Italy - Prepare

Bring stylish clothes for the evenings, respectable cover-all garments for the churches, and an empty case for the shoes and accessories you won't be able to resist.

Don a mask at Venice's carnival celebrations between February and March, and see the Pope give his blessings in Rome on Easter Sunday between March and April. Attend world-class concerts, drama and dance at the three-week Spoleto Festival from late-June into mid-July. Place a wager on your lucky horse at Siena's Palio in July and August. Or glimpse celebrities and their newest movies at the Venice Film Festival from late-August into early-September. In December, visit Naples for spectacular Christmas cribs.

New Year's Day (1 Jan), Epiphany (6 Jan), Easter Monday (Mar/Apr), Liberation Day – surrender of the German forces (25 Apr), Labour Day (1 May), Republic's Day – commemorating the start of the Italian republic (2 Jun), Assumption (15 Aug), All Saints' Day (1 Nov), Immaculate Conception (8 Dec), Christmas Day (25 Dec), St Stephen's Day (26 Dec).

Summers are hot and dry, with the highest temperatures recorded in the south, often rising above 30°C during high season (Jul-Aug). Luckily, the low humidity makes the heat quite tolerable. Winters are mild in the south, with average temperatures of 10°C, but can be cold in the north, where there is heavy snowfall in the mountains, ideal for skiing. For sightseeing, the most pleasant periods to visit are May-June and September-October, when the weather is mild and the destinations less crowded.

230V AC, 50 Hz, two-pin plugs are standard.

+39 (Italy).

Euro (€) is the currency.

GMT +1 (GMT +2 in summertime).

Italy Tourist Board website

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. The concept of bella figura is all about making a good impression – it starts from the way you dress, and includes the way you eat. Big no-nos are using a knife or a spoon to eat pasta (a fork along should suffice) and ordering cappuccino (instead of espresso) at the end of a meal.