italy – things you need to know before you go
DESCRIPTION
Italy is one of the world's top travel destinations. Here's a list of several insider tips that'll help you plan your holiday even before you get to Italy.TRANSCRIPT
❧
ITALY
Things You Need to Know Before You Go
Your guide to planning your
Italian holiday
If this is your first
time in Italy, there
are a few things you
need to know before
you go that can
make your visit the
most enjoyable it
can be.
❧Summer temperatures
Summer in Italy can be very hot. Most
places will not have air conditioning at all.
❧
Here are a number of insider tips and tricks to help you keep your cool in the
Italian heat.
❧These large marbles structures are a haven
of cool and quiet.
Step inside (with arms and legs covered, of
course, have a light scarf in your bag) and
take in the art, history, and architecture.
Churches
Basilica di Santa Croce in Florence
❧There are catacombs, cisterns, and crypts
all over Italy that have offered cool relief for
centuries.
Go underground.
Ostia Antica in Rome
Photo credit: Foeke Noppert via Wikimedia Commons
❧Fountains
There are plenty of
spots with cool
flowing water to
drink.
In Rome, look for the famous nasone, which are always flowing with very cold, clean,
drinkable water.
Photo credit: Michele Africano via Flickr
❧The air is cooler on the hilltops in
Umbria and Tuscany and in Alpine
mountain towns.
Head for the hills and mountains.
Castelluccio di Norcia in Perugia, Umbria
Rolling hills with cypress trees in Tuscany
Village of Auronzo di Cadore with the Dolomites in the background
❧The many outlet malls near Rome and
Florence are air conditioned and full of
fashion bargains.
Go shopping.
Galleria Vittorio Emmanuel II in Milan, one of the world’s oldest
shopping malls
Luxury shops are located along Via Condotti in Rome
❧Have a day at the spa.
Treat yourself to a day
at the spa.
These spaces are
usually well air-
conditioned. You will
cool off and relax.
❧It may seem crazy, but the many
natural hot springs all over Italy,
particularly in Tuscany, will paradoxically
cool you off very well.
Take a dip in the hot springs.
There are lots of hot springs in Tuscany and Lazio.
❧Take a break in the vast green spaces
like the Villa Borghese in Rome or the
Boboli Gardens in Florence.
Go to the parks.
The gardens at Villa Borghese in Rome
❧Most Italians try to spend as much time as is
possible by the sea. Luckily with almost
5,000 of miles of coastline, you are never
far from a sandy spot.
Head to the beach.
Marina Piccola in the island of Capri
❧Slow down.
Do as the Italians do
- rest in the
afternoon when the
temperature is the
hottest.
❧Italy’s major cities and towns look
absolutely beautiful at night when the sun
goes down, with their many monuments
and fountains lit.
Wait until dark.
Piazza di Spagna in Rome at dusk
❧
Treat yourself to a gelato.
A cold cup of gelato is a
perfect snack
anytime. Look for a
Sicilian bar and you can
even order gelato for
breakfast served in a fresh
brioche.
❧What Time to Eat
Mealtimes in Italy are pretty strict.
❧Mealtime schedules
Breakfast, usually just a
cappuccino and a pastry
at the bar, is from 8:00-11:
00. Lunch is from 1:00-3:
00 and dinner is from 8:
00 -11:00.
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If you need a snack in between, look for a
slice of pizza or pizza a taglio or some gelato.
❧
Many wine bars will offer aperitivo, where you can get a glass of wine and a plate of some light
snacks, from 6:00 PM onwards.
❧Taxi Rates in Italy
Taxi rates in Italy’s major cities are fixed.
Always take a taxi from a taxi stand or have
your hotel call one for you. Italian taxis are
not flagged down from the street.
❧In Rome, the current rate is €48.00 from
Fiumicino and €30 from Ciampino.
The fixed fare from the airport is €20.00 in
Florence.
Taxi rates in major cities
Water bus in Venice
❧From the airport you can take
the Alilaguna water bus for €25 or you can
hire a private taxi for approximately
€110. To move around in Venice you will
want to take a vaporetto.
Venice Taxi rates
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Tips for women traveling alone to Italy
Italy is for the most part a very safe travel destination.
❧❧ Make sure you have a purse that zips and even
better a long strap that you can wear across your body to avoid being a victim of pickpockets.
❧ If you are in one of Italy’s cities be careful walking alone very late at night.
❧ Don’t walk around with your travel documents, make copies of your passport and ID’s and credit cards. Scan them into a secure google or dropbox account or make photocopies that you keep in a separate place.
Safety tips
❧Additional Tips
These tips will help you make the most of
your Italian holiday.
❧Try and walk around and sit in the sunshine
on your first day in Italy. This will help you
get on Italian time and make the most of
your trip.
Don’t let jet-lag get you down.
Piazza San Pietro in the Vatican
Walking in a typical town in Italy
❧Over the counter remedies like Advil (called
“Moment” in Italy) and cold medicine (ask
for “Reactin”) can be expensive.
Bring any medicine you need or might need.
❧Keep hydrated in the warm
weather. Fountains are free flowing with cold, clean water.
On the rare occasion you may see a sign that says “Non Potabile” or “Acqua Non Potabile” This water is not safe to drink.
Drink plenty of water.
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Traveling to Italy for the first time
Italy is a very friendly
and welcoming place
to visit. A smile and
a buongoriono will
help with a language
barrier.
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Take your time, take a break in the piazza and watch the world go by, like the Italians do.
For more information
about travel to Italy,
visit our website
www.touritalynow.com
or call our travel experts
at 800.955.4418.