Electrical Appliances
The electrical current in Italy is AC - the cycle is 50Hz 220 V. A tourist carrying electrical appliances to Italy should have a transformer, either obtained before leaving your country or bought at an electrical appliance shop in Italy. Plugs have round prongs, not flat, therefore an adapter plug is needed.
Laundry and Dry Cleaners
Most hotels have laundry and dry cleaning facilities. If the hotel does not provide these services, the desk clerk can direct you to the nearest shop ( tintoria ) or you can look in the Classified Telephone directory under Tintorie ( cleaning and pressing ) and Lavanderie ( laundry ).
Shopping
Although normally shops are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3:30/4 p.m. to 7:30/ 8 p.m., in large cities and tourist areas there is a tendency to stay open from 9.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. with possible variations from town to town. Department stores such as La Rinascente, Coin, Upim are found in many Italian cities and towns and are open from 9.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.
Some excellent purchase options are: Clothes for men and women (dresses, shoes, gloves, silk ties, shirts); lacework, jewellery, leather goods (handbags, cases, boxes, luggage), ceramics, gold and silver items, alabaster, woodwork, straw, embroidery, glass and crystal ware.
Emergency Telephone Numbers
12 Phone Directory Assistance
112 for Carabinieri's service
113 for Emergency Police Help
115 for the Fire Department
116 for the A.C.I. (Italian Automobile Club)
- for road side assistance
118 for Medical Emergencies
176 International Inquires
Public Telephones
Public telephones are available throughout Italy. Either local or international calls require the use of a phone card (Carta Telefonica) which may be purchased at any newsstand, tobacco shop or "bar"(coffee shop).
Long distance Calls (Interurbana)
Both local and long distance call require the proper area code before dialling the number. Ex: to place a call within Rome you must dial 06 + phone number.
To call Rome from Florence : 06 + phone number; to call Florence from Rome : 055 + phone number.
When calling a cellular phone, drop the zero of the area code, ex: 397 + phone number of the cellular.
To call USA or Canada from Italy: 001+area code+ phone number.
Area Code (Prefisso Telefonico)
Following are the area code numbers for some of the principal cities of Italy.
| Ancona 071 |
Cagliari 070 |
Messina 090 |
Rome 06 |
| Aosta 0165 |
Campobasso 0874 |
Milan 02 |
Siena 0577 |
| Bari 080 |
Catania 095 |
Naples 081 |
Turin 011 |
| Bergamo 035 |
Catanzaro 0961 |
Palermo 091 |
Trento 0461 |
| Bologna 051 |
Florence 055 |
Perugia 075 |
Trieste 040 |
| Bolzano 0471 |
Genoa 010 |
Pisa 050 |
Venice 041 |
| Brescia 030 |
L'Aquila 0862 |
Potenza 0971 |
Verona 045 |
| Brindisi 0831 |
Livorno 0586 |
Reggio C. 0965 |
|
Internet Cafes
No matter how responsible you try to be with your phone card, you can run up
quite a bill when you call your parents/ your kids/ your significant other. E-mail may be an alternative and less expensive mean of communication. Whatever e-mail service you use in your daily life, I would set up web-access mail for your trip (like the mail offered by Yahoo!, Hotmail, etc.). It is the easiest to use abroad since the only software and configuration you need are built right into the browser. Set this account up before you leave home, so you don't waste valuable time abroad.
It is getting easier and easier to find Internet cafes and clubs in Italy. Some, among many:
Directory of the Italian Internet Cafes http://www.ecs.net/cafe/
Cybercafes Guide http://www.netcafeguide.com/textindex.htm
TheNetGate http://www.thenetgate.it
Postal Service
General Delivery Service
Mail can be addressed c/o Post Office by adding "FERMO POSTA" after the name of the town. The addressee can claim mail at the Central Post Office upon identification by passport.
Example:
Mr. John Smith
c/o Ufficio Postale Centrale
FERMO POSTA
00187 Rome, Italy
Stamps
Stamps may be purchased only at tobacco shops and at the Post Office. Always check at the counter for the exact fare to the country of destination
Post Office Hours
Post Offices are generally open from 8.00 am - 1.30/2.00 pm from Monday to Friday, Saturday 8.00-11.45 am . Some counters (e.g. registered mail, telegrams, etc.) have different hours and in the main cities they may also open in the afternoon. Information about postal services can be obtained by dialling 160. Stamps (francobolli) can be obtained in any post office and any appointed tobacconist.
www.poste.it
Tax refund for purchases made in Italy by non-resident visitors
According to the Italian law, based on the European Community provisions, as a non-resident visitor, you can claim a refund for goods and services tax paid for goods intended for personal or familiar use purchased in Italy. For more information see:
Agenzia delle Dogane [Italian Customs Agency] official web site
www.agenziadogane.it/italiano/dcagp/iva/iva-inglese.htm
Travelers Checks
Will shops in Italy accept traveler's checks?
In major Italian cities and tourist areas traveler checks are accepted. The rate of exchange is calculated on the daily rate of exchange shown on the newspapers.
ATMs and Debit Cards
Can I use my Credit Card/Debit Card in Italy?
Yes. Most reputable establishments will accept major credit cards. Those establishments accepting credit cards will post the logos in their front windows, just as they do in the USA and Canada.
Are there ATMs in Italy? Will I need to know Italian to use the ATMs?
Yes. The ATM (Automatic Teller Machines) in Italy are known as Bancomat. There are many to be found in the large cities and even in small towns. The machines operate just as they do here; at the beginning of the transaction, it prompts the user for the preferred language.
Using a credit card, or even better, a debit card or your local bank ATM card is very easy. One must first locate either the Cirrus or BankMate symbol (on the Bancomat and on your card) to insure the card is usable on that particular unit. Cirrus and BankMate are the two most popular and widespread banking systems in the world so they are the best to have. If you are unsure about the compatibility or the banking systems, contact your credit card company or local bank.
After discovering the system is compatible, simply withdrawal money as you would at home. Of course, in Italy the money will be dispensed as Euros, but when you return home, your bank will have converted the Euros into dollars using the most beneficial exchange rate possible. Be careful though when using credit cards, as many banks are now charging large fees of 2.5% to 4% for cash advances which negate any advantage of using the Bancomat in the first place. One's best bet is to use your regular ATM card and simply withdraw money from your account just as you would do at your local bank.
Banking Hours
Banks in Italy are open Monday through Friday from 8:35 a.m. to 1:35 p.m. and from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.; in many tourist areas they are open no-stop from 8.30 a.m. to 4p.m. and closed all day on Saturday and Sunday and on national holidays. The afternoon one hour opening may vary from city to city. Travelers checks can be exchanged for Italian currency at most hotels and shops and at the foreign exchange offices in main railway stations and at the airports.
EURO The new monetary currency is the Euro which is divided as follows: bills of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500; coins of 1, 2, 5, 10 Euros, 20 and 50 cents.
Welcome to the Euro Official Site of of the European Union (EU)
Your Euro Converter On-line
Currency Conversions
What is the exchange rate?
To find the current exchange rate between US Dollars and Euros, please visit The Universal Currency Converter
How to Get Euro
Once in Italy, how do I convert my dollars in euros?
Tourists reaching Italy without foreign currency can obtain Euros through any bank, ATM machines, or exchange office (Ufficio di Cambio) at airports, seaports and railway stations in the main cities.
It is advisable to keep receipts of currency exchanged in case it be necessary to reconvert euros back into dollars before leaving the country.
Money Belt
Maybe. Crowded tourist sites all over the world are at pickpocket and gipsy risk and Italy is no exception. One should always be on alert for these petty thieves, but a good offence is the best defence. Keep your money hidden preferably in an inside pocket or money belt.
Vaccination Certificate
No vaccinations are required to enter Italy or to reenter the U.S. and Canada.
Emergency Telephone Number
For Medical Emergency dial 118
Healthcare and MedicalAssistance
Tourists requiring urgent medical care should go to the nearest hospital emergency room (airports and many train stations also have medical teams and first aid facilities). Those with serious illnesses or allergies should always carry a special note from their physicians certifying in detail the treatments in progress or that may be necessary.
Pharmacies (Farmacia), generally follow shops times (approx. from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 3:00 to 7:30 p.m., Monday to Saturday, but in large cities many are open no-stop. Night-time service is provided on a shift basis. Business hours and night shifts are displayed outside of each chemist's (they are also published in local papers). Before departure, it is advisable to procure a document certifying coverage by the national health-care service.
Health Services and Insurance Policy
Italy has no medical program covering U.S. and Canada citizens. Therefore, U.S. and Canadian tourists are advised to take out an insurance policy before traveling. First Aid Service (Pronto Soccorso) with a doctor on hand is found at airports, ports, railway stations and in all hospitals. Medicines can be obtained only from the pharmacy, whether they are on prescription or over the counter.
