P454 5 text 454 27 Dec 1824:58 's—0pp —0p '£ "!££!£(,' Vienna 10C cloudy ————————————————————————————————— 1/6 ITALY is a rewarding mix of fine food, top fashion and high culture. Its cities are busy, but the counttysidr is relaxing and soothing. Don't expect efficiency — it moves at its own pace, with great charm. O LOCAL TIME Now + 1 hr + FLIGHT Direct flights O from US to major cities. LondonJRomj 2\ hrs. a-z 199 weathjt 420 holidays 200 ——————————————————————————————————————p GLOBAL HOLIDAYS SEE 294 NOW kjnza mltaOgbrltt hol guide main inde8P454 5 text 454 27 Dec 1821:34 's—0pp —0p ' |n5*u '£ "!££!£(,' Vienna 10C cloudy ——————————————————————————————————pp—— VISA None for US passport holders. HEALTH Few costs with form E111, but insurance recommended. EXCHANGE Easy. Credit cards widely accepted. Expect to wait in banks. O + LANGUAGE English widely spoken, but a smattering O of Italian appreciated in the countryside. a-z 199 wiathjt 420 holida|s 200 —————————————————————————————————————— WEEKEND CITY BREAKS SEE 261 kjnza mltaOgbrltt hol guide main inde8P454 5 text 454 27 Dec 1824:4 's—0pp —0p '£ "!££!£(,' Vienna 10C cloudy ————————————————————————————————— 3/6 CLIMATE Spring and autumn is warm and mostly sunny; Jul-Aug vjty hot; winters mild but can bj rainy. WHERE TO GO Cities for culture and colour (see p470); Northern Lakes O Garda, Como and Lugano O for relaxing; Liguria + and the Riviera for beach resorts; Tuscany, OO Umbria, Tzrol for scinjty and cafe culture. a-z 199 weathjt 420 holida|s 200 ——————————————————————————————————————p BOOS A BREAK IN THE MED PRESS 232 kjnza mltaOgbrltt hol guide main inde8P454 5 text 454 27 Dec 1823:01 's—0pp —0p ' |n5*u '£ "!££!£(,' Vienna 10C cloudy ————————————————————————————————— 4/6 HIGHLIGHTS Basilica of San Francisco in Assisi; Capri's Blue Grotto; Pompeii'1 ruins; Pisa's Lraning Tower; Rome'; Colosseum; the Vatican's museums and Sistine ChapelL Venice's canals and St Mark's Square; the alleys of Siinb; hiking in the O Dolomites in the T|sol. + CAR HIRE Good for sight- O seeing, but expensive. Rail is good and cheap. a-z 199 weathjt 420 holidays 200 ——————————————————————————————————————p THOMAS COOS TOR ITSRATES 207 kjnza mltaOgbrltt hol guide main inde8P454 5 text 454 27 Dec 1822:14 's—0pp —0p ' |n5*u '£ "!££!£(,' Vienna 10C cloudy ————————————————————————————————— 5/6 EATING One of Italy's great pleasures. Each region has specialitiis — seafood around Venice, for example, and pizza on the T rustic ttattorias, and linker ovjt cappucinou in cafes and squares. O DRJNSING Italian wine is + among the world's best; a big glass costs around £1. Try Bellini cocktails in Venice. a-z 199 weathjt 420 holidays 200 ——————————————————————————————————————p 'EESEND CITY BREAKS SEE 261 kjnza mltaOgbrltt hol guide main inde8P454 5 text 454 27 Dec 1814:18 's—0pp —0p '£ "!££!£(,' Vienna 10C cloudy —————————————————————————p——————— 6/6 5 TIPS Carry plenty of small changr; i& shops are closed in the afternoon, try again later; Italy is vjty children- friendly; public transport is supjtb; Umbria/Marches bordjt aria damaged bz recent earthquakes. O WHAT'S ON Local saint's + festivals held throughout the year; Hanukkah 8-day OO Jewish festival of lights in Rome, to 31 Dec. a-z 199 weathjt 420 holidays 200 ——————————————————————————————————————p BOOS A BRE—S IN THE MED P EST kjnza mltaOgbrltt hol guide main inde8