GETTING TO ITALY
ITALIAN STATE TOURIST BOARD IN INDIA
ENIT - Italian State Tourist Board
C/o The Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce & Industry
502, Bengal Chemicals Compound
Veer Savarkar Marg, Prabhadevi
Mumbai 400025 (India)
Tel: +91.22.24368186 Fax: +91.22.24368191.
Email: enit@indiaitaly.com
Web: www.enit.it

VISAS
All Indian nationals visiting Italy require a valid entry visa which has to be obtained from the nearest Embassy or Consulate as per their jurisdiction. To facilitate the application of visas, VFS has been appointed as an outsourced partner by the Italian Embassy/Consulate to facilitate visa applications to Italy and Schengen countries. Applications are accepted at six VFS locations across India, namely New Delhi, Jalandhar, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Kolkata. For more information, please contact VFS on the following numbers . +91.11.41652722 (North) +91.22.56644314 (West) +91.44.52149394 (South) +91.33.30958646 (East)
Web: www.vfs-italy.co.in

TOURIST INFORMATION & RESERVATIONS
Free tourist information & assistance for reservations is available at Tourist Information counters in all Italian airports and train stations, as well as in Tourist Board kiosks at principal cities.

ASSISTANCE
Indian Embassy Via XX Settembre, 5 00187 Rome. Tel: +39.06.4884642 to 45.
Fax: +39.06.42013078.
Email: cons.wing@indianembassy.it
Consulate General of India Via Larga 16 20122 Milan. Tel: +39.02.8057691.
Fax: +39.02.72002226.
Email: cgi.milan@consolatoindia.com

HEALTHCARE & MEDICAL INSURANCE
Tourists requiring urgent medical care should go to the nearest hospital emergency room (first aid facilities are also to be found in airports and many train stations). Those with serious illnesses / allergies should always carry a note from their physicians detailing treatments in progress or that may be necessary. Chemists are generally open in summer from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. Mon-Fri and from 9:00 am to noon on Saturday.

EXCHANGE AND CREDIT CARDS
Exchanges offices have business hours similar to those of stores. Banks are generally open from Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm and from 2:45 to 3:45 pm.

PUBLIC TELEPHONES
Public phones along streets and in public establishments use an electronic system with phone cards. The 24-hour service that answers to 176 provides information on rates, area codes etc. Payment is made after the call. Calls to emergency numbers are free.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS
Telephone Directory Assistance – 12
Emergency Public Assistance – 113 Carabinieri (Law Enforcement) – 112
Fire Department – 115
Health Emergency – 118
Road (Italian Automobile Club) – 116

POSTAL SERVICE
Stamps can be purchased at tobacconists and post-offices. Outlying post offices are open from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm from Monday to Friday and from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm on Saturday and the last day of the month.

MOTORWAYS AND ROADS
Motorways are distinguished by the letter A followed by a white number on a green background and are generally toll-ways. The rest-stops are always open, and in addition to refueling they also offer other services such as restaurant bars, information offices and banking windows. The speed limits on the motorways are 130 km/h. State and provincial roads are distinguished by blue signs with white letters. The speed limits are: 110 km/h on main non-urban road. 90 km/h on secondary roads and 50 km/h in towns. (this is general information please do check locally) For more information, please contact –
AUTOSTRADE PER L’ITALIA Societa per azioni, Via Albertoi Bergamini.50.00159 Rome
Tel: +39.06.43632121
Email: info@autostrade.it
Web: www.autostrade.it

RAILWAYS
The Italian railway network with connections to France, Switzerland, Austria spans over 16,000 km. Web: www.trenitalia.it

AIR TRAVEL
The main airports are Rome Fiumicino, Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, Naples, Capodichino, Venice Tessara, Palermo, Punta Raisi and Turin Caselle.

SEA TRANSPORT
The islands are connected by ferries and hydroplanes. The main Italian ports for Sicily and Sardinia are Genoa, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Naples and Villa San Giovanni. Web: www.traghettionline.com

ELECTRICITY
Italy has the same voltage as other European countries: 220 volts. It is however advisable to carry socket adaptors as most Italian sockets have two holes.

TIMEZONE AND SUMMER TIME
Italy is in the same time zone as Central Europe. Summer time (CET + 1 hour) is in force from the end of March to the end of October, as in nearly all European countries.

TIMINGS

BANKS
Although there is no national rule, transactions can normally be conducted from approximately 8:30 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 4 pm from Monday to Friday. Some counters are also open on Saturday mornings.

MUSEUMS
National Museum ought to close one day a week, but for the convenience of visitors they often stay open all day from 9 am to 5 pm, especially in the high season.

SHOPS
Shops often stay open through the lunch hour (usually from 9:30 / 10 am to 7:30/8 pm from Monday to Saturday) especially in large city centers and the main summer resorts where shops are often open until midnight. In the minor art centers and villages, shops usually close between 12:30 and 4 pm in the north and between 2 and 5 pm in the south, especially in summer.

PETROL STATIONS
In towns, they are open from 8 am to 1 pm and from 2:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Many stations offer self-service 24 hours a day and accept bank notes and credit cards. On motorways, open 24 hours a day.

RESTAURANTS
In the north, kitchens are usually open from 12 to 3 pm and in the south from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm. In the evening, in the north, timings are from 7 pm while in the south it is from 8 pm, almost until midnight, especially in pizzerias. TIPS – These are not compulsory in Italy, but are welcome.

ACCOMODATION
Hotels are classified by the awarding of stars, from one star for modest facilities up to five for luxury hotels. The average tariff rates of hotels in Italy for the Star category.
Camping sites of which there are thousands are also classified by a star system from one to four, according to comfort. As far as free camping is concerned, it is advisable to enquire at the local tourist information office or with the local authorities.
There are dozens of youth hostels enrolled with AIG (the Italian Youth Hostel Association) spread around the country. The minimum age for access to youth hostels is 8 years. Tourist villages run by major travel and holiday organizations can be found in seaside areas and some skiing resorts. The farm holidays sector is developing especially in Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, Tuscany and Puglia.