Car Hire in Italy
Italy
Italy is a country of contrasts and has so much to offer its visitors with its many historic cities; mountainous alpine regions; stylish fashion capitals; sun soaked beaches; spectacular lakes; lush rolling hills and volcanic islands. Italy is traditionally associated with romance, opera, and passionate cooking which you will find from Milan to Naples and almost everywhere in between.
Language
Italian is the official language. Dialects are spoken in different regions, including Sardinian, German, Ladin, French, Greek, Albanian, Catalan.
Currency
The Italian currency is the (â‚): 100cents. The most common paper currency in Italy comes in denominations of â‚500, â‚200, â‚50, â‚20, â‚10 and â‚5. Coins appear in denominations of â‚2 and â‚1. Coins also come in 50 cents, 20 cents, 10 cents, 5 cents, 2 cents and 1 cent
Weather
Summer is hot, particularly in the south. July, August and the first half of September are usually quite hot (high 90s F/34-37 C), humid and very crowded with tourists. Spring and autumn are mild with fine, sunny weather. Winter in the south is much drier and warmer than in northern and central areas. The winters in the north are chilly (50s F/10-15 C) in the day and much colder at night. Mountain regions are colder with heavy winter snowfalls.
Attractions
If you prefer to be away from the hustle and bustle you can explore the beautiful province of Tuscany, the spectacular lakes and Alps region or sun yourself down the Amalfi coast - within the cities though, there are many unmissable attractions.
Rome boasts The Colosseum, Pantheon, The Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps and of course the impressive Vatican with its incredible Sistine Chapel.
In renaissance Florence you can see the remarkable Duomo; the Palazzo Vecchio with a copy of Michelangelo's David and the Uffizi Gallery. The romantic canals and ornate bridges of Venice draw many visitors and for world class fashion, cuisine and opera a visit to Milan is a must.
Driving
- The Blood alcohol limit in Italy is 80 mg.
- On three-lane roads, the middle lane is reserved for overtaking.
- No full beam lights permitted in built-up areas.
- Half an hour after sunset until half an hour before sunrise, it is compulsory to use your vehicle lights.
Shopping
Florence, Milan and Rome are notorious as important fashion centers, but smaller towns also offer good possibilities for shopping. Special purchases include leather goods (in Florence and Milan), decorative paper (Florence and Venice), glass (Venice), truffles (Rome), antiques, clothing, wood carvings, embroidery, silver and gold jewellery, violins, objects of marble and alabaster, food products, and wine or liqueur. Custom-made suits can be excellent buys, and lots of people consider shoes the best thing to take home from a trip to Italy.
Prices are generally fixed and bargaining is not general practice, although a discount may be given on a large purchase. It is worthwhile to avoid hawkers or sellers on the beaches.
Shopping hours
Tues/Thurs-Sat 0900 to 1200, 1400 to 1600 and 1700 to 2000. Wed 0900 to 1200. Closed Sun-Mon.
Nightlife
In Italy you will find cinemas, cafés and restaurants; bars, discos and nightclubs. You will mostly find these in major towns and touris't resorts. The restaurants and coffee shops through all Italy will invariably have tables in the outside, a way to enjoy the colourful street theatre and the wonderful Italian weather. For enjoying an evening watching a film at a cinema in English, try the Pasquine Cinema, Vicolo della Paglia, Santa Maria in Trastevere. Italy’s passion for Opera is expressed through numerous open-air concerts organized by the Opera House.
Food and Drink
Italians are quick to tell you there's no such thing as Italian food. Rather, each city or region has its own distinct cuisine. Italy has over 20 major wine regions, from Valle d'Aosta on the French border to Sicily and Sardinia in the south.Far too many to list, some traditional Italian dishes would include: Minestrone - thick soup with chopped vegetables; Cannelloni - pasta stuffed with meat, calves' brains, spinach, egg and cheese; Gnocchi alla Romana - semolina dumplings; Risotto; and of course Pizza. For dessert Zabaglione - hot dessert with beaten egg and Marsala wine; Panettone - Christmas cake with sultanas and candied fruit all served of course with Italian wine, Frascati, Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Verdicchio.
Table service is most common in restaurants and bars. There are no licensing laws.
Tourist Information
Official Italian Tourism Website
www.enit.it
Or Italian tourist board in London:
Tel: 020 7408 1254
Fax: 020 7399 3567
Email: italy@italiantouristboard.co.uk
Destinations
We provide car hire in the following cities within Italy:
A | ||
B | ||
C | ||
D | ||
F | ||
G | ||
I | ||
J | ||
L | ||
M | ||
N | ||
O | ||
P | ||
Q | ||
R | ||
S | ||
T | ||
U | ||
V | ||
Comments and Tips
- Have you visited this destination and have some of your own tips and advice to share with fellow travellers?
- Are there any must-see sights, unmissable restaurants and exciting nightlife spots that you would recommend?
- Do you have any warnings about travelling or driving in this area?
Why not share your travel comments and tips about this destination below.
Please note that any viewpoints published here as comments are user's views and not the views of Car Hire Centre (Fubra Ltd)
www.car-hire-centre.co.uk
The Car Hire Centre helps you save money and find the ideal car for your holiday. We compare the leading rental companies in one easy-to-use search. Visit www.car-hire-centre.co.uk to get the best possible deal.
Send us your feedback!
Did you find this guide useful? Have you now visited Italy?
Please come back to our website and post your comments. We will publish your comments on the website to help other people who visit Italy.
Save money on Airport Parking
We operate the UK's most popular Airport Parking website.
Visit the Airport-Parking-Shop.com to get a quote that will probably save you between £30-100.
Airport hotel booking
Book ahead to get a big discount on the the price of an airport hotel. Our website, Airport Hotel Shop, compares prices of hotels at airports across the UK.
No comments have been submitted.
Be the first person to add your comment and photograph to Italy by completing the form below.