 Italy Fast
Facts
Capital: Rome, Italy
Population: 58.1
million
Time Zone: GMT + 1 hour
Electricity: 230V/50Hz
Italian
Highlights
Chianti
Chianti, the most famous
Italian wine, comes from the Chianti region of Tuscany. Only wines
from this region can properly be called Chianti, although some
winemakers will lead you to believe otherwise.
Florence Travel 
In Florence,
four of Michelangelo's unfinished works line the hallway leading to
his famous masterpiece, David. These half-man, half-rock
creations are called "prisoners" because he believed his sculptures
were imprisoned in the stone until he released them.
Venice Travel 
While plying
the waters of Venice in your own gondola, you may notice a distinct
leftward curve of the prow. While aesthetically pleasing, it's
actually designed to offset the force of the oar and keep the
gondola from spinning in circles.
Rome Travel
For
centuries, the Colosseum in Rome was only home to exotic plants.
After the fall of the Empire, the arena became abandoned. Seeds
inadvertently transported from Africa and Asia began to grow,
resulting in more than 400 species of flora.
Italian Phrases
| Where can I find__? |
Dove si
trova__? |
doveh see trova |
| Where is... |
Dov'è... |
dov eh |
| ...the exit? |
...l'uscita? |
loo sheeta |
| ...the taxi stand? |
...il
posteggio dei taxi? |
eel post-ayj-jo day taxee |
| ...the bus stop? |
...la fermata
dell'autobus? |
la fermahta del-owtoboos |
| ...the subway? |
...la
metropolitana? |
la metro-poleetana |
| ...the train
station? |
...la
stazione? |
la statzioneh |
| ...the bank? |
...la
banca? |
la banka |
| ...the money |
...il
cambio |
eel kamb-yo |
| exchange? |
valuta? |
vahlootah? |
| ...an ATM? |
...un
Bancomat? |
oon bank-o-mat |
| ...the post office? |
...l'ufficio
postale? |
loof-feecho postah-lay |
| ...the bathroom? |
...il
bagno? |
eel banyo |
| ...the telephone? |
...il
telefono? |
eel telay-fono |
| It's... |
È... |
eh |
| ...left. |
...a
sinistra. |
ah see-neestra |
| ...right. |
...a
destra. |
ah destra |
| ...straight ahead. |
...sempre
diritto. |
sempray dee-ree-to |
| Is this the train to__? |
È questo il treno
per__? |
eh kwesto eel trayno
pair__? |
| Where can I... |
Dove posso... |
dove pos-so |
| ...buy a ticket? |
comprare il
biglietto? |
komprare eel beel-yet-to? |
| Is this seat free? |
È libero questo
posto? |
eh leebairo kwesto
posto? |
Sicilian Cuisine: The
Taste of the Sun
 In Sicily, the sun
illuminates the land as the sea provides plenty of moisture. The
result is an array of fresh home-grown produce. That, combined with
the influence of the island's first settlers, creates a culinary
tradition that is a delight to all the senses.
In Palermo,
unique combinations of flavors like citrus, mint, saffron, chilies,
raisin, chocolate, wine and honey exhibit the city's early Arab
influence. On the east coast, where the Greeks settled first, fish,
olives, beans and vegetables are the preferred staples. Classic
Sicilian dishes include caponata (sweet and sour eggplant relish),
panelle (chickpea fritters), sfincioni (pizza with onions and
anchovies) and pasta alla Norma (pasta with fried eggplant, tomato
sauce and ricotta cheese).
In addition to the island's
signature entrees, Sicily serves up some of the world's most
decadent desserts. Perhaps the most famous delicacy is the cannoli
alla cassata, a more cake-like take on the standard cannoli. But it
doesn't end there. Dozens of other sweet dreams include filled
pastries, fried pastries, cookies, cakes, candied fruit, sorbet, and
granita.
Legend even has it that the world's most adored
after-dinner indulgence, ice cream, was invented in Sicily during
Roman times, when a relay of runners would bring snow down from Mt.
Etna to be flavored and served to wealthy patricians.
Savor
the unique taste of Sicily on The Best
of Southern Italy. Sicily is also included on Highlights
of Sicily & Southern Italy and The Best
of Italy & Sicily.
San
Gimignano, Italy: The City of Towers
 The medieval
town of San Gimignano, tucked away in the Tuscan hills, is a short,
scenic drive from Florence or Pisa, and well worth the trip. Known
across Italy as the "City of Beautiful Towers," the stony village
has a fable of towering egos to tell.
San Gimignano hit its
heyday in the late Middle Ages as its strategic location along the
route to Rome made it central Italy's most important trading center.
As the town grew, space within the city's protective walls became
scarce. So the town council declared that buildings could be no more
than 17 yards wide by 24 yards deep.
Not to be undone by the
new regulations, the wealthy families of San Gimignano began setting
their sights on the sky. One after the other, the town's most
affluent residents built white stone towers, each taller than the
one before, in a desperate attempt to symbolize the owners' pride
and power. Eventually, 72 dueling towers stood within the city's
walls.
The thirteenth century was a tumultuous one for the
Tuscan town, as it changed hands repeatedly. And although it fought
hardily throughout those decades and secured its independence, San
Gimingnano was ultimately overcome by the Black Plague in 1348. In
fact, the epidemic wiped out all but a quarter of its inhabitants.
After accepting an offer to be taken under the wing of Florence, the
city soon fell into decline. In the centuries that followed, towers
collapsed unmourned until only 14 remained.
As the
Renaissance produced a more enlightened Florentine culture, the
fledgling town found some patrons who worked to preserve the
remaining towers as well as some priceless works of art within the
city walls. Their work is apparent today, as a step through the
gates of San Gimignano immediately transports modern travelers back
to a time when the size of a family's tower determined their place
in society.
Currency & Travel
If you are in the
process of planning your vacation and need information on currency
exchange rates, click here to
access our currency converter tool. While you're on vacation you
will need spending money for meals and entrance fees not already
included, beverages, excursions, gratuities and shopping.
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