Italy Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

Western Europe.

Language

Italian is the official language. Dialects are spoken in different regions. German is spoken in the South Tyrol region (bordering Austria). French is spoken in all the border areas from the Riviera to the area north of Milan (border with France and Switzerland). English, French and German are also spoken in the biggest cities and in tourism and business circles.

Area

301,338 sq km (116,346 sq miles).

Time Zone

GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity

230 volts AC, 50Hz.

Population

60 million (2009).

Population Density

199 per sq km.

Capital City

Rome. Population: 2.7 million (2009).

Government

Kingdom of Italy declared in 1861. Republic since 1946.

Head of Government

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi since 2008.

Head of State

President Giorgio Napolitano since 2006.

Religion

87.8% Roman Catholic with Muslim and Protestant minorities.

Recent History

Romano Prodi and his government resigned in January 2008 after losing a confidence vote in the Senate. Elections in April 2008 were won by media magnate Silvio Berlusconi, securing a third term as premier after two years in opposition.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +39. Telephone kiosks only accept phonecards, which can be purchased at post offices, tobacconists and some newsagents.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

Internet

Public access is available in Internet Corner Kiosks operated by Telecom Italia. Kiosks have been installed at airports, major hotels and in other public places. There are also Internet cafes in all main towns.

Media

Italy's newspapers are strongly regionalised, with many papers produced in Milan. The press is free but ties with politics can be strong - notably in broadcast media. RAI, the public broadcaster, has been subject to political influence and the vast Gruppo Mediaset media empire is controlled by prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. Among the most important Italian daily newspapers are Corriere della Sera (Milan), Il Messaggero (Rome), La Repubblica (Rome), La Stampa (Turin) and Il Mattino (Naples). The Informer (www.informer.it) is a useful English-language online guide for expatriates living in Italy.

Post

The Italian postal system tends to be subject to delays. Letters between Italy and other European countries usually take seven to 10 days to arrive. Stamps are sold in post offices and tobacconists.Mon-Fri 0830-1345, Sat 0815-1345. Central offices are open until 1700 during the week.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
8 Dec Immaculate Conception
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec St Stephen’s Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Jan Epiphany
25 Apr Liberation Day
25 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
2 Jun Anniversary of the Republic
15 Aug Assumption
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
8 Dec Immaculate Conception
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec St Stephen’s Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Jan Epiphany
9 Apr Easter Monday
25 Apr Liberation Day
1 May Labor Day
2 Jun Anniversary of the Republic
15 Aug Assumption
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
8 Dec Immaculate Conception
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec St Stephen’s Day
In addition, local feast days are held in honor of town patron saints, generally without closure of shops and offices. These include:

Turin/Genoa/Florence: 24 Jun (St John the Baptist).
Milan: 7 Dec (St Ambrose).
Siena: 2 Jul and 16 Aug, Palio horserace.
Venice: 25 Apr (St Mark).
Bologna: 4 Oct (St Petronius).
Naples: 19 Sep (St Gennaro).
Bari: 6 Dec (St Nichola).
Palermo: 15 Jul (St Rosalia).
Rome: 29 Jun (St Peter).
Trieste: 3 Nov (St Giusto).

Contact Information

British Embassy in Italy

Via XX Settembre 80, I-00187 Rome, Italy
Tel: (06) 4220 0001.
Website: http://ukinitaly.fco.gov.uk

Italian Embassy in the UK

14 Three Kings Yard, London W1K 4EH, UK
Tel: (020) 7312 2200.
Website: www.amblondra.esteri.it
Political enquiries only.

Italian Consulate General in the UK

38 Eaton Place, London SW1X 8AN, UK
Visa section: 136 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9SA, UK
Tel: (020) 7235 9371 or 7823 6519 (visa section) or 09065 540 707 in the UK (appointment booking; calls cost £1 per minute).
Website: www.conslondra.esteri.it
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200.

Italian State Tourist Board (ENIT) in the UK

1 Princes Street, London W1B 2AY, UK
Tel: (020) 7408 1254.
Website: www.enit.it or www.italiantouristboard.co.uk

Embassy of the Italian Republic in the USA

3000 Whitehaven Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 612 4400.
Website: www.ambwashingtondc.esteri.it

Italian Government Tourist Board (ENIT) in the USA

630 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1565, New York, NY 10111, USA
Tel: (212) 245 5618 or 4822 (brochure hotline).
Website: www.italiantourism.com