Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Most payphones accept only
carte/schede telefoniche
(phonecards), although some also accept credit
cards.
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Telecom offers a wide range of prepaid cards for domestic and international use; for a full list, see
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You can buy phonecards (most commonly €3 or €5) at post offices, tobacconists and newsstands. Break
off the top left-hand corner of the card before use. All phonecards have an expiry date, printed on the face of
the card.
Time
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Italy is one hour ahead of GMT. When it is noon in London, it is 1pm in Italy.
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Daylight-saving time (when clocks are moved forward one hour) starts on the last Sunday in March and
ends on the last Sunday in October.
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Italy operates on a 24-hour clock.
Tourist Information
Four tiers of tourist office exist: local, provincial, regional and national.
Local & Provincial Tourist Offices
Despite their different names, provincial and local offices offer similar services. All deal directly with the
public and most will respond to written and telephone requests for information. Staff can usually provide a
city map, lists of hotels and information on the major sights. In larger towns and major tourist areas, English
is generally spoken, along with other languages depending on the region (for example, German in Alto
Adige, French in Valle d'Aosta).
Main offices are generally open Monday to Friday; some also open on weekends, especially in urban
areas or during peak summer season. Affiliated information booths (at train stations and airports, for ex-
ample) may keep slightly different hours.
