Everyone knows Italy is a thriving international tourist mecca. Nevertheless, Italy is still strongly defined by its individual regions or states, le regiono, which offer the visitor different cultural experiences. Indeed, Italians tend to identify principally with the city and region of their birth. In its most extreme form, this is called il campanilismo, which denotes absolute love and allegiance to one's own campanile (bell tower), to one's own quartiere, one's own city, one's own region. This phenomenon may be due to Italians reaching nationhood quite late historically, around 1860/1861.

Each regione Italiana has therefore developed their own unique tradiziono, feste e cucina regionale (traditions, festivals, and cuisine) and of course, their own dialetti, languages that may significantly differ from Italian. As such, every one of the 20 regions of Italy is fascinating to discover, it's as if there are 20 little Italies all packed into the one country.

Thus, we recommend that when planning a trip to Italy, you should consider getting off the beaten track. In other words, the farther you get away from large, touristy towns and cities, the more you'll get to know the "real Italy" and the richer your Italian experience will be. Try to make it a must experience but not mass experience.

Accommodation in Italy

Albergo - Italian word for hotel. Increasingly, Italians are dropping the term "albergo" and substituting the word "hotel" instead (but they usually don't pronounce the "h", as it is silent in Italian). This is the most common type of accommodation you will find, especially in the tourist areas.

Locanda - More of a country or rustic inn. This term is still used a great deal particularly around Venice.

Pensione - A small hotel, or more of a boarding house. In the past, it was common to share a bathroom and eat three meals a day with the family owners. Those days are gone, and the "pensione" is disappearing as well. You will still be able to find some, usually being a one or two-star hotel.

Motel - These are gaining in popularity and tend to be off the interstate.

Alberghi diurni - Day hotels, are often found outside railway stations and offer shower facilities, restrooms, hair dressers, telephones, etc. but do not offer sleeping amenities.

Agrirurismo - "Agriturismo" is an Italian concept that makes clean, pleasant rooms available in farms (fattorie) or other country houses. It is a type of accommodation that is becoming increasingly popular. Italy also offers other options for more non-traditional accommodations. Gaining in popularity are options like renting un appartamento or una villa - particularly around Tuscany or the Amalfi Coast or Bed and Breakfasts, which tend to be in the one or two-star category.

Best time to travel to Italy - Months of the Year

Of course the summer months are ideal in Europe, but watch out for the Ferragosto (the period round the August 15) which is the busiest and the most expensive time of the summer, it's l'alta stagione (high season). You may like to avoid the long queues at this time in the busiest cities like Rome, Florence and Venice.

Giugno/ Settembre (June / September):
These are excellent months if you like to go to the seaside - not too crowded - and usually the weather is quite nice. These months are also good for city tourism since it is not too hot. As compared with August the weather is better, but the nightlife (Estate Romana etc.) is gone. However, there are a number of special events that are organized at the beginning of September, for example the magnificent Historic Regatta along the Grand Canal in Venice.

To be informed of the special events being organized during this period, or any period of the year, you can obtain information from the local tourist offices of the city government. They are either called enit "ente nazionale Italiano per" or "pro loco".

Aprile/ Maggio/ Ottobre (April/ May/ October):
These months are perfect for visiting both cities and countryside (la campagna).

Da Novembre a Marzo (November to March):
During this period, it really depends on your luck. You might find cold, rain and awful weather or possibly pleasant and dry conditions, particularly if you keep south of Florence (Firenze). These are good months to visit the deep South, like Sicily. The advantage that this period offers is the bassa stagione (low season). Alternatively, if you are into skiing and lovely Christmas markets, you may want to visit the mountain areas of the regions of Valle d'Aosta, Piemonte and Alto Adige.

Holidays

Pasqua (Easter):
In Italy, Easter is a very important holiday. Aside from Easter Sunday, Domenica di Pasqua, there is the immediately following Easter Monday, Pasquetta. The long weekend encourages people to extend their days of vacation, possibly to the following weekend (PONTI or bridges).

Natale (Christmas):
La famiglia, family, is of course the Christmas theme. In recent years all of the major cities and also smaller centres, have Christmas decorations in the streets (particularly around the main shopping areas). In the region of Lombardia, the December 13 is the festivity of Santa Lucia. The celebrations include the setting up of lovely markets with local arts and crafts and food specialties in the central town squares.

Capo D'Anno (New Years):
New Year is also considered a major holiday in Italy. People usually take off from work both the 31 December and the 1 January. A relatively new development is the organization of big New Year's parties or gatherings in the main squares of the big cities where anyone is free to participate. In smaller centres, various types of local celebrations are organised.

Epifania (Epiphany):
If you are there for Christmas and the New Year, you might consider staying on until the Epiphany, which is on January 6. This is the date that finally closes the Christmas season, and it is celebrated mostly for children who receive gifts from the old benevolent witch, the Befana. In the squares of many of the main cities, like Piazza Navona in Rome, there are countless stalls exhibiting all kinds of toys.

Giorni Festivi (Public holidays)
We all know about Natale, Capo d'anno e Pasqua (New Years, and Easter). But Italy celebrates other holidays as well: Efifania, Jan 6, Liberazione (Liberation Day), Apr 25, Festa del Lavoro (May Day), May 1, Festa della Repubblica, (Festival of the Republic) June 2, Ferragosto, Nov 1, Ognisanti (All Saints Day), Nov 1, Immacolata concezione (Immaculate Conception), Dec 8, Santo Stefano (Feast of St. Stephen), Dec 26. Feast days for saints are also common in local cities as well.