Italy General Information

By | February 28, 2022

Italy is a country created for tourists. It seems that it is almost impossible to see all the local attractions. Perhaps that is why sightseeing tours to Italy are chosen again and again. According to itypejob.com, Rome is the capital of Italy.

Bus tours to Italy are visiting amazing cultural monuments, famous ruins of ancient civilizations, a way to see stunning natural landscapes: Alpine mountains, snow-white beaches of the Adriatic Sea, crystal lakes. In addition, it is an opportunity to buy a tour to Italy much cheaper compared to an aviator. Meanwhile, more and more tourists combine sightseeing with local attractions and relaxing on luxurious beaches, resulting in a wonderful tour of Europe with a holiday in Italy. Note that in winter, tours to ski resorts are in great demand.

Ski tours in Italy are a great vacation for lovers of outdoor activities. A high level of service, transparent and clean mountain air – all this makes the local ski resorts the most visited in the world. In addition, prices for tours to Italy are more moderate compared to neighboring Switzerland.

Among the air tours to Italy offered by us, you will find travel offers to the sultry south (Matera, Bari, Lecce), the world-famous sunny Tuscany (Florence, Siena), and of course, the unsurpassed eternal Rome.

Excursions in Italy will appeal to all those who have long dreamed of seeing this country.

People go on vacation to Italy for the sake of an excellent beach holiday, active nightlife. In addition, bus tours to Italy from Minsk are a great opportunity to visit the fashion capitals of the world: Milan and Rome, and replenish your wardrobe with unique designer products.

As a rule, excursions in Italy are popular with middle-aged tourists who have already managed to enjoy their holidays in noisy resorts. Young people are more interested in outdoor activities in Italy and the vibrant nightlife of Italian cities. Couples with children, as a rule, choose a summer vacation on the Adriatic or Mediterranean coast.

You can choose a sightseeing tour of Italy throughout the year, regardless of the time of year or the weather: the beach season is open from May to September, and holidays in ski resorts are available all year round.

Prices for tours to Italy depend on their duration, content, tourist hotel class and selected room, as well as on a number of other conditions, information about which is contained in the descriptions of the tours.

In this section of our site you will find information about the country, information about the documents required to arrange tours to Italy from Belarus, a description of sea and ski resorts, as well as many specific offers about holidays and excursions to Italy from Minsk.

DESCRIPTION OF ITALY

Geographic location, nature. The official name is the Italian Republic. Italy is located on the Apennine Peninsula, the southern slopes of the Alps, the Padana Plain, the islands of Sicily, Sardinia and a chain of small islands. The area of ​​Italy is 301 thousand square meters. km. Most of the territory is mountainous. Approximately a quarter of the country is covered by forests and shrubs. Four active volcanoes Vesuvius, Etna, Stromboli, Vulcano are located in Italy. It is washed by the waters of the Ligurian and Turrenian Seas in the west of the country, the Ionian Sea in the south of the country, and the Adriatic in the east. Large rivers located in Italy: Brenta, Adige, Tiber, Arno, Po. Geographically, Italy shares borders with Switzerland, France, Austria and Slovenia.

Capital, major cities. The capital of Italy is Rome. The population in Rome is 2.9 million people. Largest cities: Naples with a population of 1.2 million people, Milan – 1.7 million people, Turin – 1.1 million people, Palermo – 680 thousand people, Genoa – 630 thousand people. Administratively, Italy is divided into 20 regions, including 5 autonomous regions. The regions are divided into provinces, there are 103 provinces. Autonomous regions have their own parliaments, regional councils and governments with powers of local self-government.

Climate. The climate of Italy is diverse depending on the considered territory of the country. Most of Italy is located in the subtropical and temperate zones. The climate in the Alps is close to the arctic, at the same time, a subtropical climate prevails on the coast of the Ligurian Sea and the western coast of the southern part of the peninsula. The northern part of the country (Padana Plain) has a transitional type of climate from subtropical to temperate continental. The summer here is hot – +22 – 24C, in winter about 0 C. The peninsular and insular part of Italy has a Mediterranean climate, which means 2/3 of the year clear skies, hot summers (+ 26-28C) and warm winters (+ 8-10 C ). Most of the year sunny days are on the southeast coast of Sardinia. In the south of the peninsula, from March to October, the temperature rises to + 35C.

Population. The population of Italy is 57.5 million people. Almost the entire population (about 95%) is Italian. The distribution of the population is very uneven, with an average density of 189 people. For 1 sq. km. The most densely populated territories are the plains of Campania, Lombardy and Liguria, here the population density is over 300 people. per 1 sq. km. In the province of Naples in Campania, the population density reaches its peak – 2531 people. For 1 sq. km. The lowest density in the mountainous regions of Italy is 35 people. For 1 sq. km. In Sardinia and Basilicata – 60 people. per sq. km. A few words should be said about the national character traits of Italians. They are distinguished by sociability and sociability. At a chance meeting on the street with a person they know, they start long conversations, rarely limited to a couple of words of welcome. Italians like to be in society. Bars and cafes are always crowded. The centuries-old culture and achievements of this country speak of the talents of the Italian nation. Also, Italians are distinguished by superstition and a special attitude towards luck and success.

language. The official language of Italy is Italian. It is a mixture of the Tuscan dialect and Latin. Some of the Romance languages ​​spoken by Italians are identifiable on their own without being considered dialects of Italian. These include: Friulian, Sardinian, Sicilian, Neapolitan. Venetian, Gallo-Italian are the languages ​​of the north of the country. In addition to regional varieties of the language and standard Italian, there are a number of officially recognized languages. Thus, there are about 1.3 million people in Sardinia. They speak Sardinian and Romance. In the province of Bolzano-Bozen, the majority of the population is Germanic-speaking. Cimbrian is a German spoken in Veneto and Walsers.

Religion. Almost the entire population of Italy professes Catholicism (98%). Italy is home to the Vatican, the center of Catholicism. Italians are very sensitive to religious traditions. Almost all churches in the country are active. Their opening hours are from early morning to 12.00, after which they are closed for 2-3 hours. After opening during the day, they are open until 19.00-21.00. When entering the temple, women should take into account that, according to religious traditions, no woman has the right to enter the temple with bare shoulders, so you should think in advance about a light scarf to cover your shoulders.

Holidays. Italians are very fond of holidays and celebrations, they celebrate them with Italian scope and ingenuity. Therefore, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the main holidays of this country. All Saints Day – November 1; National Unity Day – November 4; Immaculate Conception Day – December 8; Christmas on December 25th, followed by Saint Stephen’s Day on December 26th. New Year – January 1st. Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th. February is the brightest month. Carnivals are held this month in almost all cities. The carnivals in Venice and Viareggio are most famous for their luxury and scope. April 25 is the Day of Liberation from Fascism, and May 1 is Labor Day. On the first Sunday of June, Republic Day is celebrated. August 15 Ferragosto (Assumption)

Electricity. The mains voltage is 220 V, 50 Hz . Adapters for Italian sockets can be bought at almost any store. It is worth considering that for fire safety reasons, hotels do not issue irons, so we advise you to think about a road iron in advance.

Time. Italy is Central European Time. The difference with Minsk is 1 hour ago.

Required phones. Information: 100, carabinieri (military police): 112, police: 113 (in Rome: 4686), firemen: 115, ambulance: 118 (in Rome: 5510). Phone codes of cities:Rome – 6, Milan – 2, Florence – 55, Naples – 81, Bologna – 51, Pila and Cervinia – 166, Courmayeur and La Thuile – 165, Monte Rosa – 125, Sestirier and Bardonecchia – 122, Bormio, Livigno and Valdidentro – 342, Madonna di Campiglio – 465, Val di Fiem – 462, Val Gardena – 471, Cortina d’Ampezzo – 436, Paso Tonale – 364. There are a lot of telephone booths in Italy. You can also call from post offices, bars. You can buy a “telephone card” at any newsstand or tobacconist. To pay, you can also use tokens and small coins, but the predominant number of telephone booths work with cards. From 18.30 to 22.00 and from 22.30 to 8.00 in hotels there is a reduced rate. International calls can be ordered at a call center or they can be made from a pay phone. Payment will depend on the time of day,

Customs control. Customs control in Italy is very loyal. If you do not have things to declare, then you will pass customs control quickly. Items for personal use are transported duty-free to Italy, in addition to this, 2 blocks of cigarettes, 5 liters of wine, 1.5 liters of strong alc. drinks. There are no restrictions on the export and import of foreign and local currencies. However, the export of large amounts requires permission from the customs authorities. When exporting national currencies over 1,000,000 liras ($457) and foreign currencies worth more than $3,000 require a declaration. Souvenirs worth no more than 67,000 lire ($ 30) can be exported duty-free from Italy. Historical valuables and documents without accompanying permits or a sales receipt and permission from the Italian Ministry of Fine Arts – prohibited.

Visa. Address of the Italian Embassy in Minsk: st. Rakovskaya, 16 b
220004 Minsk, tel.: + 375-17-220-29-69. Fax: + 375-17-306-20-37. Opening hours:
Monday – Friday 09.00 – 13.00, 14.30 – 17.45. Working hours with visitors of the visa department: Monday – Friday 09.30 – 11.30. Issuance of entry visas : Monday – Friday from 16.00. Business visas : Monday, Wednesday, Friday 09.30 – 11.30, (separate window). Working hours with visitors of the consular department (legalization of documents, etc.): Monday, Wednesday, Friday 09.30 – 11.30. Phones of the consular and visa department:tel. +375-17-220-20-01, fax. +375-17-306-23-45. To apply for a visa, you need: a passport of the Republic of Belarus, 2 photos (3.5×4.5), an invitation to the place of residence of the inviting person or a hotel reservation, a work book, a certificate from the place of work indicating the position held and wages for 12 months, round-trip tickets. For more information, please contact the above mentioned numbers of the Italian Embassy in Minsk.

Money. The official currency of Italy is the EURO. In circulation are banknotes of 500,100, 50, 20.10 and 5 Euro, coins of 1.2 Euro and 1,2,5,10,20,50 Euro cents. It is recommended to exchange money in banks, at the post office, in exchange offices. At airports, currency exchange offices work around the clock, but the exchange rate there is less favorable. Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 13.30 and from 15.00 to 16.15 or 16.30. Saturday, Sunday – day off. Visa, American Express, Mastercard cards are accepted for payment. When accepting payment by cards, a sign “Carta – si” is posted. In rural areas it will be difficult to pay by cards. Also, at most gas stations you can only accept cash payments.

Purchases. Shopping in Italy is a real pleasure. In this country you can find everything. We recommend buying leather goods in Florence or Milan, silk in Como, truffle in Spoletto and Rome. In Venice you will find the best antiques, wood jewelry, ceramics, crystal, clothing, silver and gold jewelry. Throughout Italy you will find fine wine, spirits of all kinds and products. The Vatican is notable for religious people. There you can admire the widest range of religious utensils. We advise you to buy real Italian shoes in Italy. It is highly regarded throughout the world. In addition, there are always discounts, promotions and sales. You will find boutiques such as Armani, Fendi, Gucci, Prada and many more.

Safety. The crime rate in Italy is quite low, but crimes related to the theft of personal belongings are on the rise . For your valuables, if you did not leave them in the hotel safe, the hotel administration is not responsible. Therefore, our recommendations: keep money, passport, documents, valuables in the safe of your room or at the porter. Try to dress appropriately. You should also beware of petty thieves in public places. Beware of groups of street guys or gypsies. They carry out thefts using distractions – while you are talking to one of them, the other can commit theft. Do not resist the authorities. Be respectful. Do not buy knives with a switchblade. Although they are sold everywhere, wearing them is prohibited. Do not exceed the speed limit, in case of non-payment of a fine on the spot, the police have the right to confiscate the car. It is advisable not to drive at night. Upon entering the Church, you may be formally required to have your shoulders, knees, belly was covered with clothes. Women must be covered.

Transport. Trains and buses are convenient for moving around the country. All bus stops at the request of passengers. The metro operates in Milan and Rome. Trains are in the greatest demand. So in Rome, the central station is Terminus. Train information can be obtained by calling 06/4775 from 7 to 22.30. Tickets for trips are sold at tobacconists or at vending machines at stations. In Milan, you can find out about the train schedule by calling 02/67500. In Venice, the central bus station is Santa Lucia. Information on trains in Venice can be obtained by calling 041/715555 from 7.15 to 21.30.

Fare: A ticket worth 1400 lira is valid for 75 minutes for land transport or pays for one trip on the metro. The ticket price for one day is 4800 lire, for two days 8000 lire. Rent a car: in Italy you can easily find the opportunity to rent a car. The number of companies that provide such services is very large. The most famous of them are EUROCAR, AVIS, HERTZ. To rent, you will need an international driver’s license. Often car rental companies have a $200-$300 deposit requirement. A good car can be rented for an average of $65. When renting a car, you should make sure that it is in good condition and check for insurance. It is worth remembering that city streets are narrow, winding and busy with traffic. However, lovers of fast driving in Italy have where to enjoy the ride. The total length of high-speed routes in Italy reaches more than 5600 km. Depending on the season, driving conditions may be unfavorable. In winter, fogs are heavy in the region of northern Italy, so equip your car with fog lights. Taxi:in Italy, you will not have problems finding a taxi. It is possible to catch a taxi on the street, order by phone for a fee, find a taxi at the taxi stand. For 3 km. roads have a fixed fare. Counters start working from the amount of 6400 lire. Trips at night, luggage, trips on weekends and holidays are charged separately. Private drivers, as a rule, provide high amounts for payment. Therefore, we advise you to use the services of licensed companies. Taxis with a license have a meter, a taxi sign, the inscription “servizio pubblico”. In Rome, you can call a taxi by phone: 3570, 3875, 4994, 88177. In Milan, by phone: 6767, 8388, 8585.

Kitchen.Italian cuisine is diverse and what dishes Italian chefs will delight you with will depend on the region of Italy in which you will be relaxing. In the north of Italy you will try risotto, various sauces, polenta, cream. In Naples, great Italian pizza and mozzarella await you. Pheasant meat is deliciously served by Tuscan chefs. In Rome, spaghetti carbonara, bucatini all’amatriciana (pasta with a spicy tomato and bacon sauce) and trippa (minced meat) are typical dishes. Here you can taste the already familiar Parmesan cheese and Parma di Parma ham. Sicily is famous for the invention of Italian pasta and ice cream. Restaurants in Italy are divided into three categories. The most expensive are ristorante, the middle class is tratario, and the cheapest are osteria. However, each category of restaurants has an original interior and good cuisine. For breakfast, Italians prefer cappuccino or espresso. Hearty breakfast at 13.00, lunch very late – 20.00 – 21.00. For an afternoon snack, you should look into the cafe for juice and Panini (sandwich).

VISA TO ITALY

Visa Application Center of Italy in Minsk
Address: Minsk, st. Nemiga, 40

ATTENTION! PERSONAL PRESENCE IS OBLIGATORY FOR SENDING BIOMETRIC DATA!
(except for children under 12 years of age and those persons who have already submitted biometric data in one of the consular offices of the Schengen countries over the past 59 months. However, representatives of the consular services have the authority to call these persons additionally in case of any questions)

  1. One photo(actual color photo on a white background), not older than 6 months, size 3.5*4.5 cm);
  2. Passport / international passport for citizens of the Russian Federation, valid for 3 months from the date of the intended departure from the territory of the Schengen Agreement member states. Must have been issued within the last 10 years. The passport must have at least 2 free pages with the inscription “Visa”.
  3. Copy of passport:
  • photocopies of pages containing personal information;
  • for citizens of the Russian Federation also a copy of the residence permit and the original.
  1. International health insurance, valid on the territory of the Schengen member states, for the entire planned period of stay. The minimum amount of insurance coverage is 30,000 euros. A child under 17 is insured free of charge with one of the parents.
  2. Proof of employment/economic solvency:

5.1. For employees: a certificate on the letterhead of the employer, which indicates the date of employment, qualifications, wages (a breakdown of wages for the last 3 months is given); the minimum wage per month is 500 bel. rub. And it is also MANDATORY to provide an extract from the bank account on the availability of funds (in any currency, equivalent to 50 euros per day of stay) and their movement for the last 3 months. If necessary, provide documents of the sponsoring person (sponsor letter in any form, a copy of the sponsor’s passport, a copy of documents confirming kinship, as well as a certificate of employment).

5.2. For individual entrepreneurs: certificate of state registration and last tax payments, tax return for the year, as well as a certificate that there are no debts for the last 3 months and a bank statement.

  1. Non-working:

6.1. Students:

  • a certificate from the dean’s office confirming the current place of study (in case of requesting a visa during the study period, permission from the dean’s office for absence from classes is required);
  • copy of student card;
  • copies of the record book, agreement with the university and hostel for foreign students;
  • confirmation of the availability of sufficient funds (bank statement / certificate of employment and documents of the sponsor: a sponsorship letter written in any form; a copy of the sponsor’s passport; documents confirming kinship; certificate of employment).

6.2. Students:

  • certificate from the place of study (in case of requesting a visa during the study period, permission to be absent from classes is required);
  • sponsor’s documents: free-form sponsorship letter; a copy of the sponsor’s passport; documents confirming relationship; certificate of employment).

6.3. Pensioners:

  • a copy of the pension certificate;
  • certificate of received pension (decryption of payment for the last 3 months), as well as it is MANDATORY to provide an extract from the bank account on the availability of funds (in any currency, equivalent to 50 euros per day of stay). If necessary – documents of the sponsoring person (sponsor letter in any form, a copy of the sponsor’s passport, a copy of documents confirming kinship, as well as a certificate of employment, an extract from the sponsor’s bank account).

6.4. Other non-working citizens:

  • photocopies of work book pages containing personal data and indicating places of work for the last 3 years, or a copy of a diploma (if the applicant graduated from an educational institution no more than 6 months ago);
  • statement of account
  • sponsor’s documents (sponsor’s letter written in any form; copy of the sponsor’s passport; documents confirming kinship; certificate of employment).
  • documents confirming the ownership of real estate or other sources of income (copies).
  1. For minors:
  • birth certificate (copy and original);
  • it is necessary to provide a notarized permission(strictly according to the model!) from both parents to leave the child accompanied by himself and / or accompanied by a third person (indicating the full name of the person accompanying the child), and also indicate that consent is given for temporary trips outside the Republic of Belarus to the Italian Republic and other Schengen countries;
  • copies of passports of BOTH parents (pp. 30-32);
  • the presence of one of the parents when applying for a child is required

Consular fee – 35 euros, citizens of the Russian Federation – 35 euros. The obligatory service fee of the visa application center is 14 euros. Payment is made ONLY in Belarusian rubles.

For children under 12 years of age, the visa is free. Service fee 14 euros (in Belarusian rubles).

A visa is issued within 8-10 working days, but the embassy reserves the right to extend the time for consideration of documents.

It is important to remember that the listed list includes the minimum list of documents that must be provided when applying for a visa. The Embassy reserves the right to request additional documentation at its discretion.

ITALY country symbol