The original do-it-yourself travel guide to Europe SM

ITALY
Prime Travel Data

Italy is in southern Europe, a pennisula jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea.
It is bounded by France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia,
and the Adriatic, Ionian, Tyrrhenian, and Ligurian seas.

A page of the Prime Travel Data section from enjoy-europe.com with John Bermont


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Note: Italicized notations by the author. Italy (Eyewitness Travel Guides) (Paperback) by DK Publishing
Italy
Eyewitness Travel Guides
by DK Publishing


Important information about this data sheet. Revised 7 September 2012
Native name Italia
Capital Rome (Roma)
Postal code I
Telephone code +39. See Chapter 19.
Language Italian
Currency Euro. See Euro and Other Currencies.
European Union Member. See Chapter 25.
Schengen Agreement Member. See Chapter 3.
Time zone GMT+1. See Chapter 28.
Electricity 220 volts, 50 Hz. See Chapter 11.


General open hours, often longer in major cities  
Restaurants 1100-1430, 1900-2200
Banks 0830-1330, 1500-1600 M-F
Post offices 0815-1400 M-F, 0815-1200 S
0900-1900 7 days at St. Peter's
Stores 0900-1300, 1500-1900 M-S
City tourist offices 0900-1230, 1500-1800 M-S


Date Holiday Festa
Jan 1 New Year's Day Capodanno
Apr 25 Liberation Day Anniversario della Liberazione
  Easter Monday Lunedi dell`Angelo
May 1 Labor Day Festa del Lavoro
Aug 15  Assumption Assunzione di M.V.
Nov 1  All Saints' Day Tutti i Santi
Dec 8 Immaculate Conception Immacolata Concezione
Dec 25 Christmas Natale
Dec 26 St. Stephen's Day Santo Stefano


Italian Offices in the USA
Embassy
Tel 202.612.4400
Fax 202.518.2151
Embassy of Italy in the United States
3000 Whitehaven Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
Consulates Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston,
Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Newark,
Philadelphia, San Francisco
Tourist Office
T 212-245-5618
F 212-586-9249
Italian Government Tourist Board
630 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1565
New York, NY 10111
  Chicago, Los Angeles, Toronto


American Offices in Italy
Embassy
T (+39) 06.46741
Embassy of the United States, Rome, Italy
Via Veneto 119/A
00187 Roma
Consulates Milan, Naples, Florence


USA is known as Stati Uniti


NOTE TO READERS

I welcome your questions and comments. If you have any concerns about your trip to Italy that have not been covered well enough in this chapter do not hesitate to write and ask.

My email address is johnbermont@enjoy-europe.com.

When you write please include as much detail as possible. There are about 50 countries in Europe. It will help me answer if you mention the countries and/or cities you plan to visit. I will reply in a day or two.

Don't forget to scroll through the Table of Contents below. All 30 chapters of HOW TO EUROPE: The Complete Travelers Handbook are also available, free to read on line. In addition, the Google search box below can locate specific subjects in any chapter or page on site.

For a check-off punchlist of everything go to The Finale, Packing List and Last Call For Travel In Europe .

If you know of someone else who would appreciate reading this web page please send the URL link to him or her. To easily do that, click your "File" tab in the tool bar and scroll down to "Send" or "Send Link." Your friend will thank you, and I thank you.


There are plenty of guide books for Italy. Michelin Red Guides (hotels and restaurants) and Michelin Green Guides (man-made and natural wonders) are my favorites but there are many other good ones. Notice that I do not recommend any Frommers, Dummies, Steves, or other inferior guides. For some of the reasons please go to the hoi polloi.

As one example of a substandard guide, I have a 400+ page book titled Rick Steves' France, Belgium, & The Netherlands which has not a single mention of Marseille, Dijon, or Aix-en-Provence. That's like leaving Chicago, New Orleans, and Newport Beach out of a USA travel guide. But this book did include enough pages to promote his whirlwind guided bus tours, videos, backpacks, sink stoppers, and Steves' other branded products. A page of sophomoric French phrases plus sort-of maps cap off the disaster. Steves is strong on self promotion but weak on meaningful content.

For the good stuff, the links below take you directly to a page at Amazon.com. That page details the item, and in some cases includes candid comments from others who have bought the item. Enjoy-Europe.com benefits when you order here. Thanks for your support!

Note: emphasis in the titles is mine -- to help you in finding the information you need. Don't worry too much about publication dates. Many books are updated every three to six years. The monuments and cathedrals haven't moved in 500 years!
Guide Books
  Michelin Red Guide 2012 Italy
  Michelin Green Guide Italy
  Rome (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
  Lonely Planet Italy
  National Geographic Traveler: Italy, 3rd Ed.
  Lonely Planet Rome

Maps
  Michelin Italy Tourist and Motoring Atlas
  Italy Road Map by Freytag & Berndt
  Rome City Map by Lonely Planet
  Milan Street Map No. 46 by Michelin
  Florence with Pisa, Laminated Map by Borch
  Lonely Planet Venice City Map
  Michelin Sardegna

Words
  Larousse Mini Dictionary Italian English English Italian
  Oxford-Paravia Italian Dictionary
  Berlitz Italian Phrase Book And Dictionary

The beauty of it all
  Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
  The Last Italian: Portrait of a People by William Murray

Wine
  Vino Italiano: The Regional Wines of Italy by Joseph Bastianich and David Lynch
  The Italian Wine Guide: The Definitive Guide to Touring, Sourcing, and Tasting by Touring Club of Italy

Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere by Jan Morris
Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere
by Jan Morris
Under the Tuscan Sun by Francis Mayes
Under the Tuscan Sun
by Francis Mayes
The Seasons of Rome by Paul Hofmann
The Seasons of Rome
by Paul Hofmann


The sign at a street intersection in Nova Milanese, Italy gives directions and distances in kilometers to nearby cities, but no route numbers. http://www.enjoy-europe.com/cds/P1080407-NovaMilanese.jpg The sign at a street intersection in Nova Milanese, Italy gives directions and distances in kilometers to nearby cities, but no route numbers.
Travelers' Supplies
Shopping easy at

The holes of many Italian electrical outlets are too small for the standard European Shucko plug. One of these will probably fit when you are in Italy.
Electrical Plug Adapter USA to Continental Europe
Plug Adapter (doubler)
Universal to Continental Europe "Europlug."
4.0 mm prongs


Here is the grounded version of the Italian adapter plug.

Universal to Italian Travel Power Plug Adapter


This plug adapter changes a Shucko Continental plug to the Europlug used in Italy.
Grounded Adapter - Europe to England UK Britain
Grounded Adapter
Europe to Italy


This 110-250 volt power surge strip has three universal outlets and an American grounded plug so it needs a plug adapter for the countries you are visiting. Make sure your gizmos are rated for 110-240 volts. SM-60 Universal 3 Outlet Power Strip / Surge Protector for Worldwide Travel. 110V-250V with Overload Protection.
SM-60 Universal 3 Outlet Power Strip Surge Protector for Worldwide Travel. 110V-250V with Overload Protection.

Save money on auto, SUV, and RV rentals.



Who wrote this?

Home and general index.
Table of Contents
HOW TO EUROPE
The Complete Travelers Handbook

All of the text, updated to September 2012, is available on line, FREE. Updated photographs with captions are available on line for those chapters as noted "with illustrations."
The entire book, copyright 2003, can be purchased by clicking Amazon.com.
Chapter 1, with illustrations.
What's It All About?
Travel Like a Native In Europe


Chapter 2
On Budget in Europe
Travel Costs


Chapter 3
Passport and Visas
Identity and Travel Documents for Europe


Chapter 4
Flying to Europe
Travel Starts at the Airport


Chapter 5
What to Wear in Europe
Travel Clothes for all Occasions


Chapter 6
Your Packing List for Europe
A Short List for Travelers


Chapter 7
Luggage for Europe
Let It Roll


Chapter 8
Cash, ATMs, Credit Cards
Travel Money in Europe


Chapter 9
Your Travel Diary of Europe
Notes Supplement Your Photos


Chapter 10
Europe Guide Books and Maps
Travel in Europe with a Good Guide Book


Chapter 11
Electricity in Europe
Travel Voltage Fundamentals


Chapter 12, with illustrations.
Photography in Europe
Travel with Your Camera


Chapter 13
Bring a Smile
Travel Europe in Good Attitude


Chapter 14
European Hotels, Hostels, B&Bs, and Private Homes
Sleep Options for Travel in Europe


Chapter 15
Eating In Europe
Travel on Your Belly


Chapter 16
City Transport in Europe
Travel by Bus, Streetcar, Subway, Taxi, Bike, and Shoe Leather


Chapter 17, part 1,
with illustrations.
Trains in Europe
Guide to Train Travel in Europe


Chapter 17, part 2,
with illustrations.
European Rail Stations
Travel Europe by Train


Chapter 17, part 3,
with illustrations.
Night Trains in Europe
City to City While You Sleep


Chapter 17, part 4,
with illustrations.
Europe's Bus and Ship Services
Hit the Road or Take a Ferry


Chapter 18, with illustrations.
Driving in Europe
Travel by Car, Van, or Motorcycle


Chapter 19, part 1
Telephoning to, from, and within Europe
City Codes, 10-10, telephone cards, cell phones, PTT


Chapter 19, part 2
Sending Snail Mail to & from Europe
Air Mail, Priority Mail, PTT, Poste Restante, Amex


Chapter 19, part 3
Internet and Email in Europe
Cyber Cafes, Keyboards, Password, Your Laptop


Chapter 19, part 4
Telegrams
Wiring Cash and Keeping in Touch


Chapter 20
Health and Safety in Europe
Travel in Confidence but with Caution


Chapter 21
Working in Europe
Get Paid to Travel


Chapter 22, part 1
Moving to Europe
Things to Know Before You Go


Chapter 22, part 2
Living in Europe
Travel to the Max as an Expatriate


Chapter 23, with illustrations.
Shopping in Europe
Buy Your Souvenirs, Gifts, and Stuff You Can't Live Without


Chapter 24
Shipping Your Treasures Home from Europe
Travelers Options


Chapter 25
Passing Customs in Europe
Know the Rules When Crossing Borders


Chapter 26
European Languages, Numbers, Alphabets
Encounter The Tower of Babel in Europe


Chapter 27
Metric System in Europe
Travel with Grams, Meters, Liters, and Celsius


Chapter 28
Time and Dates in Europe
Travel in a Different Time Zone


Chapter 29
Weather in Europe
Travel with Your Umbrella


Chapter 30
Melding with Europe
Travel Is Interesting and Entertaining




The Finale
Packing List and Last Call
For Travel In Europe
Learn the basic infrastructure:

Prime Travel Data
Elementary Travel Information for Europe
Austria
Belgium
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland

France
Germany
Greece
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Slovakia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom

Utilize John Bermont's exclusive:

TRAVELERS YELLOW PAGES
A Directory of Links to Products, Services, and Information
Airlines to Europe
National Tourist Offices
City Tourist Offices
City Information and Tours
Country Information and Tours
Luggage and Backpacks
Discount Air Travel
Villas and Homes for Rent
Hostels in Europe
Hotels in Europe
Auto Rental in Europe
Rail Services of Europe
Eclectic Travel Sites
Internet Search Engines
Photography
Guide Books for Europe
Educational Programs
Newsletters from Europe
Personal Travel Pages
Personal Trip Planning

Get open hours, costs, locations, and more:

Travelers Portfolio
Essential Visitors Information for the Top Sights of Europe
       Amsterdam       
Anne Frank Huis
Rijksmuseum
Van Gogh Museum
       London       
British Museum
Buckingham Palace
National Gallery
Natural History Museum
Palace of Westminster
St. Paul's Cathedral
Tower of London
Westminster Abbey
       Paris coming soon       
Arc de Triomphe
Tour Eiffel
Hôtel des Invalides
Musée de l'Armée
Opera
Montmarte
Cathédrale Notre Dame
Musée d'Orsay
Musée du Louvre

Exchange rates, weather, maps:

Up-To-The-Minute
Be informed before you go.
       Money Exchange
Currency exchange rates, including the euro, British pound, Swiss Frank.
       Weather in Europe
Current European weather conditions and forecasts. Good luck.
    Maps and Time Zones
Free online maps of Europe. Guide to setting your watch ahead.

Captioned photos from Europe

PhotoLog
Pictures of what we do in Europe.
       Queen's Day
Holland hosts a great one-day party, annually on April 30. Here is the action in Haarlem and Amsterdam.
       Keukenhof
A beautiful huge tulip garden blooms during middle spring. We made a leisurely bike ride from Haarlem.
       Bull Flight
My daughter Stephanie enters the ring and encounters a baby bull in Spain, then flies for her life!
O hey Europe Stephanie's Blog. A 22 year old spends a month in Paris, with a weekend diversion to La Baule on the Atlantic coast.

Didn't find what you need yet?
Google It !!
 

Copyright
Internet edition
© 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2001 James J. Broad
© 1987, 1986, 1984, 1982 Murphy & Broad Publishing Co.
All rights reserved. Tous droits réservés.
This is copyrighted material. Do not reproduce, copy, plagiarize, store, modify, extract,
transmit, or purloin any part of this publication in any nation in any form or by any means
or for any purpose whatsoever without permission in writing.

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Travelers:
You may print one copy of this chapter for your personal use. To order the complete book with all of the captioned photographs see the next section below.

Permissions:
If you want to copy any of this material to your web site, book, article, or term paper please ask first. Note that plagiarism includes paraphrasing text and even copying ideas. Everything on this page is original. Students, professors, journalists, and writers are outed almost every day, caught stealing the works of others and presenting it as their own work. Then they make excuses when caught. Then they are thrown out of school or fired, or they run for Vice President when they get away with it. At least one other travel writer has plagiarized heavily from my work, claiming and getting credit for writing a few dozen books every year. Some of his books have included my work for years on end, without credit. For honorable people, permissions are freely granted so you don't need to cheat, steal, and lie. Just say where you found the information and ideas. For permissions contact: johnbermont@enjoy-europe.com.

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Site Map:
To see everything on this site in one compact listing go to Site Map


Buy it here:

The original
do-it-yourself
travel guide to
Europe.
SM


470 pages
7" x 10" softcover
345 b/w photos
Last Call checklists
and detailed index
© 2003
ISBN 0-940792-69-9
$28.50


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HOW TO EUROPE
The Complete Travelers Handbook
2012 — Our 30th Anniversary!


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FLAGS of EUROPE

Flag of Austria
Austria
Flag of Belgium
Belgium
Flag of Czech Republic
Czech Republic
Denmark flag Denmark
Flag of Estonia
Estonia
Flag of Finland
Finland
Flag of France
France
Flag of Germany
Germany
Flag of Greece
Greece
Flag of Hungary
Hungary
Flag of Iceland
Iceland
Flag of Ireland
Ireland
Flag of Italy
Italy
Flag of Latvia
Latvia
Flag of Lithuania
Lithuania
Flag of Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Flag of Monaco
Monaco
Flag of the Netherlands
Netherlands
Flag of Norway
Norway
Flag of Poland
Poland
Flag of Romania
Romania
Flag of Russia
Russia
Flag of Sweden
Sweden
Flag of Switzerland
Switzerland
Flag of Turkey
Turkey
Flag of Ukraine
Ukraine


Keywords for this chapter:
travel italy rome
venice milan tuscany
naples florence verona
sicily sardinia
genoa turin pisa
bolzano bozen trieste

Prime travel data for independent
budget travel in Italy.