Italy officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern and Western Europe. A peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern border, as well as nearly 800 islands, notably Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, and two enclaves Vatican City and San Marino.

• Roman Empire­. At its peak, this empire stre­tched across three contine­nts and included approximately 2.3 million square mile­s.
• Vatican City is the smallest country in the world and headquarters of the worldwide Catholic Church under the governance of the Holy See.
• Florence­ was the first city in Europe to have fully paved streets.
• Venice has 471 bridges
• The drinking water in Italy is known for its exceptional quality. In fact, it ofte­n rivals bottled water and is subject to rigorous quality control measures.
• Cinecittà Studios in Rome­ is Europe’s large­st film studio.
• Italy is responsible­ for approximately 20% of global olive oil production.
• Italy is respected worldwide as a leading fashion hub, with influential citie­s like Milan at the­ forefront of the industry. This stylish country gave us prestigious brands such as Gucci, Prada, and Ve­rsace.
• It is a popular tradition to throw a coin over your shoulde­r into the famous Trevi Fountain in Rome.
• Religion plays a promine­nt role in Italian culture, with the majestic Vatican City serving as the­ spiritual and administrative centre of the­ Roman Catholic Church. The majority of Italians identify as Catholics, and when visiting Italy, you will encounter numerous chape­ls, and churches.
• Italy is home to not only one­, but two independent countrie­s: Vatican City and San Marino.
• The University of Bologna holds the­ title as the oldest unive­rsity still in operation today. Established in 1088.
• Venice city is sinking. With se­a levels rising and the natural subsidence of land, concerns have been raise­d about the future of this UNESCO heritage­ site.
• A large portion of Venice is built upon foundations made entirely of alder wood piling (tree trunks) driven onto the lagoon around 421 AD. Alder wood has a unique property: while it decays quickly in air, it becomes incredibly durable when submerged in water. This made it ideal for constructing the foundations in the watery environment of the Venetian lagoon.
• Italian culture is rich with supe­rstitions, such as avoiding encounters with black cats to touching iron for good luck. It’s even considered unlucky to place a hat on a bed and some hotels don’t have a 17th floor as the number is considered unlucky.
• Naples, often known as the­ birthplace of pizza, introduced this culinary delight to the­ world in the 1800s.
• Commonly known around the world as spaghetti Bolognese, in its authentic form ‘Ragu alla Bolognese’ is recognised as the national dish of Italy.
• Italy is well known for its automotive industry. Brands like Fiat, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati produce some of the world’s most iconic and sought-after high-performance cars.
• Italy was the first country to build motorways, the autostrade, reserved for fast traffic and motor vehicles.
• Rome is the third most visited city in Europe, and 12th in the world. Venice and Florence are among the world’s top 100 destinations.
• Italy has the most World Heritage Sites of any country of which 53 are cultural and 6 natural.
• Italy is the world’s largest producer of wine, as well as the country with the widest variety of indigenous grapevine varieties in the world.
• Roman hours were counted ordinally from dawn to dawn. Thus, if sunrise was at 6 am, then 6 to 7 am was called the ‘first hour’. Midday was called meridies, and it is from this word that the terms am (ante meridiem and pm (post meridiem) stem.
• If you experience an emergency, dial 113 for assistance.
• Time zone in Italy (GMT+1)
• Country Code: +39
• Currency: € (Euro)

The European country of Italy has been inhabited by humans since the Palaeolithic.

• Ancient Rome, a settlement on the River Tiber in central Italy, founded in 753 BC, was ruled for 244 years by a monarchical system.
• In the wake of Julius Caesar’s assassination in 44 BC, Rome grew into a massive empire stretching from Britain to the borders of Persia, engulfing the whole Mediterranean basin, in which Greek, Roman, and other cultures merged into a powerful civilisation. The long reign of the first emperor, Augustus, began an age of peace and prosperity.

While staying in Rome I was in hotel Rome Kings Relais just around the corner from the Trevi Fountain.

• Airbnb, available everywhere in Italy. Private rooms €60-80 per night, apartments  €80-115 per night.
• Hostel, €32-45 per night (€25-35 during the summer). Private rooms €92-170 per night.
• B&B & Guest Houses, €33-70 per night.
• Hotels, €90-140 per night (€10-20 less per night in the off-season). These range from simple two-star to lavish five-star and all-inclusive resorts.

Tip: Stay outside city centres. If you are open to staying on the outskirts, you can save a lot of money on accommodation. Food outside of the city is much cheaper as well, and it’s usually easy to take the train for your sightseeing.

The top notable events, festivals and experiences in Italy

• Carnevale di Venezia (Venice transforms into an even more magical place during the mid-winter carnival celebrations.)
• Carnevale Di Viareggio (Viareggio. It is one the most popular carnivals in Europe. The tradition of the carnival goes all the way back to 1873)
• Palio di Siena (Siena is transformed into a horse racetrack)
• Alba International White Truffle Fair, (Indulge in truffle eating)
• Christmas World (Nov-Jan)
• Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience (Milan)

Italian is a Mediterranean cuisine and the key characteristics are its simplicity, with many dishes made up of few ingredients. Therefore Italian cooks often rely on the quality of the ingredients, rather than the complexity of preparation. Rich in pasta, fish, fruits, and vegetables. Cheese, cold cuts, and wine are central to Italian cuisine, along with pizza and coffee (especially espresso) form part of Italian gastronomic culture.

• Commonly known around the world as spaghetti Bolognese, in its authentic form ‘Ragu alla Bolognese’ is recognised as the national dish of Italy.
• A typical Italian breakfast usually consists of a sweet pastry like a croissant (called “cornetto” in Italian), often accompanied by a cappuccino, with other popular options including yogurt, fruit, biscotti, and sometimes a slice of “fette biscottate” (a type of rusk) with jam or hazelnut spread; the focus is generally on light, sweet foods and strong coffee.
• Bistecca alla Fiorentina is a Florentine style steak.
• Amaretti are an Italian type of macaron. Most of them are almond-flavoured, but originating from Saronno is also a more bitter-sweet flavoured amaretti which is made of apricot kernels.
• Buffalo mozzarella is made of a water buffalo’s milk. It is considered to be the most authentic type of mozzarella especially if it was made in Campania.
• Farinata is an Italian type of a thin pancake.
• Gelato is a frozen dessert created by an Italian chef in the late 17^th century. Similar to ice cream, the difference is gelato contains less milkfat and has a texture that is denser and creamier.
• Mortadella originating from Bologna, is a large sausage made of pork usually served in thin cuts, either as antipasto or in a sandwich.
• Polpette (Meatballs)

Tip: Italy is the world’s largest producer of wine, as well as the country with the widest variety of indigenous grapevine varieties in the world.

Tip: Italians don’t actually combine spaghetti and meatballs as a dish.

Tip:  If many dishes have an asterisk after them, hightail it out of there. Asterisks in Italy mean that one or more items are frozen.

Major cities in Italy have great public transportation systems that often include both metros and buses. Instead of paying for single rides, many of the systems have one, two, or three-day passes that let you let you use the transportation as much as you want. Some places even a seven-day pass. This can save a lot over paying for each ride on its own or taking taxis.

• Bus, Taking the bus in town inside big cities instead of taking taxis everywhere or renting a car will save you lots of money. The bus is slower than the train but cheaper. Bus tickets are sold at newsagents and tobacconists (stores marked with a T sign) and usually cost less than €2 (US$2). Buying tickets directly from the driver is possible, but you’ll incur a surcharge.
• Car, If you rent a car, make sure you drive carefully and also have extra insurance. The roads in much of the country are very winding and narrow and drivers are on the aggressive side. Having a car is handy in the mountains, on the islands and in the rural countryside, where running buses are few and far between.
• Taxi, If you take a taxi somewhere, make sure the driver uses the meter so you don’t get ripped off. Taxi drivers in major tourist destinations do not have a great reputation.
• Train, The best way to get around Italy is via their extensive train network. Prices are affordable too, with most trips costing just 10-30 EUR.

Tip: It’s obligatory to wear seat belts (front and rear), to drive with your headlights on outside built-up areas, and to carry a warning triangle and fluorescent safety vest in case of breakdown. Wearing a helmet is compulsory on all two-wheeled vehicles.

Tip: When driving in historic centres you should also keep an eye out for the ZTL signs. A zona a traffico limitato is an area where non-residents are not allowed to enter with a car. Such areas are common, although typically only active during the day. Entering a ZTL translates into a guaranteed fine.

Tip: Italy is not an easy country for travellers with disabilities. Cobblestone streets and pavements blocked by parked cars and scooters make getting around difficult for wheelchair users. 

Tip: Ask for a fixed price before taking a taxi, so you don’t get scammed.

There’s no wrong time to visit Italy. Historically, the peak season is July and August, but cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice are busy pretty much year-round. I’m flying into Rome from Bristol with Easy jet which will take around 2 hours 30 minutes.

• Ferry, companies operate between Italy and Greece all year round.
• Train, Leave London on an evening Eurostar and stay overnight in Paris. Next day, take a high-speed Lyria TGV to Geneva, then a EuroCity train through the Swiss Alps to Milan. Change in Milan for an Italian high-speed train to Verona, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Rome or Naples.
• Fly, the fastest and easiest way to get there. There are nine major airports scattered around the country with six in the North.

Tip:

Italy’s official language is Italian.

• Hi – Ciao
• Hello – Salve!
• Goodbye – Arrivederci
• Please – Per favore
• Thank you – Grazie
• Good day – Buongiorno
• You’re welcome – Prego
• Excuse Me – Scusi” (formal) or “Scusa” (informal)
• Water – Acqua
• Beer – Birra
• Milk – Latte
• Suger – Zucchero
• What’s your name? – Come si chiama?
• My name is – Mi chiamo
• I don’t understand – Non capisco
• I’m fine, thanks – Bene, grazie.
• Nice to meet you – Piacere
• How are you? – Come sta?
• Vorrei una birra, per favore – I would like a beer please
• Uno, Due, Tre, Quattro, Cinque, Sei, Sette, Otto, Nove, Dieci – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Tip: 

Italy’s electrical system uses 230V at 50Hz, and has types C, F, and L plugs

• While tipping in Italy is not mandatory and not expected like in some other countries, it is considered polite to leave a small tip for good service in restaurants, bars, and hotels, especially in tourist areas, usually around 10% of the bill; however, you can simply round up the check to leave a small gratuity if you wish to tip.
• If many dishes have an asterisk after them, hightail it out of there. Asterisks in Italy mean that one or more items are frozen.
• Be wary of people selling discounted tickets on the street. Chances are they are fake so always buy tickets from reputable sellers only.
• If you take a taxi somewhere, make sure the driver uses the meter so you don’t get ripped off.
• It’s obligatory to wear seat belts (front and rear), to drive with your headlights on outside built-up areas, and to carry a warning triangle and fluorescent safety vest in case of breakdown. Wearing a helmet is compulsory on all two-wheeled vehicles.
• When driving in historic centres you should also keep an eye out for the ZTL signs. A zona a traffico limitato is an area where non-residents are not allowed to enter with a car. Such areas are common, although typically only active during the day. Entering a ZTL translates into a guaranteed fine.
• Italy is not an easy country for travellers with disabilities. Cobblestone streets and pavements blocked by parked cars and scooters make getting around difficult for wheelchair users.
• If you plan on driving remember to download offline maps so you can still get around without signal.
• If you experience an emergency dial 113 for assistance.