Factsheet

Facts: [ General Information ] [ Communications ] [ Public Holidays ] [ Duty Free ] [ Currency ]

General Information

Location:

Western Europe.

Area:

301,338 sq km (116,346 sq miles).

Population:

58.9 million (UN estimate 2007).

Population Density:

195.4 per sq km.

Capital:

Rome.

Population: 2.6 million (2005).

Government:

Kingdom of Italy declared in 1861. Republic since 1946.

Geography:

Italy is situated in Europe and attached in the north to the European mainland. To the north, the Alps separate Italy from France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia.

Northern Italy: The Alpine regions, the Po Plain and the Dolomites. Piedmont and Val d’Aosta contain some of the highest mountains in Europe and are good areas for winter sports. Rivers flow down from the mountains passing through the beautiful Italian Lake District (Maggiore, Como, Garda) to the fertile Po Basin, which extends as far south as the bare slopes of the Appennines, and has long been one of Italy’s most prosperous regions.

Central Italy: The northern part of the Italian peninsula. Tuscany (Toscana) has a diverse landscape with snow-capped mountains, lush countryside, hills and a long sandy coastline. To the east is Umbria, known as the ‘green heart of Italy’; hilly with broad plains, olive groves and pines, and Le Marche - a region of gentle mountains, rivers and small fertile plains. Further south lies Rome, Italy’s capital city. Within its precincts is the Vatican City.

Southern Italy: The south is wilder than the north, with mile upon mile of olive trees, cool forests and rolling hills. Campania consists of flat coastal plains and low mountains, stretching along a rocky coast to the Calabrian border. The islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida in the Tyrrhenian Sea are also part of Campania. Puglia, the ‘heel of the boot’, is a landscape of volcanic hills and isolated marshes. Calabria, the ‘toe’, is wild, heavily forested and thinly populated.

The Islands: Sicily (Sicilia), visible across a 3km (2-mile) strait from mainland Italy, is famed for its active volcano Mount Etna and lava fields. Sardinia (Sardegna) has a mountainous landscape, fine sandy beaches and rocky offshore islands.

Language:

Italian is the official language. Dialects are spoken in different regions. German is spoken in the South Tyrol region (bordering Austria). French is spoken in all the border areas from the Riviera to the area north of Milan (border with France and Switzerland). English, French and German are also spoken in the biggest cities and in tourism and business circles.

Religion:

87.8% Roman Catholic with Muslim and Protestant minorities.

Time:

GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Social Conventions:

The social structure is heavily influenced by the Roman Catholic church and, generally speaking, family ties are stronger than in most other countries in Western Europe. Normal social courtesies should be observed. Dress is casual but smart in most places, and beachwear should be confined to the beach. Conservative clothes are expected when visiting religious buildings and smaller, traditional communities. Formal wear is usually indicated on invitations. Smoking is prohibited in public buildings, transport and cinemas.

Electricity:

230 volts AC, 50Hz.

Head of Government:

Prime Minister Romano Prodi (outgoing).

Head of State:

President Giorgio Napolitano since 2006.

Recent History:

Romano Prodi and his government resigned in January 2008 after losing a confidence vote in the Senate. Elections in April 2008 were won by media magnate Silvio Berlusconi, securing a third term as premier after two years in opposition.

In the April 2006 general elections, Romano Prodi, former prime minister and leader of the centre-left coalition, won a narrow victory in both the lower house and the Senate. Berlusconi disputed the result and initially refused to concede, despite court rulings confirming Prodi’s majority in both houses.

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Communications

Telephone:

Country code: 39 (followed by 6 for Rome, 2 for Milan, 11 for Turin, 81 for Naples, 41 for Venice and 55 for Florence). Telephone kiosks only accept phonecards, which can be purchased at post offices, tobacconists and some newsagents.

Mobile Telephone:

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

Internet:

Public access is available in Internet Corner Kiosks operated by Telecom Italia. Kiosks have been installed at airports, major hotels and in other public places. There are also Internet cafes in all main towns.

Media:

Italy’s newspapers are strongly regionalised, with many papers produced in Milan. The press is free but ties with politics can be strong - notably in broadcast media. RAI, the public broadcaster, has been subject to political influence and the vast Mediaset media empire is controlled by former premier Silvio Berlusconi.

Post:

The Italian postal system tends to be subject to delays. Letters between Italy and other European countries usually take seven to 10 days to arrive. Stamps are sold in post offices and tobacconists.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1345, Sat 0815-1345. Central offices are open until 1700 during the week.

Press:

Among the most important Italian dailies are Corriere della Sera (Milan), Il Messaggero (Rome), La Repubblica (Rome) and La Stampa (Turin).
Il Sole 24 Ore is the daily financial publication.
The Informer (website: www.informer.it) is a useful English-language online guide for expatriates living in Italy.

The main towns publish a weekly booklet with information on entertainment and sports events.

There are several English-language publications: monthly magazines Enigma Roma (Rome), Grapevine (on the Lucca area) and Hello Milano (Milan), as well as Wanted In Rome, published twice-monthly.

Radio:

RAI is the public broadcaster. Its stations include Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3 and GR Parlamento.

Commercial stations include Radio 24, Radio 101 and Radio Italia.

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Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
6 Jan Epiphany.
24 Mar Easter Monday.
25 Apr Liberation Day.
1 May Labour Day.
2 Jun Anniversary of the Republic.
15 Aug Assumption.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec St Stephen’s Day.

2009
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
6 Jan Epiphany.
13 Apr Easter Monday.
25 Apr Liberation Day.
1 May Labour Day.
2 Jun Anniversary of the Republic.
15 Aug Assumption.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec St Stephen’s Day.

Note:

In addition, local feast days are held in honour of town patron saints, generally without closure of shops and offices. These include:

Turin/Genoa/Florence: 24 Jun (St John the Baptist).
Milan: 7 Dec (St Ambrose).
Siena: 2 Jul and 16 Aug, Palio horserace.
Venice: 25 Apr (St Mark).
Bologna: 4 Oct (St Petronius).
Naples: 19 Sep (St Gennaro).
Bari: 6 Dec (St Nichola).
Palermo: 15 Jul (St Rosalia).
Rome: 29 Jun (St Peter).
Trieste: 3 Nov (St Giusto).

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Duty Free

Overview:

The communes of Livigno and Campione d’Italia are treated as being outside of the EU for the duty-free section. The following goods may be imported into Italy from outside the EU by persons over 17 years of age without incurring customs duty:

200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250g of tobacco.

2l of wine and 1l of spirits (over 22%) or 2l of fortified or sparkling wine.

50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette.

500g of coffee or 200g of coffee extract (if over 15 years of age).

100g of tea or 40g of tea extract.

Gifts not exceeding €90 (if entering from an EU country), €175 (if entering from a non-EU country).

Abolition of duty-free goods within the EU
On 30 June 1999, the sale of duty-free alcohol and tobacco at airports and at sea was abolished in all of the original 15 EU member states. Of the 10 new member states that joined the EU on 1 May 2004 and the two states that joined on 1 January 2007, these rules already apply to Cyprus and Malta. There are transitional rules in place for visitors returning to one of the original 15 EU countries from one of the other new EU countries. But for the original 15, plus Cyprus and Malta, there are no limits imposed on importing tobacco and alcohol products from one EU country to another. Travellers should note that they may be required to prove at customs that the goods purchased are for personal use only. Member states may follow the EU’s guide levels of: 10l of spirits; 20l of fortified wine; 90l of wine; 110l of beer; 800 cigarettes; 400 cigarillos; 200 cigars and 1kg of tobacco.

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Currency

Currency:

Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Currency Exchange:

Traveller's cheques, cheques and foreign money can be changed at banks, railway stations and airports and very often at major hotels (generally at a less convenient rate). Many UK banks offer differing exchange rates depending on the denominations of currency being bought or sold. Check with banks for details and current rates.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs:

Diners Club, MasterCard, American Express and Visa are widely accepted.

Traveller's Cheques:

Traveller's cheques are widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.

Currency Restrictions:

Restrictions apply.

Banking Hours:

These vary from city to city but, in general, Mon-Fri 0830-1330 and 1500-1600.

Exchange Rate Indicators: