Italy - a classic tourist destination, extremely popular around the world. This is such a diverse country, that there is a chance of rest for everyone: beautiful landscapes, vast beaches, high mountains, ancient cities with their unique monuments and art treasures, favorable climate and magnificent nature annually attract millions of visitors to the country. In Italy there are two states - the Vatican and San Marino.
Geography
 
For Italy is characterized by three main types of terrain. In the north - Alpine ranges with peaks towering sometimes up to 4000 m, and the foothills, extending up to the valley of the Po (its length is more than 600 km.). Replace the plain south of the Apennines, which run up to the Calabria and Italy divided into East and West. The ridges of the Apennines have an average height of 2,000 meters West of Italy washes Tyrrhenian Sea, East - Adriatic and Ionian. In the foothills of the Alps are the famous Italian lake - Lake Maggiore, Garda and Como. Italy belong to the island of Sicily, Sardinia and many smaller ones. In the north-west of the state borders with France, in the north - with Switzerland and Austria, and in the north-east - with Slovenia.
Climate

The climate of Italy is very diverse because the peninsula is mountainous and is given away to the Mediterranean. Italy can be divided into three climatic zones: In the mountainous regions (Alps and Apennines) winter being long and cold, summers are short and relatively cool. From July to September is usually warm, although the September rains are possible. Snowfall starting in November.
In Northern Italy continental climate is moderately warm. Cool winters and hot summers.
In the rest of Italy, the winters are mild, generous to rainfall, summer heat, rain, softened light sea breeze (most notably its impact on the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas). In the south, on the mainland and on the islands, especially in Sicily, has a subtropical climate.
Capital

Rome.
Population

Italy's population of about 58 million people. The most densely populated cities: Rome (3 million inhabitants), Milan (1.5 million), Naples (1.2 million), Turin (about 1 million).
Language

Official language - Italian, subdivided into three dialects - northern, central and southern. English and French at the tourist center is almost universally understood. English is understood in the foothills of the Alps and in the resort areas of the north Adriatic. Sardinian population speaks Sardinian dialect, which is similar to Catalan.
Currency

From 1 January 2002 the monetary unit of Italy, EU Member States, is the Euro (EURO), completely replace the Italian lira.
Time zone
 
The difference with Moscow time: +1 hour.
Religion

Catholicism (85%).
Political Structure

A parliamentary republic with a presidential form of government. Legislative - bicameral parliament (Chamber of Deputies and Senate).
Customs regulations

Restrictions on the import of domestic and foreign currency available. You can freely take up to 10 thousand euros or the equivalent in other currencies. Removal of large amounts should be allowed by the customs authorities.

From outside the EU for one person can bring: no more than 200 cigarettes (or 100 small cigars or 50 cigars, or 250 grams. Tobacco) to 2 liters. of wine or 1 liter. alcohol strength of over 22% (or 2 liters. beverage strength to 22%, or 2 liters. sparkling wine) and 250 ml. toilet water and 50 ml. spirits. Also allowed to import jewelry, 2 cameras, one video camera, one radio, one tape recorder, one bicycle, one boat, two pairs of skis, 2 tennis rackets, a kayak or surfboard, etc.

The importation of goods from EU countries can import up to 800 cigarettes, 400 small cigars, 200 "standard" cigars, 1 kg. tobacco, 10 liters. alcohol strength exceeding 22%, up to 20 liters. beverage strength to 22%, up to 60 liters. sparkling wine, up to 90 l. table wine and 110 liters. beer.

For the import of hunting weapons permit is required Italian consular office, which must endorse upon entry.
 
The transit of the historic property, and without the accompanying documents and permits or sales receipt and approval of the Ministry of Fine Arts in Italy.
Transport. Car

Italy has a well developed network of intercity transportation. To travel within the country comfortable trains and buses. And the rail network is more dense in the north and to the south is well developed road transport. Train tickets at the entrance to the platform must validate. Travel with the ticket 2nd class on the train is one of the first to pay a fine. Seats are paid in addition, in a separate office. When entering the bus tickets also need to validate. All bus stops - on demand. Metro line work in Rome and Milan. Taxis can be booked by calling the hotel, bar, restaurant, or pay phone, but in this case will have to pay and the time it spends on the taxi fare to the place of the call.

Take the car to lease only if you have a driver's license of international standard. Most rental companies also require a credit card, although here and there will be small enough to deposit cash. Some paragraphs are not recognized rental Ukrainian driver's license. Require confirmation, which can be obtained either at the embassy or at the club offices motorists Italy.

The speed limit on highways - 130 km / h on roads outside cities 110 km / h (unless otherwise specified limit). Penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol is very high, perhaps even a sentence of imprisonment. Many gas stations do not work after 19.00, 2-3 hours in the middle of the day, and closed on Sundays.
Shops

Shops are usually open from 8.00 or 9.00 to 20.00. Lunch breaks are long enough, usually from 13.00 to 15.00 hours in the summer and 16:00. On Mondays and Sundays all shops are closed, some work on Saturdays just before lunch. Some central stores are open around the clock.

Prices in Italy, the highest among the countries of southern Europe.
  
VAT refund is available when buying in a store in excess of 155 euros. When you purchase to show your passport and buy paint for individual items in the bill, with a price and the amount of the tax. Receipts are attached to the goods at customs upon departure, and then stamped receipt should be sent by mail to the store to get a check in the amount of the tax. A number of shops participating in a tax ("tax-free") system sales. In these stores need to get a special check that can be cashed in a special window at the airport or border crossing.
Link

To call from Italy to Kiev, you can type 44 00 380, and then the local number. After 20:30 tariffs are much lower.
Electricity

220V, 50 Hz. European type socket.
Tip

Despite the ubiquity of complex pricing, including payment for all services, tipping in a 10% -15% of the total order. Sometimes the menu stated that fee is included in the price. When serving at the bar tip is not accepted. If even for a moment you sit down at a table bar, you will need to pay an additional "restaurant tax", which can double the cost of the order. In museums, if employees show or explain something, they decided to give a tip.
Water

In Italy, not to drink tap water from the tap, you should buy drinking water in plastic bottles.
Weekends and holidays

January 1 - New Year
January 6 - Epiphany
April-May - Easter Monday (the day after Easter) and Easter Sunday
April 25 - Day of Liberation from Fascism
May 1 - Labor Day
The first Sunday in June - Republic Day
August 15 - Assumption ("ferragosto")
November 1 - All Saints Day, the day of the ancestors
November 4 - Day of National Unity (working day)
December 8 - Immaculate Conception
25 - Christmas
December 26 - St. Stephen's Day

At Christmas and New Year, and in July and August, during the "ferragosto," many companies stop working and closed for the holidays. Some businesses close for two weeks from Christmas to Epiphany and almost all - in the middle two weeks of August.
Main Sightseeings
 
Rome has nearly three-thousand-year history, and for that rightly bears the name of the Eternal City. Glory of Rome is priceless work of art and culture. Among them - the Colosseum, the Forum, the Arch of Constantine, the architecture of the embankment of the Tiber River, the area of Venice, Spain, etc.

While in Rome, hardly anyone will refuse from visiting the Vatican - the smallest but richest country in the world. The main attraction of the Vatican - ST. Peter - the largest and most important Roman Catholic cathedral in the world.

Florence - the capital of Tuscany - is not inferior to Rome in wealth and grandeur of its monuments. Here were born, lived and created such ingenious Florentines like Dante Alighieri (his house, by the way, has survived to the present day), Michelangelo Buonarroti, Botticelli, Raphael. It starred the magnificent Medici. The land is located on the Tuscan Pisa with its area of miracles, Siena, Lucca.

Venice - the most romantic city in the world. It is built on a hundred islands connected by 400 bridges.

Milan are the glory Duomskogo spiers of the cathedral, a masterpiece of European Gothic, and the Opera Theatre "La Scala".

The pearl of the south of Italy is Naples. It incorporates a variety of languages and cultures and created his own unique style of Naples. Are nearby Pompeii - ancient city, which in '79 was filled with lava erupting Vesuvius.

Adriatic - is endless sandy beaches, gently declining bottom, many hotels with reasonable prices - all this makes the resort ideal for children's activities. The main resort towns - Rimini, Pesaro, San Benedetto del Tronto. Somewhat to the south is an amazing place - Abruzzo, one of the most beautiful parts of Italy. Apart is the Lido di Jesolo - Venetian Riviera. The resort is located in the north-east of Italy, at 35 km. from Venice. Sandy beaches, well-developed leisure, amusement park and water park.

Tyrrhenian coast - it's beautiful sandy beaches, steep cliffs, crystal clear emerald sea, Mount Circeo with karst caves. The surrounding towns you can see many historical monuments. The main resorts - Riviera Lazio, Maratea, Baia Domitia, Sorrento.

One of the main attractions of the west coast of Liguria, called the Riviera of Flowers, is the town of San Remo, famous for its music festival. Its casino city also attracts gamblers. Thanks to the Schengen visa, you can easily go to Cannes, Nice and Monaco. The eastern part of Liguria, called Levante Riviera, famous for its picturesque bays and wooded mountains, approaching close to the sea. Hence it is convenient to get to Genoa, Milan, Florence and Pisa.

The island of Sicily is famous for the longest swimming season in the country, beautiful scenery, the largest active volcano in Europe, the abundance of history and culture, and of course, the magnificent resorts.

Sardinia - a tropical island in the middle of Europe. Beautiful sandy beaches, clear water and beautiful nature.

Ischia - a unique combination of sea vacation and thermal hydrotherapy. Due to its volcanic island rich in thermal springs. To Naples can be reached by high-speed ferry in 30 minutes.

But in Italy you can not just rest on the sea - beautiful ski resorts annually attract millions of tourists. The most famous venues - Cortina d'Ampezzo, Kronplatz, Madonna di Campiglio, Val di Fassa, Val Gardena, Aosta, Pila, Cervinia, Gressoney, Courmayeur, La Thuile, Sestriere, Livigno, Bormio and Santa Caterina .

Dear customers! Remember that a well-prepared documents - are also key to a successful trip! In this regard, we offer you to read the rules of registration and the list of documents required to open a tourist visa to Italy.