The official language is Italian. South Tyrol is officially bilingual, with German being the main language spoken. Ladin is z. T. School language in Trentino. French is spoken in the border areas with France and Switzerland from the Italian Riviera to the area north of Milan, Slovene in Trieste and Gorizia. Catalan is spoken in some areas of Sardinia. In holiday resorts and larger cities z. T. English, German or French spoken.
Idioms
Eight = Otto Eighty = Ottanta Goodbye = Arrivederla (formal) / Arrivederci (informal) Exit = Uscita Beer = Birra Please = Per favore Thanks = Grazie Tuesday = Martedì Doctor = Medico Thursday = Giovedì Three = Tre Thirty = Trenta Entry = Entrata One Hundred = Cento One = Uno One Thousand = Mille Friday = Venerdì Five = Cinque Fifty = Cinquanta Danger = Pericolo Closed = Chiuso Hallo = Buon giorno / Buona sera (after 3:00 p.m.); Ciao (informal) Today = Oggi Hotel = Albergo I feel sick = Non mi sento bene I don’t understand = Non capisco Yes = Si My name is … = Mi chiamo I am very well. = Sto molto bene. Wednesday = Mercoledì Monday = Lunedì Tomorrow = Domanì No = No Neun = Nove Neunzig = Novanta Open = Aperto Restaurant = Ristorante Saturday = Sabato Six = Sei Sixty = Sessanta Seven = Sette Seventy = Settanta Sunday = Domenica Menue = Menù Do you speak German/English ? = Parla tedesco/inglese? Toilets = Bagno / Servizio / Toilet Four = Quattro Forty = Quaranta Wine = Vino How are you? = come sta? How much is it? = Quanto costa? Where is …? = Dov’è …? Ten = Dieci Twenty = Venti Two = Due it…? Ten = Dieci Twenty = Venti Two = Due
In addition, numerous festivals are held in honor of the respective patron saints. Shops remain mostly open:
Turin (Torino)/Genoa (Genova)/Florence (Firenze): 24 June (John the Baptist).
Milan (Milano): 7 Dec (St. Ambrose).
Venice (Venezia): April 25 (St. Mark).
Bologna: Oct. 4 (St. Petronius).
Naples (Napoli): Sept. 19 (St. Gennaro).
Bari: 6 Dec (St. Nicholas).
Palermo: July 15 (St. Rosalia).
Rome (Roma): June 29 (St. Peter).
Siena: July 2nd and August 16th (Palio horse races).
Trieste (Trieste): 3 Nov (St. Giusto).
Duty free shopping
Overview
The following items may be brought into Italy duty-free when arriving from non-EU countries: 200 cigarettes and 100 cigarillos and 50 cigars and 250g of tobacco; 1 liter of spirits with an alcohol content of more than 22% or 2 liters of spirits with an alcohol content of 22% or less or sparkling wine; 4 liters of table wine; 16 liters of beer; Gifts/other goods up to a total value of €430 (air and sea travel) or €300 (travel by train/car); Children under 15 generally €150. Tobacco products and alcohol can only be imported by persons aged 17 and over.
Import regulations
Travelers who bring meat and milk products, among other things, into the EU from outside the European Union must declare them. The regulation does not apply to the import of animal products from EU countries, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland. Anyone who does not register these products must expect fines or criminal prosecution. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Prohibited Imports
There is a general ban on imports of live poultry, meat and meat products from third countries (with the exception of the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland).
Import/Export to the EU
The movement of goods within the EU is unrestricted for travelers as long as the goods are for personal use and not for resale. In addition, the goods must not have been purchased in duty-free shops. Travelers may be asked to provide proof of their own personal needs. Member States have the right to levy excise duty on spirit drinks or tobacco products if these products are not intended for personal use. The following maximum quantities apply as personal requirements: 800 cigarettes (persons aged 17 and over); 400 cigarillos (over 17s); 200 cigars (over 17s); 1 kg of tobacco (persons aged 17 and over); 10 liters of high-proof alcoholic beverages (persons aged 17 and over); 20 liters of fortified wine (such as port or sherry) (over 17s); 90 liters of wine (of which a maximum of 60 liters of sparkling wine) (persons aged 17 and over); 110 liters of beer (over 17s); Perfumes and eau de toilette: No restrictions if it can be shown that the amount is for personal consumption. Medicines: Amount corresponding to personal needs during the trip. Other goods: The movement of goods within the EU is unrestricted for travelers. However, this does not apply to gold alloys and gold plating in the unprocessed state or as a semi-finished product and fuel. Fuel may only be imported from an EC member state exempt from mineral oil tax if it is in the vehicle’s tank or in a spare container that is carried along. A fuel quantity of up to 10 liters in the reserve tank is not objected to. If additional quantities of these goods are carried, e.g. For example, a wedding is an event that could justify a bulk purchase. Note: However, there are certain exceptions to the free movement of goods regime. They relate in particular to the purchase of new vehicles and purchases for commercial purposes. (More information on car taxes can be found in the European Commission’s Guide to Buying Goods and Services in the Internal Market.)
EU
Duty-free sales at airports and seaports have been abolished for travel within the EU. Only travelers leaving the EU can shop cheaply in duty-free shops. When importing goods into an EU country that were bought in duty-free shops in another EU country, the same travel allowances and allowances apply as when entering from non-EU countries. More information is available from Italian Customs.
Contact addresses
Consular Section of the Bern Embassy
Willadingweg 23
Bern
Switzerland
+41 (31) 390 10 10.
http://www.ambberna.esteri.it
http://www.ambberna.esteri.it
Mon and Thu 2pm-5.30pm, Tue and Fri 10am-1.30pm. Telephone information: Mon, Wed, Thu 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Tue and Fri 12 p.m. – 1.30 p.m.
Consular section: Hildebrandstraße 1, 10785 Berlin.
Consulates General that issue visas in Frankfurt/M., Hanover, Cologne, Munich and Stuttgart.
Consulates without a visa in Dortmund and Freiburg/Br.
Consular agency in Wolfsburg.
Honorary consulates in Bremen, Dresden, Hamburg, Kiel, Leipzig, Nuremberg and Saarbrücken.
Mon and Fri 08.30-12.30, Tue 08.30-10.30, Wed and Thu 13.00-17.00.
Business
Business etiquette
Knowledge of Italian is a great advantage. Scheduling an appointment is common. Ministries and almost all authorities close at 1:45 p.m. Officials cannot be reached in the afternoon without prior appointments.
Opening hours
Business hours: Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00.
Business contacts
Communication
Phone
According to Abbreviationfinder.org, the country code is 0039. The national city code for Rome is 06. Within Italy, the area codes beginning with 0 must always be dialed first.
Mobile phone
GSM 900/1800, 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G. Mobile phone companies include Vodafone and Wind Tre, among others. International roaming contracts exist. Roaming abroad can be used within the EU at the regular home tariff of the respective provider. Roaming charges were abolished within the EU in mid-2017. Under certain circumstances, however, it may be worth purchasing an Italian SIM card or prepaid cards from local providers. Often there are offers for tourists.
Internet
The main provider is TIM e Telecom. Wireless access to the Internet via Wi-Fi hotspots is available in the metropolitan areas of Rome, Milan, Venice and Bologna, among others. Most accommodations offer free internet use in larger cities and tourist areas. Internet access is also available in Italy at special kiosks set up by TIM at airports, train stations, in larger hotels, in bars and other public places. There are Internet cafes in all major cities. Mobile surfing on the Internet is also made possible, among other things, by Goodspeed Wi-Fi hotspots that are subject to a fee.
Post office
Letters within Europe usually take 7-10 days. Poste restante items are to be provided with the note Fermo Posta and the name of the city. Stamps are sold not only in post offices but also in tobacconists. Post office opening hours: Mon-Sat 08.00/08.30-12.00/12.30 and 14.00/14.30-17.30/18.00.
Radio
Numerous German-speaking radio stations can be received via Astra satellites or via the Internet in Italy, among other things.
