Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If your card is lost, stolen or swallowed by an ATM, telephone to have an immediate stop put on its use.
The Amex office can issue customers with new cards, usually within 24 hours and sometimes immediately, if they
have been lost or stolen.
As for your debit card, remember to let your bank know of your travel plans. Otherwise they might block the card
when they see any unusual spending.
Amex
(
06 7290 0347)
Diners Club
(
800 393939)
MasterCard
(
800 870866)
Visa
(
800 819014)
Opening Hours
Banks
8.30am-1.30pm & 2.45-4.30pm Mon-Fri
Bars &
cafes
7.30am-8pm, sometimes until 1am or 2am
Clubs
10pm-4am
Restaurants noon-3pm & 7.30-11pm (later in summer)
9am-7.30pm or 10am-8pm Mon-Sat, some 11am-7pm Sun; smaller shops 9am-1pm & 3.30-7.30pm (or
4-8pm) Mon-Sat
Shops
Post
Italy's postal system,
Poste Italiane
( 803160;
www.poste.it
) , is not the world's best, but nor is it as bad as it's of-
ten made out to be. Parcels do occasionally go missing, however. The Vatican postal system, on the other hand, has long
enjoyed a reputation for efficiency.
Stamps
(francobolli)
are available at post offices and authorised tobacconists (look for the official
tabaccheria
sign: a
big 'T', usually white on black).
There are local post offices in every district. Opening hours vary but are typically 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday
and 8.30am to 1pm on Saturday. All post offices close two hours earlier than normal on the last business day of each
month.
Main post office
(
06 6973 7205; Piazza di San Silvestro 19;
8.25am-7.10pm Mon-Fri, 8.25am-12.35pm Sat)
Vatican post office
(
06 6988 3406; St Peter's Square;
8.30am-6.30pm Mon-Sat) Letters can be posted in blue
Vatican post boxes only if they carry Vatican stamps.
