Perillo Tours Italy 2023

Photo Credit: Dawn Malloy Photo Credit: Francesca Forniti SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE VISITING ITALY: GREETING: Don’t say “ciao” to everyone. Yes, CIAO means hello and goodbye but many Italians—especially older generations—think of “ciao” as too casual when you are addressing someone you don’t know personally. Another greeting you can use is “Salve” and “buongiorno” if it’s morning or “buona sera” if it’s evening. HOTELS NEED YOUR PASSPORT WHEN YOU CHECK IN: Italian law requires all hotels to register guests with local police. They’ll return your passport to you the same day or morning after. TIPPING IS NOT THE SAME AS IN THE U. S .: Leaving tips of 15-20% in restaurants is not the norm in Italy. Italians usually leave a few euro for a waiter after a meal. If your waiter gave you a great service, leave a bigger tip—but it’s not required. CURRENCY EXCHANGE : The best place to exchange your currency is at an ATM in Italy. You will avoid any service fees this way. DRESS CODE : Everyone must have knees and shoulders covered when entering churches. Take this into account when visiting religious sites, especially in the Vatican. Practical shoes are a must for all those cobblestoned streets. EAT LIKE A LOCAL : No pasta dish is complete without the act of “fare la scarpetta” —(literally “make a little shoe”) and mop up the leftover sauce on your plate. It’s a widely used dinner ritual in Italy. This is why bread is usually left on tables in restaurants. Butter and oil is NOT served with bread in Italy. RESEARCH LOCAL SPECIALTI ES : Italy is made up of 20 regions, each with its own local specialties. Although Pizza comes from Naples, you can get it anywhere in Italy— but it won’t be as good! The more you learn about Regional specialties, the better your eating experience will be. COFFEE ETIQUETTE : Cappuccino is considered a breakfast coffee and is never drunk later than mid-morning. The classic Italian caffè is an espresso—though, the term espresso is hardly ever used in Italy. The word “latte” means “milk,” so if you order a “latte” at an Italian bar you’ll get a glass of cold milk. Ask for a “caffè con latte” if you want the Italian version. If you stop at a café for a quick coffee, do it like a local—first pay at the cash register, then, take your receipt to the barista and give him/her your order. “YOU MAY HAVE THE UNIVERSE IF I MAY HAVE ITALY.” — Giuseppe Verdi 4 I T A L Y T R A V E L T I P S