Now this is the way to travel! Here's an interesting video targeting wealthy tourists who want to visit Italy (notably Southern Italy) in a car. But not just any car - in a Ferrari. Driving through the countryside, you can visit museums, wineries and relax in fabulously expensive spas and hotel getaways. Even if it was affordable, it's not exactly my cup of tea - but it is interesting to see a different way to tour this part of Europe...

07/18/08 by visitEarth
Tags: Italy, Ferrari, tour, driving tour, cars, sports car, supercar, touring car

 

What a fantastic story and video! From the BBC, "Brother Cesare is the lead singer in a heavy metal band which has just released its second album. The 62-year-old monk's love affair with heavy metal began when he attended a Metallica concert some 15 years ago." If you're traveling to Milan Italy, look for any upcoming concerts - Brother Metal recently played at a rock festival with legendary metal bands Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Metallica. To read watch the video and read a more detailed article, click here.

07/18/08 by visitEarth
Tags: Italy, Milan, heavy metal, monk, heavy metal monk, Cesare Bonizzi, Capuchin, Brother Cesare, Metallica

 

Here's a neat little video that shows the transportation in Venice Italy. It starts by getting into the water taxi, and traverses many of the canals, going underneath various Venetian bridges. Quite a nice POV (point of view) trip!

07/02/08 by visitEarth
Tags: Venice, Italy, Italian, taxi, water taxi, water, boat, canal, bridge, trip

 

Time: Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in September).

Electricity: Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. A variety of plugs are in use including the European-style two-pin plug.

Language: Italian. English is understood in the larger cities but not in the more remote parts of the country.

Health: There are no specific health risks associated with travel to Italy. Cases of the deadly bird flu were found in swans in southern Italy and Sicily, but there is a low risk of human infection; as a precaution all close contact with birds should be avoided, and poultry and egg dishes should be cooked thoroughly.

Tipping: Tipping is customary in Italy and 10% of the bill is acceptable in restaurants (unless a service charge has already been included). Hotels add a service charge of 15-18%, but it is customary to tip the service staff extra. Italians rarely tip taxi drivers, but 5-10% is usual. Most other services expect some small change.

Safety: The Italian Government has warned that the risk of an international terrorist attack in the country has increased, and tourists should be vigilant in public places. Domestic terrorism continues, but targets are usually Italian authorities, however there is a possibility of being caught up in attacks. Tourists are vulnerable to pick-pocketing and muggings in the bigger cities, particularly on public transport, in crowded areas and tourist sites, and should exercise caution when carrying large amounts of cash and valuables. Be particularly careful on bus 64 to St Peter's Square and around the main train station, Termini. Visitors should be wary of groups of children, some of whom will distract attention while the others try to steal.

Customs: It is an offence to sit on steps and in courtyards near public buildings, including the main churches, in Florence; eating and drinking in the vicinity should also be avoided. Shorts, vests or any other immodest clothing should not be worn inside churches. It is illegal for gays to show public displays of affection.

Business: Italians can be very formal and old fashioned, but are also warm and welcoming. Face to face communication is best, and often a third party introduction can speed initial negotiations. Business attire is formal and very stylish, and handshakes are the norm. First impressions count for a lot in Italy. Expect plenty of gesticulating and interruptions, or people talking over each other. Business cards are used. Unfortunately the bureaucracy in Italy can slow down deal-making. Business hours are usually 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, but can vary according to season and region.

Communications: The international access code for Italy is +39. There can be high surcharges on calls made from hotels and it is generally cheaper to use a calling card. Public telephone boxes take phone cards for local and international calls, which can be bought from newsagents. Local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators.

Travel guide content sourced from wordtravels.com

06/25/08 by visitEarth
Tags: Italy, travel tips, travel, business, customs, holiday