Italy
ABOUT THE COUNTRY
Italy is a large state in southern Europe. There is a huge number of UNESCO-protected world heritage sites here – historical monuments and works of art are located throughout the country. The country is also famous around the world for its national cuisine, fashion, sports cars and luxury motorcycles, as well as beautiful coastlines, lakes and mountains with numerous ski resorts. The secret of Italy’s success is simple: a great beach holiday on the Mediterranean, a super rich “excursion”, ski resorts, plus profitable shopping. From Rome to Naples, from the snowy Alps to the sunny islands.
CLIMATE
The highest prices in Italy, as a rule, are in the summer – the beautiful warm weather attracts crowds of tourists to the country, especially in coastal areas.
August is considered the peak of the summer season, when not only foreigners, but also the Italians themselves go to the beaches to fully enjoy the gentle Mediterranean sun, swim in the sea and lie on the soft coastal sand.
May and September can also be considered the high season in Italy – the number of visitors decreases slightly, and the weather, according to many, is even more pleasant than in summer.
In addition, carnivals and festivals take place in the cities and provinces of Italy at different times, causing both an influx of tourists and an increase in prices – this should also be taken into account when choosing when to go to Italy.
VISA
Italy is a member of the Schengen Agreement. Citizens of Kazakhstan and the CIS require a visa and insurance to visit the country.
CURRENCY
The official currency of Italy since 2002 is the euro. When crossing the border, amounts over €10,000 in cash are subject to mandatory declaration, otherwise you face a fine (from €300). Banks are open on weekdays from 8:30 am to 4 pm with an hour break for lunch. At the cash desk or at the exchange office, do not forget to clarify the amount of the commission. It can reach 10%, and at airports – all 12%. You can exchange no more than 500 euros at a time. Having a passport is a must.
SIGHTS
- The sights of Rome are the world-famous Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum and many others.
- The Vatican and Michelangelo’s painted Sistine Chapel, as well as St. Peter’s Basilica and the Pontifical Pinakothek.
- The sights of Florence are the Uffizi Gallery, the Palatine Gallery and the Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts with the statue of David.
- The sights of Milan are not only shopping, but also the Milan Duomo, Sforza Castle and the most famous opera house La Scala.
- The sights of Naples are the legendary city of Pompeii and its executioner, the mighty volcano Vesuvius.
- The sights of Venice are the Cathedral of San Marco, the Doge’s Palace and of course the famous canals, led by the Grand Canal.
USEFUL TIPS
- It is most convenient to travel with a Mastercard, since with Visa money will first be converted into dollars, and only then into euros. Also, do not go to Italy with rubles, otherwise you will have to face an unfavorable exchange rate. It is best to get a currency card or travel with dollars / euros.
- If you don’t like to walk in the heat in a crowd of tourists, then plan your trip for spring (April-May) or autumn (September-November). But if you want to devote your vacation to skiing, then go to Italy in late November or early March (at the same time, the weather in Italy is difficult to predict now, so follow the forecast).
- The historical center of Italian cities is most often covered with paving stones, so do not take heels with you, but comfortable shoes.
- In Italy, it is forbidden to smoke in public places, and the fine for violating this law will be from € 250 to € 500. You can smoke in special rooms and halls for smokers. Of course, you will be surprised that this law is violated everywhere, but it is better not to risk it!
- A popular mistake of Russian-speaking tourists is to order a latte in a cafe. Latte means “milk” in Italian, so a glass of hot milk will be brought to your order. It is best to order “coffee latte” or “coffee macchiato”.
- The discount season in Italy starts in early January and ends in February-early March, and summer sales begin in July and last until the end of August.
