Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Post
Le Poste
(
www.poste.it
)
, Italy's postal system, is reasonably reliable but if you are sending a package you
might want to use DHL or FedEx, which are safer.
Francobolli
(stamps) are available at post offices and authorised
tabacchi
(tobacconists; look for the offi-
cial sign: a big 'T', often white on black). Since letters often need to be weighed, what you get at the tobac-
conist for international airmail will occasionally be an approximation of the proper rate.
Tabacchi
keep reg-
ular shop hours.
PRACTICALITIES
»
Italy uses the metric system for weights and measures.
»
Smoking is banned in all closed public spaces.
»
The major daily newspapers are
Corriere della Sera
(
www.corriere.it/english
), which publishes in
both Italian and English, and the Florentine edition of
La Repubblica
(
www.firenze.repubblica.it
)
,
which is only in Italian.
»
For news, views and classifieds in English, pick up a copy of the free bimonthly newspaper
The
Florentine
(
www.theflorentine.net
), distributed at select hotels, cafes, bookshops and bars in
Florence.
Public Holidays
Most Italians take their annual holiday in August, with the busiest period occurring around 15 August,
known locally as Ferragosto. This means that many businesses and shops close for at least a part of that
month. Settimana Santa (Easter Week) is another busy holiday period for Italians.
Individual towns have public holidays to celebrate the feasts of their patron saints. National public holi-
days:
New Year's Day
(Capodanno or Anno Nuovo) 1 January
Epiphany
(Epifania or Befana) 6 January
Anniversary of the Unification of Italy
(Anniversario dell'Unità d'Italia) 17 March
Easter Sunday
(Domenica di Pasqua) March/April
Easter Monday
(Pasquetta or Lunedì dell'Angelo) March/April
Liberation Day
(Giorno della Liberazione) On 25 April - marks the Allied Victory in Italy, and the end of
the German presence and Mussolini, in 1945.
Labour Day
(Festa del Lavoro) 1 May
