Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Directory Enquiries
National and international phone numbers can be requested at 1254 (or online at
Mobile Phones
Italy uses GSM 900/1800, which is compatible with the rest of Europe and Australia but
not with North American GSM 1900 or the totally different Japanese system (though
some GSM 1900/900 phones do work here). If you have a GSM phone, check with your
service provider about using it in Italy and beware of calls being routed internationally
(very expensive for a 'local' call).
Italy has one of the highest levels of mobile phone penetration in Europe, and you can
get a temporary or prepaid account from several companies if you already own a GSM,
dual- or tri-band phone. You will usually need your passport to open an account. Always
check with your service provider in your home country to check whether your handset al-
lows use of another SIM card. If yours does, it can cost as little as €10 to activate a local
prepaid SIM card (sometimes with €10 worth of calls on the card). To recharge a card,
simply pop into the nearest outlet or buy a charge card
(ricarica)
from a tobacconist. Al-
ternatively, you can buy or lease an inexpensive Italian phone for the duration of your trip.
Of the main mobile phone companies, TIM (Telecom Italia Mobile), Wind and Voda-
fone have the densest networks of outlets.
Phonecards
You'll find Telecom Italia silver payphones on the streets, in train stations, in some stores
and in Telecom offices. Most payphones accept only
carte
/
schede telefoniche
(telephone
cards), although some still accept credit cards and coins.
Phonecards (in denominations of €3 and €5) are available at post offices, tobacconists
and newsstands. You must break the top left-hand corner off the card before you can use
it.
Time
Italy is one hour ahead of GMT. Daylight saving time, when clocks are moved forward
one hour, starts on the last Sunday in March. Clocks are put back an hour on the last
Sunday in October. Italy operates on a 24-hour clock.
