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Beautiful Sicily is an island where the mountains meet the sea. With an abundance of glorious beaches, quaint medieval towns, pretty gardens and citrus orchards and the awe-inspiring presence of the Mediterranean's greatest natural wonder. Mount Etna, you cannot help but succumb to Sicily's ample charms. The exquisite resort of Taormina is 1 hour and 30 minutes from the airport and has been ever popular with visitors, who enjoy winding medieval streets, and also, with writers such as DH Lawrence who became a temporary resident. Boats cruise around the bay en-route to the Blue Grotto caves and visitors marvel at the world's third largest Greek Theatre. The second largest can be found further along the coast, in Syracuse one of the greatest and most stunning cities in Hellenistic times. Today you can experience this cosmopolitan atmosphere by visiting ancient sites such as the Greek Theatre at Taormina. Take the cable car from Taormina down to the beach area of Mazzaro, where hotels are beautiful and standards high. The two beaches offer watersports and perfect views of 'Isola Bella'. Sicily Travel Facts: 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.
Money: The Euro (EUR) is the official currency, which is divided into 100 cents. Those arriving in Italy with foreign currency can obtain Euros through any bank, ATM or bureaux de change. ATMs are widespread. Travellers cheques can be exchanged with ease in the large cities, not so in the smaller towns. Credit cards are accepted in upmarket establishments and shops around the cities. Banks are closed on weekends.
Language: Italian. English is understood in the larger cities but not in the more remote parts of the country.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: British passport holders, irrespective of endorsement regarding national status, do not need a visa to visit Italy for up to 90 days. Passport/Visa Note: The borderless region known as the Schengen area includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. All these countries issue a standard Schengen visa that allows the holder to travel freely within the borders of all. Travellers are advised to have a return or onward ticket plus all documents required for their next destination, and sufficient funds to cover period of intended stay in Italy.
Health: There are no specific health risks associated with travel to Italy. EU citizens can make use of Italy's health services provided they have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Cases of the N1 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 wild, caged and domestic 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 and tourist sites. 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 around 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 what they can. Strikes by transport workers take place regularly throughout Italy and delays are possible.
Communications: The international access code for Italy is +39. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). All numbers must be preceded by 0, whether originating in Italy or out, unless calling a mobile phone. 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. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts. |
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