Top Italy hotels
Do As Romans Do Rome
160 Reviews News: TUSCAN VILLAGER WINS 148 MILLION EURO ON SAT, AUG 22! This week, Aug 20, was the 86th draw without a winner and pushed the pot to 146.9 million euros for Italy's SuperEnalotto jackpot. It...
See All 438 Local Customs in Rome
Carnival Venice
44 Reviews Carneval di Venezia ( Carnival of Venice ) is a must visit at least once in your lifetime, and to get into the spirit of things, a mask is a must. Venice has seen some form of mask going back to the...
See All 379 Local Customs in Venice
Dining and Drinking Milan
25 Reviews The custom of aperitivi is helpful when you're on a budget. Many of the bars in Milan, for the price of a drink, will give you food to go along with it. You can easily make it into a light...
See All 125 Local Customs in Milan
Legends Verona
14 Reviews There are so many contradictions regarding W. Shakespeare and his work, some experts doubt he ever visited Italy and Verona, others doubts he wrote all those novels among which "Romeo and Juliet" is...
See All 78 Local Customs in Verona
Events Pisa
5 Reviews Last Sunday in June - 'Gioco del Ponte' (Bridges Game) . This is probably the most important festival in Pisa. It involves Mediaeval costumes, horseback parades and 12 teams of 20 people attempting to...
See All 41 Local Customs in Pisa
people Genoa
5 Reviews Raffaele Rubattino was a visionary and the first Italian ship owner to commit his company to steam navigation. He formed the steamship line that would connect Genova to several ports of the...
See All 48 Local Customs in Genoa
Meals and drinks Palermo
8 Reviews Palermo presents an impresive range of fresh fishes . While being in Sicily I ate all my lunch at a friend mom's home, and later on I was trying to find the recipes of whatever she was making. The...
See All 26 Local Customs in Palermo
Festivals/Holidays/Celebratios Como
5 Reviews I visited Como the last week in February, so it was carnival season. Children have a week holiday from school and they can be seen in different masquerade costumes (especially the younger ones) and...
See All 22 Local Customs in Como
Signs, Signals & Superstitions Rome
34 Reviews Cigarette sales in Italy fell by around 50 million packets in 2007 compared to the previous year, a report by independent thinktank Ref said Friday, February 8, 2008. Sales in Italy have fallen since...
See All 438 Local Customs in Rome
Gondole, gondoliere, traghetti Venice
19 Reviews Next to our hotel was one of the 7 Traghetto crossings of the Grand Canal. Ours was going from Campo Santa Sofia, close to the Ca'D'Oro, to the Pescheria the fish market. These are old gondolas...
See All 379 Local Customs in Venice
Torino's Bull at the Gallery (to be squeezed) Milan
7 Reviews This bull is depicted in the coat of arms of Torino. You see that there is a hole on its genitals and may wonder why. Well, a tradition says that if you put your right heel on this hole and turn on...
See All 125 Local Customs in Milan
The Patron Saint of Verona Verona
12 Reviews The magnificent look of the apse and Romanesque bell-tower of the basilica of San Zeno. The roof and the apse were rebuilt in the Gothic period. The weathered Veronese stone of which the basilica is...
See All 78 Local Customs in Verona
Churchs Pisa
7 Reviews This is Santa Maria della Spina by night during the "LUMINARA". The scenery is very impressive so if you are in Pisa on june the 16, in the evening you could take a walk along the Arno River.
See All 41 Local Customs in Pisa
surroundings Genoa
5 Reviews The sea is a basic part of Italian culture. After a day of fishing, local fishermen spend the remainder of daylight enjoying each other's company and re-living their experiences. Students walk and...
See All 48 Local Customs in Genoa
Daily life Palermo
2 Reviews Coming from the UK I know how it feels when you go on holiday and as soon as it gets a little bit hot you need to put your flip flops on and a skimpy little vest top. Well they don't do that in...
See All 26 Local Customs in Palermo
Festivals Celebrations & Protests Rome
31 Reviews Yes, Italy's royal scandal starring the House of Savoy with KING VITTORIO EMANUELE III - he was deposed - exiled to Switzerland - begged to return - was granted his wish - returned - was arrested and...
See All 438 Local Customs in Rome
Festivals Venice
18 Reviews Before the Regatta started, Canal Grande was a very bussy place, there were lots of moving up and down the chanel. More or less I got impression its big confusion down there on the water front, boats...
See All 379 Local Customs in Venice
Fashion Milan
10 Reviews Here ... city of fashion. You will not see anyone wearing a simple shirt or dress when they out to town. Most of ppls here, are beautiful with their dress. Not only for woemn, also applicable for a...
See All 125 Local Customs in Milan
Other Verona
18 Reviews not a proposal! Mmm and not really a "local" custom but I though that placing it under the "to dos" was a little too much- Anyway, up to the 2009 spring the civil weddings took place nearly only at...
See All 78 Local Customs in Verona
language Genoa
2 Reviews The local dialect of Genoa (Zena) is most interesting. Coincidentally, Genoese is spoken in 2 towns in Sardinia, one of which is Calasetta, so i grew up speaking a little Genoese. In Genoa, as in all...
See All 48 Local Customs in Genoa
Shopping Palermo
3 Reviews In general people are less focussed on famous labels like Armani, Versace (like in Rome). I couldn't believe the number of blond people. (probably has to do with the history of a/o the Normans). The...
See All 26 Local Customs in Palermo
Tipping/Restaurant Charges Venice
10 Reviews Cappuccino — a shot of espresso infused with steamed milk and foam and drunk in the morning by Italians, but never after lunch or dinner, since with that much milk is considered a meal in itself, -...
See All 379 Local Customs in Venice
Ciao: when to use it! Milan
3 Reviews English is hardly spoken in Milano. Oh dear, huh?. ;-) Nevertheless, don't let this deter you from visiting this great city. You can pick up some Italian before your trip to Italy. Memorize common...
See All 125 Local Customs in Milan
Events Verona
11 Reviews Tocatì (Your turn! in Verona dialect) was a frequent word exanged beetween children playng along the roads, swapping roles in the games. How many times i told it! Time of no cars around, no PCs or...
See All 78 Local Customs in Verona
museums and exibitions Genoa
3 Reviews A new special service offered by the "Associazione Le Voci" You can rent a cd-player with a complete audioguide in many languages to visit step by step the principal places of interest in the city....
See All 48 Local Customs in Genoa
Sponsored Links
Something to be aware about is the Italian guys do tend to stare at and compliment women much more than other nationalities. This might not sit too well with husbands and boyfriends but it is very common, usually harmless and meant to act as a compliment.
I thought that it would be easy in Italy because I thought everyone living in Italy spoke the standard, written form of the Italian Language. WRONG! Many local dialects still survive in many areas of Italy, including places that we visited such as Sicily, Naples, and Venice. And, people who speak one Italian dialect do not necessarily understand those who speak another.Also, foreign languages are used in several border areas. German is common near Austria, and Frence is spoken in Piedmont and in the Valle d'Aosta. In addition, speakers of Slovenian and Croatian live near the city of Trieste. Furthermore, many Albanian and Greek immigrants in southern Italy communicate in their native tongues. Just be aware when you travel from one area to another, the language is not always the same.Italy has a population of 58 million, but the country is now at a stage where the death rate is higher...
These might be pretty basic, but I thought I'd throw them out there.The bread and breadsticks on your table at the restaurant are not free, they're about 2 Euro.People tend to eat a small breakfast and large, late dinner in Italy. Dinner is served in courses, appetizer, pasta, main course, dessert and coffee. Wine is practically a course in itself as well. If you're looking to save money just order the main dish or a pasta dish, you don't have to order all of them.Water comes in two styles-with gas and no gas. With gas is sparkling water, with effervesence, no gas, or naturalle, is pretty much spring water (I hope). All waiters, even if they don't speak English will say "Gas or no gas". In Sicily restaurants will bring you a small appetizer for free after your drinks are served. They will say it's a small gift from the waiter. If you decline dessert they will still bring you a small...
Women, buy one of the scarfs that the street vendors sell. They are cheap, can be used to drape over your shoulders if you are going into a church if you are in a tank top or you can put it on your head to shield it from the sun. They are very handy and lightweight.
Electricity : The electrical current in Italy is 220 volts. The wall sockets take plugs with two round prongs.Water : Water is quite safe in the major cities and is treated. The drinking fountains and safe and there is no problem filling a water bottle from them. When in doubt in the country area’s always buy bottled water. Weather : Generally the best times to visit Italy are May and early June, as well as late September to November. The weather is generally pleasant and warm at those times from the Alps south to Sicily.
There is a Value-added tax (IVA) imposed in Italy which is 12% on clothing, 19% on luxuries. Usually on other consumer goods (not necessarily services), the IVA has already been included in the price shown on the tag.. Visitors are able to get the tax refunded when you leave Italy. Just take the goods and the invoice to the customs office at the airport or any other point of departure and have the invoice stamped. A non-EU resident can also obtain a refund of tax paid if a total of 300,000 lire is spent in one store (before tax). Don’t forget to carry your passport and ask the store for an invoice which itemizes the goods purchased, the price and the total of tax paid. Once you are back home, you can mail the stamped invoice to the store (within 90 days of the date of purchase), which will then forward the IVA rebate to you.A large number of stores in Italy (and Europe) are members of...
Usually most banks are open from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.. Then its siesta time. Then they open 3.30 to 4.30pm They are closed all day Saturday and Sunday and on national holidays. Some of the banks keep afternoon hours ranging from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. Opening hours really vary from city to city.
Rome has a siesta time as is usual in Italy and this lasts from around 1 p.m. to about 3:30 or 4 p.m. Most places will close down during this time. Usually stores are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m from Monday to Saturday and will reopen around 3:30 or 4 p.m. Because of this they usually then stay open until 7:30, 8:00, or even 9:00 p.m. Most shops are closed on Sunday except for the odd barbershops which are open in the morning only. In August a lot of Italy closes for vacation because of the heat.
Italians generally are well dressed. Men are not requested to wear jackets or ties usually unless for formal occasions or upmarket restaurants and hotels. Formal dress is usually reserved for those who wish to wear it to the opera. Dress codes rules to visit churches are fairly strict. Arms and shoulders of women should be covered and a shall will suffice. Shorts are definitely out for both women and men.
WATCH OUT FOR YOUR VALUABLES!!!! EVERYWHERE, AND ANYWHERE, FROM THE AIRPORTS TO THE TRAIN STATIONS TO THE STREETS. IF YOU SEE A GROUP OF 10 OR MORE PEOPLE, ONE OF THEM IS PROBABLY A THIEF. MANY AMERICANS AND OTHER NATIONALS LOSE EVERYTHING AS THEY VISIT THIS PREVIOUSLY GLORIOUS CITY (ROME). THERE IS ALWAYS A LONG LINE OF AMERICAN CITIZENS IN FRONT OF THE AMERICAN EMBASSY WHO HAD THEIR BELONGINGS STOLEN INCLUDING THEIR PASSPORTS. ALSO IF YOU USE A CREDIT CARD, WATCH OUT!! BY THE TIME YOU GET BACK TO THE STATES, YOU MIGHT SEE SEVERAL UNFAMILIAR CHARGES ON YOUR BILL. THE PEOPLE (NOT ALL, BUT MOST) ARE RUDE AND ARROGANT, THE POLICE JUST LOOK PRETTY IN THEIR OUTFITS, BUT FOR THE MOST PART ARE USELESS. PICKPOCKETS GALORE AT AIRPORTS, TRAIN STATIONS ETC., BUT NO PREVENTIVE MEASURES LIKE CAMERAS, EXTRA POLICE, OR UNDERCOVER POLICE., BOTTOM LINE IS THEY DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO TOURISTS...
Albergo Del Senato Rome
5 Reviews and 1085 Opinions The Pantheon is my favorite building in Rome and might be my favorite building in the world. The...
Al Ponte Antico Hotel Venice Venice
6 Reviews and 474 Opinions My sisters and I stayed 2 nights at this hotel and our time there was priceless. Matteo and his...
Hotel David Florence
6 Reviews and 920 Opinions My husband and I stayed at the hotel 4 years ago and loved it, so when I planned our family trip...
Reviews and photos of Italy attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Italy sightseeing.
More Cities in Italy
More Regions in Italy
Q: For my 3rd trip to Italy, my mother and I are on a tight budget (food-wise). On previous visits, I'd simply select a recommended...
A: Sandi, I'm no expert on Italian eating but eating from each menu section would be an incredible feat. We always order a starter OR a dessert and then we order either a...
Read 3 Replies
see all Italy member meetings
Sponsored Links
