BANKING HOURS
Banks in Italy are open Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 1.30 pm and from 3.00 pm to 4.30 pm. Some banks are also open on Saturday morning until 1.30 pm. Banks are closed on Sundays and national holidays and also on the town's patron Saint's day. The afternoon hour may vary from city to city. Travellers' cheques can be exchanged at most hotels and shops and at the foreign exchange offices in main railway stations and at the airports.
POST OFFICES
Post Offices are generally open from 8.00 to 13.45 from Monday to Friday and Saturdays 8.00 am -1.45 pm. Some counters (e.g. registered mail, telegrams, etc.) have different hours and in the main cities they may also open in the afternoon. Information about postal services can be obtained by dialling 160. Stamps (francobolli) can be obtained in any post office and any appointed tobacconist. You can also send express letters (posta prioritaria) and registered letters (raccomandata) by paying an extra charge according to the weight.
CREDIT CARDS
All major credit cards are widely accepted in Italy (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, etc.).
EURO
Italy is one of the 12 EU countries that joined the EMU, Economic and Monetary Union, which introduced the single currency: EURO with the symbol €.
From 1 January 2002 the Euro is effectively circulating in Italy and is now
the only currency. For ten years (up to 1st March 2012) only branches of the Banca d'Italia will change Italian Lire into Euros.
Because the UK did not join the Monetary Union, the British pound will vary according to the fluctuating market. Generally, as a guideline - €1 corresponds to £0.70 pence, and 1 UK pound is worth €1.41.
Notes are issued for €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, €500. Coins are divided
in Eurocents as follows: €0.1, €0.2, €0.5, €0.10, €0.20, €0.50, €1 and €2.
The EURO is now the only legal tender in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
One of the advantages of the new currency is that it can be freely used without any restrictions in all 12 participating countries. In other words there is no such thing as a "Spanish" Euro or an "Italian" Euro, but only the Euro.
At the moment the only countries belonging to the European Union, which have not adopted the new currency are the United Kingdom, Denmark and Sweden.
Exchange rates
£ Sterling € Euro
(variable)
0.50 € 0.70
1 € 1.41
2 € 2.82
3 € 4.23
4 € 5.64
5 € 7.05
6 € 8.46
7 € 9.87
8 € 11.28
9 € 12.69
10 € 14.10
20 € 28.20
30 €42.30
40 € 56.40
50 € 70.50
60 € 84.60
70 € 98.70
80 € 112.80
90 € 126.90
100 € 141.00
200 € 282.00
300 € 423.00
400 € 564.00
500 € 705.00
1,000 € 1,410.00
2,000 € 2,820.00
3,000 € 4,230.00
5,000 € 7,050.00
10,000 € 14,100.00
TYPICAL PURCHASES IN EURO
(Please note that most prices vary considerably from city to city and shop to shop according to the brand of goods).
1) TRANSPORT
All prices are one way and TICKETS MUST BE VALIDATED ON THE PLATFORM BEFORE DEPARTURE. Failure to present a validated ticket to the ticket controller will result in a fine. For timetables and online booking please refer to www.trenitalia.it
Rome to Florence Journey time
EUROSTAR approx. 1.36h 1st class € 42.35 2nd class € 29.44
INTERCITY 2.30 - 3.45h 1st € 29.80
2nd € 21.95
Rome to Milan
EUROSTAR approx. 4.30h 1st € 67.14
2nd € 46.48
INTERCITY 5.30 - 6.30h 1st € 53.87
2nd € 38.17
Milan to Venice
EUROSTAR approx. 2.45h 1st € 28.92
2nd € 20.66
INTERCITY 3.00 - 3.30h 1st € 26.08
2nd € 19.16
Rome to Naples
EUROSTAR approx. 1.45h 1st € 32.54
2nd € 22.21
INTERCITY 2.00 - 2.30h 1st € 22.21
2nd € 16.53
Rome to Venice
EUROSTAR 4.30 - 5.00h 1st € 67.14
2nd € 44.93
INTERCITY 5.30 - 6.00h 1st € 49.63
2nd € 35.89
- Fares above are always inclusive of supplement where due (Eurostar)
and seat reservation (€3.00)
- Fares above are only valid for tickets bought in Italy
- Fares are only for direct services
- Tickets can only be booked a maximum
of 60 days in advance
Shuttle train from Rome airport to city centre €9.00 www.adr.it
Shuttle train from Milan Malpensa Airport to city centre €8.00 www.malpensashuttle.it
Rome Bus/Metro Ticket BIT €1 - Daily travel card BIG €4.00 - Weekly ticket CIS €16.00 www.atac.roma.it/
Milan Bus/Metro ticket €1 - Book of 10 tkts €9.20 - 1 day travelcard €3.00
- 2 day travelcard €5.00 www.atm-mi.it/eng
1 Litre of petrol €1.35 · One day's typical car hire €80.00
2) RESTAURANTS & BARS
An evening meal in a restaurant from €30.00 to €60.00
Dinner in a pizzeria (pizza and beer) €15 · A slice of pizza to take away €1.70
Sandwich from €2 to €3 Coffee €0.80 · Soft Drink €1.50
A pint of beer in a bar €3.15 · A glass of whiskey or other spirit €3.50
3) SUNDRIES
Stamp for Europe €0.62 · Postcard €0.50 · Phone cards from €5 to €10
Museum entry ticket from €10 to €15 · Cinema Ticket €7
An Italian newspaper €0.90 · A copy of "The Times" €2.00
An English magazine €2.50 - 7.50 · 20 cigarette packet from €3.30
A top rate ticket at La Scala Opera House from €85 to €105 www.teatroallascala.org
First night opera tickets from €700 - €2,000
Arena di Verona Opera performances from €13.00 on the unnumbered stone steps to €157.00 for a seat in the stalls.
Football matches €11.85 €34.00 €69.60
4) ACCOMMODATION
4-star double bedroom in a city hotel from €160 to €240
3-star double bedroom in a city hotel from €115 to €180
2-star double bedroom in a city hotel from €70 to €100
1-star double bedroom in a city hotel from €30 to €80
5) GENERAL SHOPPING
A book €7.75 (paperback) €25.00 (hardback) · A compact disc €18.50
A man's suit from €100.00 · A tie from €12.90
A shirt from €30.00 · Shoes from €50.00
Men's hairdresser from €12 · Ladies' hairdresser (cut and blow dry) from €30
Photos developed (24) from €8
The "Michelin" Italian Hotels and Restaurants guide €18
Video cassettes (recent release) €15
Fully illustrated catalogues of major exhibitions from €40
Tickets to major exhibitions €7.50
Dorling Kindersley Travel Guides in English from €20
6) SHOPPING IN A SUPERMARKET
1 kg of bread €3
1 litre of milk €0.70
Bottle of a good quality local wine from €2.50
Bottle of Scottish whiskey (non vintage) €9.80
1 litre bottle of extra-virgin olive oil from €3.00
Mineral water (1.5 litre bottle) €0.29
Coca Cola (2 litre bottle) €1.50
Beer (1 can of foreign) €0.39
Beer (66 cl bottle Italian) €1.09
1 packet of biscuits €2.00
1kg of Apples €1.89
Shampoo €1.49
A bar of soap €0.70
Suntan lotion €6.50
24-exposure film €4.20
Mozzarella €1.54
Baby food €3.50 (2 jars)
A packet of disposable nappies €5.99
Shaving foam €2.00
4 Gillette razor blades €4.50
1kg sugar €0.95
25 teabags €1.70
250g coffee €2.00
500g pasta €0.50
1kg parmesan €18.00