Compare Italy Holidays

Overview

Italy dips down out of Europe and into the Mediterranean like awomen's leg firmly planted in a sleek stiletto, so it's hardlysurprising that Italians are known for their impeccable style andfashionable dress sense. They're also known for once having anempire that stretched across the globe, and for having the mostspectacular churches, frescos, sculptures and Renaissance paintingsin all of Europe.The Italy of today is littered with the relics of more than3,000 years of history, and an atmosphere that ranges from theArmani-wearing-scooter-driving-espresso-drinking buzz of its citiesto the quiet, pastoral existence of its hillside olive farms andseaside fishing villages.From the depths of the canals in Venice, which floats on aseries of islands in an Adriatic lagoon, and the bleached sands ofSan Remo on the Riviera, to the rocky crags of the Alps, Dolomitesand Apennines, Italy has everything from beach holidays to luxury mountain ski resorts.Italy's cities reveal awe-inspiring architecture from the curvedarches of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence to the crumblingmagnificence of the Colosseum in Rome. Home of da Vinci,Michelangelo, Carvaggio and Botticelli, its artworks are a visualdelight to all visitors.Nestled into the outskirts of Rome is the independent VaticanCity, the seat of the Pope and home to the famous St Peter'sBasilica and the Sistine Chapel. The influence of the Holy CatholicChurch on the people of Italy is still evident today in a series ofholy festivals, carnivals, and parades involving young and oldalike in almost every city, town and village.

Money

The Euro (EUR) is the official currency, which is divided into100 cents. Those arriving in Italy with foreign currency can obtainEuros through any bank, ATM or bureaux de change. ATMs arewidespread. Travellers cheques can be exchanged with ease in thelarge cities, not so in the smaller towns. Credit cards areaccepted in upmarket establishments and shops around the cities.Banks are closed on weekends, but tend to have better rates thancasas de cambios.

Time

Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in September).

Language

Italian. English is understood in the larger cities but not in the more remote parts of the country.

Climate

Italy has a largely temperate climate with regional variations.In summer the Northern parts of Italy are warm with occasionalrainfall, the central region is somewhat stifled by humidity andthe south scorches under the dry heat. In winter, conditions inMilan, Turin and Venice are dominated by cold, damp and fog andTuscany's winter temperatures approach freezing, while temperaturesin the south of the country are more favourable averaging50-60ºF (10-20ºC). Most people visit Italy between Juneand August, however the best time to visit is in Spring (April-May)and Autumn (September-October) when the weather is good and thetourists are few. The sea is warm enough for swimming between Juneand September. Most Italians take their vacation in August and manyshops and restaurants are closed during this period. The ski seasonruns between December and April and the best time to walk in theAlps is between June and September.

Current Weather Conditions for Rome, , IT

Now 6°C Windchill: 4°C Partly Cloudy

Location: Rome, , IT Wind: 8 kph N Humidity: 81% Visibility: 0.1 km Pressure: 1,018 mb steady Sunrise: 6:54 am Sunset: 5:51 pm

Thu High: 18°C Low: 4°C Sunny

Fri High: 19°C Low: 7°C Sunny

Compare Holidays in Italy

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