Italy at a Glance
From the Italian Alps in the north, to its more than 70 islands offshore, Italy is not to be missed. Stroll through ancient Roman ruins, marvel at the remains of Pompeii, shop in busy Rome, visit the art of Florence, or sit back in your Tuscan villa and feast on wine and fresh foods while you gaze at the “land of the midday sun”. Venice may sink. The Tower of Pisa may fall. Don’t let it be said that you missed them!
Throughout history, the southern areas of Italy have not enjoyed the economic prosperity of the north. This condition remains today with the south having an unemployment rate double that of the north. For the nu nomad, you may find a lower cost of living, therefore, in the south. On the other hand, connectivity issues may be more difficult. Be aware of certain idiosyncrasies you may encounter in the Italian communication systems. For instance, you must have a passport to access the internet in public locations.
How This Destination Rated
The Ratings
Basic Facts about Italy
- Language: Italian (some German, French, English and Slovene)
- Government: Republic.
- Population: 57.3 million (2.6 million in Rome).
- Climate: Mild winters. Southern areas can reach extreme temperatures in summer.
- Geography: 301,230 square kilometres.
- Neighboring Countries: Monaco, France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Corsica(See map).
- Money: The Euro (click here to convert your currency).
- Mobile Phone Frequencies: GSM 900/1800 | 3G 2100.
- Electricity: 230v (50 cycles) See plug type here.
- Daylight Savings: Begin last Sunday in March, end last Sunday in October.
- Time Zone: GMT/UTC +1 (+2 in summer months) (Current time.)
- Country Code: 39
City Codes: Ancona 071; Bari 080; Bergamo 035; Bologna 051; Brescia 030; Brindisi 0831; Cagliari 070; Capri 081; Catania 095; Como 031; Florence (Firenze) 055; Genoa 010; Madonna de Campiglio 0465; Manfredonia 0884; Messina 090; Milan 02; Monza 039; Naples 081; Padova 049; Palermo 091; Pisa 050; Reggio Emilia 0522;
Rimini 0541; Rome 06; Savona 019; Torino 011; Trieste 040; Venice 041; Verona 045; Vicenza 0444; Vatican City 06 .
General Travel Information on Italy
Italy Visas and Visitation Limits:
Visa on Arrival (Schengen Visa): Bona fide tourists from the USA and other western countries are permitted entry upon arrival in Italy for 90 days stay. Longer term stays require special visa.
For complete information on Italian visas, visit Ministero degli Affari Esteri.
Note: The Schengen Agreement establishes a unified type of visa for short stays (up to 90 days) for the participant European countries (GERMANY, AUSTRIA, BELGIUM, DENMARK, SPAIN, FINLAND, FRANCE, GREECE, THE NETHERLANDS, ICELAND, ITALY, LUXEMBOURG, NORWAY, PORTUGAL AND SWEDEN).
Getting Around:
Train: Eurail
passes (or Italian
Rail Pass) are available on-line or through your travel agent. Bus: Eurolines connects
much of Europe cheaply and easily. Planes: STA
Travel has
some good bargains.
Where to Stay:
For NuNomad Guidelines on how to choose your nest, visit the NuNomad Blog.
Travel Insurance:
Don’t let your European adventure be spoiled. Get Travel Insurance. See our article Coverage Comparison of Travel Insurance.
Mailing in Italy:
Stamps may be purchased at post offices or tobacconists. Postal rates can be found at Poste Italiane. Italian postal service is notoriously slow.
NuNo Essential Information
- WiFi Hotspots: For a comprehensive list of free and paid for hotspot locations throughout Italy .
- Mobile Phone Providers/SIM Cards: Telecom
Italia, Omnitel, WIND, BLU, TIM.
IMPORTANT: You cannot buy a SIM card in Italy unless you are an Italian resident. You will be forced to show proof of this. Therefore, buy before you fly! - Internet Access via Mobile Phone: See NuNo Geek for GPRS info, or the Geekzone.com's GPRS article, or Ross Barkman’s GPRS info page.
Internet and Telephone Communication
International Cell Phones: While in Italy the most economical way to place a call is to do so with your unlocked international cell phone, using an Italian SIM card. While SIM cards can be purchased at tobacconists, SIM cards are sold only to Italian residents! Therefore, we recommend buying one before you go. Telestial is a great source to get your prepaid SIM card delivered to your door before your departure. One of the more common SIM cards is the TIM. Expect to pay in the vicinity of $40.00 US for this card. It comes with $7 US airtime credit and free incoming calls as well as voice mail. Currently TIM cards do not support GPRS capability.
Internet cafés can be found in every major city as well as some of the smaller towns. While Italy makes the top 10 list for European countries with wifi, the numbers fall substantially below France and England with wifi according to www.jiwire.com. Be aware that to use an internet café in Italy you will need to show your passport due to anti-terrorism laws.
- For more information on International Cell Phone basics, read our article on Cell Phone Basics.
- For more information on the various methods of connecting to the Internet, visit our Connecting to WWW page.
- For more information on Connectivity issues, visit our Forum.
International Calling Cards: If you don’t have a Skype account yet, get one. You can use “telephony” service with any hi-speed Internet connection, which most Internet Cafés will have. Otherwise, you’ll have to use land-line systems. If you’re staying at a location where you want to use a land line, it may be most economical to purchase an international calling card. These can be purchased at many common locations throughout Italy such as news stands and tobacconists. Calling cards may also be purchased online before your departure.
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