Due to the ambivalent situation regarding prostitution, a lot of prostitutes fall victim to human trafficking. Payphones are widely available, especially in stations and airports. The Alps have a mountain climate, with cool summers and very cold winters. Tourists can generally expect not to be insulted to their face but, unfortunately, casual racism and bigotry is not absent from conversation (especially bar talk and especially if matches featuring non-white players are on TV). From 1992 to the present day, Italy has faced massive government debt and extensive corruption. Portail des communes de France : nos coups de coeur sur les routes de France. Usually there is a difference in cost even for incoming calls from abroad. Ask instead for the normal stamps. There are various kinds of coffee, the most popular of which are: So far so good. Traffic in large Italian cities is really heavy and finding a parking spot can vary from a challenging to an impossible enterprise at times, so driving in Italian large cities is not advisable unless you really need to. While most younger Italians have studied English, due to a lack of practice and exposure proficiency tends to be poor. Agnosticism and atheism have also become common, according to the latest census, accounting for nearly 20% of the population. If you are going to speak in English, it is polite begin the conversation in Italian and ask if the person understands English before proceeding. That same year, the death penalty was abolished in Italy. The tolerated limit is 0.50g/L in blood; being above this limit is a crime punishable by heavy fines, license revocation, jail time and even immediate confiscation of one's own vehicle in the most serious cases. Even for something as simple as pizza there are significant regional variations. Bus company inspectors are generally recognizable by some item displaying the company's logo. He belonged to the first Freemason Lodge of Italy established by the English colony in Florence, 1732. The "Ristorante-Pizzeria" is very common in Italy: it is basically a restaurant that serves also handmade pizza. Italy has a very diverse landscape, but can be primarily described as mountainous, including the Alps and the Apennines mountain ranges that run through the vast majority of it. If at all possible wait until you leave Italy before posting postcards, greetings cards and other items to friends and family back home. An interesting piece of trivia mostly lost on tourists and locals alike, is that the tomato did not make its way into Italian cuisine until well into the 17th century. Eastern Alps include a little known but surprisingly beautiful region, Courses: Glass Bead Making (Lampwork) / Jewelry Design / Mixed Media. These are stamps sold by a private owned company through the tobacco shops using black mailboxes (the public ones are red) which charges more than normal and there have been lots of complains of delayed delivery and sometimes failure of delivery. In September 1943, Italy surrendered. Additionally, cappuccino is considered something you'd have for breakfast; ordering one after lunch or dinner is considered an oddity and a typical "tourist thing". They can get very crowded: on a Saturday or Sunday in the summer you won’t find an empty stretch of beach anywhere. The Ticketless solution allows you to buy a ticket online, get a PNR code via mail and board the train directly. The issue of drunk driving has received a great deal of attention in the last years after a series of lethal accidents. Emergency assistance is granted even to non-EU travelers. If you're a non-EU resident, you are entitled to at least a partial VAT refund on purchases of goods that will be exported out of the European Union. Travelling with an unstamped ticket is technically the same as travelling without ticket. Charter a yacht to discover Italy's numerous islands or to visit hidden coves and beaches that are not accessible otherwise. Three of the most important observations: There are plenty of public Wi-Fi hotspots in Italy that are free of charge to use. This is particularly true in the South. There are touch-screen ticket machines which are very useful, efficient, and multilingual, but there are never that many, and the queues for those can be very long too. Make sure to ignore everyone on the train platforms unless he/she is wearing a station uniform! It is not uncommon for an Italian to identify first with his/her home town or region and only secondarily as an Italian. The popular "color rule" (red wines with meat dishes, white wines with fish) can be happily broken when proposed by a sommelier or when you really know what you are doing: Italy has many strong white wines to serve with meat (a Sicilian or Tuscan chardonnay), as well as delicate red wines for fish (perhaps an Alto Adige pinot noir). Every major city also has some type of City Card, a fixed-fee card allowing you to travel on local public transportation and visit a number of museums and giving you discounts in shops, hotels and restaurants. Often the only difference between a 3-star and 4-star hotel is that the latter offers all meals while the former only offers breakfast. Intercontinental airlines mainly arrive in Rome and Milan, with Rome being the main international gateway into the country. There is an increasing number of micro-breweries around the country. Pass details are on the Trenitalia website [5], and also on RailChoice website at [6]. Unlike in the UK, for example, the price mark-ups charged by restaurants for wines on their wine list are not usually excessive, giving you a chance to experiment. Slovene is a native language in parts of Friuli-Venezia Giulia alongside Italian and is widely spoken in villages near the Slovenian border and Trieste. Most of them arrive at Venice, Ancona, Bari and Brindisi. Actually, many passengers with tickets for other trains that take a wrong one will have to pay the cheap fine for not having a seat reservation. Note that “su prenotazione” means By Appointment Only. The Neapolitan one is the only traditional Italian pizza. And in any case, Italian cuisine, contrary to popular belief, is not just based on pasta and tomato sauce - that's only a tiny snippet of the nation's food, as in some parts of Northern Italy, pasta isn't even used at all, and rice, potatoes, lentils, soups and similar meals are very common in some parts of the country. Both the fixed and mobile phone systems are available throughout Italy. Regional trains are the slowest, cheapest and less reliable, stopping at all stations. The main hub for the bicycle manufacturing industry has always been in Northern Italy. Additionally, if you need a shot of alcohol, you can ask for a caffè corretto. Lunch is seen as the most important part of the day. Trenitalia's Ticketless option is only available when booked online or at an approved travel agency, and only for high-speed and intercity trains. There's also a bus that goes from Malmö, Sweden via Denmark, Germany and Switzerland to Italy. In theory beach access is free to all in Italy but as with a lot of things in this country the practice may be somewhat different to the law. Francesco Crispi, then Prime Minister, sought a defensive alliance with the Austrian-Hungarian and German empires - despite the fierce opposition from the Italian public opinion (Austria was seen as the country's traditional enemy) - and made the nation join the Triple Alliance in 1882. You can refill your drinking containers and bottles at any of the constant running taps and fountains dotted around the city, safe in the knowledge that you are getting excellent quality cool spring water - try it! Only a limited number of phones (just a few in main airports) directly accept credit cards. The average age of Modena resident is 44 compared to the Italian average of 42. For emergencies, call 112. For all practical matters, including reporting a crime or asking for information, you may ask any of the aforementioned kinds of police. There are major distinct nautical regions in Italy: Tuscany, Amalfi Coast, Sardinia and Sicily. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Buy town bus tickets from corner shops, bus company offices or automated machines before boarding (on some systems, tickets might be bought on-board from an automated machine). Most tickets, however, specify the day and time of travel: since those are only valid for one specific train they do not need to be validated. More affordable are the beaches in Calabria, most are free, you will only need to pay for the eventual equipment you want to rent. In the Trieste region it is far more common to drink Slovenian beers and the most popular brands are 'Union' and 'Zlatorog'. They may also carry roses and say they are giving you a gift because they like you but the minute you take their 'gift' they demand money. Also, Italian pasta is often served with much less sauce than in America. Read the small print first before turning over any foreign currency to the agent. The Home Food project, with the patronage of the Ministry of Agriculture and the University of Bologna, stands for the protection and preservation of traditional food culture and typical products of Italy. Not surprisingly, it is also home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. Italian is also the official language in San Marino and is commonly spoken in Vatican City whose official language is Latin. Then there are coffee drinks with milk, as follows: Note: latte is the Italian word for milk. A note about breakfast in Italy: this is a very light meal, often just a cappuccino or coffee with a pastry (cappuccino e cornetto) or a piece of bread and fruit jam. These may or may not need to be validated. Power surges and power failures are virtually unknown in Italy, even less so than in the States; the energy, water and gas systems are state-run and very well equipped and maintained since even before WW2; the electrical system is fully updated to the latest tech specs and every household is required to comply when renovating. There are several companies offering longer tours that include meals and accommodation. Italians have a long tradition of matching wines with dishes and often every dish has an appropriate wine. On the beach, topless women are more or less accepted everywhere but complete nudity is absolutely not accepted anywhere in Italy and it carries a hefty fine and/or arrest.[19]. For English-speakers looking to study in Italy, there are several options. In general, you should buy the tickets before boarding the train. Only parts of southern Italy - which were under Byzantine control - and what would later become the Papal States (that is, Rome and the surrounding region, which were under the authority of the Pope) survived as relatively independent entities: indeed, the Church was so independent that it saw fit to call other barbarians, the Franks, in order to get rid of their (now almost-completely romanised) violent, unstable, nosy Lombard neighbours. If you are really in need of a pick-me-up you can ask for a double dose of coffee, or a doppio. Violent crime rates in Italy are low even compared to most European countries. The interventionist faction eventually got the upper hand, and a secret pact - the Treaty of London - was signed between Italy, France and Great Britain: by virtue of said treaty, Italy would have gained the ethnically-Italian provinces of Trentino, Istria and Dalmazia if it joined the war against the Central Powers. In Italy wine is a substantial topic, a sort of test which can ensure either respect or lack of attention from an entire restaurant staff. The Italian society is however slightly more formal than the Northern European or English-speaking ones, and it can be more sensitive to issues of respect or lack thereof, so it is wrong to assume everyone will be gregarious and laid-back. If you're thinking about establishing a small business be sure to get in contact with local Chamber of Commerce and an accountant and they will help you to sort out the Italian laws. On one thing the people of the north and the south can agree: none of them likes paying for the enormous bureaucracy that is based in Rome. There are several companies that offer cycling tours throughout Italy. In the past, many shops used to close down and resume after the two hour break period and to compensate for this, businesses used to stay open later than in most other European towns, often until 20:00. In the 1950s and early-1960s, Italy experienced a period of rapid economic growth and industrial production, called "il boom", which saw the country's rise from a poor and weak nation, to a powerful one. There are several ferries departing from Greece, Albania, Montenegro and Croatia. Be sure to research well so that you find the right tour that suits your riding experience and fitness level.. Subscription-based mobile telephony accounts are subject to a government tax, to which prepaid SIM cards are not subject. If you arrive from abroad and intend making a lot of calls, buy a pay-as-you-go SIM card (termed prepagato for "prepaid" and ricaricabile for "rechargeable") and put it in your current mobile (if compatible and if your mobile set is not locked). In that same year (1849), the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont - ruled by the House of Savoy - became the fulcrum of the movement that advocated the unification of Italy. For example, you may need a passport valid for 6 months from entry. This situation, further aggravated by the Italian Wars of 1494-59 (during which Rome itself was sacked by the German mercenaries of Emperor Charles V) became even worse in the 17th centuries, when the foreign powers fought each other in a series of mostly useless wars over the dynastic rights on the Italian states. They usher you to your seat and then help you put your baggage onto the racks; then they ask for an extortionate fee (something like 5 euros per person). Most of Italy has hot, dry summers, with July being the hottest month of the year. Meanwhile, the Veneto was being devastated by the barbarians: a part of its inhabitants thought they'd been safe on the islands in the Venetian lagoon and thus founded a city there: Venice was born. While each official euro member (as well as Monaco, San Marino and Vatican) issues its own coins with a unique obverse, the reverse, as well as all bank notes, look the same throughout the eurozone. Two independent mini-states are surrounded entirely by Italy: San Marino and Vatican City. There are hundreds of Italian cities. However, fighting continued on its territory for the rest of the war, with the allies fighting those Italian fascists who did not surrender, as well as German forces. Nearly all of the country has GSM, GPRS and UMTS/HDSPA coverage. Italy, which is boot-shaped, is surrounded by the Ligurian and the Tyrrhenian Seas to the west, the Mediterranean and Ionian Seas to the South, and the Adriatic Sea to the East. Like their predecessors, they divided the land among themselves; however, due to their numerical inferiority, they were eventually assimilated by the native populace. Italy is famous for its wine. Many tourists every year report being fined (about €100) for entering a ZTL unknowingly. Yet another scam involves being approached by a man, asking you to help break a large bill - usually €20 or €50. They often are run by local beer enthusiasts turned brewers, running small breweries with a pub attached. High-speed trains are efficient and very comfortable, travelling up to 300 km/h and stopping only at major stations. Some restaurants now levy a service charge, but this is far from common. Italians are extremely proud of their culinary tradition and generally love food and talking about it - however, they are definitely not so fond of common preconceptions, such as that Italian food is only pizza and spaghetti. When paying, the staff usually expect you to put coins down on the surface or dish provided, rather than placing money directly into their hands (old money-handling etiquette to avoid messy coin droppings), and they will do the same when giving you your change ('il resto'). Some payphones work with coins only, some with phone cards only and some with both coins and phone cards. For instance, it could be only misleading to say that Northern Italian cuisine is based on hearty, potato and rice-rich meals, Central Italian cuisine mainly on pastas, roasts and meat, and Southern Italian cuisine on vegetables, pizza, pasta and seafood: there are so many cross-influences that you'd only get confused trying to categorize. Two major islands are part of this country: Sardinia, which is an island off the west coast of Italy, and Sicily, at the southern tip (the "toe") of the boot. replaced the previous emergency numbers which are, however, still in use throughout the rest of the Peninsula. They created the Kingdoms of Sicily and Naples (which would later become the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, as a result of the unification of these two realms in 1442, and had its capital in Naples). TBiz, Eurostar Italia, Intercity Plus and Intercity which will between EUR 5.00 and EUR 25.00 depending on the train type. Mobile (3G or HSDPA) internet connectivity is available from all major Italian carriers. Les infos, chiffres, immobilier, hotels & le Mag https://www.communes.com Before you choose to buy a pass, check first if it is cheaper than buying a normal ticket (or better, a discounted normal ticket, if available). They will slice it, warm it in the oven, fold it in half, and wrap it in paper. Likewise, a visa granted for any Schengen member is valid in all other countries that have signed and implemented the treaty. Italy (Italian: Italia) is a country in Southern Europe. The climate of Italy is highly diverse, and could be far from the stereotypical Mediterranean climate. This goes right back to the building of aqueducts channeling pure mountain water to every citizen during Roman times. The 18th century, while (relatively) more peaceful than the one that preceded it, was, culturally speaking, not-so-grand; on top of that, the Austrians ruled the North with an iron fist and the once-prosperous South had the misfortune of being governed by a particularly backward and obscurantist ruling class. The same applies to the stricter Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita. Coverage of major carriers is widespread, but it would be wise to check whether your carrier covers your area. On multi-lane roads, you should always be wary of vehicles on other lanes invading your lane in curves. In South Tyrol the majority of people also speaks Austro-Bavarian dialects of German as their native tongue (except in the region's capital Bolzano where it is spoken by only about a fourth of the population), and German is an official language of the autonomous province in addition to Italian. Crispi was forced to resign due to a public uproar; two years later, a protest took place in Milan because of the high prices of food but was cruelly crushed (Fiorenzo Bava Beccaris, the general who ordered to fire the cannons at the crowd, was publicly congratulated by the King himself and was even offered a seat in the Royal Senate). Italy, in virtue of the defensive pact of 1882, did not join the war immediately. This usually involves adding grappa, brandy or sambuca; "corrected" being the Italian expression corresponding to "spiked". They provide a great combination of good and healthy food, wonderful sights and not-so-expensive prices. Rome itself was dominated by Etruscan kings until 509 BC, when the last of them - Tarquinius Superbus - was ousted from power and the Roman Republic was founded. According to national regulations, hotels cannot apply a surcharge on calls made from the hotel (as the switchboard service should be already included as a service paid in the room cost), but to be sure check it before you use. A Gastronomia is a kind of self-service restaurant (normally you tell the staff what you want rather than serving yourself) that also offers take-aways. The romantic boot of Italy is known for its varied geography, with something for everyone’s taste from plentiful seacoast, inland hills speckled with dreamy medieval towns, and alpine peaks. While the sauces are pre-cooked the pasta is cooked fresh and it is difficult for the restaurant if one person wants spaghetti, another fettuccine, a third rigatoni, a fourth penne and a fifth farfalle (butterfly shaped pasta). The star rating, as in all countries, is based on a bureaucratic assessment of the facilities provided and does not necessarily relate to comfort. Around popular tourist sites, there are groups mostly of men trying to sell cheap souvenirs. When taking a taxi, be sure to remember license number written on the card door. Rome, in particular, has exceptional pride in the quality of its water. Coffee is welcomed at nearly every hour, especially around 10:00 and at the end of a meal (unless that meal is pizza). All land line numbers start with 0. Additionally, there are substantial discounts for advanced reservations which can often be lower than the reservation fee for using the pass. Friulano, another Rhaeto-Romance language, is still spoken by a small minority in the border province near Slovenia. Shops offering this scheme have a Tax Free sticker outside. With the help France, and after the first two Wars of Italian Independence (which ended in 1859), Austria was finally defeated: Lombardy was ceded to Piedmont-Sardinia. It is delivered to your hotel or at the airport. All possible Christian denominations - and a sizeable Jewish community - have made Italy their home for centuries. As everywhere, major cities and central locations have a higher cost of life than suburban and rural places. The Italian post was notorious for being slow, expensive and unreliable, but things have improved in the past years. Many Italians use an electronic pay-toll device, and there are reserved lanes marked in yellow with the sign "Telepass" or a simply "T". Abruzzo, Italy . and how much ("Vorrei (due fette - two slices) or (due etti - two-tenths of a kilogram) or simply say "di più" - more, or "di meno" - less, "per favore"). Think about learning what the Italians are best at: food, wine, Italian language, architecture, motors (cars and bikes) and interior design. Here are nine of its most famous: --CAUTION-- However instead of a sandwich why not try piadinas which are a flat folded bread with filling, which are served warm and are typical of the coast of Emilia-Romagna. For instance, a sandwich stand might sell 4 different types of ham sandwiches that in each case contain ham, mayonnaise, and cheese. It encompasses 8,800 square miles and has a population of 3.7 million. Italy is a member of the Schengen Agreement. Also keep in mind that, generally speaking, internet plans only include connectivity when under a specific carrier's coverage. Acceptance of LGBT people has increased dramatically over the past 20 years and each year even the small cities will boast a pride during the pride month, by and large supported by the local governments and the wider society. A 2nd class ticket costs about 80% the price of a 1st class ticket. The higher voltage will damage or destroy your appliance, and could injure or kill you as well. They depart around 22.00 and arrive in the morning. Remember that in Italy (even during the winter months) it remains very common for shops, offices and banks to close for up to 3 hours during the afternoon (often between 12.30 and 15.30). If you like that kind of stuff, better take your own. However, keep in mind that in many places of Italy people still speak their local dialects.