General travel information for Italy
Continent: Europe
Geographical location: Southern Europe, central Mediterranean region, located in the northern hemisphere.
Highest elevation: Gran Paradiso (4061 m above sea level)
Longest river: Po (652 km)
Form of government: parliamentary republic System of
Government: parliamentary democracy
Languages: Italian
Neighboring countries: France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia
Capital: Rome
Area: Approx. 301,340 km²
Residents: Approx. 60,263,000 people (2019)
Population density: 200 residents per km²
Religions: About 87% followers of Christianity (85% Roman Catholic, 2% Orthodox,) about 2% Muslim, 7% non-denominational
Currency: Euro; Travel
Climate: Subtropical Mediterranean, Alpine high mountain climate in the north
Time zone: UTC + 1
Area code: +39
Country code: IT, ITA 380
Electricity: In Italy, in addition to the type C and F sockets used in Germany, especially in old buildings, type L sockets are also in use. A travel plug adapter can therefore be an advantage. The mains voltage is 230V with a 50Hz change interval.
- Check a2zdirectory for old history of Italy and agooddir for modern history of Italy.
Culture and places of interest in Italy
Italian culture, closely linked to the history of ancient Rome, has made a significant contribution to Europe’s cultural and historical heritage. As the crossroads of the Mediterranean civilizations, the center of the Roman Empire, the seat of the papacy and the cradle of the Renaissance, Italy played a decisive role in the cultural development of the West and became the starting point for European art, culture and research. These include famous names such as the polymath Leonardo da Vinci, the astronomer Galileo Galilei, the Renaissance artist Michelangelo Buonarroti or the baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi and the opera composer Guiseppe Verdi, to name just a few examples. The Italian influence was formative for many arts and cultures, such as
In addition to this pioneering cultural heritage, there are numerous historical and folkloric traditions in Italy that are also known and famous internationally. These include in particular the carnival festivals in Venice, Florence and Rome, the rites of Holy Week, as well as various other religious traditions that are celebrated in the individual Italian regions. Other internationally known cultural terms are Italian cuisine and Italian fashion.
Due to the outstanding importance of Italy for European history, art and culture, the country has an extraordinarily large number and variety of cultural sights. Most cities and villages have a long and ancient history and have a corresponding old town, which can be experienced and visited on the basis of extensively preserved architectural monuments. Therefore, a tour of the old town of the cities and villages visited should be planned on every trip to Italy. The main tourist attractions naturally include the cultural treasures of the capital Rome as well as the historically significant places of Milan, Venice, Florence, Naples, Palermo and Pompeii.
For the nature lover, the unique landscapes of Piedmont, Tuscany, Abruzzo and Calabria, which have already inspired many painters, are worth seeing and experiencing. In addition to the overwhelming impressions of the Italian Alps, mountain and coastal landscapes, a number of active volcanoes, such as Vesuvius near Naples or Stromboli near Sicily, are among the natural tourist attractions of Italy. The different types of landscape can be experienced in appropriately established national and nature parks. Last but not least, the Italian Mediterranean islands of Sardinia and Elba are also characterized by natural beauty that is well worth seeing.
Holidays with a fixed date in Italy
In the various regions of Italy there may be additional holidays give
Jan. 1 New Year’s Day
6 January Epiphany
Apr. 25th day of the liberation of Italy
Apr. 25, St. Mark (Venice)
May 1 Labor Day
June 2 Republic Day
Aug 15th Assumption
Nov 1st All Saints
Dec 8th Marian Conception
Dec 25th Christmas Day
Dec 26th St. Stephen’s Day
Medical information for Italy
For legal reasons, we as a tour operator are not allowed to communicate any binding medical information for Italy and therefore refer to the information provided by the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Robert Koch Institute and the German Society for Tropical Medicine and International Health
Travel advice for Italy
You can obtain current travel and safety information, information on entering and leaving the country, as well as special criminal information and recommendations for your stay in Italy from the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Foreign representation in Italy
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Rome (there is another consulate general in Milan as well as honorary consulates in Bari, Bozen, Cagliari, Florence, Genoa, Messina, Naples, Palermo, Venice)
Official district / consular district: Italy. Consular district of the embassy: Marche, Latium, Umbria, Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Basilicata, Apulia, Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia. The head of the representation is also accredited as an ambassador in San Marino, based in Rome.
Location: Rome
Street address: Via San Martino della Battaglia 4, 00185 Roma
Postal address: Ambasciata della Repubblica Federale di Germania, Via San Martino della Battaglia 4, 00185 Roma, Italy
Telephone: +39 06 49 21 31
Fax: +39 06 445 26 72
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.rom.diplo.de Official languages
in the host country: Italian, English, French, (applies also for San Marino)
Embassy of the Italian Republic in Berlin (there are other general or honorary consulates in Frankfurt am Main, Hanover, Cologne, Munich, Stuttgart, Freiburg, Dortmund, Wolfsburg, Bremen, Dresden, Hamburg, Kiel, Leipzig and Saarbrücken)
Place: Berlin
Street address: Hiroshimastraße 1
Postal address: Hiroshimastraße 1, 10785 Berlin
Telephone: 030 25 44 00
Fax: 030 25 44 01 16
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ambberlino.esteri.it