ITALY

Capital: Rome
Form of government: Republic
Area: 301,340 km2
Religion: Catholics
Phone number: +39
Language: Italian
Time difference: -1
Population: 60,317,116 (2020)
Currency: Euro (Eur)

Roma’s largest airport is Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino, and Milan’s Malpensa. Finnair offers flights from Helsinki to Milan and Rome several days a week. The low-cost airline Ryanair offers flights from Tampere and Lappeenranta to Bergamo in Milan. From Helsinki, Norwegian provides access to Rome’s Fiumicino.

If you are in Europe, you can get to Italy by train via several international train routes. Eurostar connects Europe’s biggest cities with Italian cities such as Rome, Milan and Venice. The European railway network is extensive and efficient,so traveling by train is a comfortable option.Italy has good train connections to all neighboring countries. Direct connections can be found e.g. To Paris, Barcelona, Prague and Zagreb.

Italy has several ports that can be reached by ferry from neighboring countries such as Greece, Croatia and Tunisia. If you are already in Europe, you can consider using a ferry to reach ports like Venice, Ancona or Bari.

Italy and other European countries are connected by a long-distance bus connection. Companies like FlixBus and Eurolines offer budget-friendly options for traveling to Italy by bus.

Embassy of Finland, Rome Address: Via Lisbona 3, 00198 Roma – Tel. + 39-06-852 231 Email: sanomat.roo@formin.fi – Website: www.finland.it

Travel bulletin from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: A fairly safe tourist destination. Watch out for pickpockets. Demonstrations may occur. You should avoid places where people gather. Read more

View of Rome from Castel Sant'Angelo, Italy.

Rome (Capital)

The eternal city of Rome is one of the most significant metropolitan areas in Europe. It pampers visitors with gastronomy, a rich cultural heritage and picturesque views from the seven hills guarding the city. The city has appr. 2,8 million people, and the whole metropolitan area has over 4 million residents. It lies in the Lazio region of central Italy, on the Tiber river.

Colosseum

Address: Piazza del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

This legendary amphitheater from the Classical Era is one of the most important attractions in all of Italy. It was constructed between 72-80 CE. It is estimated that it could hold between 50,000 to 80,000 spectators, making it the largest amphitheater to ever be built. It is also depicted on the Italian version of the five-cent euro coin. Attractions include a museum dedicated to Eros, located on the upper floor of the outer wall of the amphitheater, and a network of subterranean passageways once used to transport wild animals and gladiators to the arena. An iconic and majestic sight, and a must-see for history enthusiasts.

Cathedral of St Peters. St. Peter's Basilica, Vaticano, Italy, Rome

St. Peter’s Basilica (UNESCO 1984)

Address: Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City

The Vatican City, one of the most sacred places in Christendom, attests to a great history and a formidable spiritual venture. A unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces lie within the boundaries of this small state. At its centre is St Peter’s Basilica, with its double colonnade and a circular piazza in front and bordered by palaces and gardens. The basilica, erected over the tomb of St Peter the Apostle, is the largest religious building in the world, the fruit of the combined genius of Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini and Maderno.

Duomo Di Milano

Address: P.za del Duomo, 20122 Milano MI, Italy

The Duomo, a symbol of Milan in the world, is one of the largest cathedrals in Italy and Europe. Patrimony of Milanese people and humanity, over the centuries it has been expressing, with its magnificence, the devotion of humanity toward the Divine, involving future generations in an endless commitment. The Milan Cathedral, besides being an artistic monument, is a privileged place of prayer, deeply linked to the memory and teachings of the Bishops who succeeded on St. Ambrose’s chair, and to the history of the millions of worshippers who, every year, gather in this place to celebrate the Sacred Mysteries. The Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Diocese, having a symbolic role of exemplarity both in the life of the city worship and in relation with the Diocese activity.

Beautiful view of traditional Gondola on famous Canal Grande with Rialto Bridge at sunset in Venice, Italy with retro vintage Instagram style filter and lens flare effect.

Grand Canal

With a network of 177 canals and 409 bridges, the city of Venice, built on a lagoon and an archipelago of 117 islands, is uniquely labyrinthine and the largest car-free urban area in Europe. Transportation within the city is still mainly on water or foot. Traffic with vaporetti water buses and water taxes offer visitors an extraordinary chance to feel the Italian urban pulse by the waterway. The city center, Mestre-Carpenedo, is the heart of mainland Venice and has several bus routes and one tramway line. Notable canal attractions are e.g. Ca’ Loredan (City Hall of Venice), Caffè Florian, the Doge’s Palace and Piazza San Marco.

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Address: Piazza del Duomo, 56126 Pisa PI, Italy

This remarkable bell tower made of white marble is famous for its quirky posture. The story of why the building is somewhat tilted spans 199 years. Construction of the tower began in 1173, but due to the soil, the tower began to sink after the construction work had progressed to the second floor in 1178. In 1272 construction resumed. In an effort to compensate for the tilt, the engineers built the upper floors with one side taller than the other. Because of this, the tower is actually curved. After centuries of labor, the bell-chamber was finally added in 1372. After renovation work in 2008, the tower is again stable and open for tourists.

View of Varenna village on lake Como. Lombardy, Italy.

Lakes Garda and Como

Italy is known all over the world not only for its beautiful sea coast, but also for its unique alpine lakes. In total, there are about 1.5 thousand lakes in the country. These 3 places: Garda-, Como.-Maggie lakes are very popular cultural and tourist attractions.The most beautiful of them:
– Lake Garda: Italy’s largest lake with an area of 370 km². It is located between Venice and Milan and connects three regions: Lombardy, Trentino and Veneto. The Alps protect the lake from the winds; the climate here is warm and mild. On the lake you can observe an amazing phenomenon – seiches, standing waves that can occur even in calm weather and last from several minutes to two hours. On the shores of Lake Garda there are resort towns and villages with preserved monuments of ancient Roman art and architecture. The area around the lake is famous for its olive groves, vineyards and orchards – you can taste and buy wines from the best wineries, natural olive oil, cheeses and other delicacies.

Lake Como area of 146 km²is the third-largest in Italy and an extremely popular resort thanks to its idyllic beauty. The lake area has been known for its splendid villas since ancient times, with a few truly remarkable ones such as Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo and Villa del Balbianello, that has been restored into a museum, in Lenno. Notable sights include the Abbazia di Piona Abbey in Colico, Basilica di Sant’Abbondio in Como and the Orrido waterfront in Bellano. There is also a ferry between the hamlets.

Trevi Fountain

Address: Piazza di Trevi, 00187 Roma RM, Italy

Certainly the most famous and photographed fountain in Rome, legend has it that whoever throws a coin into the pond will return to Rome.

Sistine Chapel

Address: 00120 Vatican City

Situated in the Apostolic Palace in the picturesque papal area of the Vatican City, the Sistine Chapel is an artwork per se and one of the most important religious landmarks in the world.

It has several breathtaking frescos. The most remarkable one is in the ceiling. It was handcrafted by the famous Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo. The altar wall painting, The Last Judgement, is also made by him. If a visitor must choose one religious attraction in Italy, this is it.

Piazza Di Spagna

Address: Piazza di Spagna, 00187 Rome RM, Italy

This beautiful square lies at the bottom of the Spanish steps in Rome. The middle of the square houses its main landmark, the Baroque fountain Fontana della Barcaccia. In the right corner of the Spanish Steps there is a house where the English poet John Keats lived until his death in 1821. It currently houses a museum dedicated to him and his friend Percy Bysshe Shelley. Other attractions in the area are the Trinità dei Monti church, the Column of the Immaculate Conception and the Babington’s tea room, an excellent place for relaxing.

More information about Italy

Venice

Venice is an extraordinary city of bridges and canals, and well known for its beautiful architecture. The city lies in the marshy Venetian Lagoon, stretching along the shoreline in northeastern Italy. It is the administrative center of the Veneto region and it houses appr. 265,000 residents. With a network of 177 canals and 409 bridges, the city, built on a lagoon and an archipelago of 117 islands, is uniquely labyrinthine and the largest car-free urban area in Europe.

Panorama of Positano town, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Naples

Naples, a city in southern Italy, sits on the Bay of Naples. Nearby is Mount Vesuvius, the still-active volcano that destroyed nearby Roman town Pompeii. Dating to the 2nd millennium B.C., Naples has centuries of important art and architecture. The city’s cathedral, the Duomo di San Gennaro, is filled with frescoes. Other major landmarks include the lavish Royal Palace and Castel Nuovo, a 13th-century castle.

Florence

Florence is the Renaissance capital of Italy and the center of Tuscany, located in the northern part of the country. The city has appr. 380,000 residents.

Florence was established in 80 BCE by the Roman Empire as a settlement for veteran soldiers. The city was economically and culturally one of the most important cities in Europe and the world from the 14th to 16th centuries, and it was the birthplace of the continental Renaissance. Florence is known for its churches and stunning architecture, featuring Neo-Classical and Baroque hues among the Renaissance entirety.