PETS
A TRAVELER ENTERING ITALY with a dog or cat must have a veterinarian’s certificate stating that the animal is in good health and has been vaccinated against rabies between 20 days and 11 months before entry into Italy. The certificate is valid for 30 days. The forms (from Ministero della Sanita’Mod. U) are available from all Italian diplomatic and consular representatives. A dog must be on a leash and muzzled when in public.



ELECTRICAL APPLLIANCES

ELETTRICITY IN ITALY IS AC, the cycle is 50 and the voltage is 220. A tourist carrying electrical appliances to Italy should have a transformer, either obtained before leaving the U.S. or bought at an electrical appliance shop in Italy. Check the local voltage with the hotel before using electrical appliances. Plugs have two round-pronged plugs, making an adapter plug necessary. Many electrical appliances such as pressing steam irons, hair dryers and water heaters are available in the U.S. for use abroad without the need of separate transformers or adapters.


TELEPHONE

PUBLIC TELEPHONES ARE AVAILABLE throughout Italy. Either local or international calls require the use of a phone card (Carta Telefonica) which may be purchased at any newsstand, tobacco shop or “bar”(coffee shop). Be sure to break off the corner of the card before inserting into phone otherwise it may not work. Both local and long distance call require the proper area code before dialing the number. Ex: to place a call within Siena you must dial 0577 + phone number. To call Rome from Siena : 06 + phone number; to call Siena from Rome : 0577 + phone number. When calling a cellular phone, drop the zero of the area code, ex: 338 + phone number of the cellular.
To call USA from Italy: 001 + area code + phone number
To call Italy from the USA: 011 + area code + phone number

GASOLINE

ALMOST ALL SERVICE STATIONS in the country are equipped with pumps for lead free (Benzina verde, 95 octane) and diesel fuel. The fuel distribution network for gas-propelled vehicles is reasonably developed (ask for information at the Automobile Club d’Italia offices). Service stations are open from 7 am to 12:30 pm and from 3 pm to 7:30 pm. At weekends and on public holidays they operate an alternating shift system, generally only in the mornings. Service is guaranteed 24 hours a day on the motorways. Automatic pumps, which accept 5, 10 and 20 Euro banknotes, function in the evenings and at night.

ITALIAN ZIP CODES