. Its history began in the ninth century, when it was chosen as the headquarters of the Venetian government. The piazza was at that time narrower than it appears today, causing the lagoon to flood a large part of the actual St Marks Square.
Every year in February the eighteenth-century Carnival comes alive in the piazzas and streets of the city. Open-air balls, theatre representations and shows of all kinds involve the whole city of Venice, which is invaded by thousands of traditional masks. For this occasion, a special ritual is celebrated with streamers that are attached to a dove. The dove is then attached to a cable and flies through St Marks Square from the Bell Tower to the Clock Tower. On its arrival it breaks open and from the flight of the streamers the Venetians can predict the fort of the upcoming year.
Florence
Florence is one of the great cities of Italy and is the capital of the region of Tuscany, on Italy's northwest coast.
Santa Maria del Fiore, the Gothic cathedral dominates the cities skyline and was completed in 1436 with the elegant dome, the inside of which was entirely frescoed by Vasari and Zuccari. The final phase in the construction of the cathedral, that is the completion of the façade, dates from the mid-19th century. To the right of the cathedral rises the Bell Tower, or Campanile, designed by Giotto in 1334 where kids can climb up to the top. Opposite the Cathedral stands the green and white marble Baptistery of San Giovanni (1128), a masterpiece of Florentine Romanesque architecture. The interior of the dome is decorated with mosaics. The splendid bronze doors (including the Door of Paradise) were made by Andrea Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti.
The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo houses artworks from Santa Maria del Fiore, the Baptistery and the Campanile, including sculptures that had been made for the cathedral façade. The most important works in the museum are by Michelangelo ("Pietà"), Donatello ("Mary Magdalen", "Cantoria"), Arnolfo di Cambio ("Boniface VIII"), Luca della Robbia ("Cantoria").
Galleria degli Uffizi and Galleria dell'Accademia – kids may want to bring their binoculars to get a close up of all the works of art. Michelangelo's original David statue is not at the Uffizi, but in the Galleria dell'Accademia. The statues around town are copies.
Walk along the River Arno to the Ponte Vecchio – the oldest bridge in the city.
The St Marks Cathedral was commissioned by Luca Pitti in 1448 and is unique for its marvelous grottos, ponds and statues.
 Other Destinations
Entertainment Park of Pinocchio – Collodi (Pescia)
The Entertainment Park of Pinocchio is a complex entirely devoted to the adventures of the little wooden character and his array of strange friends.
The picturesque medieval village has maintained its ancient appearance, with its maze of old houses clinging to the hillside in a cascade that stretches down to the majestic Villa Garzoni and its beautiful eighteenth-century landscaped Garden. The captivating imaginative power of The Adventures of Pinocchio draws its strength from this magical setting, which has made this story into a masterpiece transcending all bounds of time and space.
Established over a span of thirty years, between 1956 and 1987, the Park of Pinocchio is far from being a traditional amusement park. Rather, it is a creation of fantasy set amongst the unspoilt pearls of nature blended with the harmonious beauty of art. A range of mosaics tell the story of the main episodes with vivid originality. The Park has been gradually enriched with valuable contributions like The Red Prawn Tavern, which was officially opened in 1963. On the southern side of the Park stands a later addition from 1972, the Paese dei Balocchi (Land of toys), a magical tour located over a hectare of Mediterranean vegetation.
A small tunnel leads into the Village of Pinocchio, which is the starting point of a paved path whose borders are populated by the characters from the story: the curly-moustached Policeman blocking the road, effectively forcing children to creep between his legs, the Talking Cricket, the Great Puppet Theatre, the Cat and the Fox, the Forest of Assassins, the Little Fairy Girl and her Little White House, with the Snail Concierge and the small bedroom where Pinocchio was examined by the three doctors. In the nearby Field of Miracles stands the shining Tree. Shortly thereafter, one comes upon the Serpent, and then the Four Rabbits who are carrying a coffin in an attempt to persuade Pinocchio to swallow the medicine. The Fairy also appears, with her arms outstretched and the path goes on past the Crab that sprays water all around, the Nets and the Pan of the Green Fisherman, and then once more the path reaches Pinocchio, now transformed into a Donkey in the Land of Toys. Finally, Steps let visitors climb up to the great whale where there is a view of the Little Goat and the Puppet waving.
At this point the story has come to an end, but the visionary journey continues with the Labyrinth, the Pirates' Cave, the Pirate Ship and the Sounding Wheels set in motion by water. The literary path that guides visitors in their exploration of the Park is a highly original blend of artistic creation and natural environment. It is a long and winding path, snaking its way through luxuriant vegetation, which never ceases to surprise, and is surrounded by trees that typically belong to the Mediterranean evergreen vegetation.
For further information please visit: www.pinocchio.it
Italy in Miniature – Rimini
Italy in Miniature is a huge theme park where visitors can travel through miniatures of the country's most beautiful sites in just a couple of hours!
The theme park is dedicated to the historical, architectural and cultural heritage of Italy and brings together an unusual blend of ingredients in a wonderful combination of fun and education. No other park offers such unique exciting experiences that let you "travel" dream and learn all at the same time.
The Parco Italia in Miniatura covers 85,000 square metres and attracts more than half a million people each year. Its main purpose resides in the possibility of completing an ideal journey through 270 of the most beautiful spots in Italy and Europe, faithfully reproduced to scale. Many other attractions are also on offer to satisfy your (or your kids') wildest needs, with attractions including Sling Shot, the Canoe, Monorail and Panoramic Tower. For less thrills and more learning, check out the Pre-historic Valley and the Science Luna Park.
At Parco Italia in Miniatura, by sailing down the Grand Canal, visitors really get the feeling of being in Venice. You'll get to experience The Grand Canal, with its sumptuous palaces and Rialto Bridge, not to mention St Marks Square with its bell tower and Basilica, which are all just five times smaller than the real thing! Indeed, St Marks Square can accommodate up to 280 people!
Get there by car by taking the A14 motorway Bologna-Ancona and exit at Rimini Nord, then follow the signs. Or hop on bus number 8, which goes to the park from Rimini's main railway station.
Events
Events, art and culture, the pleasures of good food and music, traditional crafts and expressions of collective religion, folklore and contemporary art, opera and operetta, concert and theatre seasons: in Italy the calendar of festivals and events is practically endless. Day after day people work weaving a continuous thread with the past and memory, living and interpreting the present and imagining the future in a crowd of festivals, rituals, exhibitions, expositions, recitals and markets. Not a single interest is left unfulfilled, not a single curiosity unsatisfied. For a calendar of events click here.
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