Italy
Rich in history and culture, Italy is simply spellbinding and sometimes overwhelming. Style, beauty, and fashion touch every aspect of daily life.
It is here that you will come across legendary masterpieces like Michelangelo’s David, Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, and the Sistine Chapel frescoes. The largest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites can be found in Italy.
Art is almost everywhere and it was also home to artists like Dante and Verdi. Fashion reigns supreme and world-famous fashion houses like Prada, Renzo Piano and Massimo have their presence here.
Begin your journey in the capital city of Rome which boasts ancient relics like the Pantheon, the Colosseum, and the Palatine Hill. The Vatican which is the seat of the Roman Catholic religion is one of the top attractions. Other important sites are the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo’s Pieta, the Borghese Gardens, and the Trevi Fountain.
Next, continue on to Florence, the center of the Renaissance and home to a vast number of art galleries. Don’t forget to drop by The Duomo, the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral, a landmark of world architecture. Take a detour to the Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace.
Make a sojourn to magical Venice, with its gondolas and waterways. Visit St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, and the Piazza San Marco.
Milan is also a great city to spend some time in. With architectural attractions and works of art, it is outstanding and captivating. The workplace of legends like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and fashion designer Giorgio Armani, Milan has a singular charm of its own. You can’t leave without visiting La Scala, the world’s most spectacular opera house.
Apart from these famous cities, the Tuscany Hill Towns, Lake Como, Naples, and the Amalfi Coast are also beautiful and deserve a visit.
Italy is situated towards the South of Central Europe. It consists of the Italian Peninsula, the Southern Alps, the Po Valley plain, and some islands like Sardinia and Sicily.
It has a vast coastline that is spread over 7600 km, which includes the islands. Italy shares borders with Slovenia, France, Austria, and Switzerland.
The Alps are to the North and wind down to the Po River, where you’ll discover fertile plains. This portion also contains Lake Como. Another group of mountains, the Apennines run right into the peninsula and boasts the Calderone, the only glacier in Italy.
A third of the country is covered with mountains and a quarter of it is covered by plains. It also has rocky coastlines with some beautiful beaches.
Italy has four seasons: Spring (March-May), Summer (June-August), Autumn(September to November), and Winter (December- February).
Italy’s northern and southern portions experience different types of weather. The central portion faces middle ground temperatures.
The North experiences a more severe climate with extremely cold winters and warm, humid summers. The South witnesses warmer temperatures with the eastern coast being cooler than the western coast. The Central portion faces less extreme temperatures; summers are longer and winters are generally mild.
On a single day, it could be sub-zero temperatures in Milan, 10 C in Rome, and 20 C in Palermo. When you travel to Italy, check out the weather of the particular location that you intend to visit.
Italian cuisine offers a scrumptious array of dishes from traditional delicacies to the sweet and savory. Most feature age-old recipes that have been passed down over generations and are valued for their origins.
You haven’t visited Italy if you haven’t feasted on some local pasta and pizza, the two dishes Italy is most celebrated for. There is a variety of pasta, depending on where you visit while in Italy. Order the Pasta Alla Carbonara, if you’re looking for a veritable feast.
If you like spaghetti, you may want to try the Spaghetti Alla Carbonara or the Spaghetti Alla Gricia.
You can’t miss the Margherita pizza, which first originated in Naples. It has a thin crust and is served with a generous topping of garlic, basil, mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil.
For something crisp, sink your teeth into the Arancini, which are golden brown rice balls, coated with breadcrumbs and fried.
Another Italian classic that originated from Naples is the Lasagne. It will give you the authentic taste of Italian cuisine, with its baked layers of meat, cheese, veggies and sauces.
Prosciutto is also a hot favourite. Thin slices of cured and dried ham are served without cooking, with an accompaniment of pasta or enveloped around slices of cheese.
For dessert, the creamy delicious Gelato is unmissable. So is the light and airy Tiramisu, a fairly well-known dessert. If you like candy, you must get your hands on the Torrone, which is created from nuts, egg whites, zest and honey.
There are three types of plugs that can be used in Italy; Type C, L, and F. Italy’s standard supply voltage is 230V and the standard frequency is 50Hz.
Travelers from the UK can use their electric appliances in Italy.
If Italy’s frequency is different from the one in your country, it isn’t advisable to use the appliance. You should take particular care when it comes to rotating or moving devices like shaves, fans, or clocks.
To double-check, check out the appliance label. Does the label say ‘INPUT: 100-240V, 50/60 Hz’? Then you can use the appliance all across the world.
Since Italy is part of the European Union (EU), the Euro is its currency. A Euro comprises 100 cents and at the time of writing this 1 Sterling Pound = 1.17 Euro.
While Visa and Mastercard are accepted all across Italy, it is still somewhat a cash-based economy. While you can use your cards across stores, restaurants, and hotels, you’ll require cash to pay taxis, guides, and street food.
Generally, for payments under 10 or 20 euros, you will definitely need some cash. Avoid using traveler’s checks as most banks in Italy will not cash them.
Italy is known for its fashion and style. Particularly Milan, where people dress very fashionably.
What to wear depends on which part of the country you are visiting and the activities that you will be doing. It is best to check the weather beforehand and pack accordingly.
If you travel to Italy in spring or summer, layering is essential. Carry light and airy clothing, with vibrant and light colors. Jeans, skirts, tee-shirts, and blouses are acceptable. Pack a light jacket or sweater and a waterproof coat. If you’re visiting the beach, carry a bikini or a one-piece swimsuit.
For men, trousers, jeans, shirts, t-shirts, and a light jacket will do. For footwear, opt for shoes that are comfortable and that you can walk in. The same applies to women as the streets are cobblestoned.
Autumn and Winter tend to be very cold and snowy. So, carry long-sleeved clothing, a thick overcoat, thermal innerwear, gloves, and scarves. This applies to both men and women. For footwear, winter boots, sneakers, and thicker shoes are recommended.
In Italy, family values are given paramount importance and many extended families live under one roof. Appearances and image are of utmost importance in Italy. How you look and dress matters quite a lot and can be an indicator of your social and economic status.
Most Italians are style-conscious and make judgments based on appearance. The primary religion here is Roman Catholic and people are highly influenced by the Church. Most Italians greet each other enthusiastically, and air-kissing on both cheeks is common.
If you’re invited to dine in an Italian home, dress stylishly and you won’t be frowned upon if you arrive around 15 minutes late. It is acceptable to bring wine or chocolate. Just ensure that the wine is of a good vintage as quality matters in Italy. Avoid wrapping your gifts in black as it is considered to be the color of mourning.
The official language of Italy is Italian and around 90% of the population speaks Italian. More than half the population speaks a local dialect as well as main Italian.
Friulian, a dialect, is spoken in the North of Italy by around 1% of the population. Other European languages like German, Slovene, and French are also spoken.
In the southern part of Italy, languages like Albanian, Croatian and Greek are used by a minority of the people.
Sardinian is spoken on the island of Sardinia while Catalan is the language used in the city of Alghero.
If you are a British passport holder, you won’t require a visa to travel to Italy if you plan to stay for less than 90 days, even though the UK is no longer part of the EU.
There is a visa-free arrangement in place between the UK and the EU for travel that is in the nature of a short-stay visit.
However, from the end of 2022, those intending to travel to Italy will be required to make an application through the ETIAS system, which facilitates visa-free travel to states in the Schengen Area.
Before this, you won’t need a visa, just a passport.
Rich in history and culture, Italy is simply spellbinding and sometimes overwhelming. Style, beauty, and fashion touch every aspect of daily life.
It is here that you will come across legendary masterpieces like Michelangelo’s David, Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, and the Sistine Chapel frescoes. The largest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites can be found in Italy.
Art is almost everywhere and it was also home to artists like Dante and Verdi. Fashion reigns supreme and world-famous fashion houses like Prada, Renzo Piano and Massimo have their presence here.
Begin your journey in the capital city of Rome which boasts ancient relics like the Pantheon, the Colosseum, and the Palatine Hill. The Vatican which is the seat of the Roman Catholic religion is one of the top attractions. Other important sites are the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo’s Pieta, the Borghese Gardens, and the Trevi Fountain.
Next, continue on to Florence, the center of the Renaissance and home to a vast number of art galleries. Don’t forget to drop by The Duomo, the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral, a landmark of world architecture. Take a detour to the Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace.
Make a sojourn to magical Venice, with its gondolas and waterways. Visit St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, and the Piazza San Marco.
Milan is also a great city to spend some time in. With architectural attractions and works of art, it is outstanding and captivating. The workplace of legends like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and fashion designer Giorgio Armani, Milan has a singular charm of its own. You can’t leave without visiting La Scala, the world’s most spectacular opera house.
Apart from these famous cities, the Tuscany Hill Towns, Lake Como, Naples, and the Amalfi Coast are also beautiful and deserve a visit.
Italy is situated towards the South of Central Europe. It consists of the Italian Peninsula, the Southern Alps, the Po Valley plain, and some islands like Sardinia and Sicily.
It has a vast coastline that is spread over 7600 km, which includes the islands. Italy shares borders with Slovenia, France, Austria, and Switzerland.
The Alps are to the North and wind down to the Po River, where you’ll discover fertile plains. This portion also contains Lake Como. Another group of mountains, the Apennines run right into the peninsula and boasts the Calderone, the only glacier in Italy.
A third of the country is covered with mountains and a quarter of it is covered by plains. It also has rocky coastlines with some beautiful beaches.
Italy has four seasons: Spring (March-May), Summer (June-August), Autumn(September to November), and Winter (December- February).
Italy’s northern and southern portions experience different types of weather. The central portion faces middle ground temperatures.
The North experiences a more severe climate with extremely cold winters and warm, humid summers. The South witnesses warmer temperatures with the eastern coast being cooler than the western coast. The Central portion faces less extreme temperatures; summers are longer and winters are generally mild.
On a single day, it could be sub-zero temperatures in Milan, 10 C in Rome, and 20 C in Palermo. When you travel to Italy, check out the weather of the particular location that you intend to visit.
Italian cuisine offers a scrumptious array of dishes from traditional delicacies to the sweet and savory. Most feature age-old recipes that have been passed down over generations and are valued for their origins.
You haven’t visited Italy if you haven’t feasted on some local pasta and pizza, the two dishes Italy is most celebrated for. There is a variety of pasta, depending on where you visit while in Italy. Order the Pasta Alla Carbonara, if you’re looking for a veritable feast.
If you like spaghetti, you may want to try the Spaghetti Alla Carbonara or the Spaghetti Alla Gricia.
You can’t miss the Margherita pizza, which first originated in Naples. It has a thin crust and is served with a generous topping of garlic, basil, mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil.
For something crisp, sink your teeth into the Arancini, which are golden brown rice balls, coated with breadcrumbs and fried.
Another Italian classic that originated from Naples is the Lasagne. It will give you the authentic taste of Italian cuisine, with its baked layers of meat, cheese, veggies and sauces.
Prosciutto is also a hot favourite. Thin slices of cured and dried ham are served without cooking, with an accompaniment of pasta or enveloped around slices of cheese.
For dessert, the creamy delicious Gelato is unmissable. So is the light and airy Tiramisu, a fairly well-known dessert. If you like candy, you must get your hands on the Torrone, which is created from nuts, egg whites, zest and honey.
There are three types of plugs that can be used in Italy; Type C, L, and F. Italy’s standard supply voltage is 230V and the standard frequency is 50Hz.
Travelers from the UK can use their electric appliances in Italy.
If Italy’s frequency is different from the one in your country, it isn’t advisable to use the appliance. You should take particular care when it comes to rotating or moving devices like shaves, fans, or clocks.
To double-check, check out the appliance label. Does the label say ‘INPUT: 100-240V, 50/60 Hz’? Then you can use the appliance all across the world.
Since Italy is part of the European Union (EU), the Euro is its currency. A Euro comprises 100 cents and at the time of writing this 1 Sterling Pound = 1.17 Euro.
While Visa and Mastercard are accepted all across Italy, it is still somewhat a cash-based economy. While you can use your cards across stores, restaurants, and hotels, you’ll require cash to pay taxis, guides, and street food.
Generally, for payments under 10 or 20 euros, you will definitely need some cash. Avoid using traveler’s checks as most banks in Italy will not cash them.
Italy is known for its fashion and style. Particularly Milan, where people dress very fashionably.
What to wear depends on which part of the country you are visiting and the activities that you will be doing. It is best to check the weather beforehand and pack accordingly.
If you travel to Italy in spring or summer, layering is essential. Carry light and airy clothing, with vibrant and light colors. Jeans, skirts, tee-shirts, and blouses are acceptable. Pack a light jacket or sweater and a waterproof coat. If you’re visiting the beach, carry a bikini or a one-piece swimsuit.
For men, trousers, jeans, shirts, t-shirts, and a light jacket will do. For footwear, opt for shoes that are comfortable and that you can walk in. The same applies to women as the streets are cobblestoned.
Autumn and Winter tend to be very cold and snowy. So, carry long-sleeved clothing, a thick overcoat, thermal innerwear, gloves, and scarves. This applies to both men and women. For footwear, winter boots, sneakers, and thicker shoes are recommended.
In Italy, family values are given paramount importance and many extended families live under one roof. Appearances and image are of utmost importance in Italy. How you look and dress matters quite a lot and can be an indicator of your social and economic status.
Most Italians are style-conscious and make judgments based on appearance. The primary religion here is Roman Catholic and people are highly influenced by the Church. Most Italians greet each other enthusiastically, and air-kissing on both cheeks is common.
If you’re invited to dine in an Italian home, dress stylishly and you won’t be frowned upon if you arrive around 15 minutes late. It is acceptable to bring wine or chocolate. Just ensure that the wine is of a good vintage as quality matters in Italy. Avoid wrapping your gifts in black as it is considered to be the color of mourning.
The official language of Italy is Italian and around 90% of the population speaks Italian. More than half the population speaks a local dialect as well as main Italian.
Friulian, a dialect, is spoken in the North of Italy by around 1% of the population. Other European languages like German, Slovene, and French are also spoken.
In the southern part of Italy, languages like Albanian, Croatian and Greek are used by a minority of the people.
Sardinian is spoken on the island of Sardinia while Catalan is the language used in the city of Alghero.
If you are a British passport holder, you won’t require a visa to travel to Italy if you plan to stay for less than 90 days, even though the UK is no longer part of the EU.
There is a visa-free arrangement in place between the UK and the EU for travel that is in the nature of a short-stay visit.
However, from the end of 2022, those intending to travel to Italy will be required to make an application through the ETIAS system, which facilitates visa-free travel to states in the Schengen Area.
Before this, you won’t need a visa, just a passport.
Destinations in Italy
Travel related news, information and inspirational articles and videos for travellers booking flights or holidays to Italy. Ask questions about travel in Italy and get answers from Italy experts
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MEET THE Italy EXPERTS
If you are looking to book a holiday to Italy or needs some help and advice planning travel to Italy then contact one of the UK based independent travel agents that specialise in Italy itineraries.
Ian Robinson
Westhoughton, Bolton, Greater Manchester
Exclusive Travel Holidays
0161 327 1707
ian@exclusivetravel.holiday
Specialist Area:
Cruise, Weddings and Honeymoon, All Inclusive, City Breaks, Cycling, Diving and Snorkeling, Hiking, Safari
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Your Travel Questions Answered
Ask any travel related question and get an answer from one of our experts that will provide you with an answer from their personal experience
I am going to Italy with my family for a short vacation. I have two kids, one is of age 10, and the other one is 12. Since the Covid situation has taken a bad toll on everyone, i’m not sure what to exactly do with my wife and kids in Italy. Are there any amusement parks and if there are, where are they located?
I’m looking for a European destination to propose to my girlfriend. We’ve been to Paris before (and loved it), but I want to take her to somewhere new so that it will be a uniquely special trip. Where would you recommend it?
I thought, for my next vacation, that I would plan a trip to Sicily. I would like to stay several days in the capital of Palermo. What are some top historical attractions to see?
I will be visiting Italy in a few short months and am wondering about the rules of etiquette in a restaurant. For example, I heard that a man and woman should enter a restaurant in a certain way. What is the etiquette I should follow in this regard and what are other etiquette rules should I remember?
EVENTS IN THE Italy
26th May 2022
min. read