Page 618 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

616  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Etiquette and Tipping
People in Italy are friendly
towards foreign visitors. On
entering a shop or bar it is
customary to greet people with
a general buon giorno (good
morning) or buona sera (good
evening), and the same applies
when leaving. They will also try
to be helpful when asked
directions in the street. If your
Italian is slight, simply saying
scusi, followed by the name of
the place you wish to go to, A student relaxing in the sun in Gaiole in Chianti
will often suffice. Grazie (thank
you) is replied to with prego Religious Services
(you’re welcome). contact the Associazione
Tipping in restaurants is Around 35 per cent of the Italiana Alberghi per la
expected when the 10–15 per population is practising Catholic. Gioventù (the Italian YHA),
cent service is not inclu ded. Sunday Mass is celebrated providing that you are a
However, as much as 10 per cent throughout the country, while in current member.
would be considered generous the principal churches, services
and a tip is often not expected at are also held during the week. In
all in more basic restaurants. Taxi major cities some churches, Travelling with Children
drivers and hotel porters expect such as the church of Santa On the whole, Italians love
a few euros if they have been Susanna (Via XX Settembre 14) children, to an extent that
helpful. You could simply round in Rome, offer services and sometimes seems over-
the bill up to the nearest €2. confession in English. For some indulgent. Most trattorias and
Italians are very dress- visitors, a trip to Rome will pizzerias welcome them and
conscious and unusual clothes include an audience with the there are no rules excluding
do get noticed. Be aware that in pope (see p423). children from bars; however,
places of worship you should With increasing numbers of highchairs are unusual. Hotels
cover your torso and upper arms; foreigners making their home also welcome children, but
shorts and skirts must reach in Italy, all the main religious smaller establishments may
below the knee. beliefs are also represented. have limited facilities. Some of
Smoking is forbidden in all For details contact the main the more upmarket hotels will
buildings open to the public centres in Rome. arrange a babysitting service.
(including offices, shops, bars Very few museums, on the
and restaurants). However, it is other hand, provide special
tolerated in outdoor public Student Information child-orientated activities. It is
places, whereas drunkenness The national student travel common to see children playing
is definitely frowned upon. organization, CTS (Centro outside fairly late at night,
Turistico Studentesco), has especially in summer. Most
branches throughout Italy and towns have city parks with
Europe. They issue the playgrounds and many have
International Student summer funfairs. Regular stops
Identity Card (ISIC) and for gelato are guaranteed to go
the Youth down well with
International youngsters. For young
Educational swimmers, the calm
Exchange Card Mediterranean is ideal,
(YIEE). Both can though care should
be used, along always be taken.
with a passport, ISIC card
for discounts at
museums and other tourist Disabled Travellers
attractions. The ISIC card also Awareness of the needs of the
gives holders access to a free disabled is improving in Italy,
24-hour telephone helpline in especially in major cities, with
cases of emergency. As well as ramps being added to museums
issuing youth cards, CTS offers and some churches. Trains and
Unacceptable dress in church: both cut-price car hire and will buses are also becoming more
sexes are required to cover torsos and organize holidays and courses. disabled-friendly. In Milan AIAS
upper arms For details about youth hostels, (Associazione Italiana Assistenza

616-617_EW_Italy.indd 616 4/5/17 9:32 AM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.1)
Date 13th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm