Tuscumbria becoming a place for the rich & famous?

Still thought of as  one of the hidden gems of Central Italy, Tuscumbria is fast becoming a hot destination for many celebrities. In 2009, George Lucas of Star Wars fame purchased an old convent and proceeded to pour millions of Euros into the property and in doing so turned it into a private luxury getaway where he often hosts many of his famous colleagues. (Read the article here George Lucas in Umbria and TouringUmbria).

Another well known celebrity, Ralph Fiennes of Harry Potter fame, has a place in the small city of Umbertide and visits Citta di Castello on a regular basis. Still another celebrity, Colin Firth of The King's Speech fame, has a house in Citta di Castello. (Read the article here from Corriere).

George Lucas & Francis Ford Coppola in Umbria (image: Corriere)

George Lucas' renovated convent (image: Corriere)

View from Passignano sul Trasimeno (image: Corriere)

We can understand why Tuscumbria is becoming more and more of an attraction for celebrities and the rich & famous. Many celebrities prefer staying in the Italian countryside and escaping the stuffiness of the major cities. Tuscumbria's location is not only ideal (as all of the major cities in Italy are within 3 hours of the area), but it offers excellent cuisine and a huge selection of outdoor activities (e.g. truffle hunting, hot air balloon rides, horseback riding, world-class golfing, hiking, bicycling, beaches, swimming, etc.). Tuscumbria also offers visitors the option of complete privacy. Similar to George Lucas' estate there are many other properties and agriturismi that one can rent that offer first-class amenities and complete undisturbed privacy. Altabella Properties is an example of one such property and we highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a wonderful place to stay in Tuscumbria.

Though many celebrities are just now finding out about Tuscumbria, it is only a matter of time before more start flocking to the area. Understanding this, we would urge that you visit Tuscumbria soon before it becomes solely a destination for the elite (which we hope it never does!).

Visit Monterchi to see the exquisite Madonna del Parto

 

In the small town of Monterchi nestled between the borders of Tuscany and Umbria rests a wonderful Renaissance-era painting by Piero della Francesca entitled "Madonna del Parto" (Madonna in labor).  Like so many other of Piero della Francesca's masterpieces, the location of this exquisite piece is no surprise as many of his works can be found in Italy's smaller towns such as Sansepolcro, Monterchi and Urbino. It is also important to point out that Piero della Francesco's mother, Romana di Perino , was born in Monterchi but Piero, himself, was raised mostly in the nearby town of Sansepolcro where another one of his masterpieces, Madonna della Misericordia, rests.

Piero della Franceco's Madonna della Misericordia in Sansepolcro

Once perceived as a controversial piece during the counter-reformation period it is now accepted as an exquisite masterpiece that shines in its brilliance and sheer simplicity. The painting depicts the Madonna in labor with one hand resting on her belly while her other hand rests on her hip providing support. Two winged angels (one on each side) draw open the curtains presenting her to the world. One can easily see the signs of emotional and physical stress typical of a woman in the initial stages of labor. This is a very real depiction of the Madonna and one that is easy for many to relate to.

 

Local belief is that the painting has some connection to fertility. This belief is still strong today as town residents and local officials refuse to loan out the painting to many of the world-famous museums such as the Metropolitan Museum in New York City for fear that there might be an adverse impact on pregnancy rates in the town.

The Madonna del Parto is worth visiting in our opinion. It is truly a masterpiece and one of Piero della Franceco's best paintings. The town of Monterchi along with many of the surrounding towns are worth visiting too as they have real charm and offer a the visitor a wonderful tour of some of the most beautiful scenery in Tuscumbria.

M U S E U M   I N F O

Museo della Madonna del Parto
website: http://www.comunemonterchi.it/

The Madonna del Parto is open to the public 09.00-13.00 and 14.00-17.00 afternoons, in the summer the museum remains open until 19.00. Entrance is around €3.50

Visit Tuscumbria in the Winter? Definitely!

In light of the recent heat wave hitting New York City, we thought it might bring us (and others) some cooling relief to write about our experiences in Tuscumbria during the cool winter months.

For us, visiting Tuscumbria during the winter has been both memorable and fun. One of the many benefits of traveling to Italy during the winter is that the number of visitors to Italy dwindles considerably and the crowds are so small that everything becomes more accessible and easy to navigate. The long lines at the Uffizi? Gone. The two hour wait to get into the Academy in Florence to see David? Gone. Popular restaurant wait lists? Gone. During our winter visits we see far fewer tourists and more of the locals and, for us, this is exactly what we like best.

Getting firewood

Winter for us is a perfect time to do many of the activities that we enjoy most such as eating, walking and museum hopping. During the summer months, many of the restaurants are closed in August. In contrast, during the winter months, most restaurants remain open. With fewer tourists around and lower winter prices our restaurant options skyrocket during the winter. In winter cities have fewer tourists and smaller towns seem desolate. This makes for perfect walking tours for us. Museums are virtually empty during the winter (comparatively speaking, ofcourse) which makes going to them a delight. When we travel to the smaller towns our presence is greeted even more fondly by the locals.

Snowed-in at the Altabella Properties

Visiting Italy during the winter months is a fun experience even when you get snowed-in. We've experienced being snowed-in twice in Tuscumbria. During our first experience the snowfall was so heavy that we were unable to get down the mountain for three days. During our second experience, we were snowed in for a day. Both experiences turned the property where we were staying at into a winter wonderland. Snowball fights, chats by the fireplace, warm pasta dishes & drinks made theses periods of winter memorable and fun.

Synogogues in Italy

Synogogue in Florence

Wherever we travel with our family our parents always make it a point to visit the synogogues in the area. In Cuba we searched high and low for a synogogue and managed to find two very beautiful synogogues. In Morroco we found a wonderful synogogue in Marakesh. In Spain, we found a couple synogogues in a few of the cities along the Andalusian loop. 

Synagogues are very important to us and for other Jewish people looking for a place of worship and to learn about the history of Judaism in the country they are visiting. 

Coming to Italy was no different for us and our family and finding out where the synogogues were located was very important to us.

Synogogue in Rome

Below is a short list of resources that will help you locate a synogogue near where you will be staying. Alternatively, you can always contact Jewish organizations in your local area that might be able to provide you with additional resources.

Synogogues in Italy
Kosher Delight
Shuls in Italy 
Synogogue in Florence
Synogogue in Venice
Virtual Jewish History Tour of Rome

Synogogue in Rome

Indispensable Italian Words & Phrases

Understanding and speaking Italian is not absolutely necessary if you intend to only visit Italy's biggest tourist cities such as Rome, Milan, Venice, Siena, Florence and Naples since these major cities thrive on tourism where understanding English is simply good business. Anyone who speaks English should be able to get by in these major cities.

Getting along without knowing any Italian in the smaller  towns, however, is not so easy nor a great way to truly experience these parts of Italy. We have many friends and family members who have gone to Italy without understanding a ounce of Italian but with the quick word & phrase list below managed to navigate the more rural areas with great aplomb. Furthermore, Italians are much more appreciative, amenable and accommodating if you at least make an effort to speak some Italian.We have been greeted on many occasions with cautious gazes that quickly turned to welcoming smiles after an attempt or two to speak a sentence of Italian.

The word & phrase list below is certainly not a comprehensive guide to conversational Italian but is a collection of words & phrases that we believe are the most basic and useful during anyone's trip to Italy.

I N D I S P E N S A B L E   

I T A L I A N    W O R D S  &  P H R A S E S

Important Basic Words & Phrases
Hello - Ciao
How are you? - Come stai? Come va?
Thank you - Grazie
Thank you very much - Multo Grazie, Grazie Mille or Grazie tante
You're welcome - Prego
Good morning - Buonjuorno
Good afternoon - Buonasera
Good evening/night - Buonanotte
Excuse me -Mi scuzie
Pardon me (to pass through) - Permesso
I'm sorry - Mi dispiace.
I would like - Vorrei
How much?- Quanto?
Too expensive - Troppo caro or troppo costoso
Good deal - Bon affare or a buon mercato
Sale - Saldi
This - Questo
That - Che
Where? - Dove?
When? -Quando?
How? - Come?
Why? - perche?
Stop/enough - Basta/Abbastanza
Open - Aperto
Closed - Chiuso
Exit - Uscita
Tell me - Dimmi
Time - Tempo?
What time is it? - Che ora es?
Bathroom - Bagno, gabinetto, toilette
Men - Uomo
Gentleman - Seniori
Ladies - Seniora


At the Airport
Passport - Passaporto
Boarding Ticket - Ticket d'imbarco
Bag(s) - Bagalglia/Bagagli
Boarding Gate(s) - Imbarco di Gate/Gati
Terminal(s) - Terminal/Terminali
Departures - Partenze
Arrivals - Arrivi
Parking -Parcheggio
Security - Sicurezza
Customs - Dogane
Taxi - Taxi
Bus - Autobus
Car rental - Autonoleggio
Train - Treno
Shuttle - Navetta
Lost baggage - Bagagli smaritti
Lost and found - Oggetti smaritti
Restaurant - Ristorante
Currency exchange - Cambio 


What gate is my flight leaving from? - Cosa gate il mio volo in partenza da? 
Where can I get a taxi? - Dove posso trovare un taxi?
Where can I get a shuttle bus to _______? - Dove posso trovare un bus navetta per _______? 
Where can I exchange my money? - Dove posso scambiare i miei soldi?
Where is my departure gate? - Dov'è il mio gate di partenza?
Where is the arrivals terminal? - Dove si trova il terminal degli arrivi?
Can I please get assistance? - Posso ottenere assistenza per favore?
I am handicapped, please help me - Sono portatori di handicap, ti prego, aiutami


At the Train Station
Train ticket(s) - Biglietto/biglietti del treno
one way ticket - Biglietto di sola andata
Round trip ticket -  Andata e ritorno
First class/second class/third class - Prima classe / classe seconda / terza classe
non-smoking  - Non-fumatori
Conductor - Conduttore
Surchage - Supplemento/supplementare
Track - Binario
Validate - Convalidare
Depart - Partenze
Arrive - Arriva


I would like to buy (one/two/three/four) round trip tickets to ______ please - Vorrei acquistare (uno / due / tre / quattro) biglietti andata e ritorno per ______ per favore

I would like to buy (one/two/three/four) single fare tickets to _______ please
Vorrei acquistare (uno / due / tre / quattro) biglietti per corsa singola si prega di _______ 



What time does the next train to ______ leave?
A che ora il prossimo treno per ______ lasciare?

What time does the next train from _____leave?
A che ora il prossimo treno da ______ partenza?

Which track platform is the train to ______ leaving from?
A che ora il prossimo treno da _____partenza?

Which track platform is the train from ______arriving on?
Quale piattaforma/binario pista è il treno per ______ Arriva?

Where can I validate my ticket?
Dove posso convalidare il biglietto?


At the Restaurant
Waiter  - Cameriere
Menu - Menu
Children's menu - Menu per bambini
Tourist menu - Menu turistico
Fork - Forcella
Spoon - Cucchiaio
Knife - Coltella
Bowl - Ciotola
Dish - piatto
Plate - Piastra
Cup - Coppa
Glass - Vetro
Wine Glass - Vino Vetro
Beer Glass - Bicchiere di birra
Napkin - Tovagliolo
Chair - Sedia
High Chair - Seggiolone or sedia per bambino
Bottle - Bottiglia
All you can eat - Tutti si può mangare
All you can drink - Tutti si può bere
Sparkling Water - Acqua minerale con gassa or acqua frizzante
Non Sparkling Water - Acqua minerale sensa gassa or non acqua frizzante
Tap Water - Acqua di rubinetto
Soup - Brodo
Reservation - prenotazione
Bill/Check - Il conto
Tip - Punta
Outside - Al di fuori
Inside - Interno
Large - Grande
Small - Piccolo
Special - Speciale
House Special - Casa Speciale
Wine - Vino
Beer - Birra
Soda - Soda
Water - Acqua
Juice - Succo
Coffee - Cafe
Cappucino - Cappucino
Tea - Tè
Alcoholic Beverage - Bevanda alcolica
Meat - Carne
Fish - Pesce
Vegetable - Vegetale
Fruit - Frutta
Desert - Deserto
Vegetarian - Vegetariano
No meat - Niente carne
Vegan - Vegan
Raw - Crudo
First course, second course, third course - Primo, secondo, terzo corso
Appetizer - Antipasto
Well done - Ben fatto
Medium - Medio
Rare - Raro
Broiled - Alla griglia
Fried - Fritto
Sauteed - Saltata
Steamed - Al Vapore
Baked - Cotto


I would like the waiter please - Vorrei che il cameriere si prega di
I am ready to order - Sono pronto a ordinare
May I please see a menu?- Posso vedere un menu?
Do you have any dishes for children? - Avete dei piatti per bambini?
Do you have a kids menu? - Avete un menu per bambini?
I would like to order ____ - Vorrei ordinare ____
Can you tell me what the specials are? - Mi puoi dire cosa sono le specialità?
That is enough - Basta
I would like a bottle of water without gas - Vorrei una bottiglia d'acqua senza gas
I would like a bottle of water with gas - Vorrei una bottiglia di acqua con gas
I would like a single glass of wine - Vorrei un solo bicchiere di vino
I would like a single glass of house wine - Vorrei un solo bicchiere di vino della casa
I would like a beer - Vorrei una birra
I would like a soda - Vorrei una bibita
I would like a juice drink - Vorrei una drink succo
Does this dish have meat in it? - Questo piatto a base di carne sono in esso?
Can you please tell me what dishes do not have meat? - Potete per favore dirmi cosa piatti non hanno carne?
I am a vegetarian - Io sono un vegetariano
I am allergic to ______ - Sono allergico a ______
Does this dish have ______ in it? - Questo piatto ha ______ in esso?
Can you please recommend a dish? - Potete per favore consigliare un piatto?
I am ready to order desert now - Sono pronto a ordinare ora deserto
I would like the check please - Vorrei che la verifica si prega di or Il conto per favore
The meal was delicious - Il pasto era delizioso
I would like take this to go please - Vorrei prendere questo andare per favore or Per porta via
Thank you - Grazie!

Shopping
Big - Grande.
Small - Piccolo.
Long - Lungo.
Short - Breve.
Thin - Sottile.
Sale - Saldi.
Discount - Sconto.
Size -  Dimensioni

How much is it? - Quanto Costa?
Do you take dollars - Accetate dollari?
Do you accept credit cards? - Accetate carte di credito?
The check please - Il conto, per piacere.
A discount? - Uno Sconto?
Less than that? - Bene, grazie!
Have you something cheaper? - Ha qualcosa di meno caro?
Different? - Di diverso?
Better? - Di meglio?
I like that - Questo mi piace.
Still or more - Ancora.
That is all - E abbastanza.
Do you have change? -  Ha da cambiare?
What time to you open? - A che ora apre?
What time do you close? -  A che ora chiude?
May I have a receipt? - Posso avere la ricevuta?
Do you have a bigger size? - Avete un formato più grande?
Do you have a smaller size? - Avete una taglia più piccola?
How do I look in this? - Come faccio a guardare in tutto questo?
Is this on sale? - È questo in vendita su?
I'll take it! - Lo prendo!



OTHER CATEGORIES THAT WILL BE ADDED SHORTLY.....

At the Hotel

Driving in the Car

At the movies

At the Sporting Event

At the Museum

Asking for Directions

Meeting New People

At the Club/Bar/Pub

Colors

Numbers

Eating Kosher in Italy

While we do not keep kosher we have friends and relatives who are and understand how difficult it often can be to travel and find kosher foods and restaurants. It is not impossible to eat kosher in Italy if one can make a quick trip to one of the bigger cities such as Rome, Venice or Florence to stock up on kosher goods. We understand that there are different "degrees" of kosher and that some who keep kosher may not be able to meet their kosher needs with traditional commercial goods. Our advice is for you to bring basic kosher staples with you and hopefully you can find some products that meet your standards.

To help you research where you can purchase kosher goods or eat at kosher restaurants in Italy here are some useful resources:

• Italy Kosher Union
• Tastes of Jewish Italy
• Kosher Market in Florence
• Jewish Europe

Summer Events in Tuscumbria and Italy

During many of our initial visits to Italy we happened upon various festivals, local holidays and events that were both exciting and memorable. In Venice, we arrived in the midst of Carnivale and paraded through the streets with golden masks and watched plays performed live in a local piazza. In Cortona we happened to be visiting during flag day. And in Venice we were pleasantly surprised to see outdoor movie theatres by the side of the canals sprout up out of nowhere for the Venice Film Festival. Our only regret during these events was not being prepared better for the festivities. We would have loved to put on full costumes for Carnivale. Similarly, we would have liked to choose which movies to watch in Venice. But, we had a great time nonetheless.

Below is a short list of summer events happening in Tuscumbria along with several events happening in some of the bigger Italian cities. You can click on this link - Events in Italy - to Frommers for a full listing of approximately two-hundred events going on throughout Italy this year.

S U M M E R   E V E N T S

Umbria Jazz

8 - 17 Jul 2011 (annual)

Perugia

Read more: http://events.frommers.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event.search&loc_id=131061#ixzz1Rp4TUCRP

Opera Festival
12 Jul - 13 Aug 2011 (annual)
Boboli Gardens, Florence

Read more: http://events.frommers.com/sisp/frommers2/index.htm?fx=guide&frommers_id=247#ixzz1Rp3Mqgue

AltaRoma
8 - 12 Jul 2011 (various dates)

Read more: http://events.frommers.com/sisp/frommers2/index.htm?fx=guide&frommers_id=247#ixzz1Rp3VcrYb

La Soffitta Sotto i Portici
17 Jul 2011; Sun only (various dates)
Piazza Augusto Imperatore, Rome

Read more: http://events.frommers.com/sisp/frommers2/index.htm?fx=guide&frommers_id=247#ixzz1Rp3zG73B

Picasso, Miró, Dalí. Young and Angry - the Origins of Modern Art

12 Mar - 17 Jul 2011

The Hidden Techniques of the Impressionists, Florence

Read more: http://events.frommers.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event.search&loc_id=131061#ixzz1Rp4YrFWa

Unicorn Festival

Jul 2011 (annual)

Vinci

Read more: http://events.frommers.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event.search&loc_id=131061#ixzz1Rp4ui6hA

Florence Youth Festival

Jun - Jul 2011 (annual)

Florence

Read more: http://events.frommers.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event.search&loc_id=131061#ixzz1Rp5G2Daf

Rock in Roma

18 Jun - 29 Jul 2011 (annual)

Ippodromo delle Capannelle, Rome

Read more: http://events.frommers.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event.search&loc_id=131061#ixzz1Rp5SCwg4

Venezia Jazz Festival

22 - 31 Jul 2011 (annual)

Teatro La Fenice, Venice

Read more: http://events.frommers.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event.search&sort=DATE&loc_id=131061&page=2#ixzz1RpCDvU1w

Virtual Identities

1 May - 31 Jul 2011; not Mon

The Hidden Techniques of the Impressionists, Florence

Read more: http://events.frommers.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event.search&sort=DATE&loc_id=131061&page=2#ixzz1RpCbFkr6

July Sounds Good

22 Jun - 1 Aug 2011 (annual)

Auditorium Parco della Musica, Rome

Read more: http://events.frommers.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event.search&sort=DATE&loc_id=131061&page=2#ixzz1RpCjF700

Valdarno Jazz Summer Festival

17 Jul - 3 Aug 2011 (annual)

Arezzo

Read more: http://events.frommers.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event.search&sort=DATE&loc_id=131061&page=2#ixzz1RpCqMTFf

Tuscan Sun Festival

Jul - Aug 2011 (annual)

Cortona

Read more: http://events.frommers.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event.search&sort=DATE&loc_id=131061&page=2#ixzz1RpCvnmro

Siena Jazz Concerts

Jul - Aug 2011 (annual)

Siena

Read more: http://events.frommers.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event.search&sort=DATE&loc_id=131061&page=3#ixzz1RpDEdL1s

 ****Source attribution - These listings were obtained from Frommers online at http://events.frommers.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event.search&sort=DATE&loc_id=131061&page=6.

National Holiday Schedule

The Italian national holiday schedule is very useful to know in order to better plan your travel schedule as many places close on major holidays. While most of the main tourist attractions in the major cities are open year-round one has to be particularly aware of the national and municipal holiday schedules in order to avoid store and restaurant closures. Additionally, many of the smaller towns celebrate their own holidays which makes life a tad bit more difficult for the visitor.

Public Holidays
January 1 - New Year's Day (Capodanno)
January 6 - Epiphany (Epifania)
Movable - Easter Sunday
Monday  after Easter - Easter Monday (Lunedi dell'Angelo, Pasquetta)
April 25 - Anniversary of Loberation (Anniversario della Liberazione)
May 1 - Labor Day ( Festa del Lavoro (or Festa dei Lavoratori)
June 2 - Republic Day (Festa della Repubblica)
August 15 - Assumption Day (Ferragosto or Assunzione)
November 1 - All Saints Day (Tutti i Santi)
December 8 - Immaculate Conception (Immacolata)
December 25 - Christmas (Natale)
December 26 - St. Stephen's Day

Holidays by law
January 7 - Flag Day (Festa del tricolore)
January 27 - International Holocaust Rememberance Day (Giorno della Memoria)
February 11 - The Lateran Pacts (Patti Lateranesi)
May 9 - Europe Day (Giorno Europeo)

Italian Police

There are many different types of police in Italy though only a couple that one will realistically encounter during your visit to Italy. It is always prudent to follow the laws of whichever country you are visiting and to make sure you familiarize yourself with the types of police you might encounter. Below are the main types of police you might encounter in Italy.

I T A L I A N    P O L I C E

Carabinieri - Military Corps with police duties. It is common to see these types of police throughout Italy and especially in front of Embassies and other important buildings. Often the officers carry more powerful firearms. The cars they drive are a dark blue coloration with a single red stripe on the sides from the front to back.

   

Polizia di Stato - patrol the Autostrada (highway). In our experiences, we have seen these types of police officers in situation where they are lending assistance to stranded drivers or redirecting traffic. We have not seen many car chases as the camera system in place to catch speeders is quite sophisticated. The cars they drive are often light blue in coloration with a single white stripe running down the sides from front to back. The officers tend to carry standard issued firearms (pistol).

Polizia Provinciale - operate in only some of the 109 provinces of Italy. Their main duties are to enforce regional and national hunting and fishing laws but they have also expanded into wildlife management and environmental protection. We have not run into many of these officers on the roads. However, we have run into these officers while on walks in the more remote areas. The cars they drive are often white in coloration with a single red stripe on each side running from back to front. The officers sometimes carry standard issued firearms (pistol) but most do not.

Polizia Municipale-  Each comune has its own Polizia Municipale (Municipal Police) whose main duty is to enforce local regulations and control traffic, but who also deal with petty crime and anti-social behaviour, especially in the largest metropolitan areas. These forces can be called Polizia Municipale, Polizia Locale, Polizia Comunale, Polizia Urbana or Vigli Urbani. In some regions Polizia Provinciale and Polizia Municipale are grouped into the Polizia Locale name, although they keep their own internal organization. Very little communes can merge their local police forces in a consortium. The cars they drive are varied in coloration (white, green, blue, etc.). Look for the words on the vehicles to help you determine what type of officer is in front of you.

Italian Justice System: If you are arrested
As mentioned above, it is best to follow the laws of the country you are visiting and Italy should be no exception to this rule. Typically, when a foreigner commits a petit crime in Italy he or she might be arrested, sent back home and denied future re-entry to Italy. However, if a foreigner commits a serious crime then he or she can be arrested and tried in the Italian court system. With any arrest for a serious crime there is a high presumption of guilt which ensures the Italian prosecutors a high percentage of successful convictions. This is in sharp contrast to the American legal system which affords those arrested a presumption of innocence.

If you get arrested by any type of police the best thing to do is to do exactly as they ask. Do not try to bribe an officer to forgive your offense (or even joke about it) as this will surely get you into deeper and real trouble.


Three ways to get a driving ticket
If you get a speeding or parking ticket it is typical for the rental car company to charge you about 36 Euro in addition to the amount of the ticket.

1. Speeding ticket - sophisticated cameras have been set up throughout Italy that can capture your license plate, photo of the driver and the speed of the vehicle. This information nearly guarantees a ticket if caught. It is futile to consider challenging a ticket if the offense was caught on camera. 
2. Parking ticket - You will likely get a ticket if you are not parked in a parking lot (public or private), parked at a designated area (blue line) or have paid a parking meter (parcometro) and have the ticket displayed on your dashboard. It is quite common for the authorities to issue your ticket up to as much as one year after the offense. Once you receive the ticket you have 60 days to pay or appeal (challenge). If you challenge and lose then the fine is doubled. It has become customary for Italians to pay and then appeal. 
3. Entering a pedestrian-only zone - You will receive a ticket for entering a zone is pedestrian only. The only way drive in a pedestrian-only zone is to obtain an exemption from your hotel.

Paying the ticket
Some people have even received a bill on their credit card without any accompanying paperwork in the mail. Rest assured, these people always received a paper ticket follow up a couple months later. In some instances, the car companies pay the ticket for you, charge your card and add on a processing fee (between 16-50 Euro).

If a bill is sent directly to your home address outside of Italy it is especially important to make sure that the car company you rented from paid the bill already and then charged you or that you pay the bill immediately (which is cheaper then filing an appeal). If you do not pay the ticket after having received the bill in the mail at your home address then the Italian authorities will send the bill to European Municipal Outsourcing, a very aggressive debt collection agency.

Italian Newspapers

News is a great way to keep up to date with what is currently going on in and around Italy. Below is a list of some of the most important Italian daily newspapers. There are two national daily newspapers (Corriere & La Repubblica). Many newspapers have English sections. For those that do not have English sections it is possible to copy the link of the newspaper website and paste into Google Translate.

La Nazione -  Florentine newspaper which is also published in Umbria and the province of  La Spezia
Corriere - One of the two national Italian daily newspapers.
La Repubblica - One of the two national Italian daily newspapers.
Easy Milano - Twice monthly news publication with classified ads (buy/sell/advertise).
ANSA - Italy's premier news wire service.
Adnkronos News - Wire news service.
Alto Adige - Northern Italian newspaper that publishes several pages per day in German.
L'Arena -  Verona newspaper.
Correrier Alpi - Northern Italian newspaper.
Correrier dello Sport - One of the top sports newspapers.
La Gazetta dello Sport - The top sports daily newspaper. 
Gazzetta del Sud - Sicilian and Southern Italian news coverage.
Gazzettino -  Venice newspaper.
Il Giorno - One of Milan's leading daily newspapers.
Il Manifesto - Left leaning Roman newspaper.
Il Tempo - Conservative Roman newspaper.
Il Messaggero - The most popular Roman daily newspaper.
Il Resto del Carlino - One of the most respected newspapers in Italy.
Il Sole 24 Ore - Italy's leading financial newspaper.
La Stampa - Turin newspaper owned by Agnelli (Fiat) family.
L'Osservatore Romano - Vatican Newspaper.
L'Unita - Communist Party newspaper.