Tips:Wine tours in Umbria, wine tasting, guided visits,guided tours

When to go: Italy's climate is one of the most hospitable in the world, summers are dry, winters mild, springs and autumn colourful seasons. So Italy can be visited from April to October. In August and July the beaches locations are crowded but if you are interested in visiting some cities in this period it could be an opportunity to escape the traffic and the crowds of the cities.
Temperatures: Central Italy in general has an average temperature starting from a minimum of 14-15 C° in April up to 25-26 C° in summer (August and July). Of course these averages are not valid for particular areas (seaside or mountains) where the values can be different.
Money: Italy, as many european countries, from 2002 has Euro currency. Euro is issued in pieces of 5,10,20,50,100,200 and 500 euros and coins of 1,2,5,10,20,50 cents and 1,2 euros. Too see the currency covnerter with a different money click here.
Banks and payments: you can easily pay with international Credit card in Italy, but in some small towns or countryside areas these credit card payments could not to be accepted. For this reason once you are in Italy, we suggest to go to a money change office or in a bank (Bank hours: 8,30 am to 1,30 pm and usually 2,30 pm to 3,00 / 3,30 pm open from monday to friday)
Post offices have similar work-hours, they are open from 8,00 am to 2,00 pm. At the post office you can buy stamps (you can do it also in a tobaccos stores) and send packages. For other expeditions or money transfer there are some specific points (western union, mailboxes offices...)
Health: no vaccinations are required. The place to buy medicines is the Farmacie (chemist's) signed with a green luminous cross in general. But if you are seriously ill maybe you can call a local doctor or medical guard or go directly to the public hospital (in case of emergency these are the numbers to dial: ambulance/medical: 118, police-general emergency: 112, fire, disasters: 115.
Documents: if you are an European citizens from a country belonging to EC, an identity card is sufficient, while for all the others citizens a valid passport is required.Driving licenses and other traffic documents valid in other countries are recognized in Italy. Distances are indicated in kilometer ( 1 km = 0.621 miles). An international insurance certificate is required for citizens from non-EC countries. The wearing of seat belts in front and rear seats is obligatory, speed limits are indicated wit circle red and white signals. In the Highway (signed by big green signpost) like A1, A2 etc... the speed limit is 130 km/h when it's dry weather, when it is rainy or foggy weather limit is lower (110 km/h and even 60 km/h if there is too fog). Payment (at the toll-houses) is due for Highway roads transit, to learn more about it visit http://www.autostrade.it/en/index.html
Tourist information: once you are in Italy it is suggested to search for a tourist info point (in general indicated by a "i" in a yellow or brown signposts). These offices are a useful place to get local maps or tourist brochures and morevoer to have info about Car rental.
Electricity: the voltage used in Italy is 220 volts. Many accommodations, especially those placed in the biggest city, provides in their rooms Satellite TV and phone line. There are public phones too and a large part of the territory is served by the GSM so if you have a mobile phone is not is not difficult to make a call. Some internet point are presents above all in the city downtown and near the train station.
Public holidays in Italy: January 1 New Year's Day / January 6 Epiphany / Mar 28 Easter Monday
April 25 Liberation Day / May 1 Labor Day
June 2 Anniversary of the Republic/ August 15 Assumption of the Virgin/ November 1 All Saints Day
December 8 Immaculate Conception/ December 25 Christmas Day/ December 26 St Stephen’s Day
Accommodations types: Italy offers different types of lodgings: Hotels (classified by international range with stars), b&b (bed and breakfast, they usually provide a nightly stay and breakfast service), farm-holidays (farmhouses or agritourisms) a type of lodging ususally placed in a country posiition or just out of a town, a farm holiday generally provides rooms or apartments accommodation, they can offer meals, typical self-production foods, or simple breakfast. They often offer some facilities like swimming pool,horsemanship and mountain bikes rental. Some of them also provide sauna, fitness room and massages services. Other accommodations you can find in Italy are Holiday houses (private homes offering self-catering vacation), Historic inns (high quality and luxury services) and private Villas.
Restaurants and other places: Italy offers a large variety of restaurants, the cheapest place to eat are the Pizzerias (in this place you can enjoy one of the most italian food: pizza) and the international fast-food (above all in the biggest centre) while the most expensive are the gourmet-restaurants, generally placed in the downtown of the biggest cities. For the Espresso lovers (italian coffèè) there are many bar (coffee). For the italian wines lovers we suggest to ask for an Enoteca or Wine-bar.
Transportations: In central Italy the most important airport is Fiumicino-Leonardo da Vinci (near Rome), but there are also other airports in Florence, Pisa, Ciampino (Rome), Perugia. For land transportations you can use the public bus or the trains or the taxi-cab.