ITALY TRAVEL GUIDE
This travel guide is designed to help you get the most of your holiday and provides both
helpful information regarding what to see and do but also practical tips and safety
guidelines relevant to Italy.
We do our best to maintain this guide and keep it up to date however it is for
information purposes only and is not subject to the terms and conditions of your
holiday contract with us.
Print what you need from this guide
This guide is intended for you to cherry pick what you need. That way we avoid
wastefully printing information which is not entirely relevant to you. So just print
the pages you want and take them with you. Press control and click on any of the
highlighted links you require.
Pre-departure holiday check list
Take the time to look through this check list to ensure that you are fully prepared for
your holiday.
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Holiday documentation/items
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Travel tickets, flight, ferry or train. Double check these to make sure
all dates and timings are correct. Also check that names on tickets
correspond with those on the passports of those travelling.
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Hire car voucher (if appropriate). Remember you will need a credit card
and a valid driving license when you pick up the car.
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Accommodation voucher for your villa and any overnight stop hotels.
Double check these to make sure all dates are correct.
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Maps and or satellite navigation system as well as local directions
to the villa / hotels. Check your route on mappy to make sure you are
happy with your timings.
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Make sure your mobile phone is enabled for international calls and
message service in case you need to call the key holder of the villa.
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Satellite navigation system. Many people are using these on holiday
nowadays.
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Passports / visas
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Ensure that you have a full passport which is valid until after your
return from holiday. Should your passport require renewal give yourself
plenty of time as delays can build up unexpectedly. You can make passport
applications on line.
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Children who are not on parent’s passport and newly born babies require
their own passports.
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Visas are not required for travellers holding EU passports except for
stays exceeding 90 days. All other persons should contact the Italian
details.
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Holiday insurance
If you haven’t already obtained Travel Insurance (which you should have as it
is a condition of booking that you hold Travel Insurance at least equivalent to
that which we offer) then we suggest you click on the Holiday insurance link
above (hold down your control key at the same time).
It is also a good idea to obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to
receive healthcare which will often allow you to recoup excess insurance charges.
This is the equivalent to the old E1-11 form.
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Medicines
Check you have adequate supplies of any prescribed medicine which you intend
taking with you.
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Money
Ensure you have adequate money available and pay particular attention to any
cash deposits which may need to be paid on arrival at the villa. Major credit
cards are accepted all over the world and are a good way to limit the amount of
cash you carry around. Cash machines are also readily available. Do take care
with your money and what you carry in Italy particularly and in busy places like
tourist attractions, stations and airports.
Currency restrictions: Check with the embassy before departure. Import and export
of both local and foreign currency is limited to €10,329.14. If it is intended
to import or export amounts greater than this, the amount should be declared
and validated in Italy on form V2.
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Glasses
It’s worth taking a spare pair of glasses just in case, particularly if you are
the main driver.
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Permits
If you are intending hiring a boat or similar which require qualification
certificates then do remember to check they are up to date and take them
with you.
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Your own house
Let the neighbours know you are going and give them your mobile number, make
sure someone local has a key, cancel your milk and newspapers, set the timer
lights, set the alarm, put valuables out of sight and do all you can do to make
sure your home is safe whilst your away.
Travel related information
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The airport
You should aim to arrive at the airport at least two hours before departure.
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The port or train terminal
Eurotunnel request that you arrive between thirty minutes and two hours of
departure and car ferry operators request that you arrive up to one hour before
departure. There are cut price shopping facilities at the ports so you may wish
to add time to allow you to take advantage of them.
Should you miss your crossing then your ticket should remain valid for the next
available crossing. Contact the company’s ticket office to change your ticket for
the new crossing time and pay any supplements if applicable. It is possible you
will be placed on stand by for the next available space.
You will be directed to loading zones from where you may leave the car and use the
port facilities. Do keep an eye on the departure screens and listen out for
announcements regarding your crossing once through the check-in zone. Marshalls
or crew hands will direct you on board. Once on board park with the vehicle in
gear and the hand break on. Take what you need out of the car as you will not be
allowed back for ferry crossings although with Eurotunnel you stay with your
car throughout the journey.
If you have booked on board accommodation then go to the check-in desk or pursers
office where you will receive instructions. Sometimes you can book on board
although the overnight crossings are usually full with advanced bookings.
Do be careful if you decide to take bicycles or other high equipment as these
will need to be pre-booked so your vehicle can be allocated over height space
on board.
Note – Eurotunnel do not permit LPG or CNG powered cars.
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Rental cars
Usually cars come with a full tank and you are asked to return it full. Be
careful as if you don’t the top up charge is usually very expensive. Check
the arrangement at the time of pick up. It’s also worth double checking what
insurance cover and excess waiver you have on your rental contract as you may
well be asked if you want additional cover.
When you return your car you should park as instructed and remember in busy
periods you may need to get to the airport that bit earlier in order to park as
some of the smaller airports such as Ciampino in Rome have limited space for
hire cars.
Flight confirmations
In some instances, usually charters, it is necessary to call the operator to confirm
the flight a day or so before departure. Check your flight details to be sure.
On the road in Italy
First of all, remember that the regular way of driving in Italy is on the right side of
the road.
Distances : Try to have time indications instead of kilometers on a journey. In Italy,
you have a lot of small mountain or bendy roads, usually you cannot go too
fast on these.
There are few pavements in Italy, it can be dangerous to go walking to a restaurant
located at 500 meters from your house at night. Coming back, after your dinner, you’ll
find yourself on a non lit road, you might have an accident.
Please, prefer doing this by car, should you want to walk, there are often some very
well indicated white gravel roads, even if they are not totally for walking, they can
be more convenient for you.
In Italy the police can stop you at any moment and you must have with you your driving
license and identity document. If you do not have these documents you could well be
required to report to the police station with them or you may be fined, so carry them
with you all the times.
Speed limits
- On the autostrada the limit is 130 km/h
- On the superstrada, the limit is 90 km/h
Unfortunatly there are too many accidents on the roads in Italy due to high speed driving
and as a result the police are starting to use speed cameras more and more, even on
smaller roads.
If you pass of 40 kms/h the autorised limit they immediately take your licence.
The drink driving laws are the same as in the UK.
Petrol
The price of petrol is a much discussed issue at present and the past year has seen many
increases and a few decreases.
A litre of unleaded (senza piombo or verde) should cost approx. €1.05
Most petrol stations are manned in the morning and afternoon and the majority have 24
hrs self-service facilities using credit cards and notes. You insert either €10 or €20
notes and select the pump you require. Please note that these machines do not give
change so do not put too much money int. The petrol stations on motorways (autostrade)
are open 24 hours a day.
- A petrol station means a “distributore” in italian
- Car macchina
- Petrol benzina
- Tyres gomme
- Bonnet cofano
- Boot portabagagli
- Clutch frizione
- Brake freno
- Breakdown service soccorso stradale (116)
- Accident incidente
- Insurance assicurazione
- Traffic lights semafori
- Fill tank please il pieno par favour
- Check the oil/tyres controlli l’olio/ l’acqua per favour
- Flat battery batteria scarica
- Oil/water leak fuga di olio / di acqua
- Puncture foratura
- Fuses fusibili
- Spark plug candela
- Engine motore
- Gearbox/carurettor scattola di cambio/distributore
- Suspension sospensione
- Drive shaft albero motore
- Late/delay ritardo
For breakdowns call :
Automobile Club Italia
- Florence : 055 24 861
- Pisa : 050 95 0111
- Siena : 0577 49011
For emergency call 116
Your holiday villa
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Directions
You will have received directions to the villa approximately two weeks before
your occupancy is due to begin. Many clients are using portable satellite
navigation systems which are increasingly accurate all over the world. The
postal address of the villa is usually provided with the directions and this
can be put directly into satellite navigation systems to allow you to organise
your own route. If its not ask and we will try to get it for you. For Italy we
recommend use of www.mappy.com which is a good international route finder system.
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Help in resort
With the key directions we also supply the contact phone number of the owner or
key-holder and it is to them you should turn if you need anything. In most cases
they can resolve issues promptly although you may find communication interesting
as they will usually be Italian. In case of emergency or on going issues you
should contact the our local agent who’s number is also provided. They have the
local knowledge and experience to deal with most things. Please call our UK
office if you feel we could help chasing matters up or for any decisions with
financial implications.
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Arrival times and occupancy
Details of when you should arrive at the villa are detailed on both your key
directions and the villa description. This is generally between 16.00 and 19.00.
(check the villa description) You need to vacate the villa by 10.00 on the day
of departure being careful to coordinate with the keyholder/owner for any deposit
refunds and outstanding settlements which may be due.
If you are delayed and anticipate arriving late telephone the keyholder/owner
and explain your situation. They will tell you what can and can’t be done in
such circumstances. Use the local agents for back up if needs be.
Only the number of adults and children accompanying the named party leader will
be allowed to stay in the property. Of course you can have visitors but they
mustn’t stay the night.
Generally you can arrive early and drop off bags or use toilet facilities but
you will be discouraged from occupying the house until preparations are
completed. Best to head for a local café, restaurant, beach or get the shopping
done while you wait.
Be careful if you are arriving on a Sunday or a local bank holiday to ensure you
have worked out what to do for essential provisions.
The villa is usually provided perfectly clean. Upon arrival please let the
key-holder know if you will be doing the final clean or if you would prefer a
cleaner to take care of it for you, if so check the rate. Check the villa
description for any alternative arrangements.
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House keys
There will usually only be one set of keys for the house. Please look after them
as they can be hard and expensive to replace, above all don’t take them home
with you! Should you loose your keys please inform the key-holder/owner who
will inform you of the cost of replacement which you will be required to pay and
make the necessary arrangements to issue a new set.
When you leave please remember to put the key in the same place where you
picked it up on arrival. Remember you need to vacate the villa by 10.00 on the
departure day. The same goes for any safe keys and you should remember to
remove all valuables from the safe.
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Swimming pools - advice, do’s and don’ts
Pool depths are often indicated in the fact file section of the villa description
on the web site along with any other matters of note concerning the pool. Please
take the time to familiarise yourself with the pool depths especially if you
anticipating supporting non swimmers in the water. Avoid swimming after alcohol
consumption and do not dive even if there is a diving board.
Please don’t manipulate any of the pool controls which govern the filtration and
top up system nor put any chemicals in the water. The pool will be checked and
maintained for you.
Should the pool become cloudy so that you can’t see the bottom don’t use it. This
can happen with thunderous weather conditions as well as malfunctioning of
the pool equipment. Shower before use of the pool is recommended as sun tan
lotion can also affect the clarity of the water. Call the keyholder and he/she
will address the matter for you should you have a problem.
A net is usually provided for you to fish out any insects, leaves etc. which may
find their way into the pool during your say.
Be careful around the side of the pool especially if it is wet as it can easily
become slippy. Don’t swim at night or if you are completely on your own. Avoid
swimming after alcohol consumption and don’t use anything other than plastic
cups by the pool.
Please supervise children at all times. Many pools have fences now but don’t
let that lull you into a false sense of security as a determined child could
still climb over. Speak to the keyholder about how the alarm operates (if there
is one –they are not common in Italy), they are usually water displacement or
infra red sensitive.
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Kitchens
You will find all that you need in the way of utensils and crockery in the
kitchen of your villa. Should there be anything missing then do contact the
keyholder and he/she will do their best to rectify the matter as soon as
possible.
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Garden furniture
Our villas are well equipped with garden furniture and pool furniture where
there is a swimming pool. Cushions are not always provided as they are very
susceptible to damp if not cared for properly, if there are cushions please
take care to put them inside when it rains and when you go out.
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Additional local services
The villa will be nice and clean for your arrival. In some cases maid services
are included during your stay and this is detailed in the villa description.
You can sometimes employ a maid or cook locally through the key-holder and
you should call in advance if you wish to do so. We accept no responsibility
nor do we guarantee such services it is purely you own arrangement.
In some instances there is an obligatory end of stay clean which is detailed on
the villa description. In general you are advised to leave the villa in good
order and take rubbish bags to the main bins so as to avoid any additional
cleaning charges.
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Linen
You need to check the villa description carefully to see if linen is included or
hired locally or not available. We encourage our owners to supply linen
(which is changed at the end of each holiday unless stated otherwise) as an
all in option but many are unwilling and on balance we felt we would prefer
to have a good wide choice of villas than turn owners down because of
this issue.
If you need to pay for the linen locally don’t forget to have the ready money
available.
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Washing machines
Most of the villas have washing machines which you should take care with
particularly unfamiliar top loaders as they are quite fragile and often
require a new one rather than a repair which can cost you dearly. So please
don’t force doors or anything like that, ask the key-holder if you need
assistance.
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Damages
If you see anything untoward when you arrive then report it to the key-holder
straight away to avoid any dispute later. Hopefully there won’t be any breakages
during your stay but if there are report them as soon as possible to allow
time for suitable replacements to be purchased. Buying the nearest looking
thing doesn’t really help.
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House and garden maintenance
All issues connected to maintenance of the house and garden should be reported
to the key-holder who will take the necessary steps.
It may be necessary for the gardener or pool personnel or other maintenance
people to undertake tasks at the villa during your stay. This is always kept
to a minimum with your privacy in mind but must be done all the same so that
the villa is kept in good order.
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Plumbing
The drainage pipes in Italy are often smaller than in the UK so you should take
great care not to flush anything other than tissue paper down the toilet.
In the countryside septic tanks are often in use so don’t use bleach or similar
chemical products as they can kill the bacteria and lead to an expensive
restart operation.
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Animals and insects
You are advised to discourage your children from playing with or feeding animals
abroad as their hygiene standards differ from our own. If any of your party are
bitten or scratched by an animal we suggest you seek medical advice without
delay.
Keeping the villa tidy and free of food left lying around will help greatly in
discouraging any animals, rodents and insects. Taking sensible measures such
as closing windows in the evenings when the lights are on in the villa will
help keep unwanted visitors at bay, in particular mosquitoes. Ants have a habit
of turning up on mass whenever there is food around but you will find plenty of
products in the supermarket to dissuade them.
Should you have any serious infestations such as bees then contact the local
agent so that he/she can address the matter.
For reasons of hygiene bins need to be emptied more frequently in Italy due to
the hot weather. Please tie all rubbish securely and deposit each day in the
appropriate container on the road.
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Toilet paper
You will find toilet paper in the villa on arrival. However you will need to
stock up and are expected to replace what is used.
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Electricity
Electricity is very expensive in Italy so please turn off the house lights during
the day and at night when you go to bed. Usually each villa operates on the
basis of a reasonable kw allocation per week, which, if exceeded will incur a
charge locally. See the villa description for any exceptions.
Security on holiday
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Security at the villa
It’s very easy to switch off and be over relaxed on holiday, which is fine as
long as you remember to take reasonable precautions. Even when you are in the
villa you should remember to lock doors and windows that are out of sight of
where you are spending most of your time.
If there is a safe in the house then use it for storing your valuables. Lock
your car as it too can be a target.
When away from the villa close all windows, shutters and grills etc.
ensuring the property is secure. Refrain from leaving portable electrical
equipment lying around or washing on the line.
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Security at the villa
It’s not nice being burgled but the important thing is to ensure you report
any break in to the local police within 24 hours. Ensure that you inform the
key-holder straight away. You also need to contact your insurance company and
complete all the necessary paperwork promptly.
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Don’t make yourself a target
On the whole Italy is a very relaxed country to be in but like anywhere there
are areas in which criminals thrive such as large towns. Tourists are often
considered easy prey as they are less wary so try not to attract too much
attention, put valuables out of sight in the car, don’t make public displays
of large amounts of cash or expensive jewellery.
Again if you are unlucky make sure you report any incident to the police and
insurance company.
Have a safe and healthy holiday
Please take a few moments to digest the contents of this section of the guide as it
could make a big difference to ensuring your holiday is an enjoyable success. Safety
and hygiene standards have come on a long way in recent years but there is still a
significant difference between UK standards and those upheld elsewhere.
We encourage our villa owners to take proper care and we also ask that you do as well
whilst on your holiday.
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Balconies
Particular care should be taken if you have young children to ensure that they
are not left unsupervised on balconies. Reduce the opportunity for children to
climb over the barrier by keeping objects such as patio furniture away from the
barrier.
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Bathrooms
Many continental villas have tiled floors so you need to take particular care
and advise unaccustomed children of the dangers of slipping. Be wary as bath
mats are rarely non-slip. Be wary of the hot water which can sometimes be
scalding hot.
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Barbecues
Do be aware of any restrictions which may come in to being during unusual dry
spells, particularly in areas of Lazio and Tuscany. Fines can be very heavy
and unwitting consequences very serious.
When your barbecue is finished do ensure you extinguish it properly and don’t
put hot ashes in the bins. Look out for any restrictions on barbecue use -
check with the keyholder. Don’t leave your barbecue unattended.
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Hobs
In some instances you will find the hob has a cover which needs to be lifted
before use and should only be closed once the rings have had time to cool. If in
doubt ask the key-holder.
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Gas and electricity
All UK appliances will function in Italy with the use of an adapter plug. The
main difference in the systems is the sensitivity of the fuse switches which are
often on a low tolerance and will trip if too many appliances are running at
once and sometimes in the event of thunderstorms. You should check where the
fuse box is and make sure you have a torch handy so that you can find it in the
dark if necessary.
You may also need to adapt to the weaker supply system which may be tripping out
due to too many appliances functioning at once.
It is strongly recommended that you do not use candles. On arrival ask the key
holder where the torch is located.
Please keep an eye out for any electrical defaults. On the continent the plug
sockets in particular seem to come loose much more easily. Please report any
defects to the key-holder.
Some houses have gas heaters and whilst owners are obliged to have them properly
serviced you should check if there is a carbon monoxide detector and if not
bring it to the key-holders attention and above all allow for good ventilation
at night.
There are a number of sensible precautions which you can take: Ensure the hot
tap is fully turned off after use. If you smell gas open all doors and windows
and extinguish naked flames. Refrain from switching lights on or off. Leave the
building and allow time for gas to disperse. Report the matter to the key-holder.
If you are in any doubt regarding the functioning of any of the gas appliances
ask the key-holder.
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Patio doors
Many villas have large patio windows to take advantage of views, however they
are often not made of toughened glass. So please take particular care and warn
children of the dangers as this is one of the biggest causes of injury in
holiday homes.
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Garden furniture precautions
Take particular care that such things as sun loungers and deck chairs are erected
properly before use. Be wary of sitting down too heavily on them as the sun
can cause plastic and wood to tire imperceptivity and you will be held to
account as current occupiers.
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Fire safety
If there are fire information leaflets in the villa please take the time to read
them as they may well differ from the UK. Upon arrival at the villa familiarise
yourself with the exit nearest to each room. This is also important in hotels you
may be using on route.
You are in a hot country, remember that it is strictly forbidden to throw
cigarette ends on the ground outside. Fire can begin with almost nothing,
we strongly recommend that you be very careful about that.
In the unlikely event of a fire
- Raise the alarm
- Call the fire brigade - 115
- Do not panic
- Leave the building. Do not stop to take personal belongings with you.
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If the exits / stairs are blocked
Keep the doors shut and try to get out onto a balcony for fresh air and
to attract attention.
- Do not re enter the building.
- Await for clearance from the fire brigade.
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Emergency service numbers
- Fire 115
- Ambulance (SAMU) 118
- Police 113
- Coastguard 1530
- Mountain rescue 1515
Please note that some of the operators may not speak English.
For serious health problems, if the patient is transportable, take him/her to
the sos “pronto soccorso” at the hospital.
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Adventurous activities
Do be mindful of the hazards involved when undertaking adventurous activities such as
windsurfing, scuba diving, via ferratas and rope courses etc. Standard holiday policies
don’t usually cover such things so do check on your cover if you are planning such
things and take out extra insurance cover if required.
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Supervise young children
Never leave young children unsupervised and always let them know where you will
be and stress to them the importance of not wandering off. Everybody wants to
relax on holiday but child supervision must be maintained as children do tend
to be distracted more easily in foreign places.
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Playgrounds
Should you use playgrounds on holiday do remember to keep an eye on your children
at all times. Safety standards are not the same as at home so you may want to
check you are happy with things before letting the children loose.
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Cots and high chairs
We encourage owners to put modern cots and high chairs with straps in the villas
where advertised. However some individuals still insist that the old cot that the
last five generations of their family were raised in is best. So if you find
that the cot or high chair is not up to modern standards please ask the key-holder
for a replacement and failing that call our local agent who will address the
matter.
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Water
Water is much more expensive than at home and you need to keep in mind that
this is a hot country. Sometimes, during summer, the nearby city close the water
supply during the nights… remember then, not to put the washing machine or
dishwasher on at night.
Also, the water is not there for washing cars... Please use the automatic
cleaning points available in most of the petrol stations.
Down on the beach
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Beachside tips
Both by the sea and on rivers there are a number of potential threats and as
ever forewarned is forearmed so we hope you find the following
suggestions useful:
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Check if there is a flag system in operation and if
there is how it works.
- Ask about the safest beach at the local tourist office.
- Have a look if there are any lifeguards present.
- Don’t swim too far out and stay within your depth.
- Seek advice on local conditions such as currents and tides.
- Children should always be supervised.
- Don’t swim immediately after eating or drinking.
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Take care not to stray into areas designated for power boats and
other motorised craft.
- Use plenty of sun protection.
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Taking the sun
The effects of sunbathing without due precaution are now well documented. Try
to build your tan gradually and avoid burning. Always use high protection sun
cream and avoid remaining in the sun for prolonged periods.
In particular, look after children, who require at least factor 30 blocker and
if they are swimming make sure it doesn’t wash off. Sun hats and protective
clothing are highly recommended for younger children.
The middle of the day between 11.00 and 15.00 are the times when the suns rays
are at their most dangerous so it is prudent to avoid exposure during this time.
Sunscreen should block both UVA and UVB and have a high SPF.
Eyes also require protection from the sun, Bs2724:1987 sun glasses offer a
reliable British Standard.
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Burning and heat stroke
If you are unlucky enough to burn then get out of the sun and cover up with loose
clothing. Keep an eye on the burns for signs of infection and if you see any go
to a doctor. In the event of sun stroke drink lots of water and avoid alcohol
until your body has had chance to re-hydrate.
General information on Italy
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Banks
Cash machines are now found throughout Italy making it easy to top up your
money using your normal cash card and pin. Just be a bit wary as bank charges
are rising for this service.
Travellers’ cheques are a good “safe” way to carry money and to an extent can
help with budgeting for the holiday.
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Credit card companies
Should you need to contact any of the major credit card companies here are
their numbers:
- Abbey National 00 44 1908 344900
- American Express 00 44 1293 526840
- Barclays Bank 00 44 1604 230230
- Giro Bank 00 44 151 944 1220
- Lloyds TSB Bank 00 44 1702 364272
- HSBC Bank 00 44 181 4503122
- Nat West Bank 00 44 113 277 8899
- RBS 00 44 1702 351303
- TSB Trustcard 00 44 1273204471
Festival and public holidays
They are 13 bank holidays in Italy - each town also has its own bank
holiday in honour of a local patron saint or tradition . For details of
these holidays you should contact your owner or keyholder.
- Jan 1 New Year’s Day. Capodano
- Jan 6 Epiphany. Epifania
- Apr 12 Easter Monday. Easter Monday
- Apr 25 Liberation Day. Anniversario della liberazione
- May 1 Labour Day. Festa del Lavoro
- Jun 2 Anniversary of the Republic.
- Jun 25 Corpus Cristi Corpus Domini
- Aug 15 Assumption. Assunzione
- Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Tutti I Santi
- Nov 7 World War I Victory Anniversary Day.
- Dec 8 Immaculate Conception.
- Dec 25 Christmas Day. Nativita
- Dec 26 St Stephen’s Day. Boxing Day
Note: In addition, local feast days are held in honour of town patron saints, generally
without closure of shops and offices. These include:
- Turin/Genoa/Florence: Jun 24 (St John the Baptist).
- Milan: Dec 7 (St Ambrose).
- Siena: Jul 2 and Aug 16, Palio horserace.
- Venice: Apr 25 (St Mark).
- Bologna: Oct 4 (St Petronius).
- Naples: Sep 19 (St Gennaro).
- Bari: Dec 6 (St Nicholas).
- Palermo: Jul 15 (St Rosalia).
- Rome: Jun 29 (St Peter).
- Trieste: Nov 3.
Many of these banks holidays fall on Sundays and there is no carry-over to the Monday.
Therefore the effects on shop opening is minimal.
Also the main summer holidays for Italians are based around 15 august (ferragosto) a
day on which nobody and nothing moves. Almost all Italians tend to take their holiday
in august resulting in many towns and shops seeming deserted.
Many shops and restaurants remain closed on these days, your owner/key-holder will be
able to help you find which ones are open.
Antiques markets
Each corner of Italy has its market, large or small, but surely a market represents a
good opportunity for pleasing the taste for antiques and enjoying the flavour of
memories. For those who are looking for original period pieces, it is possible to make
some interesting finds or good deals. Antique trade markets in Italy, exhibit not only
Italian antique furniture. The market stalls show everything: books, prints, photos,
holy pictures, postcards, coins, silverware, jewellery, toys, ceramics, handicrafts,
and many others, a rich collection of ancient objects come out of attics, but ready
to take on a new lease of life in the hands of collectors.
The most famous are in :
Arezzo - piazza grande - the last Saturday and 1st Sunday of each month
Lucca 2nd Saturday and 3rd Sunday of each month
Your owner / key-holder is able to help you to find the nearest to your villa.