ItalyHotelsAdvisor.com

A list of useful things that only a native born and raised in Italy would know.

Surprises for travellers about Travel in Italy

• Not all places allow picture taking. Museums, especially, often retain sole rights to photograph their works. Flash photography is especially frowned upon as being disruptive.
• Italy may be very tourist-friendly and known for fashion, but it is generally considered rude to walk around town in bikinis, beach attire, short shorts, and skimpy outfits.
• Don’t expect to easily find a drycleaner in the Tuscan countryside, laundry facilities are hard to find outside large cities.
• Remember that American and European DVDs and VCRs have different formats, so what works at home will not work in Italy, and vice versa.
• Returning or exchanging an item, even if it is flawed is uncommon in Italian stores.
• When shopping for clothes, take note that many stores will not allow one to try on shirts and blouses.
• Italy has only started becoming handicap-accessible. Wheelchair access to restaurant bathrooms is almost nonexistent, ramps are rare, elevators in old buildings are uncommon, and buses in general are not wheelchair-compatible.
• Sunbathing topless is common on beaches in northern and central Italy, however it will most likely lead to stares and catcalls when done in the more conservative and traditional south.
• While Italy is very hospitable, keeping kids entertained can sometimes be tough. Hotels often don’t have pools or videogames, while virtually nothing on the radio or television is in English.

Health and Safety

• It is best to travel with your own medication. While Aspirin is common, Tylenol and Advil are not. Anyway not to worry: ask for example for an Ibuprofen (Advil active ingredient) pain reliever.
• If you get traveler’s diarrhea, don’t necessarily blame it on unsanitary conditions. Olive oil and wine are heavily used in Italian cuisine, and as natural laxatives, can cause problems for those with sensitive stomachs.
• If there is an emergency, dial 113. It is the Italian equivalent of America’s 911.
• If in distress, yell AIUTO (pronounced ay-you-toe), which is Italian for HELP!
• Serious crime is rare, however pickpockets and purse-snatchers are common in large cities.

Dining in Italy

• Italian tap water is sometimes heavily chlorinated, so it’s best to drink bottled water. Also mineral water is available in all flavors : gassata (bubbly) naturale ( non-bubbly) and semi-gassata like Ferrarelle.
• Italians usually take their food as it is listed, seldom making special requests, such as “hold the mayo.”
• Spaghetti, virtually the national food of Italy, should be eaten with a fork rolled against the dish. Use a spoon if you must, but cutting your food up into little pieces is considered tacky.
• Cappuccino and ‘cornetto’ is the standard Breackfast in Italy - forget sausages etc.
• Don’t wait for the check, you must ask for it.
• Tipping is usually done with cash, and is usually ’servizio’ is included but a small tip is always appreciated.
• Nice sit-down restaurants usually expect one to order two courses, not counting dessert.
• If you want a quick bite, stop at a pizzeria.
• Breakfast is usually served from 7-10:30am, lunch from 12:30-2:30pm, and dinner from 7:30-10pm. Peak lunch and dinner hours are 1 and 9pm.
• There are few restrictions on alcohol. It can be purchased at any time on any day. There is no minimum drinking age. In fact, Italians often start drinking wine mixed with water in their early teens, if not younger.
• Italian drinks are almost always shaken, not blended. Mixed drinks are also very popular.
• Kids menus are almost unheard of ( luckily since I am really against starting kids with burger). Instead one must ask upfront for a half portion.
• Business lunches are more common than working dinners.

Driving in Italy

• Rent a car for travel in the countryside, but walk or take a taxi while cities.. You must be 21 to rent an economy or subcompact car, and most rental companies make those under 23 pay by credit card. If you want a bigger car, you might have to show two credit cards.

  
  

• The expressways are free, but the highways are toll. Upon entering a toll highway, you are issued a ticket, which you return while paying upon exiting the highway.
• Take note that Uscita means EXIT in Italian.
• Parking spaces are often at a premium in crowded Italian cities. Fines for violations are high and strictly enforced. Towing is common. As a result, it is best to leave your car in a guarded parking area.
• Driving is on the right. Right turns on red lights are forbidden. Headlights are mandatory when driving on all roads outside city limits. Seatbelts and children’s car seats are compulsory. Using a cell phone while driving is also illegal.
• Italian traffic police can charge on the spot-fees for infractions, so be prepared to pay. Penalties for drinking and driving are especially harsh, and the blood-alcohol in Italy is much stricter than in the United States.
• Italians like to drive fast and honk their horns a lot. Tailgating is the norm.
• The speed limits are 80mph (130kph) on highways and 70mph (110kph) on state and provincial roads.

Living on Italian Time

• Banks are open weekdays 8:30am to 1:30pm and sometimes for an hour in the afternoon.
• Most churches are open from early morning until noon, when they close for three to four hours, before reopening again, and close at 6pm. A few major churches, such as St. Peter’s in Rome, are open all day.
• Many museums are closed one day a week, often on Monday.
• Pharmacies are generally open weekdays from 8:30am to 1pm and from 4-8pm, and Saturday mornings from 9am to 1pm.
• Most shops are open Monday-Saturday from 9am to 1pm and from 3:30 or 4pm to 7:30pm. Clothing shops are generally closed on Monday mornings. Barbers and hairdressers tend to be closed on Sunday and Monday. Some tourist-friendly stores in big cities such as Rome are open all day. Due to Italy being a Catholic country, many stores are closed on Sunday.
• Gas stations on major highways are usually open 24 hours. But most gas stations tend to be open Monday-Saturday, 7am to 7pm.
• August is the worst month to travel, because most of the nation is on vacation and everything comes to an almost standstill.
• We all know about Christmas, New Years, and Easter. But Italy celebrates other holidays as well: Epiphany (Jan. 6), Liberation Day (Apr. 25), May Day (May 1), Festival of the Republic (June 2), Farragosto (Nov. 1), All Saints Day (Nov. 1), Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), Feast of St. Stephen (Dec. 26). Feast days for saints are also common in local cities as well. So if it seems like everything is extra quiet one day, it may be because everybody’s taking the day off to celebrate!

By Ron Turner - Editing by Paolo Nascimbeni