All about Money and your Italy Vacation

 

If you are traveling to Italy for vacation, you need to be aware of some basics about the currency. Travelers are usually concerned with several questions. What is the currency conversion rate? Where can I change my dollars into Euros when I arrive? Can I use my travelers' checks? Are ATM machines readily available? What if I need a larger amount of cash and I need a bank? Can I use my major credit card at many places? What about tax-free shopping?

These are all great questions to ask before you go on your Italy vacation and each one has an answer that will be addressed here. First of all it is important to know that Italy uses the European Euro. There is no "Italian currency." One dollar ($1) is equivalent to approximately 0.70 euros. The currency conversion rate can fluctuate daily so it is best that you check for a more accurate figure before you leave for your vacation to Italy. You can find the most current exchange rate at The Universal Currency Converter website which is www.xe.com/ucc/

How can you get Euros once you arrive in Italy for your vacation? There will be an exchange office at the airport when you arrive. This is usually most accurate if you are arriving in a main city. Exchange offices may also be available at railway stations in the main cities. You can always also get Euros at any ATM or bank. This leads in to the next question about the availability of ATMs. There are ATMs all over Italy mainly in big cities but also in some smaller towns. But you need to know that in Italy ATMs are called "bancomats." During your Italy vacation you will find that these bancomats work just like they do in the US and you will get the chance to select your language of preference from the screen when you begin. You can use your credit or debit card to get money (euros only) out of the bancomat as long as there is a Cirrus or BankMate symbol on that machine and your card.

You could always find out from your Credit Card Company or bank if their cards can be used worldwide before you leave for your vacation to Italy. Most businesses accept major credit cards in Italy and you should always look for the credit card signage stickers on doors of shops just like there are in the US. Travelers' checks are also widely accepted in the major cities.

If you need a larger sum of cash than the bancomat will provide during your Italy vacation you will find that there are banks all over Italy especially at the main tourist attractions. Most Italian banks close for about an hour and a half for a lunch break during the week and are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and National Holidays. 

People taking an Italy vacation will be glad to find out that non-resident visitors may claim a refund for the tax they pay on many of their purchases. You can go to www.globalrefund.com to pursue a refund.

Until Next Time,

Jeané Elliott Bennett

Elliott Exquisite Vacations

Italian Leather

If you love leather, learn why the Italian one is the best for durable and elegant bags, belts or watch bands. It depends on the quality of the processing techniques: top grain and full grain. But it also refers to the quality of the base product: vegetable tanned Italian leather.

Vegetable tanned leather lasts much longer than chrome tanned leather. The reason why vegetable tanned leather is more expensive than chrome tanned leather is that it takes longer time to make. The natural chemicals are not as effective as the heavy metals, thus taking longer time.

A longer process means a more expensive product. It is highly priced leather used for a wide range of different goods: bags, wallets, shoes, watch bands, even car interiors. Italian leather is highly regarded in fashion and design for the beauty of its nuances and its long-lasting strength. It is made of cowhide but this is just the first step. To obtain the best Italian leather special traditional techniques are used.

Different types of treatments and different parts of the hide result in a great quality product. If you want to bring home the perfect souvenir, why not buy italian leather products?

I guarantee you wont regret it! I’d love to help you plan your trip to Rome so be sure to pick up the phone and call me or send me an email.

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Tiramisu

Feeling a bit down, a bit lethargic, a bit dreary? What you need is a little bit (or a lot) of tiramisu, the classic Italian dessert. Though you might not need an excuse to eat it, pronounced tira-mi-su means “pick-me-up” and is a perfect end to a meal or even a post sightseeing snack. What better medicine could there be? Its current name derives from the Venetian dialect and is now considered a typical dessert of this region, but other regions are competing to be proclaimed place of origin of this cake: first of all, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Piedmont and Tuscany. The classic tiramisu is made with savoiardi or lady fingers or biscuits, take your pick of the words, dunked in an espresso coffee, then layered with a mascarpone and fresh egg custard and sprinkled with chocolate powder. When eating out, be sure to check it’s ‘fatto in casa’, or made in house. I’d love to help you find the best tiramisu in town! When you’re ready to plan your trip to Rome so be sure to pick up the phone and call me or send me an email.

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Why Romans Drive Scooters

In Rome, scooters are a part of the culture, as familiar as pizza and gelato. A lot of people use them in cities because the traffic is so awful. Roman motorini often swerve into oncoming traffic to beat slower moving vehicles.  Moped drivers see red lights as more of a suggestion than a rule, and believe crosswalks and sidewalks are just as well suited for scooters as they are for pedestrians. Looking for a designated scooter lane? Any space between two cars is fair game. Rome ranks among the cities with the most registered scooters in the world.  With congested traffic and little parking, it’s no wonder that the motorino has found such a devoted following in the Eternal City. Now, Romans don’t even need their own bikes to start scootering: They can get on the back of someone else’s. A new service, called Scooterino, matches riders with spare back seats with people going in the same direction. Want an authentic trip around the city?  I’d love to help you plan your trip to Rome so be sure to pick up the phone and call me or send me an email.

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Gelato

In Italian, the word congelato means frozen, and the word congelare means to freeze. Although gelato is the Italian version of ice cream, it’s not merely Dreyer’s with a European, artisanal flair. Like ice cream, gelato contains milk, sugar, and flavorings such as fruit or nuts, but it has less cream than ice cream and usually no egg yolks. Whether you’re ordering gelato in Italy (or at an authentic gelateria elsewhere), you should know gelato-related terminology. If you’re in need of a serious dose of caffeine, order affogato. You’ll get a scoop of gelato doused in espresso. If you want to make your gelato extra decadent, opt for gelato con panna to get gelato topped with whipped cream. And for an Italian ice cream sandwich, order brioche con gelato. If you want authentic gelato, don’t buy it from a shop that uses ice cream scoops. Instead, gelato should be scooped with a spade or paddle. The flat surface is better equipped to gently scoop up your flavor of choice. “Not only can you work gelato with the spade to soften it up, but there's a whole artistry,” Morano said. Who woudn't want to have their first taste of gelato in Italy? From the first memorable taste of genuine gelato, most people might want to bring home that fresh, flavorful dessert back to their homes. If you’re craving now, I’d love to help you plan your trip to Rome so be sure to pick up the phone and call me or send me an email.

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Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain is one of the top attractions in Rome and one of the most famous fountains in the world. Trevi fountain, like all great pieces of art, tells a story. In the centre of the fountain is a statue of Oceanus, standing under a triumphal arch. His chariot is being pulled by two sea horses, one wild and one docile, representing the opposing moods of the sea. Left of the arch is the statue of Abundance. The statue of Health stands right of the arch. The four statues at the top symbolize: Abundance of Fruits- holding a horn of plenty, Fertility of Crops- holding ears of wheat, Products of Autumn- holding a cup and bunches of grapes, Joy of Prairie and Gardens- adorned with flowers. Daily thousands of visitors make their way to the Fontana di Trevi. When the fountain is open roughly €3,000 is thrown into it every day as people follow the tradition of throwing coins over their shoulders. The legend holds that a coin thrown into the fountain will ensure a return to Rome. This tradition also dates back to the ancient Romans who often threw coins in water to make the gods of water favor their journey or help them get back home safely. (Throw in a second coin if you’re seeking love – even a third for wedding bells!) What many don’t know is that the coins are collected every night and given to an Italian charity called Caritas. Caritas, in turn, use the money for a supermarket program giving rechargeable cards to Rome’s needy to help them get groceries. Perhaps for just that reason, it’s illegal to fish out coins from the fountain. For your convenience and guidance,  I’d love to help you plan your trip to Rome so be sure to pick up the phone and call me or send me an email.

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Different Regions Have Different Pastas

Known for its diverse palate and regional cuisine, Italy’s culinary identity can be quite difficult to define. But pasta forms an integral part of its gastronomical personality and comes in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Agnolotti: Piedmont: Most commonly crimped, square-shaped and stuffed with meat, agnolotti (or ‘priest hats’) is the primary pasta of Piedmont, in the northwestern region of Italy. Farfalle: Lombardy: Universally recognised as the ‘bow-tie’, farfalle borrows its name from the Italian word for ‘butterflies’. 

Despite its intricate design, this good-looking variety remains the signature pasta of the northwestern Italian region of Lombardy. Curzetti Stampae: Liguria: Originating from the pastel-coloured coastal stretch of the Italian Riviera, curzetti stampae (or Corzetti stamps), are a fresh pasta unique to the northwestern Italian region of Liguria. Strozzapreti: Emilia Romagna Strozzapreti, (or ‘priest-choker’), is a hand-rolled variety of pasta from the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. Gigli: Tuscany Gigli, (or ‘lilies’), is a type of dried pasta from the lush-green patch-worked pastures of Tuscany, in Central Italy. Bucatini: Lazio Bucatini (from Italian ‘buco’ meaning ‘hole’), is a spaghetti-like pasta with a hollow centre, that derives from the central Italian region of Lazio. 

Spaghetti alla Chitarra: Abruzzo Spaghetti alla chitarra is a variety of egg pasta from the Abruzzo region of Central Italy. Penne: Campania: Penne (or ‘pen’) is a well-known variety of Italian pasta that is said to have arisen from the south of Italy, in the region of Campania. Orecchiette: Puglia: Head southeast to Italy’s ‘heel’ and you will find the pasta speciality of Puglia: ‘orecchiette’ (or ‘little ears’). Ziti: Sicily: Ziti (or ‘bride-grooms’) is the chunkier Sicilian version of Campanian penne, from the rugged, southernmost region of Italy. Ready to satisfy your tastebuds? 

I’d love to help you plan your trip to Rome so be sure to pick up the phone and call me or send me an email.

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St. Peter's Basilica Ceilings

Architects known to have worked on the design of St. Peter's Basilica include Donato Bramante, Raphael, Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, Michelangelo, Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola, Giacomo della Porta, Carlo Maderno, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Michelangelo, the architect responsible for designing the main dome of the Basilica, was also a sculptor and a painter, who became one the greatest artists of his time. he high, domed ceiling is ornately decorated with painted stucco depictions of Christ, several saints, and numerous other heavenly hosts. Gilt trim borders each image and creates an awe-inspiring grandeur throughout the entire space. The use of grandiose designs and decorations is common throughout Baroque architecture; it facilitates the desired overwhelming effect felt by the viewer. Artist or no artist if you see St. Peter Basilica’s Ceilings you can’t help but marvel!  I’d love to help you plan your trip to Rome so be sure to pick up the phone and call me or send me an email.

           

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Roman Architecture

Located throughout the former Empire, enduring examples of Roman architecture serve to remind us of the wealth, power and influence that Rome spread throughout its domain. Much of the Romans’ architectural mastery is due to their use of concrete. Mixing a dry aggregate with a mortar that would take up water and then harden gave the Romans a range of building materials of great flexibility and strength. Roman concrete is very similar to modern Portland cement. Emperors cemented their reputations with grand public works. Roman architecture is responsible for the first large bridges that have lasted for centuries. Romans were the first to use concrete to build bridges. The largest surviving triumphal arch is the Arch of Constantine, completed in 315 AD to celebrate the Battle of Milvian Bridge. It is 21 metres high. Marble Arch in London was based on it. There’s so many historical architecture to see!  

I’d love to help you plan your trip to Rome so be sure to pick up the phone and call me or send me an email.

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Colosseum

The Colosseum is an amphitheatre in the center of the city Rome, in Italy. It is also known as the Flavian Amphiteatre. It is the largest amphitheatre in the world and considered to be one of the greatest Roman architecture and engineering works. It was used for a variety of events and could hold 50,000 people. Earthquakes and stone robbers left it in ruins, but part of it still stands today.   The Colosseum opens at 8:30am year round and the line begins forming around 8am. The Colosseum closes 1 hour before sunset and the times vary throughout the year. You can avoid waiting in line with a Roma Pass. If you chose to wait in line, tickets are €12 per person and under 18 years of age are free. Tickets are valid for 2 days, though you can only enter once. The ticket is good for entry to the Colosseum, the Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum. There is free admission for all on the first Sunday of every month. Who wouldn’t want a free pass right? When you’re ready to go, I’d love to help you plan your trip to Rome so be sure to pick up the phone and call me or send me an email.

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Day Trip to the Countryside of Tuscany

Those who want to discover the splendors of the Tuscan countryside will be delighted by the amazing cultural and natural treasures of the whole area. Whether by car, on foot, by bike or on horseback, Tuscany offers myriad opportunities if you are looking to dive into a centuries-old culture immersed in beauty. The landscape of Chianti looks like it was drawn by hand. Visitors can tour along many itineraries spotlighting forests, vineyards, hamlets and special districts. Crete Senesi is a fascinating area, characterized by shapes sculpted from an ever-changing sea of clay. The thermal baths of Rapolano and the truffles of San Giovanni D’Asso are just some of the wonders that this area offers. Although the whole region is filled with beautiful farms and vineyards, our favorite part might have to be the Val d’Orcia, pictured both here and at top. A World Heritage site, the landscape is where almost every postcard of Tuscany’s countryside. Yes, the countryside of Tuscany is stunning and I’d love to help you plan your trip to Rome so be sure to pick up the phone and call me or send me an email when you’re ready to start planning.

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Pantheon

The Pantheon at Rome is the most preserved and influential building of ancient Rome. It is a Roman temple dedicated to all the gods of pagan Rome. Even today, almost 2000 years after its construction, the breathtaking pantheon is a remarkable building to see. The spectacular design, proportions, elegance and harmony are a striking reminder of the architecture of the great Roman Empire. When Michelangelo saw this wonder for the first time he said that it looks more like the work of angels, not humans. The most fascinating part of the Pantheon is its giant dome, with its famous hole in the top (The eye of the Pantheon, or oculus). The dome was the largest in the world for 1300 years and until today it remains the largest unsupported dome in the world! The diameter of the dome is 43.30 meters or 142ft (for comparison, the United States Capitol dome is 96 feet in diameter). The design of the Pantheon is so that a  perfect sphere could sit inside symbolizing the vault of heaven. Such a spectacle in the eye! I’d love to help you plan your trip to Rome so be sure to pick up the phone and call me or send me an email when you’re ready to start planning.

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Roman Forum

The Roman Forum was once Ancient Rome's district of basilicas, public spaces, and temples, that made up the Roman Empire's political, commercial, and social center. It is located in a valley between Capitoline and Palatine Hills. When the Roman Empire fell, the Forum did as well. Much of its stone and marble was removed and reused elsewhere. It was used as pastureland in the Middle Ages, and in the 1800s excavations began, which continue even today. The Roman Forum is world famous and a popular tourist destination because it was the forum in Ancient Rome that held the Senate House, making it the most important. The Roman Forum's size was 170 meters by 250 meters. Some of the most famous ruins in the Roman Forum include the Temple of Vesta, the Temple of Saturn, the Arch of Titus, the Rostra, the Temple of Castor and Pollux, and the Curia, the Senate House. This is truly an exciting spot in Rome you wouldn’t want to miss! I’d love to help you plan your trip to Rome so be sure to pick up the phone and call me or send me an email when you’re ready to start planning.

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Roman Statues

While the Greeks made sculptures of idealized human forms, the Roman tended to make portraits. Romans made sculptures of gods, heroes, emperors, generals and politicians. They also used sculpted images to adorn the capitals of columns and the helmets of gladiators. Roman sculptures often reflected the fashions and lifestyles that were prevalent when they were made. Archaeologists can even date sculptures of Roman by their hairdos and clothing styles. During the Augustan Age, for example, women parted their hair in the middle with a central roll. The Flauvians and Antiones had more elaborate coiffures that resembled a honeycomb of curls. ["The Creators" by Daniel Boorstin] Sculpture were made spectacular-looking but hard to work stone such as porphyry from Gebel Dokhan in northeast Egypt, basanite granite from Gebel Fatireh in eastern Egypt, and blue, yellow, green, black and grey marble from elsewhere in the empire. If you need directions in finding these scupltures, I’d love to help you plan your trip so be sure to pick up the phone and call me or send me an email when you’re ready to start planning.

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Coffee in Italy

Coffee, and I mean great coffee, is on every street corner, available in every bar and café. They call it some different names, though, so if you’re ordering coffee in Italy, keep these tips in mind:

“Un café” will get you a shot of espresso. It’s a strong, dark and bitter shot of coffee. “Un café Americano” will get you a watered down espresso. It’s as close to a regular cup of coffee as it gets, and then you can add sugar.

Don’t make the mistake of ordering “un latte,” because you will get a funny look, and then receive a warm cup of milk. That’s what latte is in Italian — milk. Instead, “un café macchiato” is coffee with a stain of milk. You can also order a cappuccino in Italy, but only do so in the mornings for breakfast. The Italians believe that the milk will fill you up, so you don’t want to drink it after noon, otherwise you won’t be hungry.

Another excellent coffee drink is “un café shakirato.” It’s a shot of espresso, lightly sweetened and shaken with ice until it’s all foamy on top. I’d love to help you plan your trip to Rome so you wouldn’t miss anything delish!

Be sure to pick up the phone and call me or send me an email when you’re ready to start planning.

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