Italy Country & Tourist Information

Location
Western Europe.

Area
301,338 sq km (116,346 sq miles).

Population
58.9 million (UN estimate 2007).

Population Density
195.4 per sq km.

Capital
Rome.
Population: : 2.6 million (2005).

Government
Kingdom of Italy declared in 1861. Republic since 1946.

Language
Italian is the official language. Dialects are spoken in different regions. German is spoken in the South Tyrol region (bordering Austria). French is spoken in all the border areas from the Riviera to the area north of Milan (border with France and Switzerland). English, French and German are also spoken in the biggest cities and in tourism and business circles.

Religion
87.8% Roman Catholic with Muslim and Protestant minorities.

Time
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Romano Prodi (outgoing).

Head of State
President Giorgio Napolitano since 2006.

Recent History
Romano Prodi and his government resigned in January 2008 after losing a confidence vote in the Senate. Elections in April 2008 were won by media magnate Silvio Berlusconi, securing a third term as premier after two years in opposition.

In the April 2006 general elections, Romano Prodi, former prime minister and leader of the center-left coalition, won a narrow victory in both the lower house and the Senate. Berlusconi disputed the result and initially refused to concede, despite court rulings confirming Prodi’s majority in both houses.

Telephone
Country code: 39 (followed by 6 for Rome, 2 for Milan, 11 for Turin, 81 for Naples, 41 for Venice and 55 for Florence). Telephone kiosks only accept phonecards, which can be purchased at post offices, tobacconists and some newsagents.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

Internet
Public access is available in Internet Corner Kiosks operated by Telecom Italia. Kiosks have been installed at airports, major hotels and in other public places. There are also Internet cafes in all main towns.

Media
Italy’s newspapers are strongly regionalised, with many papers produced in Milan. The press is free but ties with politics can be strong - notably in broadcast media. RAI, the public broadcaster, has been subject to political influence and the vast Mediaset media empire is controlled by former premier Silvio Berlusconi.

Post
The Italian postal system tends to be subject to delays. Letters between Italy and other European countries usually take seven to 10 days to arrive. Stamps are sold in post offices and tobacconists.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1345, Sat 0815-1345. Central offices are open until 1700 during the week.

Press
• Among the most important Italian dailies are Corriere della Sera (Milan), Il Messaggero (Rome), La Repubblica (Rome) and La Stampa (Turin).
• Il Sole 24 Ore is the daily financial publication.
• The Informer (website: www.informer.it) is a useful English-language online guide for expatriates living in Italy.
• The main towns publish a weekly booklet with information on entertainment and sports events.
• There are several English-language publications: monthly magazines Enigma Roma (Rome), Grapevine (on the Lucca area) and Hello Milano (Milan), as well as Wanted In Rome, published twice-monthly.

Radio
• RAI is the public broadcaster. Its stations include Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3 and GR Parlamento.
• Commercial stations include Radio 24, Radio 101 and Radio Italia.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
6 Jan Epiphany.
13 Apr Easter Monday.
25 Apr Liberation Day.
1 May Labor Day.
2 Jun Anniversary of the Republic.
15 Aug Assumption.
1 Nov All Saints' Day.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec St Stephen's Day.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
6 Jan Epiphany.
5 Apr Easter Monday.
25 Apr Liberation Day.
1 May Labor Day.
2 Jun Anniversary of the Republic.
15 Aug Assumption.
1 Nov All Saints' Day.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec St Stephen's Day.

Note
In addition, local feast days are held in honor of town patron saints, generally without closure of shops and offices. These include:

Turin/Genoa/Florence: 24 Jun (St John the Baptist).
Milan: 7 Dec (St Ambrose).
Siena: 2 Jul and 16 Aug, Palio horserace.
Venice: 25 Apr (St Mark).
Bologna: 4 Oct (St Petronius).
Naples: 19 Sep (St Gennaro).
Bari: 6 Dec (St Nichola).
Palermo: 15 Jul (St Rosalia).
Rome: 29 Jun (St Peter).
Trieste: 3 Nov (St Giusto).

Contact Information:

Italian Embassy in the UK
14 Three Kings Yard, London W1K 4EH, UK
Tel: (020) 7312 2200.
Website: www.amblondra.esteri.it
Political enquiries only.

Italian Consulate General in the UK
38 Eaton Place, London SW1X 8AN, UK
Visa section: 136 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9SA, UK
Tel: (020) 7235 9371 or 7823 6519 (visa section) or 09065 540 707 in the UK (appointment booking; calls cost £1 per minute).
Website: www.conslondra.esteri.it
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200.

Italian State Tourist Board (ENIT) in the UK
1 Princes Street, London W1B 2AY, UK
Tel: (020) 7408 1254.
Website: www.enit.it or www.italiantouristboard.co.uk

Embassy of the Italian Republic in the USA
3000 Whitehaven Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 612 4400.
Website: www.ambwashingtondc.esteri.it

Italian Government Tourist Board (ENIT) in the USA
630 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1565, New York, NY 10111, USA
Tel: (212) 245 5618 or 4822 (brochure hotline).
Website: www.italiantourism.com


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