Practical Information

If you thumb through the pages of this section before arriving in Italy, so much the better. In most cases a Jack of foreknowledge about practicalities has the effect of a trip‑wire, marring what could otherwise have been a pleasant vacation.

To ease you through strange terrain, where English‑speaking people are not all that easy to come by, we have first of all listed the addresses of the Italian Tourist Information Bureau on your home ground so that you can, if need be, get last minute clarification on any point before embarking on your trip.

The rest of the section is designed to let you familiarize yourself with what to expect with regard to a whole range of regulations and facilities.

The chapter on Entry Regulations will prepare you for the particular formalities pertaining to Italy, after which you will have no further use of it.

But the chapter on Language will be invaluable throughout your stay in Italy if you do not speak Italian. We have anticipated that you will consult this chapter from rime to rime in varying circumstances and have therefore provided elementary words and phrases to suit most occasions, whether you are in the post office, shopping, at a garage, or merely asking directions.

The chapter on Accommodation should be read through entirely before arriving in Italy or, in the event this guidebook is bought in Italy, then as soon thereafter as possible. Almost everything else seems to fall into place once you have resolved the fundamental point of booking in at the most suitable place and offloading cumbersome suitcases.

Italy's shop windows glitter and dazzle but the discriminating shopper and souvenir‑hunter will want to know more about the subtleties of bargaining ‑ a feature of the Italian retail trade ‑ as well as where to find the best buys in hats, handbags, shoes, woodwork, pewter, antiques, musical instruments, carpets, glassware and jewelry. Our chapter on Shopping answers many of these questions while the information is supplemented later on in the book in the section on Tourist Routes.

Condensed chapters on Beaches and Winter Sports make it simpler for you to decide in advance which geographic area to head for to indulge in outdoor sports. Having been given these previews of the summer and winter playgrounds, you should then consult the Area of your choice, under the section on Tourist Routes, for more detailed information.

Italy's Health Resorts rank among the most efficiently run in the world. They are also located in the dreamiest of landscapes. This chapter lists them according to regions. Having checked the treatment offered and the months during which they are open, you can then peruse our section on Tourist Routes to see what the environs of your selected spa have to offer in the way of sightseeing.

The adventurous, who are prepared to rough it to fulfill a yearning for new faces and places, will find our chapter, Italy on a Shoestring, an invaluable guide. There are many ways to belt‑tighten and this chapter has suggestions on what moves to make in furtherance of this aim, even while you are still planning your trip in your home country.