Page 270 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Venice & The Veneto
P. 270
268 SUR VIV AL GUIDE
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The wealth of art and architecture found in with individual museums or the tourist
Venice and the cities of Padua, Verona and office. Italians also enjoy visiting their art
Vicenza can dazzle and overwhelm. Avoid cities, so public holidays and weekends
cultural overload by sightseeing in the often mean larger crowds. To make the
morning, relaxing over lunch as the Italians most of your stay, take a tour by bus or on
do and shopping or visiting churches in the foot with a qualified guide who can explain
late afternoon. In the Veneto, restoration of the key sights and history. For lovers of
buildings and artworks is an ongoing outdoor pursuits, the Veneto also has
process, and you may often see the sign areas of outstanding natural beauty
chiuso per restauro (closed for restoration). along its coast and inland, in the hills
Always check opening hours in advance and mountains.
volume; 4 litres of wine; 50 grams
of perfume. Allowances for EU
residents are almost unlimited,
providing that the goods are
for personal use only.
The tax refund system
(Imposta sul Valore Aggiunto)
for non-EU residents is com-
plicated; it is worth reclaiming
only if you have spent at least
€154 in one establishment.
Ask the cashier to fill out the
form for you, and when leaving
the country take the goods in
your carry-on luggage for
approval at the airport tax
Tourists shopping and sightseeing on Venice’s Rialto Bridge refund office. The web site of
the Agenzia delle Dogane
When to Go
However, a visa may be needed (Italian customs) provides
July and August can get very for longer stays – check with further information.
hot and sticky in Venice and your embassy – and is required
the Veneto towns. For a cooler, for business or study related trips.
quieter time, visit in winter, By law, all visitors to Italy must Tourist Information
spring and autumn. However, be register with the police within All major towns in the Veneto
aware that Venice is often subject three days of arrival; all hotels have excellent tourist offices.
to acqua alta (tidal flooding) in will request your passport on In high season, Venice, Verona
autumn (see Walking, p282), checking in for such purpose. and Padua also have several
and the whole of the Veneto The Ministero degli Affari information points at railway
experiences thick fog in winter. Esteri (Foreign Office) or any stations and key sights. The
Most places around Lake questura (police station) can offices in smaller towns may
Garda close during winter, while provide information on any visa be of limited help. Tourist
the Dolomites have two distinct requirements (see p273). offices in Venice have city
seasons: December–March Visitors can get up-to-date maps, vaporetto maps, lists of
for skiing and snow-related travel safety information from accommodation options and
activities, and June–September the Foreign and Common other literature. Travel agents
for hiking. Hotels, guesthouses wealth Office in the UK, the and hotels are also good
and restaurants tend to cease State Department in the US sources for infor mation on
trade between these times. and the Department of Foreign the city, tours and local events
Affairs and Trade in Australia (see pp36–9). In Venice, Eventi e
Manifestazioni is a useful free
Visas and Passports booklet with listings informa-
Customs Information
All visitors need a valid pass port. tion; its equivalent in Verona is
European Union (EU) residents Duty free are as follows: non-EU Carnet Verona. Both are available
and visitors from the United residents can bring in either 200 from tourist infor mation offices.
States, Canada, Australia and cigarettes, 50 cigars, 100 cigarillos To obtain informa tion prior to
New Zealand do not need visas or 250 grams of tobacco; 1 litre travelling, contact ENIT (Italian
for stays of up to three months. of alcohol above 22 per cent State Tourist Board) in your
San Giorgio Maggiore church and gondolas at dawn, Venice
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