Page 432 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

430  IT AL Y AND GREECE

Practical Information Visa Requirements
Citizens of the European Union
Italy’s charm and allure help to mask an idiosyncratic (EU), US, Canada, Australia, and
infrastructure in which delays and long lines are common. Be New Zealand do not require a
prepared to wait in offices and banks, and to persevere when visa for stays of up to three
seeking information. However, communications – other than months. Most European Union
visitors need only a valid
the post office – are good, and banking and exchange facilities identity document to enter Italy.
are widely available. Italy is generally safe for visitors and there Citizens from other countries
is a visible police presence should a crisis arise. Personal belong­ should contact their Italian
ings should nevertheless be watched at all times. Many shops consulate for visa information.
and offices close at lunch for the siesta, reopening in the late
afternoon. Pharmacies are a useful first stop for health advice. Personal Security
Although petty crime in the
cities is frequent, violent crime
When to Visit deals exclusively with an in Italy is rare. However, it is
Italy’s towns and historic individual town. All can help common for people to raise
sites are extremely popular with hotel reservations and their voices aggressively during
attractions and it is worth local tour guides. They also an argument. Usually, remaining
considering this when planning provide free maps and guide- calm and being polite will help
your trip. Rome, Florence, and books in several languages. to defuse the situation.
Venice are all crowded from Unofficial tour guides, taxi
spring to October and it is Opening Hours drivers, or strangers who try to
advisable to reserve a hotel advise you on accommodations
well in advance. In August the Italian museums are gradually may expect money in return.
cities are generally slightly less conforming to new regu lations, Women traveling alone in
busy, and the seaside resorts particularly in the north, opening Italy are likely to meet with a lot
fill up. June and September daily from about 9am to 7pm, of attention, although this is
can be as hot as midsummer, but some still close on Mondays. often more of an irritation than
but the beaches are less In summer, many museums stay a danger. Staff at hotels and
crowded. The skiing season open longer at weekends. In restaurants generally treat their
runs from December to Easter. winter, opening times are more single female customers with
limited. It is advisable to check extra care and attention.
beforehand. Archaeological
Tourist Information
sites usually open from 9am to
The national tourist board, ENIT, an hour before sunset, Tuesday Police
has branches in capital cities to Sunday. Churches are open There are several different police
worldwide and offers general from about 7am to 12:30pm forces in Italy and each one
information on Italy. Locally, and 4 to 7pm, but they often fulfills a particular role. Both the
there are two types of tourist prefer not to admit tourists state police, the polizia and the
office: an EPT (Ente Provinciale di during services. carabinieri, deal with crime in
Turismo) has information on its Visits to some of the more general and they also conduct
town and surrounding province, popular tourist sights, such as random security checks. The
whereas an APT (Azienda di Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of vigili urbani, the municipal traffic
Promozione Turistica) or a PIT The Last Supper in Milan, must police, issue fines for traffic and
(Punto di Informazioni Turistiche) be organized in advance. parking offences. If you have

The Climate of Italy
ROME VENICE
The Italian peninsula has a
varied climate falling into °C/ºF °C/ºF
three distinct geographical 29/84 28/82
regions. Cold Alpine winters 18/64 19/66 22/72 18/64 18/64
and warm, increasingly wet 13/55 12/54 17/63
summers characterize the 9/48 4/40 7/44 9/48 7/44
northern regions. In the 0/32
extensive Po Valley, arid 6 10 7 5 7 9 4 2
summers contrast with hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs
freezing, damp winters. The 51 21 95 87 112 108 134 90
rest of Italy has long, and mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm
often very hot, summers month Apr Jul Oct Jan month Apr Jul Oct Jan
and mild, sunny winters.

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