Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PRACTICALITIES
» Weights & Measures Metric
» Newspapers If your Italian's up to it, try the following newspapers: Il Corriere della Sera ( www.corriere.it ),
the country's Milan-based leading daily; or La Repubblica ( www.repubblica.it ), a centre-left daily. In Switzer-
land, try the Neue Zürcher Zeitung ( www.nzz.ch ).
» Radio Tune in to state-owned Italian RAI-1, RAI-2 and RAI-3 ( www.rai.it ) , which broadcast all over the coun-
try and abroad. Milan-based left-wing Radio Popolare ( www.radiopopolare.it ) is good for its biting social com-
mentary and contemporary music.
» TV Switch on the box to watch the state-run RAI-1, RAI-2 and RAI-3 ( www.rai.it ) and the main commercial
stations (mostly run by Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset company): Canale 5 ( www.canale5.mediaset.it ) , Italia 1
( www.italia1.mediaset.it ) , Rete 4 ( www.mediaset.it/rete4 / ) and La 7 ( www.la7.it ). Switzerland has numerous
channels that broadcast in Italian, German and French, but you can usually pick up CNN in most hotels.
» Smoking Banned in all enclosed public spaces
Discount Cards
Concession prices are generally indicated as adult/child, or adult/reduced. At museums and galleries, ask about dis-
counts for students, children, families or seniors.
Senior Cards
In Italy, seniors (aged over 60) who are travelling extensively by rail should consider the one-year Carta d'Argento (Sil-
ver Card), available from trains stations for €30 (free for those aged 75 and over). It offers discounts of 10% to 15% on
national travel and 25% on international trains. In some places, EU seniors may get free entry to sights. Always ask.
Student & Youth Cards
Free admission to some galleries and sights is available to under-18s. Discounts are available for some sights to EU cit-
izens aged between 18 and 25 years. Prices are usually based on age, so a passport, driver's licence or Euro<26
( www.euro26.org ) card may be needed as proof.
An International Student Identity Card (ISIC; www.isic.org ) , though generally not much use for sights, can be
handy for minor transport, theatre and cinema discounts, as well as occasional discounts in some hotels and restaurants
(check the lists on the ISIC website); similar cards are available to teachers (International Teacher Identity Card, or
ITIC). For nonstudent travellers under 25, the International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) offers the same benefits.
Student cards are issued by student unions and hostelling organisations as well as some youth-travel agencies. In Italy,
the Centro Turistico Studentesco e Giovanile (CTS; www.cts.it ) youth travel agency can issue ISIC, ITIC and Eur-
o<26 cards.
 
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