Italy,
like every other country has laws and regulations
that must be followed. We want to make you aware of
some of the basics. Here is a list of general information
that will come in handy as you travel around Tuscany,
and the rest of the Italy.
If you are visiting Tuscany for
the first time you will quickly realise that it is
no ordinary holiday area, but a total escape into
a timeless way of life.
Tuscany is largely rural and the landscape of cypresses,
olive groves and vineyards are renowned throughout
the world, for centuries Tuscans have preserved their
surroundings, culture and traditions making of this
the most fascinating region of Italy.
Best
period to travel in tuscany & Italy
Travel
in tuscany in may, september or october if possible.
The climate in Tuscany is very mild. The most beautiful season is May,
September and October.
So the main season to travel in tuscany is spring, summer and autumn,
especially because the landscape at that time of the year is very beautiful.
Usually the summers in Tuscany
are without rain and very hot, especially in the
valleys. July and August in Tuscany will be hot,
sometimes stiflingly so, thanks to the afa and
humidity levels that can make Florence and the
major cities of Tuscany veritable hothouses.
November sees night-time temperatures
really begin to drop with crisp autumn days to
accompany the main olive harvest throughout Tuscany.
In the winter there are sunny, mild days but at night it sometimes gets
very cold. Winter can be cold and wet but spring always seems to come
quickly.
Spring (april and may) and autumn
(october and november) might be rainy but there
are still dry, sunny days.
March is azalea and camelia time, whilst April and May are sometimes very
wet months.
There are little differences between
the regions, though.
Rule of thumb: at the coast and in the valleys the summers are hotter
than in the hilly areas, where the climate is very continental rain falls
are more often.
July ist he hottest month with temperatures from 23°C up to 30°C.
Residents of the USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand
must hold a valid passport but are not required to
apply for visas before arriving in Italy, if they
are entering the country as tourists only. At the
point of entry to Italy, residents of these countries
should have their passports stamped with an automatic
three-month tourist visa. Residents of other countries
should contact their local Italian tourist board or
consulate to learn what documentation is necessary.
You must carry indentification documents at all times(passport).
In vehicles, when you park you must turn the visible
clock on the windshield to the time parked. If you
do not you will recieve a parking ticket.
Carabinieri(National
Police) - 112
Public Emergency calls- 113
Fire Dept.- 115
Medical emergency(ambulance)- 118
Forest Police- 1515
ACI Assistance on the road- 116
Tipping
in tuscany
You are not expected to tip on top of restaurant
service charges, though many locals leave a small
amount. If there is no service charge, you might
consider leaving 10%, but it is not obligatory.
In bars, Italians will usually leave any small change
as a tip. Tipping taxi drivers is also not mandatory.
When staying in a higher priced accommodation, you
should tip the porter.
Most places of business open at 9:00am
and close at 1:00pm for 3 to 4 hours before reopening.
In most cafes located within small shops, you must
pay for items first, then bring the ticket to obtain
what you puchased. pizza, and other sandwiches. This
is also true at all Autogrill Service areas on motorways
If
you are looking for relax we suggest a
self catering country apartment a villa or vacation
home, often you need to pay a security deposit at
arrival (actually from saturday to saturday) . The
house can have the owner in a part of the property.
If the all-inclusive
rates do not include the IVA (added-value tax),
it should be added.
A Bed & Breakfast is an officially recognized guest
room in a private home and can be the right choice
for a budget accommodation.
Another very good choice
are convents,
monasteries and other religious institutions offering
accommodations.
The best location to relax in tuscany are the charming
little villages far away from big cities, but still
close to services like supermarket , restaurants and
shops.
Tuscany
is a land full of things to do, see and discover: art,
culture, museums and also nature, landscapes, culinary
and oenological tradition, fashion, handicrafts and
much, much more besides
You
should spent your first time exploring enchanting
stone-walled towns with their Piazzas, their Duomos
and their wonderful culture.
For you first time in tuscany you should
visit: Florence Siena Lucca Arezzo Pisa Cortona and
San Gimignano. these cities of art are definitely worth
seeing.
From
Florence the magnificent to tiny Montepulciano, there
are dozens of Tuscan towns you'll want to visit. The
chianti area with its hilltowns Montalcino, Pienza,
Castelnuovo, Pienza, and Monticchiello are all quaint,
wonderful places to explore.
Finally the very attractive coast charming
little towns, mountaign with natural parks and Elba's
island.
Public
vs. private transportation
Self
catering farmhouse accommodation
are usually are far away from public transportation so they are reached by private
transportation so a a car is highly recommended.
Also villages with shops restaurants may be 2 to
10 km away from the property.
If you rent or use your own car
or motorbike you can find properties with unmade or
grevel road, so no low suspensions.
Driving tips
When you drive
in Italy pay attenzion and consider this:
Italians drivers are much more
comfortable driving much closer than is typical in
USA or other countries.
When driving in Italy, your responsibility
is to those in front of you and those to your side.
italians rarely use their rear-view mirror.
When you, as a driver, encounter pedestrians,
they are to walk as straight as possible and you
are to avoid them.
it is foolhardy to go through an uncontrolled,
blind intersection quickly without at least a look
or a small toot on the horn. Parking. There are usually
large parking areas outside of the center of cities.
And within cities, what makes for an acceptable
parking place may be called a sidewalk in USA.
Speed limits are as follows: 50 kph (30 mph)
in built-up areas, 90 kph (55 mph) on secondary roads
outside built-up areas, 110 kph (68 mph) on main
roads outside built-up areas, and 130 kph (81 mph)
on expressways.
Fuel
"Benzina"
Fuel stations along expressways are open 24 hours.
Along other roads, fuel stations are open from 7:00
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
From May through September; from October through
April the stations close at 7:00 p.m.
Credit cards
are always accepted.
Only 25 percent of non-expressway
fuel stations are open on Sunday and public holidays;
those that are open on Sunday close on Monday.
Fuel stations displays "Aperto" sign if
open or "Chiuso" sign if closed.
Some stations, however, have pumps that accept
bills automatically 24 hours, they displays "Self-Service" or "24H" sign.
Fuel prices are partially regulated by the government
and are very similar in different fuel stations,
so don't waste time shopping around.
Super leaded gasoline has an octane rating of 98
or 100. Unleaded gasoline is called benzina senza
piombo, or benzina verde and it's distinguished by
green signs and pump. Unleaded super gasoline has
an octane rating of 95. Diesel is called gasolio.
LPG is called GPL (gas liquido).
It's illegal to
carry spare fuel.
Breakdown Accident Emergency
Police, tel. 113 or 112; Fire, tel. 115; Ambulance,
tel. 118.
The Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI), FIA and AIT member,
Via Marsala 8, 00185 Rome, tel. 06 49921, office
hours from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m.
to 7:00 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, operates
a breakdown service on all roads, tel. 116.
The service offers free tows to visitors driving
in Italy with foreign license plates or with a car
rented at the Rome or Milan airports.
Renters must
show plane tickets and the rental contract to get
the service free of charge. Another club is the Touring
Club Italiano (TCI), AIT member, Corso Italia 10,
20122 Milan, phone from Italy 02 85261, office hours
from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 8:30
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday; phone from Italy 852-6263
for information on their breakdown service.
Autostrada
speed limits and information:
-On a 3 lane road-140kmph
-On a 2 lane road-130kmph
-In rainy or bad weather, reduce speed 20kmph
-Lorries and Freight trucks do not run on Sunday
-"Autostrada" is a toll motorway
-"Superstrada" is a free motorway
Use
your credit card for the best exchange rates.
Exchange services charge the largest fees, based on
the amount you’re exchanging. Banks, ATMs all
also charge a service fee. But, most credit cards
are either free or charge only a nominal, set fee.
Most shops, including the open market ones now accept
credit cards. Click
here to check out the current exchange rates.Universal Currency Converter
Get
your passport early.
A passport is required. A visa is not required for
tourist stays up to three months. For further information
concerning entry requirements for Italy, travelers
may contact the Embassy
of Italy at 1601 Fuller St. N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20009, phone 202-328-5500 (Visit
the website)
At least two months before departure
to avoid extra costs. The regular service takes 6
weeks for your passport to arrive and for those over
16, a new passport costs $60; renewals $40.
Limit
your clothes ! Only one small luggage/backpack
and a three-day supply of clothes will do. If you’re
thinking 3 pairs of pants, believe us, you’ll
never wear the third one. Simply wash every three
days or better yet buy something there…Italy
is a developed country.
We suggest the following essentials:
- 1 main luggage or backpack with wheels
(for the long-hauls between trains and hotels)
- 1 small daypack
- 2 pairs of pants/skirts (at least 1 long pants or
skirt for the churches)
- 3 shirts (t-shirts, long-sleeve)
- 4 pairs of underwear
- 2 pairs of shoes
- 1 jacket (a light one in summer; a down jacket in
winter, which compacts well)
- 1 foldable thin raincoat (see REI.com)
- 1 electric converter (if you really need to run
that hairdryer)
- detergent like Woolite
- 1 fold-up bag for extra souvenirs.
1 January
= New Year's Day
6 January = Epiphany Easter
Easter Day
Easter Monday
25 April = Liberation Day, World War II
1 May = Labour Day
15 August = Assumption of the Virgin
1 November = All Saints Day
8 December = Immaculate Conception
25 December = Christmas
26 December = St Stephen
Rome,
Florence and Milan are known for good buys in quality
leather goods, silk scarves and ties, and fashion,
especially knitwear. In Florence, Siena and throughout
Tuscany, you can find ceramics and straw goods. In
addition., Florence and Venice offer gold jewelry
and embroidered linens. Venice’s glass is famous;
authentic Venetian lace is an expensive rarity.
receipts: You must have purchase receipt
within 20 meters of purchase. Be sure to hold onto
all receipts for goods or services you purchase in
Italy until leaving the city in which they were bought.
Laws have been introduced to tighten controls on
the payment of taxes and the Fiscal Police (Guardia
di Finanza) can ask you to produce a receipt immediately
after leaving a shop, and can require you to pay
a fine if you come up empty-handed.
Taxes: Whenever you buy an item
in Italy, you will pay value-added tax, known as IVA
in Italy. Tourists who are residents of countries
outside the EC are able to claim a refund on this
tax if the item was purchased for personal use and
cost more than a certain amount. Ask the shopkeeper
of any store displaying a “Tax-free for tourists:”
sign about procedures for claiming your refund.
Business hours vary between the north and south of
Italy and can also vary among cities, but as a rule,
the working week runs from Monday to Saturday. Generally,
shops in the north and central Italy are open Monday
to Saturday from 8am to 1pm and from 3:30pm until
7:30pm. In the south, they usually close for lunch
around 12:30pm and reopen from 4pm to 8pm. In some
cities, grocery shops (alimentari) might not reopen
until 5pm and during the warmer months, they could
stay open until 9pm. All alimentari close on Thursday
afternoons and often on Saturday afternoons. Shops in smaller towns and on city
outskirts often close on Saturday afternoons as well. Banks tend to be open Monday
to Friday from 8:30am to 1:30pm and 2:30pm to 4:30pm
although hours can vary. They are closed on weekends,
but it is always possible to find an exchange office
open in the larger cities and in major tourist areas. Major post offices open from 8:30am
to 6 or 7pm Monday to Saturday. Smaller post offices
open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 2pm and on Saturdays
from 8:30am to midday. Pharmacies are usually open from
9am to 12:30pm and 3:30pm to 7:30pm. They are always
closed on Sunday and alternatively on Saturday or
Wednesday. Some drugstores are open all night as well
as on Sundays and holiday; a guidebook detailing
individual cities can give you accurate addresses
for such establishments. Bars (coffee and sandwich places)
and cafes are open from 7:30am until 8pm and restaurants
open from midday until 3pm and from 7:30pm until 11:00pm
(later in summer and in the south). Restaurants and
bars are required to close for one day each week. Museum and gallery
opening hours vary, although most close on Mondays
and some close during religious holiday.
Welcometuscany la piu' vasta guida
per la toscana
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toscana! oltre 500
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