• Spanning just 44 hectares, the Vatican City is around one-eighth the size of New York’s Central Park making it the smallest country in the world and the headquarters of the worldwide Catholic Church under the governance of the Holy See.
• The Vatican prints its own stamps, issues its own passports, and licenses its own license plates.
• With about 1,000 citizens, Vatican City has the smallest population of any country in the world.
• 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.
• Vatican City is actually a monarchy. This means the Pope is not only the leader of hundreds of millions of Catholics around the world, but also the ruler of a country, some could say the King. As a result, the Pope’s home is fittingly called The Apostolic Palace.
• Construction of St. Peter’s Basilica took 120 years. Building began on April 18, 1506, and was completed on November 18, 1626.
• Founded in 1506 by Pope Julius II, the Swiss Guard has protected the Vatican and the Pope for over 500 years.
• The Vatican is the only country on earth to be entirely designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Italy is home to not only one­, but two independent countrie­s: Vatican City and San Marino.
• If you experience an emergency, dial 113 for assistance.
• Time zone in Italy (GMT+1)
• Country Code: +39
• Currency: € (Euro)

• Vatican City became an independent city on February 11, 1929, through the signing of the Lateran Treaty between the Holy See and Italy.
• In 64 AD, during Nero’s persecution of Christians, Saint Peter the Apostle was crucified upside down and buried in a nearby graveyard.

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

• Wednesday General Audiences: Held almost every Wednesday at 9:15 AM or 10:00 AM (local time) in St. Peter’s Square or the Paul VI Hall.
• Sunday Angelus: The Pope addresses the faithful and prays the Angelus from the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter’s Square at 12:00 PM every Sunday. Tickets are not required for this event.

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.

• Each region of Italy has its own traditional recipes, so the best thing to eat will entirely depend on where you’re going to be.
• 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.

To legally fly a drone in Italy you need to register as an operator with the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC), maintain a direct line of sight, and adhere to specific altitude and distance restrictions, including staying away from crowds and congested areas.

• If your drone weighs less than 250 grams and is equipped with any sensor (i.e. camera): no remote pilot certificate will be required for operations in the OPEN category as per EU reg. 2019/947,
• Registration on d-flight website will be required (in case you are at the same time pilot and operator) a liability insurance is required.
• Police checks are very frequent and the penalties are very severe in Italy you have to pay fines and it is possible that they will take your drone if you fly without permission.
• Unfortunately pretty much the entirety of Rome is a no fly zone.
• Italy drone laws.

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.

Tip: Don’t use your phone when the metro doors are open, They’ll grab it and run out just as the doors are closing.

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?
• Uno, Due, Tre, Quattro, Cinque, Sei, Sette, Otto, Nove, Dieci – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Tip: Vorrei una birra, per favore – I would like a beer please.

Tip: il conto per favore – The bill please.

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

• Book your tickets in advance or you’ll be queuing for some time.
• 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.
• Beware of Pick pockets. Don’t use your phone when the metro doors are open, They’ll grab it and run out just as the doors are closing.
• 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.