From the chicness of Milan, the romance of Verona and the famous canals and islands of Venice, to the Renaissance treasures of Florence and the iconic leaning tower of Pisa and the magnificence of Rome, Italy has more than its fair share of cities to explore. But it also has its beautiful lakes and Alps, quaint fishing villages, and hectares of vineyards and olive groves – and, of course, let’s not forget it’s a foodie heaven! Its mountains are great for hiking and (in winter) skiing, or for spotting wolves in the Matese mountains. Italy’s unique Marsican brown bears, chamois and eagles can be found in the National Park of Abruzzo, and Sardinia is the ideal place for bird-watchers to spot Eleonora’s falcons during the autumn migration. Sardinia’s turquoise coastlines make for spectacular sailing, and its rich coral reefs are fabulous for diving.

KEY FACTS BEFORE YOU GO:

• Capital: Rome
• Currency: Euro
• Time Difference: Italy follows Central European Time, which is 1 hour AHEAD of the UK throughout the year. It currently observes Daylight Saving Time from the last Sunday of March to the last Sunday of October, but is due to decide by April 2020 whether it will permanently set its time to Central European Standard (1 hour AHEAD of GMT) or Central European Daylight Saving Time (2 hours AHEAD of GMT/1 hour ahead of BST).
• Flight time: Depending on where you're flying to, flights to Italy generally take from just under 2 hours to 2 and a half hours.
• Official language: Italian
• Entry requirements: Visas are not required. As part of Europe and the Schengen area, in the event of Brexit, please read here for information on changes to travel. Currently, no additional validity is required on your passport, but please also read our further information for changes following Brexit.
• Vaccinations and Health: You should always ensure that you travel with adequate travel health insurance. For up-to-date information, please check this website (as recommended by the Foreign Office): https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/111/italy#Vaccine_recommendations. If vaccinations are required, it is generally advisable to arrange an appointment with a health professional four to six weeks before departure.
  General information on travel vaccinations can be found on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/travel-vaccinations/

To find out more, and for the most up-to-date advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy