Language:
The official language is Italian.
National Emergency Numbers:
Ambulance 997
Police 112
Fire Service 115
Public Holidays:
The dates of certain public holidays change from year to year – refer below. If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, then the Monday is also declared a public holiday.
Jan 01 New Year’s Day
Jan 06 Epiphany
Apr 3 Good Friday
Apr 5 Easter
Day after Easter Easter Monday
Apr 25 Liberation Day
May 1 Labor Day
June 2 Republic Day
June 24 Feast of St. John
Aug 15 Assumption of Mary
Sep 19 Feast of Saint Januaruis
Time Zone:
Italy is on Central European Time and is 6 hours ahead of USA Eastern Time Zone.
Tipping:
Gratuities are left to your discretion and always appreciated. It is our recommendation that the quality of service should determine the extent of any gratuity. We are pleased to provide you with the following guidelines. Please feel free to offer more if you receive superlative service.
Driver guides:
About €50 – €120 per day.
Biking guides would be at the higher end of this scale
Drivers & One Day Guides:
About €35 – €50 per day.
The driver guide or driver will normally remove himself at meal times. However this time can be awkward for both guides and clients so if the clients would like to invite the guide or driver to join them they should make it very clear and would be expected to pay for the meal.
Transfers:
For a short Airport Transfer €5-10 is sufficient. For longer transfers €10-30.
Restaurants:
Generally there are three options, outlined on the menu.
· A Service Charge of x % will apply" – this means what it says, your final bill will be subject to an additional charge; no further tips are necessary.
· "Service included" – this means that the prices are a flat rate, no tips are required and the prices are final. Again if the server has been attentive a €5 or €10 left on the table will always be appreciated.
· If none of these apply servers will usually expect a tip of around 10-15%
Hotels:
Service is always included and in general no tips are expected but they are welcome nonetheless. For excellent or unusual services a few Euros (the classic "fiver", a €5 note) are appropriate left for the housemaid or the porter who brings your bags up.
Taxis:
Tips are not really expected but no taxi driver will object if you round the bill up a bit to the nearest euro.
Pubs:
If you try to tip in a pub you'll more than likely earn a happy but incredulous stare!
US EMBASSY
Mailing Address: Via Vittorio Veneto, 121, 00187 Roma, Italy
Tel: +39 06 46741
Website: italy.usembassy.gov