 Italy Budget Travel Guide
Italy Budget Travel Guide: View of Naples from Castel Sant'Elmo
Author: Oliver-Bonjoch (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
Italy Budget Travel Guide is written to provide an introduction to this wonderful travel destination to intending visitors. I create it to assemble together useful travel information to go to Italy and to explore it using public transportation. Also listed here are the principal cities of Italy and its major tourist destinations.
Introduction to Italy
Italy is one of the biggest travel destinations in Europe. Millions of tourists and travellers visit its many cities, including the eternal Rome, the romantic Venice, stylish Milan, and more. The country is shaped like a high-heeled boot, and is one of the countries in the Mediterranean region.
Italy can boast for having more Unesco World Heritage Sites than any other country on earth. In addition, it is famous for its cuisine and its many ancient monuments.
Fast Facts about Italy
Official Name: Republic of Italy
Capital: Rome (5,208,000)
Population of Italy: 58,103,000
Languages: Italian
Currency: Euro
Religions: Roman Catholic
Size: 301,230 sq km (116,304 sq miles)
Continent: Europe
Le Torri del Vaiolet, Dolomites, Italian Alps
Author: Vincenzo Gianferrari Pini (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 Italy)
When to visit Italy
The climate of Italy differs from the extreme north to the extreme south. The wettest months are October to December, and the north receives the highest rainfall.
The following is the average maximum and minimum temperature of selected cities in Italy:
Bologna: Minimum (Jan) 2°C; Maximum (Jul, Aug) 23°C; Average 13°C
Florence: Minimum (Jan) 5°C; Maximum (Jul) 24°C; Average 14°C
Milan: Minimum (Jan) 1°C; Maximum (Jul) 22°C; Average 11°C
Pisa: Minimum (Jan) 6°C; Maximum (Aug) 23°C; Average 14°C
Rome: Minimum (Jan, Feb) 8°C; Maximum (Jul, Aug) 23°C; Average 15°C
Venice: Minimum (Jan) 2°C; Maximum (Jul, Aug) 22°C; Average 12°C
Sant'Andrea Basilica, Vercelli, Italy
Author: Goldmund100 (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
What to wear in Italy
Foreigners to Italy often comment that the Italians dress smartly, especially in cities such as Milan. For practical purposes, pack lightweight clothing for summer, unless you are going to the Italian Alps. The temperature guide above provides an indication of what you should be wearing to feel comfortable at different times of the year.
Budget Travel to Italy
The main entry point for tourists to Italy are Rome, Milan, Bologna, Naples, Pisa, Venice and Turin.
Arriving in Rome
Rome is served by two airports, the Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino International Airport (FCO) and the smaller Ciampino International Airport (CIA).Both airports are managed by ADR, or Aeroporti di Roma, http://www.adr.it/.
Getting out of Fiumicino Airport
by Leonardo Express Train: Ticket costs 11.00 euro. Train goes to Roma Termini station, and takes 30 minutes. Get your ticket stamped in the yellow validation machine before using it. The ticket expires 90 minutes after validation.
by Metropolitan Train: Ticket costs 5.50 euro, disembark at Tiburtina Station or Ostiense Station.
by Terravision buses, http://www.terravision.it/: Ticket costs 9.00 euro one way or 15.00 euro return. Journey takes 70 minutes to Roma Termini station.
by taxi. Fixed fare between Fiumicino Airport and city centre is 40.00 euro each way, fee for luggage is 1.00 euro each.
Getting out of Ciampino Airport
by Terravision buses, http://www.terravision.it/: Ticket costs 8.00 euro one way or 13.50 euro return. Journey takes app. 40 minutes to Roma Termini station.
by Sit Bus Shuttle, http://www.sitbusshuttle.it/: Ticket costs 6.00 euro one way or 10.00 euro return. Journey takes app. 40 minutes to Roma Termini station.
by Schiaffini buses, http://www.schiaffini.com/: Operates buses to the Anangina metro station, 1.20 euro one way, and to the Ciampino local train station, also 1.20 euro one way. Journey takes 45 minutes for each.
by taxi. Ignore touts (may turn out to be an expensive option) and go straight to taxi stand. Fare using the meter between Campino Airport and city centre is approximately 30.00 euro each way. Campino is outside Rome city limits. The fare for the first 10 minutes is in Zone 2. Once taxi enters the ring highway, make sure the driver changes the fare to Zone 1.
Italy Entry Requirements
The citizens of Australia, Britain, Canada, the United States and EU countries do not need a vis to visit Italy. For citizens of other countrys, please check with the Embassy of Italy in your country. Of the aforementioned countries, you need to have a passport with at least 3-month validity. Nationals of EU need only produce proof of EU citizenship in the form of a valid national identity card.
Neolithic remains at Mores, Sardinia, Italy
Author: zagordemores (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
Budget Travel within in Italy
Check Alitalia, www.alitalia.com for domestic flights within Italy. To explore Italy by train, check out the Trenitalia website, www.trenitalia.com. It is a great way to see Italy independently. Trenitalia has also made available the Trenitalia Pass, which allows you three to ten days of unlimited travel on the Italian rail network, over a span of two months. It also provides discounts on selected ferry services, hotels and other special offers. In addition, check out Rail Europe, www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail for other unlimited rail travel possibilities in Italy.
Termini Station, named after the ancient Roman baths, is the main railway station in Rome. It is one of the largest stations in Europe, with 29 platforms. However, it is not open 24 hours a day, and in fact, is locked up every night from 12:30 am to 4:30am. Trains arriving in Rome during those wee hours of the day uses the Tiburtina station, which is the second-largest in Rome, and one being developed to cater to high-speed trains.
Things to see and do in Italy
The following is a selection of things to see and do while in Italy.
In Rome, visit the Colosseum, the only sight in Italy recently voted as one of the new 7 Wonders of the World
Make a trip to the Vatican City and visit the St Peter's Basilica, and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel
Still in Rome, make a trip to the Trevi Fountain, make a wish and throw a coin into the waters - and you're guaranteed to return to Rome
In Pisa, visit the famous leaning tower and have a shot taken with it
Make a pilgrimage to the birthplace of pizza - Naples
Go for a shopping spree - or just window shopping - at the most stylish city in Italy, Milan.
Be absorbed by Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper at the Convent of Santa Maria della Grazie in Milan
For a bit of ancient history, make a trip to Pompeii and Herculaneum, to learn how these two towns were consumed by nature's rage in the form of a volcanic eruption
Explore the nooks and crannies of Venice, cross its many bridges, take gondola rides, visit St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace
Learn the art of Italian cuisine in Florence, at the Istituto per i'Arte e il Restauro
Money matters in Italy
Italy uses the Euro, €. Banknotes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 while coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. Banking hours differ between cities but are generally Mon-Fri, 8:30am to 1:30pm and 3:00pm to 4:00pm.
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Principal Cities of Italy
I list the cities in Italy by population, according to 2008 estimate, rounded to the nearest thousand.
- Rome (2,547,000)
Capital and biggest city of Italy.
- Milan (1,256,000)
Fashion capital of Italy.
- Naples (1,005,000)
Regional capital of Campania and one of the oldest cities in the world.
- Turin (865,000)
Regional capital of Piedmon, on the left bank of the Po River in northwestern Italy.
- Palermo (687,000)
Main city and capital of Sicily.
- Genoa (610,000)
Important port city in northern Italy.
- Bologna (371,000)
Regional capital of Emilia-Romagna, located in the Po Valley in Northern Italy.
- Florence (356,000)
Regional capital and most populous city of Tuscany, at one time one of the wealthiest cities of the medieval age.
- Bari (317,000)
The secone most important city in Southern Italy after Naples.
- Catania (313,000)
Second biggest city in Sicily.
- Venice (271,000)
Most famous tourist destination in Italy.
- Verona (253,000)
The second most populous municipality in the Veneto region in North-East Italy.
- Padua (210,000)
An industrial and communications hub in Veneto.
- Trieste (201,000)
Seaport in northeastern Italy, close to the border with Slovenia.
- Brescia (188,000)
Second biggest city in Lombardy, at the foot of the Alps.
- Ravenna (153,000)
Ancient city that was the capital of Western Roman Empire.
- Pisa (90,000)
Major tourist destination in Tuscany.
Major Tourist Destinations of Italy
I list these in alphabetical order.
- Amalfi Coast
Picturesque coastline.
- Calabria
Beautiful region with scenic landscape and ancient ruins.
- Capri
Island destination in the Bay of Naples.
- Cinque Terre
Five scenic villages on the coast of Liguria.
- Courmayeur
Famous Italian ski resort.
- Dolomites
Some of the most picturesque mountains in the Italian Alps
- Elba
Largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, and a major tourist destination.
- Lake Garda
Scenic lake with beautiful villages around its banks.
- Rimini
Beach resort town on the Italian coast.
- Sorrento
Port city for ferries to Capri
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy
- Rock Drawings in Valcamonica
- Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci
- Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura
- Historic Centre of Florence
- Piazza del Duomo, Pisa
- Venice and its Lagoon
- Historic Centre of San Gimignano
- The Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches of Matera
- City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto
- Crespi d'Adda
- Ferrara, City of the Renaissance, and its Po Delta
- Historic Centre of Naples
- Historic Centre of Siena
- Castel del Monte
- Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna
- Historic Centre of the City of Pienza
- The Trulli of Alberobello
- 18th-Century Royal Palace at Caserta with the Park, the Aqueduct of Vanvitelli, and the San Leucio Complex
- Archaeological Area of Agrigento
- Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata
- Botanical Garden (Orto Botanico), Padua
- Cathedral, Torre Civica and Piazza Grande, Modena
- Costiera Amalfitana
- Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto)
- Residences of the Royal House of Savoy
- Su Nuraxi di Barumini
- Villa Romana del Casale
- Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia
- Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park with the Archeological sites of Paestum and Velia, and the Certosa di Padula
- Historic Centre of Urbino
- Villa Adriana (Tivoli)
- Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and Other Franciscan Sites
- City of Verona
- Isole Eolie (Aeolian Islands)
- Villa d'Este, Tivoli
- Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (South-Eastern Sicily)
- Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy
- Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia
- Val d'Orcia
- Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica
- Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli
- Mantua and Sabbioneta
- Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes
- The Dolomites
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