Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Parker Villas
(
www.parkervillas.co.uk
) Despite the UK web address, this is a US-based agency with an
Italian office, offering exclusive listings of villas all over Italy.
PRACTICALITIES
Weights and measurements
Metric
Smoking
Banned in all enclosed public spaces
Newspapers
The major national dailies are centre-left; try Rome-based
La Republicca
, and the
liberal-conservative, Milan-based
Corriere della Sera
.
Radio
Tune into Vatican Radio (
www.radiovaticana.org
;
93.3 FM and 105 FM in the Rome area; in
Italian, English and other languages) for a rundown of what the pope is up to; or state-owned Italian
RAI-1, RAI-2 and RAI-3 (
www.rai.it
)
, which broadcast all over the country and abroad. Commercial
stations such as Rome's Radio
Centro Suono
(
www.centrosuono.com
)
and
Radio Città Futura
(
www.radiocittafutura.it
) , Naples' Radio
Kiss Kiss
(
www.kisskissnapoli.it
)
and Milan-based left-
wing
Radio Popolare
(
www.radiopopolare.it
) are all good for contemporary music.
TV
Channels include state-run RAI-1, RAI-2 and RAI-3 (
www.rai.it
) and the main commercial sta-
tions
Canale 5
(
www.canale5.mediaset.it
) ,
Italia 1
(
www.italia1.mediaset.it
)
and
Rete 4
(
www.rete4.mediaset.it
)
run by Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset company, as well as
La 7
(
www.la7.it
)
.
Customs Regulations
Duty-free sales within the EU no longer exist (but goods are sold tax-free in European airports). Visitors
coming into Italy from non-EU countries can import some items duty free.
Anything over the limits must be declared on arrival and the appropriate duty paid. On leaving the EU,
non-EU citizens can reclaim any value-added tax on expensive purchases.
DUTY-FREE ALLOWANCES
spirits
1L (or 2L wine)
perfume
50g
eau de toilette
250mL
cigarettes
200
other goods
up to a total value of €175
