It is not possible to pinpoint Italy’s age-old allure. Italy makes sure that everyone gets the Italy that they come for: be it the myriad ancient ruins, the art and architecture, the enticing cuisine or the sea and sun. The list is endless. Draw cards are the vibrant atmosphere that is Rome, the Romance (with a capital ‘R’) of Venice, the hustle and bustle of Naples and the chic of Milan. Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance, is in a league of its own.

But if you’re world-weary and have had it with city life then steal away to one of Italy’s hill towns bathed in nostalgic beauty, go skiing in the Italian Alps or make your way to a secluded seaside resort. Quieter in location these may be, but never without the quintessential Italian zest for life and love of good food. Countless carnivals and festivals are held across the country year round, in city and small town alike.

Italy is a country rich in historic, cultural and artistic features. From the snow capped mountains of the north to the sun drenched beaches of the Adriatic beaches, Italy is filled with Activities & Interests and discover. Visit the Blue Grotto of Capri, glide along the enchanting canals of Venice, explore the great historical landmarks of Rome. For the romantic and the lover of the arts, a visit to Florence is a must. Nearby is fascinating Siena and Pisa. Italy is a nation infinitely blessed with a people as diverse as its geography and a culture as colorful as the scenery.

Capital: Rome

Population: 57, 386,000

Area: 116,344 square miles

Language: Italian. English, German and French are understood in the cities by tourism associated personnel.

Time: +6 hours from New York

Electricity: 220 volts/ 50 Hz

Geography: Italy is bordered in the north by France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia, by the Adriatic sea to the east and the Mediterranean Sea to the south and west. The extreme northern end of the country is mountainous and has a mountainous ridge running through the middle of the country.

Tipping: Although service charges are included in the bills of hotels and restaurants, it is customary to leave an additional 10%.

Shopping: Store hours are 9 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 7 pm weekdays and Saturday . The larger stores will often not close for lunch, but do not depend on it. In more rural areas, many food stores do not open on Wednesday. Italian products are world known. What you can buy in Italy can usually be found back home in the mass market categories. For more specialty items, you will find that there is an enormous selection here that will not be found in most other places.

Food and Drink: You can find anything and everything in Italy to eat. Pasta, of course, is the national dish but different regions and cities have varying ways of cooking up pasta so try it in many different areas. Italy is exceptionally well known for its wine. It has over 20 regions for growing wine each with a different flavor.

Social: Italians are made up of a mixture of many different cultures. From the industrial north to the agrarian south, there are huge differences in the way that life is lived and expressed. For the most part all Italians are have a fairly good and positive outlook on life and live it to the best that they can.

Business: Business suits are essential. Business cards need not be in Italian, but some Italian could be helpful in meeting. Almost all business people speak English and some German. Punctuality is a plus. Attire should be stylish but not wild.

Believe it or not, a lot can happen in 2000 years. Not between 780,000 BC and 778,000 BC, true, but in the span of time between the stabbing of Julius Caesar and the acceptance of Italy into the European Monetary Union, the boot-shaped land-mass has undergone numerous transformations. Towards the end of the last two millennia, the former city-states were mashed together under the red, white, and green flag of Mother Italy; but before and after that time, the provinces have hit dizzying highs, terrifying lows, and creamy middles. Italy—both as separate regions and as one nation—has run of gamut in economic prosperity, cultural respectability, military might, and dental hygiene. Throughout its long, convoluted history, Italy has commanded the center stage of world events: first as the base for the ambitious Roman empire; later, as persecutor and popularizer of an upstart religion called Christianity; next as the hub of the artistic and philosophical Renaissance; and finally as a world power that has changed governments more than 50 times since World War II. Italy has long been a prized possession of external and indigenous powers, both for its varied terrain and its key position on the high seas. Countless foreign invasions have left the land rich with comprehensive examples of nearly every artistic era. Egyptian obelisks, Etruscan huts, Greek temples, Augustan arches, Byzantine mosaics, Renaissance palazzi, Baroque fountains, and Fascist superstructures sprawl across the 19 regions.

Instead of relying on its rich history as its only attraction, Italy concentrates on the present. In the Board Meeting of the World, Italy may be viewed as the jaded senior member: “Been there, done that,” he says, slumping on the couch of the Mediterranean, “let’s break for lunch.” Through its many years of history, Italy has learned to enjoy the finer things in life, like sumptuous culinary delights. From the succulent meats of the Veneto to the pungent cheeses of Sardinia and from the perfection of pasta to the invention of that age-old breakfast food, pizza, Italy has found that the most reliable way to a country’s happiness is through its stomach. But when Italy is not exercising the will to eat, it’s exercising the will to love. The Italian language has been the trademark of romance—its mellifluous syllables inspiring passionate lovers to proclaim their amore from the rooftops of the world.

The fusion of these Italian regions under one Viva Italia is either haphazardly beautiful or just plain haphazard. A vibrant patchwork of dialects, dress, customs, and artistic styles separates the prosperous, industrialized north from the poorer, agricultural south. The Armani-clad Milanese may not even recognize the throaty dialect of the sheep-herding Sicilian; the power lunches of the northern industrial towns are a far cry from the four-hour feasts of Naples.

Italy’s contribution to the cultural, artistic, intellectual, and culinary tastes of the world may be unsurpassed. Whatever your tastes, Italy is sure to please.

WHEN TO VISIT ITALY

For many, summer travel is the only option. Consequently, tourism enters overdrive in June, July, and August: hotels are booked solid, tourists stand for hours to see Michelangelo’s David, and the ocean view is obstructed by rows of lounge chairs. Hotel rates go up and trains are crowded. In August, reservations are a matter of necessity and must be confirmed shortly before your arrival. Most Italians take their vacations at this time, closing their businesses and restaurants. Some northern cities become ghost towns, and many others remain only as tourist-infested infernos. Note that some areas’ additional high seasons are based on festivals or winter recreation.

DOING LIKE THE ROMANS DO

In the last couple of years, Italy has attempted to inundate their already-crowded cities with lire-spending travelers. Rome, the Eternal City spearheads this effort with a program called “Roma Caput Mundi,” which is meant to catapult Rome back to its 2000-year-old “capital of the world” status by restoring Rome’s monuments to their past glory. This state-sponsored festival exists only because of its partner-in-piety, the Jubilee: a Church celebration that occurs every 25 years, involving the forgiving of sins and the performance of pious acts by all. Roman officials expect 40 million pilgrims and tourists to converge on the city during the year 2000. Even skeptics put the figure at 29 million. Of course, Rome isn’t the only city gearing up for the millennium; Turin will unveil its Mole Antonelliana, with a spire overlooking the entire town. The reopening of palazzi such as Cà Rezzonico and Il Redentore are forcing Venice to create new transportation and communication terminals throughout the city to accommodate the 12 million visitors expected to invade the floating city.

In Italy, of course, celebrations always revolve around food. “Live to Eat, Eat to Live” might as well be the motto of a country that spends up to four hours a day for lunch. Sophisticated Milan specializes in risotto, a dish of rice, saffron, wine, and cheese. From the mouth-watering bruschetta and thick, succulent steaks of Florence to the chocolate hazelnut lumps and devastatingly sweet almond bread of Perugia, Tuscany pleases the palate. The timeless combination of milky mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, and lightly-fried dough is the brainchild of Naples, and pizza-lovers around the world thank her. Grilled swordfish and luscious ricotta pastries are the dishes of choice in Palermo.

With all that food, it's a miracle Italians have such good figures — no doubt it's all that hiking and biking through their beauiful country that keeps them so trim. If it’s nature you want, gorgeous hiking on snowfields and views of the majestic Alps await in Val di Cogne. If placid waters and lush, exotic gardens are more your bag, head to Lake Maggiore. Traveling down the Amalfi Coast provides picturesque views of the sea, and the coast’s multi-leveled cities packed tightly into hillsides. Or leaving Italy and crossing the Mediterranean, just settle down on a beach in Tunisian Raf Raf, with its velvety sands and rugged mountains plunging into the ocean.

Time 

Tourist Offices 

Visas and Passports 

Foreign visitors are required to register with the police upon arrival in Italy. Hotels will usually ensure that this is done but if a visitor is not staying in a hotel then the onus rests with the individual to ensure that his/her passport has been registered.

A permit, issued by an Italian consulate and endorsed by the frontier police, is required to bring in a hunting weapon. Other items intended for personal use are allowed as long as they are in reasonable quantities.

Banks: 8:00/8:30 to 13:00/13:30 and 14:30/15:00 to 16:00 from Monday to Friday

Foreign exchange bureaus are available for tourists at airports, railway stations, major hotels and popular tourist resorts and are generally open 24 hours.

Shops: 8:30 to 12:30 and from 15:30/16:00pm until 19:00/19:30 from Monday to Saturday. Shops are usually closed on Monday morning. Department stores and shops in tourist centres often remain open all day and, sometimes, until later in the evening.

Major post offices: 8:30 to 18:00/19:00 from Monday to Saturday (Smaller post offices are open from 8:30 to 14:00 during the week and 8:30 to 12:00 on Saturdays.)

Cafés: 7:30 to 20:00

Restaurants: 12:00 to 15:00 and 19:30 to 23:00

Churches: early morning until 12:00 when many are closed for two hours and then re-open until the evening. Major cathedrals and basilicas are open all day.

Museums: opening and closing times vary according to place and season but generally the opening hours are short and most are closed on a Monday.

Transport 

Rail
The Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) is the state railway and there are also a few private railway companies. The rail network is adequately developed and widespread, especially between major urban centres and tourist areas. The fastest trains operate on the networks between the major cities while the regional trains are fairly slow. It is also fairly cheap and efficient.

Buses
Good coach services run between cities and towns and there are also good local bus services. The main operators are SITA, Autostradale and Lazzi.

Roads
There is an extensive and well maintained road network. Tolls are charged on the autostradas (motorways).

As in the rest of continental Europe, vehicles travel on the right and overtake on the left. The wearing of seatbelts is compulsory for front- and back-seat passengers as well as for the driver. The use of portable telephones is prohibited if they require intervention by hand to function.

Speed limits are fixed at 50 km (31 miles) per hour in urban areas, 90 km (56 miles) per hour on secondary and local roads, 110 km (68 miles) per hour on main roads outside urban areas and 130 km (80 miles) per hour on motorways.

Petrol
Petrol is called benzina, unleaded petrol is benzina senza piombo and diesel is gasolio. Almost all the service stations in the country are equipped with pumps for lead-free petrol (95 octane) and diesel fuel.

Driving licenses
Italy recognises driving licenses and other traffic documents that are valid in other countries. Citizens from non-EU countries require a green card or equivalent international insurance certificate.

Ferries
Regular boat services run to the islands of Capri, Elba, Sardegna, Sicilia and the Aeolian Islands.

Bicycles
Many towns have bicycle-hire shops and although it is a popular mode of transport within certain regions, long-distance cycling around Italy is only for the very fit as seventy-five percent of the country is hilly.

Public Holidays 

Peak Seasons 

Post & Telecommunications 

The telephone system, run by SIP, is fairly efficient but very expensive. Italy has an extensive network of public telephone boxes which function using coins (either a ITL 200 coin or two ITL 200 coins) or phonecards (scheda), sold in values of ITL 5,000 or ITL 10,000 at branches of SIP, tobacconists, stations and other public places. It is cheaper to make long-distance calls within Italy after 22:00 and international calls after 23:00.

Useful Telephone Numbers
International calls: 00
Directory assistance: 12

There are numerous public fax facilities throughout Italy.

Electricity 

Disabled Travellers 

Budget Travel 

The Centro Turistico Studentesco e Giovanile (CTS) is a large organisation which offers sightseeing discounts, student cards and information on budget accommodation and transport. CTS head office:
Via Genoa 16
Rome
00184
Tel. 39-6-46791

History 

Conflicting myths exist over the founding of Rome – usually dated at about 750 BC – the most popular of which tells of Romulus and Reumus, the twins who were abandoned and then raised by a wolf. They established a settlement and Romulus (it is Rome, after all, and not Reme), after killing his brother, became the first king of Rome. However, the Roman Republic was not founded until 509 BC.

Numerous ruins live to tell the tale of ancient Roman rule. Notable Roman leaders were Julius Caesar, who managed to expand Roman territory into Gaul before being assassinated in 44 BC, and his successor Augustus Caesar (Octavian), who managed to establish a complex administrative system, expand trade and construct an efficient road network, as well as making himself first emperor of Rome.

During the reign of Constantine (306-337), Christianity was declared the state religion. The fourth century saw the country divided into east and west, with the Eastern Roman Empire embracing Hellenistic culture and developing into the mighty Byzantine Empire – the most powerful European state through the Middle Ages. Early Christian and Byzantine remains are found scattered across the country. The last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was defeated in 476 AD by a German barbarian, Odoacer. This saw the start of centuries in which the country was to be divided into several smaller states.

The Middle Ages was marked by instability and a sense of anarchy. Various ethnic groups invaded parts of Italy but control remained with the Catholic Church. A few salient features of this time was the establishment of a feudal system and the increase in sea trade and exploration, with the Genoan explorer Marco Polo reaching the Orient in 1275.

The twelfth to fourteenth centuries saw a gradual weakening of the political power of major rulers and of the papacy, while at the same time the cities were growing more autonomous. By the mid-fifteenth century, the five most important city-states were Naples, the papacy, Milan, and the republics of Venice and Florence.

These developments lay the ground for the Renaissance: a period of unparalleled creativity. It started in Florence where the Medici family - a prominent family of the time - acted as patrons to developing artists. From there it spread throughout Italy and Europe. Not only art, but also music, literature and science flourished under the patronage of wealthy aristocrats and merchants. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Galileo Galilei are just a few of the gifted men to gain recognition during this period. Italy is home to a wealth of works created in the Renaissance.

The sixteenth century saw the Renaissance give way to the puritanical intolerance of the counter-reformation as the infamous inquisition, with the aim of discovering and suppressing heresy, swept its way across the country.

In 1796 Napoleon embarked upon his invasion of Italy, uniting the various states which had previously been controlled by Spain and Austria, and declared himself dictator of what was, for the first time in history, the political entity of Italy. Rising resentment against foreign domination led to the growth of nationalist movements. Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo in 1815 meant an era of freedom for Italy. It was not, however, long before internal strife led to a weakening of power. Austria gained extended control over the country and this led, yet again, to a divided country.

During the 1820s and early 1830s a number of unsuccesful revolts took place against the local rulers. Mazzini was a prominent figure in leading these rebellions. The Kingdom of Italy was finally declared in 1861 after much resistance led by Mazzini, and later Garibaldi, Italy’s most popular hero, and Count di Cavour.

The great economic and cultural divisions between the industrialised north and the relatively poor southern regions gave rise to instability and turmoil which increased dramatically after World War I when Italy had fought with the Allies. Rising inflation and increased poverty allowed the fascist movement to gain much political ground especially when the king asked the fascist leader Benito Mussolini to take control of the government. Mussolini, or Il Duce, soon declared himself head of state and joined forces with Hitler in his quest for extended control over Europe and North Africa. However Mussolini fell when the Allies landed in Sicilia in 1943 and later that year a new government signed an armistice with the Allied powers.

Italy was declared a republic in 1946 and the constitution was adopted two years later. The postwar years have seen enormous economic improvements as Italy has experienced rapid industrialisation and a remarkable increase in GDP growth rate, making Italy the fifth largest economy in the world. Politically, the country is still fairly unstable and there has been a rapid rise of the extreme Red Brigade and the right-wing neo-Nazis.

Government 

This system of proportional representation has resulted in numerous small political parties gaining representaion in parliament. There are, however, four major contending political parties: the Christian Democrats (Democrazia Cristiana), the Socialist Party (Partito Socialista Italiano), the Northern League (Lega Nord) and the Democratic Party of the Left (Partito Democratico della Sinistra). Of these the Christian Democrats have dominated government since 1946 when Italy was declared a republic.

Though the Christian Democrats have been the winning party, they have often been forced by Italy’s electoral system into power sharing. This has resulted in unstable governments and since 1946 there have been more than fifty governments. The government operates on the basis of a constitution that was brought into effect in 1948. The judicial branch of the government is made up of an independent constitutional court and a lower magistracy.

Rome is the seat of the national government. For administrative purposes Italy is divided into twenty regions. The regions of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sicily, Sardinia, Trentino-Alto Adige and Valle d’Aosta are semi-autonomous; their regional assemblies have more economic and administrative powers than the other regions. Regions are then divided into provinces which are then divided into town councils (comuni). Each province elects a prefect who is answerable to the central government. The unit of government is the commune which is ruled by a council and led by a mayor. Council elections take place every four years. In the early 1990s there were more than 8,000 communes in Italy.

The current problems facing the Italian government include rising unemployment, huge foreign debt, political corruption, the mafia and the rise of neo-Nazi "skinheads".

Economy 

This divide is reflected in the economic gap that exists between the north and south of Italy: the south is substantially poorer than the northern (and central) regions. Genoa (Genova), Milan (Milano)and Turin (Torino) are the main industrial centres.

Population 

Most Italians are native born although the last few decades has seen a sudden influx of immigrants mostly from Albania, the former Yugoslavia and North Africa.

Language 

There are numerous regional dialects including Franco-Provencal in Valle d'Aosta and certain Piemontese areas, Catalan in Alghero and various German dialects in isolated northern areas. Other dialects are Sardo, Friulano and Ladin.

English is spoken in most of the cities and large urban centres but is not usually spoken in the more rural areas.

Religion 

Some highlights in visual arts and architecture

Etruscan

• Tarquinia (Lazio)

Greek

• Doric temples at Paestum (Campania)
• Ruins at Agrigento, Selinunte, and Syracuse (Sicilia)

Roman

• The Colosseum (Rome)
• The Roman Forum (Rome)
• The Pantheon (Rome)
• Trajan’s column (Rome)
• Pompeii and Herculaneum (southeast of Naples)
• Villa Adriana (palace) in Tivoli

Early Christian

• catacombs (Rome)
• Santa Sabina church (Rome)

Byzantine

• mosaics (Ravenna)
• mosaic work at St Mark’s Basilica (Venice)

Romanesque

• Cathedral of Pisa
• San Miniato (Florence)

Gothic

• Castel del Monte (near Bari)
• Cathedrals of Milan and Siena
• San Petronio Basilica (Bologna)

Renaissance

• dome of Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence’s cathedral), designed by Filippo Brunelleschi
• St Peters church (Rome), Donato Bramante established dimensions of followed on by Raphael and then by Michelangelo)
• Malatesta Temple (Rimini) designed by Leon Battista Alberti
• Sant’ Andrea (Mantua) designed by Leon Battista Alberti
• frescoes by Giotto, Scrovegni Chapel (Padua)
• ceiling of Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo (Rome)
• Pietà by Michelangelo, St Peter’s (Rome)
• David by Michelangelo, Accademia Gallery (Florence)
• Birth of Venus and Spring by Botticelli, Uffizi Gallery (Florence)
• The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, Vinciano Refectory (Milan)
• Madonna by Raphael, Uffizi Gallery (Florence)
• Presentation of the Virgin at the Temple by Titian Accademia Gallery (Venice)
• bronze David Donatello, Bargello Museum (Florence)

Baroque:

• Piazza Navona, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (Rome)
• Trevi fountain, designed by Nicola Salvi (Rome)
• The Descent from the Cross by Michelangelo da Caravaggio, the Vatican Museums (Rome)
• David and Apollo and Daphne by Gianlorenzo Bernini, the Villa Borghese (Rome)

Many of Italy’s government-owned museums are housed in the former palaces of kings or the houses of royal families. The most famous of these are:

Uffizi Palace (Florence)
Opening Hours:
Tuesday-Saturday, 9:00-19:00
Sunday and holidays, 9:00-13:00 (Closed Mondays)

Pitti Palace (Florence)
Opening hours:
Tuesday-Friday: 09:00-14:00
Saturday and Sunday: 09:00-13:00 (Closed Mondays)

Borghese Museums (Rome)
(Large parts of the museum closed for renovation and will be for some time still in the future)
Opening hours:
Tuesday-Saturday: 09:00-14:00
Sunday: 09:00-13:00 (Closed Mondays)

Of the private museums the most famous are those of the Vatican City (Rome), which houses one of world’s largest collections of ancient and religious paintings and statues.
Opening hours:
Monday-Saturday: 09:00-14:00 (Closed on Sundays and holidays)

Music

Italy is the home of opera – the first opera was written by Monteverdi in the 1600s. Italian opera composers include the likes of Gaetano Donizetti, Pietro Mascagni, Giacomo Puccini, Gioacchino Rossini and Giuseppe Verdi. Instrumental composers include Nicolò Paganini, Ottorino Respighi and Antonio Vivaldi.

Opera theatres include:

La Scala (Milan)
Tel. 39-2-72003744
(book well in advance)

Teatro San Carlo (Naples)
Tel. 39-81-797 23 31

Teatro dell’Opera (Rome)
Tel. 39-6-4881755

Entertainment 

Food & Drink 

Wine is enjoyed countrywide with Italy being one of the world's largest wine-producing nations. No meal is complete in Italy without a cup of good strong coffee. Cappucino is generally drunk in the morning while espresso is enjoyed throughout the day.

Some regional staples/specialities include the following:

Campania is home to pizza. Fiorilli (courgette flowers in batter) and plenty of seafood can also be enjoyed here. Don’t miss sfogliatelle, a sweet made from layers of pastry stuffed with ricotta. Wines in the region include whites from the islands of Ischia and Capri.

Emilia-Romagna is famous for parmesan cheese, parma ham, lasagne and tortellini. Wines include Lambrusco.

Regional culinary specialities of Lazio include gnocci alla romana (made from semolina and cooked in a tomato sauce) as well as pasta served with sauces like alla matriciana (pork and tomato) and alla carbonara (egg yolk). Cheeses include pecorino romana, provatura and sheep’s milk ricotta. Lazio’s most popular wines are Est! Est! Est! and Frascati.

Liguria is home to pesto, farinata and foccaccia. Wines include Cinque Terre (dry) and Sciacchetra (sweet).

Staples in Lombardy are rice and polenta. Milan’s specialities include risotto alla Milanese, Ossobucco (shin of veal). Wines produced in the region include Oltrepò Pavese, Franciacorta and the white sparkling Cádel Bosco.

France’s proximity to Piemonte leads to a regional cuisine that shows a French influence. Gastronomic specialities of the region include its white truffles. Piemonte also produces some of the country’s finest red wines.

Staples in Puglia are bread, pasta and seafood. The olive oil here is excellent. Tomatoes are sun-dried, and mushrooms, artichokes and aubergines are submerged in oil. There is also an abundance of seafood along the coastal areas.

The island of Sardegna’s cuisine includes a variety of excellent fish dishes along the coast as well as dishes deriving from farming traditions inland. Pecorino, rather than the Parmesan cheese that is eaten in most of Italy, is generally eaten here.

Sicilian food includes large quantities of seafood in the coastal areas. The fruit and vegetables are of superb quality and those with a sweet tooth are in for a treat with the cakes and pastries.

Regional culinary specialities from Tuscany include bistecca alla fiorentina (a thick t-bone steak minestone alla fiorentina (thick vegetable soup) and Siena’s panforte, (rich fruit bread). A common starter is bruschetta, bread rubbed in garlic and dipped in olive oil. Some of Italy’s finest olive oil is produced here. The region’s wines are amongst Italy’s most well-known. These include Chianti, Vernacchia, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and the dessert wine Vin Santo.

Notable amongst the Veneto’s many culinary contributions is tiramisù, a rich dessert of chocolate, sponge, mascarpone cheese and marsala wine. Popular savoury dishes include numerous variations of risotto. Radicchio trevisano is a bitter red chicory which is cooked in pasta or risotto dishes. Regional wines include Soave, Bardolino and Valpolicella.

Shopping 

Each region has its own speciality, whether it be olive oil, balsamic vinegar or handicrafts. Some of the most frequently bought goods purchased by visitors include leather shoes and accessories, silk, lace and linen, Venetian glass and gold jewellery.

Parks & Reserves 

Sport

Skiing is very popular in Italy, particularly in the Alps and the Dolomites in the north. The Italian skiing season runs from about December to March. Year round skiing can be had at the Marmaloda glacier in Trentino-Alto Adige. Ski resorts are found in Trentino-Alto Adige, Lombardy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Valle d’Aosta and the Veneto. For further information on winter sports you can contact the Italian winter sports federation:

Federazione Italiana Sport Invernali (FISI)
Via Piranesi 44/b
20137 Milano
Tel. 39-2-75431
Fax. 39-2-7380624

Water sports are very popular in Italy, particularly on Sicily, Sardinia, and the coastal stretches. For more information on sailing and waterskiing contact the Italian federations for each:

Sailing:
Federazione Italiana Vela (FIV)
Viale Brigata Bisagno 2/17
16129 Genova
Tel. 39-10- 565723
Fax. 39-10- 592864

Waterskiing:
Federazione Italiana Sci Nautico
Via Piranesi 44b
20137 Milano
Tel. 39-2-76110240

Cycling offers a good way to see the Italian countryside, but because of the mountainous countryside (75% of the country is hilly or mountainous) it is only for the serious cyclist. For further information on cycling in the country you can contact the Italian cycling federation:

Federazione Ciclistica Italiana (FCI)
Via Leopoldo Franchetti 2
00194 Roma
Tel. 39-6-36857255

Festivals and Events 

The northern Alpine region experiences harsh winters with plenty of rain and snow and very mild summers. However the weather conditions vary greatly according to the altitude.

The Northern Italian Plain or Po region experiences continental weather conditions with fairly cold, snowy winters but warm, mild summers. Northern cities such as Torino, Milano and Venice can become very cold, damp and foggy with temperatures falling to 0-7°C (32-45°F) in winter. Most of the rainfall occurs in the spring and summer months.

The Adriatic region also experiences cold winters when the bora, an icy, north-easterly wind blows across the region. Conditions improve to become comfortably warm in the summer. The Apennine zone experiences similar continental weather conditions except that rain is abundant all year round except in summer.

On the western side of the country is the Ligurnian-Tyrrhenian region where the weather is moderated by the Tyrrhenian Sea resulting in cool winters, warm summers and plenty of rain. Temperatures in Rome vary between a low of 5-6°C (40-42°F) in winter and a summer high of 26-30°C (79-87°F).

The Mediterranean region which includes all the southern areas of Italy does not experience large temperature changes from summer to winter. Rain falls more often in winter while the summer months become very dry and scorchingly hot. The sirocco, a hot unpleasant wind, blows in over this region from Africa during summer.

Geography 

The country is largely mountainous, including the mountain ranges of the Apennines and part of the Alps. The Alps stretch from the Gulf of Genoa to the Adriatic Sea just north of Trieste, separating much of Italy from the rest of Europe. The highest Alpine peak is Mont Blanc, lying on France's border with Italy. The Apennines extend from Liguria, along the central section of Italy’s east coast and down to Sicilia. The highest peak in the Apennines is the Corno Grande (2,926 m/9,600 ft) found in the Gran Sasso d’Italia mountain range in Abruzzo.

The Po Valley, the most densely populated region in Italy, is the country’s largest plain. The River Po, Italy’s largest river, runs through the area which is bounded by the Adriatic Sea to the east; the Alps to the north; and the Apennines to the south.

Italy has three active volcanoes, namely Vesuvius (near Naples), Etna (Sicilia) and Stromboli (the Aeolian Islands), resulting in thermal and mud springs in these areas. Notable are those on the Aeolian Islands and at Viterbo in Lazio.

The thousands of kilometres of rugged coastline, the coastal plains and fertile valleys and the many mountainous regions all contribute to the wonderful varied landscape of this country and allow for a variety of sports and activities. Beach holidays and water sports are probably best on the islands of Sardegna and Sicilia while the number of mountain ranges on mainland Italy, most notably the Alps, offer excellent skiing and mountain hiking.

Citizens of EU countries who have the appropriate documents issued by their health authorities are entitled to national health care treatment (this does not apply to private institutions). Citizens of other countries are advised to take out insurance before their journey to cover possible health care and hospital expenses.

There is generally a pharmacy (farmacia) open all night in the bigger towns and cities. There should be a list on all pharmacy doors of those that are open all night. In an emergency go to the Pronto Soccorso (casualty) section at the nearest hospital.

No immunisations are needed to enter Italy.

Bottled water is readily available. Tap water is, however, generally safe to drink. A sign saying ‘acqua non potabile’ means that the water is not drinkable.

The sun is amazingly fierce in the south of Italy and you should ensure that you use good protective lotion, wear a sun hat and, whenever possible, avoid the midday sun.

Safety