> SlowTrav > Italy

Italy - Instructions for Visitors

Sometimes when you are in Italy, you feel like you are flying by the seat of your pants. These notes explain how some things work there - how they are different from what we are used to in North America. This is not a Survival Guide - survival is easy in Italy. These are Instructions for Visitors - how to do the every day things so that you will fit in and life will be easier.

	Driving Driving in Italy: The rules of the road on the Autostrada, how to get gasoline, all about parking, and the maps you need for navigating. Parking in Florence, Siena, Chiusi train station, Perugia. Picking up or returning rental cars at Rome airport, Rome downtown, Florence airport, Florence downtown. Road Signs:Italian road signs and their meanings.
	Public Transportation Trains in Italy: The types of trains, how to get tickets, how to find your train, etc. Rome Public Transportation: Using the buses and metro (subway) in Rome. Also a page on taxis.
	Disabled Travel Accessible Rome: Seeing Rome from a wheelchair, general travel advice, which sites are accessible, how to get to them, maps showing routes.
	Food Shops, Restaurants, Cafes Food Shops: Types of food stores, how to find them, how to use them. Details on using the carts at supermarkets. Restaurants: How to order in restaurants, sample menus, what to expect. Caffes: How to order in caffes, sample menus, what to expect, gelato.
	Travel Recipes Travel Recipes: Italian recipes created for Slow Travelers - easy to make in your vacation rental kitchen, by Judith Greenwood. Basics for following Italian recipes, 19 easy to make recipes to make in your vacation rental.
	Italian Fashion Italian Fashion: What they are wearing this season, advice for what to pack, by Judith Greenwood. Articles are added seasonally.
	Learning Italian Language Lessons: Learn some Italian for your trip. This section gives you some basic Italian language lessons: how to count, how to order in caffes and restaurants, how to make reservations.
	Internet, Phones, Cell Phones and Dialing How to Set Up an Account on Jumpy.it for Free Internet Access: Instructions in English for setting up a free account with jumpy.it, for free Internet access in Italy. Use Your Italian Cell Phone as a Modem: Connect from your computer to the Internet using your cell phone. Phoning To, From and Within Italy - How to Dial: How to call Italy from another country, long distance calls from Italy, calling within Italy. Public Phones: How to use public phones in Italy. European Cell Phones: Options for using a cell phone in Europe. More Notes about Italian Cell Phones: Buy a GSM phone and SIM, by Sebastian from Cellular Abroad Cell Phones in Italy: Recharge your Italy SIM card, buying cell phones in Italy.
	Computers, Electronics Our Europe Trip Planning section has information that is common to countries across Europe. Internet Access: To access the Internet in Europe, use Internet Cafes or take your computer with you. Bringing your Electronics to Europe: For most electronics (camera chargers, computers, etc.) all you need is are plug and phone adapters.
	Vacation Rentals All About Vacation Rentals: This is in the Vacation Rental section, but I am including the link here because it has basic information about what a vacation rental is and what to expect. About Vacation Rentals in Italy: What to expect in vacation rentals in Italy.
	Living in an Italian House No Air Conditioning: How to keep cool the natural way. Utilities and Your Italian Vacation Rental: You may have to pay for the utilities you use. Hints for keeping costs lower. Doing Your Laundry: Doing your laundry in Italy either at your vacation rental or at a laundry. Washing Machines: How to use your Italian washing machine. The Stovetop Espresso Maker: How to make coffee in that strange espresso pot that is in your vacation rental. Garbage: No garbage pickup at your house in Italy.
	Other Things Italian Swimming at Beaches: How to use the paid beach areas. Doing the Beach in Italy: Valerie's tips for a day at the beach. Going into Churches: How to dress and other notes for viewing art in churches.
	Wine Carrying Wine Home: Robert's tips for taking wine home from Italy.
	Photo Albums Photo Albums: Pauline's collection of photo albums about Italy (e.g. photos of grocery stores, towns, meals, vacation rentals, hotels, etc.). Slow Travel Community Photos: See our Members Photo Gallery for over 25,000 photos by other Slow Travelers.