Tip: Our most loved Hotels for your relaxing Italy Holiday
Facts & Figures
Official name: Repubblica Italiana (Republic of Italy)
Location: Located in the far south of Europe between France, the Balkan Peninsula and North Africa on the Mediterranean Sea
Area: 301.277 km²
Capital: Rome
Population: 60 million
Religious and Ethnic Groups: 83% Roman Catholic, 16% non-religious / 94% Italian, 3% Sardinian
Language: Italian (official language), several minority languages
Geography: Hilly to mountainous, flat to lowland on the coast. Highest point: Mont Blanc de Courmayeur (4748m)
Time zone: Central European Time (UTC + 01:00)
Political and Economic: Parliamentary Democracy, GDP: 1.642 billion EURO (2015)
Currency: Euro (since 2002)
Information about petrol
Regular petrol - benzina normal; Super - super ; Diesel - carburante Diesel ; Unleaded - senza piombo
Arrival and departure
Vaccinations: In general, vaccinations for hepatitis A and B are recommended.Upon arrival: Travelling throughout the country with your own or rental car is easily possible on most of the roads. However, there are a variety of trains, planes, boats and ferries.
Climate and best time to travel
Italy's climate is Mediterranean in the south and center and is wintry in the north.Winter average temperature: North / South: 2 ° C / 12 ° C (lows of -5 ° C / 7 ° C in January)
Summer average temperature:
North / South: 21 ° C / 24 ° C (maximum temperatures around 30 ° C in June / July)
Water temperature: Maximum 26°C in August
The best time to travel to the north travel time for the north is from May to October. For the rest of the country, a trip in the spring, late summer or fall is recommended because the midsummer temperatures can be very hot.
The most beautiful holiday regions
Lake Garda/Trentino Alto Adige - Exciting regional culture on the sunny side of the AlpsTuscany - Excellent wine region and cultural cities
Liguria - Fishing villages of decadent splendor between mountains and sea
Public holidays and celebrations
New Year (January 1), Magi (January 6), Easter Sunday (the first Sunday after the Passover), Easter Monday, the Day of the Liberation of Italy (April 25), Labor Day (May 1), Republic Day Italy (June 2), Whit Monday (June 5 / May 21), Assumption Day (August 15), All Saints Day (1 November), Immaculate Conception (December 8), Christmas (December 25/26)DOs and DON'Ts
DOs
• Appreciate coffee. There are countless types of coffee and preparations in Italy. The Italians will thank you with a certain inquisitiveness.
• Pay attention to body language. The Italians like to use speech and a lot of gestures. Even without words they communicate; basic Italian knowledge is advantageous.
• Be courteous. Salute others with a handshake and do not address them by their first name if you do not know them personally.
DON‘Ts
• Don’t expect punctuality. The Italians usually appear about 15 minutes later than the expected time. Do not take this as disrespect, but as a an eccentricity.
• Don’t wear inappropriate clothing. Shorts, capris and off-the-shoulder clothing is usually not allowed at religious sites.
Holiday tips
Can you drink the tap water? Italian tap water is generally safe to drink.Do I need an adapter? In Italy there are two different sockets. Both can be used with the Euro plug C, otherwise an adapter is needed.
What about medical care? Italy is the country with the highest number of physicians per capita worldwide. The supply is considered good, but can often be hampered by language barriers.
Top tips and discoveries
Florence
Florence has a wealth of historic attractions and is considered the cradle of the Renaissance. During the reign of the Medici, the city developed into one of the largest commercial centres in Europe, whose splendor attracted numerous masters of art history -amongst others. Michelangelo’s and Da Vinci’s work can still be admired to this day in the Uffizi Gallery. The dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Vecchio Bridge are also impressive forms of Florence's past and worth a visit.
Apulia
In the heel of the Italian boot, Apulia has much to offer. Scenic landscapes in Apulia consist of everything from long sandy beaches to rocky coasts, from small, sleepy, fishing villages to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These include the Apulia "Trulli", which are small round houses with pointed roofs. The Castel del Monte, which was built by Emperor Frederick II., towers imposingly over the surrounding countryside. Legends surround the original use of the building, due to its special structure with many octagonal elements. Culinary Puglia is a haven for fish lovers who flock here for seafood.
Dolomites
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Italy, is a mountain range which peaks up to 3000 meters high and offers a very special sight. Mineral dolomite contained in the rock allows the mountain to show its true colors at dusk, which has become known as the "glow of the alps" (or "alpenglow" in German). During this time, the entire mountains are struck by a pink light. The Dolomites are worth a trip throughout the year. In the winter, the region turns into a ski paradise and in summer, the development of the terrain on many hiking and climbing trails is very versatile.
Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this information, SpaDreams cannot be held responsible for any outdated, incorrect or incomplete information.
