Do you plan to travel to Italy, the home of the Roman Empire, pasta, pizza, and countless spectacular sights and cities? The highlights of this Mediterranean country include the capital Rome, Florence, Venice, Sicily and much more. Here are some useful details for ahead of your trip:
  • Italy is part of Europe’s Schengen Zone of 26 countries, which means that, once you enter the Schengen Area, you can visit any other member state. Italy is also part of the Eurozone, which means that this country’s currency is the euro.
  • Italy’s time zone is GMT+1 (Central European Standard Time). This is just an hour ahead of London in the UK (GMT), 6 hours ahead of Washington DC in the USA (GMT-5) and 10 hours behind Australia’s Canberra (GMT+11).
  • Italy enjoys a Mediterranean climate, and it’s typically cooler in the north and balmier in the southern islands. The hottest time of year to visit is in July, with average temperatures of 30°C (86°F), while in January the thermometer falls to a median 6°C (41°F).
  • As a major European country, Italy has around 30 international airports. Typically, you’ll be able to find direct flights to the city you plan to visit. The biggest airport by passenger volume is Rome Fiumicino Airport (3-letter code: FCO).
  • Italy boasts 55 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the most of any country in the world. Wherever you travel here, you’re guaranteed to come across genuine wonders, from the Amalfi Coast, to Urbino’s old city, to the Medici Villas of Tuscany.
  • The official language of Italy is, straightforwardly enough, Italian, although there many varied regional dialects too. Fortunately for tourists, though, English is widely spoken. If you wish to practice your Italian, key words include ‘ciao’ (‘hello), ‘ciao’ (also ‘goodbye!’) and ‘grazie’ (‘thank you’).
Find out more about the home of la dolce vita (the sweet life) in our articles below!