Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If you need an ambulance anywhere in Italy, call 118. For emergency treatment, head straight to the
pronto soccorso
(casualty) section of a public hospital, where you can also get emergency dental treatment.
Insurance
A travel-insurance policy to cover theft, loss and medical problems is a very good idea. It may also cover
you for cancellation or delays to your travel arrangements. Paying for your ticket with a credit card can of-
ten provide limited travel accident insurance and you may be able to reclaim the payment if the operator
doesn't deliver. Ask your credit-card company what it will cover.
Worldwide travel insurance is available at
www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-insurance
.
You can buy, extend
and claim online anytime - even if you're already on the road.
Internet Access
»
Internet access in Italy has improved markedly in the past couple of years, with Rome, Bologna, Venice
and other municipalities instituting city-wide hot spots.
»
On the downside, public wi-fi and internet cafes (€2 to €6 per hour) remain thinner on the ground than
elsewhere in Europe, signal strength is variable, and access is not yet as widespread in rural and southern
Italy as in urban and northern areas.
»
An ever-increasing number of hotels, B&Bs, hostels and even
agriturismi
offer free wi-fi. Unfortunately,
you will still have to pay at many top-end hotels (upwards of €10 per day).
»
Some internet cafes will request identification before allowing you to use their facilities.
Language Courses
Italian language courses are run by private schools and universities throughout Italy. Rome and Florence are
teeming with schools, while most other cities and major towns have at least one. For a list of language
schools around the country, see
Saena Iulia
(
www.saenaiulia.it
)
.
Università per Stranieri di Perugia
(
www.unistrapg.it
) The well-established and reasonably priced pro-
grams make this Italy's most famous language school for foreigners. Language classes are supplemented
with extracurricular or full-time courses in painting, art history, sculpture and architecture.
Università per Stranieri di Siena
(
www.unistrasi.it
) A similarly well-regarded program in one of Italy's
most beautiful medieval cities.
Italian Foreign Ministry
(
www.esteri.it
) Publishes a list on its website of the 90 worldwide branches of the
Istituto Italiano di Cultura (IIC), a government-sponsored organisation promoting Italian culture and lan-
guage. An excellent resource for studying Italian before you leave or finding out more about language learn-
ing opportunities in Italy. Locations include Australia (Melbourne and Sydney), the UK (London and Edin-
