|
| Description |
| A trip to Italy is always a
tour artistique. There are so many artistic treasures and of
such quality that to describe Italy as an open-air art gallery
in its own right is hardly an exaggeration. No other country
in the world can vaunt the same treasures of culture and art
as Italy. Indeed, half of the world's historic and artistic
assets are within its boundaries (UNESCO). |
 |
 |
 |
In Italy there are a thousand ways to use your
free time: practising sports, cultivating hobbies, relaxing,
developing your culture, going to a concert, a play, a traditional
festival, or to watch a sporting event.
Or, simply sitting in a bar and enjoying a cappuccino or a
glass of good wine, or wandering around the beautiful towns
- large and small - admiring and visiting their churches,
palaces, monuments, castles, archaeological sites, museums,
galleries, squares and streets. In Italy there is no problem:
just being there is already the best way to spend your free
time.
Italy is a country, which has succeeded in cultivating the
greatness of even its least noted cities, villages and hamlets.
There is scarcely a place in Italy that has remained untouched
by the waves of history, art, folklore and culinary tradition,
where a visit does not afford a chance for reflection or even
simple pleasure.
|
| Wintersports |
Thanks to Italy's mountainous
geography, the country offers plenty of good ski resorts,
including the famous Cortina d'Ampezzo and Courmayeur. The
best winter sports facilities can be found in Italy's northern,
Alpine regions, which are well-served by budget flights from
the UK. But even the south of Italy can offer a few winter
sports options.
Skiing is popular in Italy and, thanks to the number of ski
resorts, a fairly commonplace activity. A large proportion
of Italians, in addition to their month-long summer holiday,
will take a 'settimana bianca' (white week) and spend a week
skiing in the winter. |
| Climate |
Italy can be divided into
three climatic regions: Alpine, Po Valley & northern plain
and peninsular region & islands. The Italian side of the
Alps has rather more rainfall than the Swiss and Austrian
side and the lower slopes are warmer in both summer and winter.
The wettest time is between seasons and thunderstorms are
most frequent in spring and autumn.
The Po Valley and northern plain has well distributed rainfall
throughout the year. Summers are hot and winters surprisingly
cold with frequent fog, frost and snow. Peninsular Italy and
the islands climate differs between the coastlands and the
interior. During winter the higher areas are cold, wet and
often snowy, the coastal areas mild. Summers are usually hot
and dry and changeable weather is common during autumn, winter
and spring |
 |
 |
 |
| Local
Time |
From 31 Oct 04 to 27 Mar 05
GMT +1
From 27 Mar 05 to 30 Oct 05 GMT +2 |
| Health |
| Participant in E111 system which
allows visitors on short-term stays to other member countries
to use the public health care sector on the same terms as a
local resident and provides all covered visitors with emergency
and necessary care. Form E111 is being replaced by the EU Health
Insurance Card, please contact relevant health authorities for
further details |
| Customs
& Duty Free |
Import
Allowances Tobacco & alcoholic
beverages for persons of 17 years of age or older:
Travellers entering from EU countries: (goods obtained duty
& tax paid - guidance levels)
- 800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars or 1 kg
of tobacco
- 10 lit of spirits, 20 lit of fortified wine, 90 lit of
wine, of this not more than 60 lit of sparkling wine &
110 lit of beer
Travellers entering from non-EU countries:
- 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250gr
tobacco
- 1 lit of spirits, 2 lit of wine
- 50ml of perfume, 250ml of toilet water
- Other goods to the value of EUR 175.59
|
| Passport
& Visa |
The following details relate to holders of
adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different),
if any other type of passport or travel document is held,
entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy
or consulate
Required, but NOT
by the following:
- Holders of National Identity Cards issued to nationals
of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco,
Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Spain & Switzerland
- Holders of passports expired a maximum of 5 years issued
to nationals of Austria, Belgium, France, Italy (not allowed
to depart using an expired passport), Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Monaco, Netherlands, San Marino & Switzerland
- Where a visa is not required, passports must be valid
when returning from Italy
- Where a visa is required, passports must be valid for
3 months beyond validity of visa
The following DO
NOT require a visa:
- Nationals of Italy
- For stays up to 90 days by citizens of:
- United Kingdom
- Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Australia,
Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada,
Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Denmark,
El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (S.A.R. passport holders),
Hungary, Ireland Rep, Israel, Japan, Korea (South), Latvia,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao (S.A.R. passport
holder), Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New
Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City
& Venezuela
|
| |
|
Back
to top |
|
|
|
|
