Italy, slightly larger than Arizona, is a long peninsula shaped like a boot, surrounded on the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea and on the east by the Adriatic. It is bounded by France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia to the north. The Apennine Mountains form the peninsula's backbone; the Alps form its northern boundary. The largest of its many northern lakes is Garda (143 sq mi; 370 sq km); the Po, its principal river, flows from the Alps on Italy's western border and crosses the Lombard plain to the Adriatic Sea. Several islands form part of Italy; the largest are Sicily (9,926 sq mi; 25,708 sq km) and Sardinia (9,301 sq mi; 24,090 sq km).
Italy’s great food, beautiful countryside, fabulous wine, and long history make it an excellent country to visit. It’s an expensive country to visit but no trip to Europe is complete without a stop in Italy. Actually, no lifetime is complete without a trip to Italy. I fall in love with it every time I visit. I love the vineyards in Florence, the ancient streets in Rome, the laid back nature of Southern Italy, the gorgeous Cinque Terre, and romantic Venice. Italy leaves no one underwhelmed. There’s so much to do in Italy that it would take a lifetime to finish. Don’t rush it in just one visit. Italy is best seen slowly - just like the attitude of the country. Relax, take in the scenery, and enjoy a latte.
Typical Costs in Italy
Accommodation: Accommodation in Italy isn’t cheap. Hostels can be quite expensive with rooms ranging from 15-30 Euros per night. Private rooms cost around 100 Euros per night. A budget hotel will set you back 80 Euros or more for a double room. The good news is that the further south you go the cheaper the prices get. Expect the lower range for hostel prices and hotels for 60 Euros from Rome south.
Food: Food costs range the real range here in Italy. It’s easy to have a great (and expensive) Italian meal here but it’s also easy to eat for less than 10 Euros a day. Most restaurant meals with wine will cost around 20 Euros per person. In tourist hot spots, add about 10 Euros to that. Quick eats like pizza, paninis, and light snacks will cost 2-3 Euros. Fast food will cost 7 Euros for a value meal. At all restaurants, add 1 – 2 Euros for the “coperta” (sit down fee).
Transportation: The best way to get around Italy is via their extensive train network. Fast trains (Eurostar) cost between 30-50 Euro per trip. The slower regional trains cost between 5 – 20 Euros per trip. (Take them!) Public transport is reasonably priced with most buses and subways costing 1.20 Euro for a single way. For long distances when you are short on time, RyanAir and EasyJet have cheap flights.
Money Saving Tips for Italy
Pass on the Bread: Restaurants will charge you extra for bread but not tell you about it when they give it you. Send it back if you don’t want to pay for it.
Drink Tap Water: Ask for tap water or you will get bottled water and have to pay for that too. Moreover, you can refill your bottles of water at any of the drinking fountains throughout Italy. The water is fine to drink.
Break the Law: Use this tip at your own risk. Most of the time, they don’t check tickets on trains. That’s all I’m saying.
Buy the Wine: You can buy a great bottle of wine for 3 Euros in the store. It’s a lot cheaper than drinking at the bar.
Eat a Panini: Eating out in the popular cities of Italy is an expensive affair. Buy paninis and pizza for just a few Euro and save a lot of money.
Couchsurf: Accommodation is quite expensive in Italy, even in the hostels. Use the Couchsurfing service and stay with locals who have extra beds and couches for free.
Activities: Most attractions in Italy cost around 15 euros. Wine tours will cost around 50-60 euros.
Top Things to See in Italy
Venice Carnival – Ten days and nights of masquerade madness in February before Lent. It’s the Italian version of Carnival! This tradition goes back centuries and is one of the biggest parties and festivals in Italy.
Venice – Besides the carnival, Venice is just a great place to visit. While not the cheapest destination in Italy, Venice is a great place for people to see canals, experience a gondola ride, and have an amazing romantic candlelight dinner. Head to the old Jewish Ghetto for the hip bars.
Pompeii – Pompeii is the ancient city destroyed by a volcano but persevered by the quick drop of ash. Walk around the city as it stood the day the volcano exploded, moving in and out of homes and businesses where pots and vases still lay. Most of the beautiful frescoes still remain! It’s a full day activity.
Rome – The city of Rome is a wonderful place of small streets and history. You’ll be able to discover tons of Roman ruins here. More than you can see in one visit. Make sure you explore the Trastevere area, west of the river. It’s my favorite place in Rome and it offers cheap foods, great little bars, and tiny winding streets few tourists venture too.
Siena – Everyone always says “I looooove Siena” and with good reason. It’s one of the best preserved medieval cities in Italy and has a labyrinth of lanes gathered around the arena of Piazza del Campo (where, during the summer, they have horses racing).
Cinque Terre – Five dramatically located villages on the east coast, backed by steep vineyards and mountains. Simply put- it’s heaven here. I ended up staying a week because it was so beautiful. There are great hikes to do ranging in various difficulty. The towns offer excellent food and great local wine. Manarola has amazing seafood.
Amalfi Coast – The southern cousin to the Cinque Terre, the Amalfi coast is much less visited but equally as beautiful (some say more). You’ll find great hillside towns, beautiful beaches, and azure blue water.
The Lakes – The beautiful lakes up north (like Lake Como) are the summer playground for Italians and George Clooney. Come up here, play in the lakes, see beautiful villas, and hike in the countryside.
Florence – It’s Florence. There’s no real need to explain why to go here. Everything people say about it is true. Great food, amazing museums, ancient buildings, small streets, and awesome gelato. While here make sure you take a few wine tours throughout the Tuscan region to get a feel for the countryside.
“The Heel” – No one ever goes to the southern heel of the Italian boot. But if you have time, make it down here. This is where most of the fruits and vegetables in Italy come from. A trip down here will give you the best glimpse into rustic Italian life.
Sicily – Sicily is famous for its mafia but there’s more to the island than mobsters. It has its own unique cooking style, amazing coastal beaches that stay warm in the summer months, friendly little Italian grandmas, and extensive wineries.
Settimana Santa – This is the last week of lent known as Holy Week. During this time, there are several processions throughout Italy, drawing crowds of thousands. Throughout the week, there are various gatherings in Puglia, Abruzzo, and Sicily but the major event occurs on Easter Sunday, and is led by the pope.
Alberobello – A Unesco World Heritage Site, this is an interesting and picturesque little town, well worth a visit between the months of November and April (to avoid the flocks and gaggles of tourists). There are a couple of museums to peruse through, in addition to some great restaurants, bars, and markets.
Vatican Museums – If you have the patience to wait through the lines and the desire is strong enough, this is one of the most grandeur collections to see while in Rome. Founded in the early 16th century, this is a complex of museums residing on over 5 hectares of land. There are so many priceless highlights, you could spend hours just looking at them and glazing over the thousands of other pieces.
Chiesa di Sant’Efisio – When you find yourself in Cagliari, you should probably wander over to the Stampace quarter to see this church. Dedicated to the patron Saint Ephisius, this is the most important church in the city and was actually built over the saint’s prison site.
Climate
The Northern part of Italy has hot summers and cold winter, although the temperature rarely drops below freezing during the daytime.
The South enjoys mild winters and long, dry, hot Summers. Mountain areas such as the Alps and the Apennines have long and cold winters; long and short often cool summers.
Italy has a largely temperate climate with regional variations. In summer the Northern parts of Italy are warm with occasional rainfall, the central region is somewhat stifled by humidity and the south scorches under the dry heat. In winter, conditions in Milan, Turin and Venice are dominated by cold, damp and fog and Tuscany's winter temperatures approach freezing, while temperatures in the south of the country are more favorable averaging 50-60ºF (10-20ºC). Most people visit Italy between June and August, however the best time to visit is in Spring (April-May) and Autumn (September-October) when the weather is good and the tourists are few. The sea is warm enough for swimming between June and September. Most Italians take their vacation in August and many shops and restaurants are closed during this period. The ski season runs between December and April and the best time to walk in the Alps is between June and September.
Passports and Visas
The borderless region known as the Schengen Area includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. All these countries issue a standard Schengen visa that has a multiple entry option, and which allows the holder to travel freely within the borders of all the aforementioned countries. Furthermore, all foreign passengers to Italy must hold visible proof of financial means to support themselves while in the country, return/onward tickets, and the necessary travel documentation for their next destination. Note that visitors may be refused entry, either for public security, tranquility, order or health reasons. Extensions of stay in Italy are possible, by applying to local authorities. NOTE: It is highly recommended that your passport has at least six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.
Language: Italian (official); German-, French-, and Slovene-speaking minorities. English is understood in the larger cities but not in the more remote parts of the country.
Electricity
Electrical current in Italy is 230 volts, 50Hz. A variety of plugs are in use including the European-style two-pin plug.
Communications
The international access code for Italy is +39. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). All numbers must be preceded by 0, whether originating in Italy or out, unless calling a mobile phone. City/area codes are in use, e.g. 02 for Milan and 06 for Rome. There can be high surcharges on calls made from hotels and it is generally cheaper to use a calling card. Public telephone boxes take phone cards for local and international calls, which can be bought from newsagents. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.
Duty-Free
Travelers over 17 years from non-EU countries do not have to pay duty on Travelers from EU countries traveling within the EU are limited to 110 liters of beer, 90 liters of wine (of which 60 liters may be sparkling), 20 liters of fortified wine, 10 liters of spirits, 1kg of tobacco, 800 cigarettes, 200 cigars, 1kg of tobacco and 400 cigarellos, perfume up to 50g or 250ml eau de toilette, and other goods for personal consumption to the value of EUR175 per adult or EUR90 for children under 15 years. EU citizens are also able to claim tax back if the VAT rates in Italy are higher than those in their country of residence. Prohibited items include narcotic drugs, medicinal products, arms and weapons, explosives and protected animal and plant species.
Tourist Office
Italian Tourist Board: +39 06 49711 or www.enit.it
Customs
In Italy, it is an offense to sit on steps and in courtyards near public buildings, including the main churches, in Florence; eating and drinking in the vicinity should also be avoided. Shorts, vests or any other immodest clothing should not be worn inside churches.
Tipping
Tipping is customary in Italy and 10-15% of the bill is acceptable in restaurants (unless, as is increasingly the case, a 15% service charge has already been added to the bill). Hotels add a service charge of 15-18%, but it is customary to tip the service staff extra. Italians rarely tip taxi drivers, but a 5-10% tip is always appreciated.
Rome
The eternal city of Rome, constructed of ruins and in whose name the Caesars sought to claim the world, opens for the visitor as a living museum. The centuries peel back with each new vista in this great city of gladiators, lunatic drivers and well-rounded pasta posteriors. Vespas, nippy little Fiats and red sports cars speed past trendy sidewalk bistros and nightclubs, revealing the Rome of Fellini's La Dolce Vita. The chillingly stark facades of the Stadio Olimpico complex bring back Mussolini's attempts to reinvent the architecture of the Caesars.
Trastevere
Separated from central Rome by the Tiber River, Trastevere is a picturesque medieval neighborhood characterized by a quirky Bohemian atmosphere. Its narrow cobblestone streets are lined with overhanging flower boxes and washing lines, and home to numerous cafes, boutiques, pubs and restaurants. The area has long attracted artists, famous people and expats, and is a charming place to explore, having escaped the grand developments of central Rome.
Galleria Regionale
Palermo's largest art museum, devoted to medieval works, is housed in the Gothic Palazzo Abbatellis, built in 1488. The collection includes several particularly interesting works. The Bust of Eleanor of Aragonby Francesco Laurana, for example, dates from 1471 and is considered to be the epitome of Renaissance Sicilian sculpture, while the beautiful masterpiece painting Our Lady of the Annunciationis considered Antonello da Messina's greatest work. Also renowned is the chilling Triumph of Deathfresco by an unknown 15th-century artist that covers an entire wall.
Capitoline Hill
Capitoline Hill was the original capitol of the ancient city and continues to serve as the seat of the city's government. The main feature of the area is Michelangelo's Piazza del Campidoglio, a testimony to the superiority of Renaissance town planning. The piazza is bordered by three palaces: the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the twin structures of the Palazzo dei Senatori and Palazzo Nuovo which house the Musei Capitolini, containing the largest collection of classical statues in the world. Among the notable statues found here are the Dying Gaul and the Satyr, the Capitoline Wolf with Romulus and Remus and the Spinario. Paths cut along the side of the hill from the Campidoglio giving way to panoramic views of the ancient sites of the Forum and Colosseum.
The Colosseum
This enduring symbol of ancient Rome tenaciously clings to its foundations as the site of former gladiatorial conquests. Its architecture boasts an impressive array of Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns and an underground network of cells, corridors, ramps and elevators that were used to transport animals from their cages to the arena. The magnificence of the original structure has been eroded through the years of pillaging and earthquakes so that only a skeletal framework remains.
Pantheon
The stately Pantheon is one of the world's most inspiring architectural designs. Fittingly built as a temple to the Gods by Hadrian in 120AD, its perfectly proportioned floating dome rests seductively on sturdy marble columns. The only light source flowing through the central oculus was used by the Romans to measure time (with the aid of a sundial) and the dates of equinoxes and solstices. The south transept houses the Carafa Chapel and the tomb of Fra Angelico rests under the left side of the altar.
The Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna
The graceful steps built in 1725, elegantly curve their way from the Piazza di Spagna to the Church of Santa Trinit dei Monti, a pastel tinted neoclassical building. The shopper's paradise of Via Condotti leads back from the Spanish steps to Via del Corso, and during spring the steps are decorated with pink azaleas. At the foot of the steps lies Bernini's boat-shaped Barcaccia fountain and to the right is the unassuming Keats-Shelley Memorial House.
Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi)
The tiny Piazza di Trevi has been immortalized through this fountain built for Pope Clement XII. The statues adorning this watery display represent Abundance, Agrippa, Salubrity, the Virgin and Neptune guided by two tritons. Tossing a coin into the fountain is supposed to guarantee a return trip to Rome.