Airport
Milan is served by three airports. Malpensa is the biggest, handling more than 16 million passengers a year, and is also the farthest at 48 kilometers (30 miles) from the city center. The fastest way to cover the distance is via Malpensa Express train, which connects Terminal 1 of the airport with the center of Milan (Cadorna Station) in 40 minutes. Trains leave in both directions every half hour; the one-way train fare is 15,000 lira. If you land at Terminal 2, courtesy buses can ferry you to the airport train station. From Malpensa, you can also take a shuttle bus to Milano Central Railway station, with the fare costing 13,000 lira. For airport information, call tel: +39-02 748-5220. The airport closest to the city is Linate, only 7 kilometers (about 20 minutes) from downtown Milan. For Linate information call tel: +39-02 748-5220.The third airport is Orio al Serio, which is 40 km. (about 45 minutes by car) from Milan.

Visas
Citizens of most European nations and the following countries do not need a visa to enter Italy: Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Singapore, South Korea, U.S.A., Uruguay, and Venezuala.

Italian embassies can issue so-called Schengen visas allowing visitors to gain entry into the country, as well as Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. Some nationalities may be required to obtain a visa from the Schengen member states they plan to visit after Italy.

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Credit Cards
MasterCard, Diners Club and Visa are widely accepted in most establishments.

Currency
The lira will remain in circulation until July 1, 2002, when Europe's common currency, the euro, replaces it. Lira notes come in 100,000, 50,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, and 1,000 denominations. Coins are 500, 200, 100, and 50 lire.
The first euro coins and notes will be introduced in January 2002.

Currency exchange facilities -- for travellers checks and foreign money -- are available at most banks and in private exchange offices in railway stations, airports and hotels. There are 24-hour automatic teller machines at airports and stations and in the city center. Click here for currency conversion

Tipping
In restaurants, it is customary to leave a 5% to 10% tip for the waiter, depending on the service. Checkroom attendants usually get 500 lire, restroom attendants 200 lire, more in expensive hotels and restaurants. Tip taxi drivers 5% to 10% of the meter amount and tour guides about 2,000 lire for a half-day group tour, more if they are very good.

Railway and airport porters charge a fixed rate per bag; give an additional tip of 500 lire or more if the porter is very helpful. Theater ushers expect 500 lire per person, more for very expensive seats. Give a barber 2,000-3,000 lire and a hairdresser's assistant 3,000-8,000 lire for a shampoo or cut.

In mid-range hotels, leave the chambermaid about 1,000 lire per day, 1,000 lire for valet or room service. In very expensive hotels, doormen usually expect 1,000 lire for calling a cab and 2,000 lire for carrying bags to the check-in desk; bellhops 3,000-5,000 lire for carrying your bags to your room and 3,000-5,000 lire for room service.

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Useful Numbers:
Police: 113
Flying Squad (Carabinieri): 112
Fire-Brigade: 115
City Police: 02-77271
Poison Center: 02-6610-1029
Foreigners Bureau (Police Headquarters): 02-6226-5400
Visa-Eurocard MasterCard (in case of loss): 1670-18548
Visa-Eurocard MasterCard (Assistance): 02-3498-0111
American Express (Loss or Assistance): 06-72-282

Electricity
220 volts, 50 cycles AC. Wall outlets take plugs with two round prongs.

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Health Risks
No vaccination requirements for international travellers. Medical facilities are available, but may be limited outside urban areas in Italy. Public hospitals sometimes do not maintain the same standards as hospitals in other industrialized countries, so travelers are encouraged to obtain insurance that would cover a stay in a private Italian hospital or clinic. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services.

Time Zone
GMT + 1 (called Central Europe Time, or CET)
GMT + 2 from March 26 to October 29 (Summer Time, or Daylight Saving Time 2000)

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Business Hours
For most banks, opening hours are: 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; 3 p.m.-4 p.m. (or 2:45 p.m.-3:45 p.m.) from Mondays to Fridays.
Most shops are open from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3:30 or 4 to 7 or 7:30 p.m. Shops close on Sunday and one half-day during the week. Some department stores and supermarkets are open all day, also on Sunday.
Post offices are open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central and main district post offices stay open until 8 or 9 p.m. The main post office is open on Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Holidays

2008
1 Jan New Year's Day.
6 Jan Epiphany.
24 Mar Easter Monday.
25 Apr Liberation Day.
1 May Labour Day.
2 Jun Anniversary of the Republic.
15 Aug Assumption.
1 Nov All Saints' Day.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec St Stephen's Day.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
6 Jan Epiphany.
13 Apr Easter Monday.
25 Apr Liberation Day.
1 May Labour Day.
2 Jun Anniversary of the Republic.
15 Aug Assumption.
1 Nov All Saints' Day.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec St Stephen's Day.

Feast days of patron saints are also observed locally. Many businesses and shops may be closed in Milan on December 7, the Feast of St. Ambrose. Avoid scheduling a business trip to Italy in August, when most of the locals are on vacation, especially around Ferragosto, the August 15 national holiday. You will find many restaurants and shops in Milan closed.

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Climate
Italy's climate is predominantly Mediterranean: Alpine in the far north; hot and dry in the south. Winter in Milan (December to February) is relatively mild but foggy, with temperatures ranging from zero to 8 degrees Celsius. Summer (May to September) can be very humid and muggy, with brief thunderstorms; temperatures range from 14 to 29 degrees. From March through April, temperatures range from 6 to 18 degrees. From October through November, they range from 6 to 17 degrees. Click here for a 3-day weather forecast.

Clothing
During summer, lightweight cottons and linens are usually worn, except when staying up in the mountains. Warmer clothes are required during winter, particularly in the northern part of the country. Alpine wear is advised when visiting mountain resorts in winter.

GDP Growth Rate
Growth Rate: 1.4% (1999); 2.7% (2000 forecast)
Per Capita: US$20,700.

Inflation
1.65% (1999)

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Exports
Textiles and garments, chemicals, mechanical tools, machinery, motor vehicles, footwear, iron and steel, food and wine

Imports
Petroleum and coal, machinery and transportation equipment, textile yarn and fabrics, metals, chemicals, food

Trading Partners
Germany, France, UK, Netherlands, U.S., Belgium, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland

Industries
Among the major industries fueling Italy's economy are: manufacture of textiles and garments, chemical, cars, mechanical tools, heavy machinery, iron and steel, and foodstuffs; tourism; shipbuilding

Teledensity
2.217 people per phone

Government
Democratic republic, bicameral parliament.

Geography
Italy is a peninsula in southern Europe, extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia. Its strategic location allows it to dominate the southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe.

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Population
Italy: 58.9 million
Milan: 1.3 million

Ethnic Groups
Italians make up the main ethnic group. There are small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south.

Language
Italian is the national language. German is the official second language in the Trentino-Alto Adige region (Tyrol), parts of which are predominantly German-speaking. French is the official second language in Valle d'Aosta where there is a small French-speaking minority. There is a Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area.

Literacy
97%

Religion
Roman Catholic, 98%