Italy is so tender - like cooked macaroni - yards and yards of soft tenderness, ravelled round everything.
D.H. Lawrence, Sea and Sardinia
Italy holiday experts at WEXAS will tailor-make all aspects of your itinerary to create a Italy holiday, personal to you.
Italy has much to offer. Its major cities stand as open-air museums to the works of its finest sons, meaning you’ll need several holidays to explore its cultural heritage. A wander through St Mark’s Square and down to the Grand Canal in Venice; a tour of Renaissance Florence, the Duomo and its museums; a drink at Pisa’s Piazza del Duomo, home to the Leaning Tower; stepping back in time at the preserved Roman ruins of Pompeii; an evening of opera at Milan’s La Scala; all are ’must-do’ excursions. Of course, all roads lead to Rome, and there’s much to see here, including numerous Roman monuments like the Coloseum and Pantheon, and Baroque masterpieces such as the Trevi Fountain.
Outside Italy’s cities you’ll need to make time to explore the chic Alpine ski resorts such as Courmayer, the rolling hills of Tuscany and Umbria, the Cinque Terre and Amalfi along the Italian Riviera, and the designer-cool of Sicily. And if these attractions on their own are not enough to keep you coming back, then the superb food and wine will.
Contact an Italy expert to prepare a personal itinerary and a no-obligation quote.
Italy facts
Capital: Rome
Language: Italian.
People: Italian (94%).
Religion: Roman Catholic.
Size (sq km): 301,230.
Population: 58,147,733.
Population density/sq km: 193.
Etiquette
Slapping your raised arm on the inside of the elbow, and thumbing your nose, are very offensive gestures. The Roman Catholic Church is a major influence and family ties are stronger than in most other countries in Western Europe.
Shopping
Look for Carrara marble, Como silk, Faenza pottery. Florence, Milan, and Rome are fashion centres.
Food & drink
Pasta, pizza, risotto, minestre (soups) and meat dishes can be found all over Italy, but regions specialise in dishes based on local produce. Risottos are a northern dish, a classic example is risotto alla milanese (with saffron and white wine). Liguria is famous for pesto sauce made from local basil, Tuscany for bean soups and bistecca alla fiorentina (massive T-bone steaks grilled over charcoal), Umbria for truffles, Naples for pizzas. The many regional wines are of international quality.
International Airports
(And distances from nearest city) Rome, Fiumicino (FCO) 26 km, Bologna (BLQ) 6 km, Genoa (GOA) 6km, Milan, Malpensa (MXP) 45 km, Milan - Linate (LIN) 10 km, Naples (NAP) 7 km, Pisa (PSA) 2 km, Palermo (PMO) 30 km, Turin (TRN) 30 km, Venice (VCE) 10 km.
Internal travel
Italian railways and buses run a nationwide network at reasonable fares. Roads are often congested.
Red tape
Visas
None.
Vaccinations
Not currently required.
Driving requirements
UK driving licence or EU pink format licences are valid but green-coloured licences must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit. Visitors must carry their log-book in driver's name.
Reps in UK/US
UK: 14 Three Kings Yard, London, W1K 4EH, tel (020) 7312 2200, fax (020) 7312 2230, email ambasciata.londra@esteri.it. US: 3000 Whitehaven Street, N.W, Washington, D,C, 20008 tel (202) 612 4400, fax (202) 518 2154, email visti.washington@esteri.it.
UK/US reps in Italy
UK: Via XX Settembre 80a, 1-00187 Roma RM, tel (06) 4220 0001, fax (06) 4220 2347, email inforome@fco.gov.uk. US: via Vittorio Veneto 121 – 00187, Roma, tel (06) 4674 2606, fax (06) 4674 224 email uscitezenrome@state.gov.
Currency
Euro (€) = 100 cents.
Finance
Credit cards and traveller's cheques widely accepted.
Business hours
0900-1700 Mon-Friday.
Safety & life expectancy
Safety information
Safe
Life expectancy
Life expectancy: M 77.01, F83.07.
Useful websites for travel
www.embitaly.org.uk, www.enit.it, www.italyemb.org, www.italconsulnyc.org, www.italiantourism.com. www.usembassy.it, www.italyguide.com, www.initaly.com, www.romeguide.com, www.informer.it, www.virtualvenice.com.
Local media
No English-language daily papers. International press easily available.
Tourist boards
UK: 1 Princes Street, London W1B 2AY, tel (020) 7408 1254, fax (020) 7399 3567, email italy@italiantouristboard.co.uk. US: 630 fifth Avenue, Suite 1565, New York, NY 10111, tel (212) 245 5618, email enitny@italiantourism.com.
Below is a selection of some ideas for holidays to Italy. This is simply a taste of what we can offer. If you're interested in a specific Italy itinerary then please call one of our consultants on 0845 643 6563.
CastaDiva Resort is a truly luxurious retreat surrounded by an immaculate park with panoramic views of Lake Como. The original building dates back to the 18th century and combines a renaissance style with all the modern comforts demanded of it’s clientel...
La Maddelena Hotel & Yacht Club is located on La Maddalena island, which gives its name to a small archipelago of seven islands, located off the north-eastern coast of Sardinia. The entire area forms a National Park. Crystal clear waters, unique fauna &...
Located on the central Via Veneto, moments from Villa Borghese, Piazza di Spagna and Via Condotti, the 5-star Regina Hotel Baglioni is supremely well situated....
This 18th century residence, in the heart of historic Florence, provides the perfect balance between bygone, sumptuous luxury and modern comfort....
Take advantage of this exclusive offer onboard Oceania cruises new luxury cruise ship - Riviera... Price from £1999
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Take advantage of this offer onboard Oceania cruises new luxury cruise ship - Riviera... Price from £1199
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Voyages to Antiquity offers a unique opportunity to explore the origins and genius of western civilisation.... Price from £1895
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Take advantage of these 2012 special offers from 5-star Oceania Cruises... Price from £999
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Seabourns One Week Sale - Luxury cruises from £1399... Price from £1399
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All-inclusive cruise on Seabourn - 6 Star luxury cruise for £1,599... Price from £1599
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Free shore excursions and free flights on Regent Seven Seas Cruises in 2012... Price from £1912
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Take advantage of this offer onboard Oceania cruises new luxury cruise ship - Riviera... Price from £1199
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Our love affair with Italy shows no sign of abating and it's Tuscany that continues to be the biggest draw. Landscape, art and culture combine with culinary delights presenting the perfect package.... Please call 0845 643 6563 for price details.
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This tailor-made tour is one of sheer indulgence. Enjoy faultless service on the world's most famous train journey: London to Venice on the Orient Express. See the best of Italy's great cities of art: romantic Venice, imperial Rome and Renaissance Flor... Please call 0845 643 6563 for price details.
More information »Just a belated note to say a big “thank you” for all your help arranging our recent holiday to Sicily. We had a fabulous time and my girlfriend, Philippa, loved the choice of hotel and location that you recommended. Your assistance is very much appreciated and I shall be recommending WEXAS to various friends, having explained how helpful the organisation is and the expertise of its travel advisors.
Best regards,
Mark JenkinsDear Nicola [Michael],
This is a belated thank you to you and your colleagues for your help and advice in arranging my recent trip to Venice. All the arrangements came together smoothly and efficiently. The private water taxis were a boon and the four-night stay at the Danieli Hotel was superb value. A good travel tip is to purchase a multi-day travelcard for the Vaporetto [water bus]. We paid 30 euros for a three-day card that enabled us to travel as often as we liked and as far as the Vaporetto routes go. A single journey costs six euros per person so the travelcard is a real bargain
Derek Fullarton
Hot from June-September, especially in the south. Mountain regions are cool with heavy snow in winter.
GMT +1.
Euro (€) = 100 cents.
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