Every self-respecting tourist should visit Italy. Every year, millions of visitors come here to appreciate and enjoy the local beaches, excursions, treatment on thermal waters and nature. Vacationers are not deterred by high prices at a modest arrangement of hotels.
Geography of Italy
The northern part of the country is more like Switzerland or France. Everyone goes here for a ski vacation and high-quality shopping. The center is a concentration of sights and cultural entertainment. The southern part is most similar to the colorful Italy, which all tourists imagine: hot, emotional and at the same time unhurried.
Italy is divided into more than 8,000 cities. To create an image you need to visit the main ones:
- Rome;
- Florence;
- Milan;
- Verona;
- Naples;
- Venice
Each of them is famous for its features. In Rome, you need to visit the Vatican with its special atmosphere and Byzantine culture. Art lovers should definitely visit Florence, the famous Uffizi Gallery.Venice is a miracle that should not even be advertised, and the most luxurious store awaits tourists in Milan. In Naples, they invented pizza and should go for gastronomic impressions. Each of the cities of Italy, regardless of its size, deserves attention. Therefore, a trip here should be given as much time as possible.
Italy beaches
Around the perimeter of the country are located countless beaches. Their total length is 7,500 km. Among the main advantages of the sloping shore and a beautiful view all along the coastal zone. Most of the tourists are attracted here by the resort of Rimini. Here you can find a hotel of any level. It features dolomite sand, a shallow coastal area with warm and clear water and numerous attractions. These qualities are characterized by the Tuscan and Venetian Riviera. Sanremo is a beach holiday for lovers of noisy parties. Closer with nature, you can become on the beaches of Puglia and Emilia Romagna.
Most beaches are municipal. At the same time, some of them are leased to entrepreneurs. For the use of such beaches and sun loungers they will have to pay 7-10 euros. An interesting nuance: the first 5 meters from the water in the sand are free. Here you can sit right on the towel.
Climatic conditions
Italy can offer tourists a climate for every taste. Those who do not like the heat, it is better to go to the north. Here in summer the air temperature is 22-24 degrees with a plus, and in winter 0 degrees and fog. Moving to the island part, you can be at the mercy of the Mediterranean climate. Most of the year there is clear, and in summer it is hot and dry. The temperature in July fluctuates around 26 degrees. In winter, too, not cold +80 +100. Snow can only be seen in the Alps. The sirocco winds blow from the south. In the summer, the air heats up to 35 degrees and remains dry. In Sicily, the climate is subtropical.
But in the mountains in winter is quite cold. In the Alps and the Apennines, the temperature drops to -20 degrees. Most of the precipitation falls in winter.
Visa, customs and road
Since the country remains a part of the Schengen zone, Russian citizens will have to get a visa and get insurance.
There are bans on the importation of food into the country. There are also restrictions for the importation of tobacco products, alcohol, perfumes and other benefits. Before the trip, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the conditions of import-export.
As for the road, it is best to fly to Italy by plane. Aeroflot, Meridiana fly, S7 Airlines planes fly from Moscow and St. Petersburg daily to Rome, Milan and Venice. Depending on the season, companies add to regular flights additional to other cities in Italy. A direct ticket to Milan or Rome will cost about 400 euros. If with a transfer, you can do 200 euros. You can get to the ski area of the country through Verona, Innsbruck, Brescia, Bergami, where charters arrive.
If you change seats in Bucharest, you can get there by train. Unfortunately, direct travel on this type of transport is not provided. Such a long journey by train can cost more than a plane. The bus tour will also last a long time and will result in the cost of the air ticket with a large number of inconveniences. Water travel will also have to be made in a roundabout way through other countries.
Inland transport
The developed internal train and bus network allows you to reach any point of the country. Also on Italy fly numerous low-cost flights. They will be cheaper than traveling by train. For example, the company Ryanair offers flights at a price of 10 euros. Air Dolomiti will charge about 30 euros for a flight around the country.
Local trains are versatile and comfortable. Depending on the distance and class of the car varies and the price. From Rome to Naples can be reached for 20 euros. If you go in a group of three people, you can ask for a discount.
Buses are also popular. Each city has its own carrier, fleet and flight schedule. The bus is cheaper than the train, but the second is much safer and more convenient. Also in the cities there are trams and subways.Traveling by bus around the city costs about 1.5 euros, as well as on the subway. In large cities, you can take night flights.
Taxi in Italy has a classic look: yellow and checkered. The fare is usually listed directly on the door of the car. The trip costs from 1 euro per kilometer plus the cost of calling 3 euro. For oversized luggage will have to pay.
A single trip in public transport costs from 1 to 2 euros. Use time is up to 90 minutes. In the subway on such a ticket you can enter only once. BIG is a ticket that allows you to ride from the moment of composting until midnight of the same day. It is worth such a ticket from 3 to 6 euros. There is also a CIS - a ticket for a week for 12 euros. For ticketless travel will have to pay 100 euros fine.
To rent a car, you need to acquire an international driving license in advance. You should also leave a deposit of 500 euros. They must be free in a bank account. Tourists are advised to take insurance polis at a price of just over 10 euros, which will eliminate the problems with minor damage to the car.
Accommodation in Italy
In this country, the conventional star does not always correspond to reality. Even with three stars, the hotel can not equip rooms with air conditioning. For ski resorts chalets and apartments are the most popular. There are hotels here, but among the services only half board and very ascetic furnishing of the rooms. An important factor when choosing a residence at a ski resort is the distance from the lift and the availability of ski storage.
When checking into any hotel in the country, you must pay a city fee of 25 euros.
Treatment is another direction among the interests of tourists. Here you can treat problem organs from urology, the musculoskeletal system, the respiratory system, and the nervous system.
Shopping and Food
Among the souvenirs brought from Italy most often meet:
- straw hats;
- porcelain;
- fur;
- leather;
- local brand clothing;
- decorations;
- olive oil;
- cheeses;
- the wine.
All the main Italian dishes are world famous. On the first, Italians usually offer pasta or risotto, on second meat or fish with vegetables. Soups are served only for dinner. It is recommended to try minestrone - soup made from seasonal vegetables. You can also eat focaccia - flatbread with pesto sauce. In any local institution tourists will be offered cappuccino or a small cup of espresso. Like the pizza that is served in every restaurant. For food, be sure to offer wine. Finishing the meal is a dessert, which the Italians have a great many. Every self-respecting chef has his own recipe for sweet treats.
Good wine can be purchased at a price of 10 euros per bottle. As for food, then from restaurants you need to choose only those that post their menu on public display. Otherwise, you can run into pasta for 100 euros and darken your rest.
Average food prices:
- snack in a restaurant 5-10 euros;
- first dish 7-10 euros;
- the second dish is 12-25 euros;
- dessert from 5 euros;
- wine (glass) 2 euros;
- table fee from 2-4 euros.
Among budgetary restaurants, those who offer a complex lunch are popular. Its price is usually indicated at the entrance and ranges from 25 euros per person.
Excursions, attractions, entertainment
Most of the world's cultural values are located in Italy. This is one continuous museum, the study of which you need to spend a lot of time. First of all, attention should be paid to the magnificent alpine slopes, Adriatic and Mediterranean beaches, the Bay of Naples. Also among the natural monuments deserve attention and reserves lakes.
Among the man-made monuments, visiting require the ruins of an ancient civilization, medieval castles, large architectural structures. This is enough for the first cursory inspection of the country. The next visit can be focused on museums and galleries. Here are concentrated the creations of the hands of the greatest sculptors, painters and other artists.
Among children's entertainment it is worth noting the dolphinarium and water parks in the area Riccione. Between the beaches of Rimini and Riccione located rave part of the country.Here are densely concentrated bars, restaurants, clubs and discos. This is the best place for youth recreation. On the Ligurian coast there are numerous amusement parks, which will be appreciated by children and teenagers. You can go diving off the coast of Sardinia. Here is the most beautiful underwater world that the Italians themselves recognize with pleasure.
The cheapest inspection of Venice can be made for 20 euros. More expensive routes can cost up to 300 euros. They will include a ride on gondolas, a trip around the islands, a snack, a long and detailed story of the guide and much more.
Tourists travel around Rome endlessly and every day find something new in it. The Vatican Museums can be inspected for 50 euros, see the ancient Rome for 140, and to visit the "Dying City" will have to pay 360 euros. You can spend 600 euros on exploring the museums of Florence. This tour will be detailed and comprehensive. A more budget option is available in case of choosing other routes. Their cost varies from 30 to 300 euros.
Studying the reviews of tourists we can draw the following conclusions: the service of local hotels leaves much to be desired. Especially if you had a chance to visit the middle class institutions. Also, tourists complain about the crowded streets of cities, especially religious places of interest.
During the holidays in Italy is difficult to save. But the money spent is worth the impressions that will be brought with them from these unique places.
