As a general note, Italy, like all of Europe, is on the decimal system.
It is well to be aware that in Italy the conventions for dividing numbers are different from those in America: a period is used to separate thousands and a comma to separate decimals. Therefore, 1.23 (U.S. style) is written 1,23 in Italy, while American 12,345 is written 12.345.
The monetary unit all over Europe is now the Euro (€ or EU). Each country in the European Monetary Community mints its own coins and bills, but all are valid in all of the countries in the Union.
Bills are issued in 7 denominations:
5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euro.
There are 8 different coins:
2 euro, 1 euro, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 euro-centesimi.
The rate of exchange with non-European currencies varies daily.
You can find the
equivalent of any sum at today's exchange rates - either the median bank rate or one closer
to what the transaction may actually yield - in this
CONVERTER.
To convert centigrade Celsius (C) temperatures to Fahrenheit (F), divide by 5, multiply by 9, and add 32. (Another way: double the C number, subtract 10% of the result, add 32).
Easier, just insert the figure you want to convert in the following box:
For average monthly highs and lows in the province of Siena, other information on climate and forecasts, check our Weather page.
Italy is one hour ahead (+1) of Greenwich Mean Time, along with the rest of continental Europe. This means, for example, that when it is 12 noon in New York, it is already 6 pm in Siena and Montalto. When it is 12 noon in Siena it is already 9 pm in Sydney.
Summer Daylight Saving Time (here called ora legale) is in force from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, making clock time an hour ahead of regular zone time.
You check the current time in Italy from here.
The Meter (m = metro) equals about 40 inches, and one Foot equals about 30 centimeters (cm = centimetri).
Road distances are measured in Kilometers (km = chilometri), each of which is equal to about 3300 ft, or about 0.62 miles. A Mile is therefore about 1600 meters. To simplify, a kilometer is about 6/10 of a mile and a mile about 1 ½ kilometers.
Find specific length equivalents in the box below:
Kitchen measurements are in grams (g = grammi) and kilos (kg = chili or chilogrammi). An ounce is about 30 grams; a kilo is 2.2 pounds.
Find weight equivalents in the box below:
A litre (l = litro) is the volume equivalent of one kilo of water and is divided into fractions of decilitri (about half a cup) or centilitri (a fraction of a teaspoon, which contains 5 cl).
A cup of water or sugar will be about equal to a pound or 450 g, while a cup of flour, which is lighter, will be only about 350 g.
Electric current in Italy is furnished at 220 Volts. Be very sure that any electrical appliance you bring with you will function on 220 V, or bring an appropriate transformer.
Flat plugs will not fit in an Italian electric socket, nor will all round plugs. We have plug converters available if you need them but these do NOT convert voltage.
Gasoline/petrol in Italy is called benzina, but the pump will usually say
senza piombo (lead-free).
Many rental cars in Italy run on diesel fuel,
sometimes called diesel but more often gasolio.
Be very sure what kind of fuel your automobile requires, and very sure that you put the right kind in when you fill up the tank. Mistakes can cause sudden failure while driving!
The octagonal red STOP sign is now almost universal, but there are many differences in other traffic indications.
Unless specifically indicated, the maximum speed is 50km/hour within city limits, 90 on country roads and 130 on autostrade (major divided highways). Italians often do exceed the limits but radar controls are frequent and carry heavy penalties; a car may be impounded on the spot for driving 40 km/hr above the speed limit.
Roads are generally indicated by the towns you will find along the way, not by road numbers.
Exits from divided highways are nearly always on the right.
No right turn is permitted at a red light unless there is a specific green arrow.
A point-up triangle means 'proceed with caution'.
A triangle with the point down means 'yield right of way', often indicated by a line of white point-down triangles painted across the roadway.
At intersections not indicated by a triangle, the vehicle approaching from the right has the right of way.
A red-and-blue disk with a red X across it means 'no parking'.
ZTL (Zona di Traffico Limitato) indicates an area closed to all traffic without special permits.
Motoveicoli means scooters and motorcycles and does NOT include automobiles.
Fast pay at an autostrada (tollway) gate indicates one where credit cards are accepted.
Telepass indicates a gate only for cars equipped with electronic payment devices