Italy

Post

Stamps can be bought from Post Offices and tobacconists. Letters for any destination can be put into normal post boxes. In addition certain locations have priority ("Prioritaria") boxes. Priority letters should be posted into these boxes where they exist. Letters to be sent Prioritaria should have the appropriate blue sticker attached in the top left corner - it is not acceptable to just write this on the envelope. As at November 2005, costs for a standard letter up to 20g are:

• 45 cents for standard delivery (3 days) within Italy.
• 60 cents for Priotaria delivery within Italy.
• 62 cents for letters to Europe.
• 80 cents for Priotaria letters to most other destinations.
• 1 euro for letters to Oceania.

Up to date prices, and full details are available from Poste Italiane (The Italian Post Office)

Phone

The international calling code for the Italy is 39.

Numbers are generally quoted in the form of an 2 digit area code followed by the number, You should dial the whole number as written, even when it is a local call. If you are calling from abroad, simply dial the international prefix followed by the full area code (do not omit any leading 0s).

Calling cards are available at tobacconists and other shops. Prices for calls using these cards are fairly typical for Western Europe, with different cards being better value for different countries. The best way to choose one is to check with other travellers which card they have found to be the best value for money.

As a visitor you generally have three options for making calls:

• Using a payphone. Calls from these to numbers within Italy are quite reasonably priced, though it will usually be cheaper to use a calling card for international calls. It may be necessary to buy a phone card to make calls using a payphone, as most will not accept coins.
• Using your mobile phone from home. Check tariffs with your phone provider. North American phones do not usually work in Italy.
• Buying a Pay-as-you-go phone or SIM card in Italy. Vodafone Italy provide pre-pay SIM cards for 10 Euros (including 5 Euros of credit). These are available from the network of Vodafone stores.. TIM offer similar cards, for a significantly more expensive 40 euros, with 20 euros of credit included. The TIM cards are valid for a full 12 months after activation or recharge before they expire. Only buy these cards from the official shops, as ones which are available at news kiosks and the like appeared to have to go through a complex activation process before they could be used.

Internet

Internet is available in post/phone type offices and specialised cafes across Italy. These range from the places mostly dedicated to online gaming, which are more likely to offer voice and webcam facilities, but often charge more, through to the basic terminals available at many Western Union outlets. easyinternet provide a consistent easy-to-use interface at locations in some of Italy's larger cities, and are usually at the cheaper end of the price range. A few hostels provide free internet access in Italy, but where it is not free it is quite often charged at fairly outrageous prices - check which it is before you check in.