Getting Ready for Your Catholic Pilgrimage Tour to Italy

Getting ready for physical activity:
Pilgrimages are oriented toward the spiritual and, by nature, engage the physical.  Increase the amount of time you spend walking and moving around on foot, if you’re mostly sedentary.  Take walks, get out in the sun and fresh air to accustom yourself to potentially longer days, and time on your feet during your pilgrimage.   During your tour, have bottled water and snacks along to ensure you have energy when you need it.

Terrain in Italy is varied.  Some locations are level and paved.   Many, such as the streets of Rome are cobbled for long distances.  Having comfortable walking shoes or sneakers are recommended.

Climate:
Italy extends 730 miles north to south (roughly the distance from New Hampshire to North Carolina).  From its northern mountains, to the extensive low lands and coastline, Italy experiences a variety of climatic conditions.  The north of the country could be piled in snow, while southern beaches are populated with sunbathers frolicking in the surf.

Italy’s weather is typically Mediterranean. Warm to hot summers, with cool, moist winters.  The majority of rain comes from October to February, with showers tapering from spring through the summer.

Mediterranean ocean water is warmer than will be found in either the Pacific or Atlantic oceans.  Italy’s coastal zones tend to be breezy.  Northern areas are cooler and frequently have mountain thunderstorms in the summer.

How to dress:
In general, Italians are much more fashion conscious than North Americans.  While you don’t need to buy a new wardrobe, wearing a wrinkly shirt is a tourist red flag in anywhere in Italy.  If you want to blend in, feel free to plan ahead.  If not, well, you are on vacation!

It is customary to have an increased level of modesty at churches in Italy.  Vatican City, and especially St. Peters Basilica are traditionally places where being mindful of dress and decorum are practiced.  If in doubt, have something with long sleeves that may be donned, on the spot, and removed upon exit.  The same may be said for a quick wrap around skirt.  Have shoes comfortable enough to be on your feet for hours.

Summer:
Pack light colored clothing, which reflect the sun, for times when you’ll be outside for significant portions of the day.  Definitely bring a hat with plenty of coverage from the sun.

Winter:
Plan on, and pack for chilly weather.  Bring rain gear and layer-able clothing.

With the wide variety of climate zones, it’s worthwhile to see comprehensive information for details.  See: https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/italy

Money exchange:
Using a debit card at ATM’s is the easiest way to get Euro’s in Italy, but you are likely to get better exchange rates by simply buying with a credit card.  It’s worthwhile to check with your credit card company to learn what their exchange rate is on purchases converted to Euro’s is prior to your tour.

When looking for an ATM, ask for a “Banc-o-Mat”.  An ATM at a bank will give a better exchange rate than machines found at random. Let them know when you’ll be traveling so your card isn’t flagged for potential fraudulent use when charges from overseas start appearing.  If in doubt about where to go for Euro’s, check with your pilgrimage tour director.

Shopping:
Prime shopping real estate like Via dei Condotti in Rome, the Quadilatero d’Oro in Milan, or Via de’ Tornabuoni in Florence exert massive gravitational pull for shopping. Beware that they’ll exert equal force on your wallet.  Similar items a few blocks away usually cost significantly less.

Counterfeit designer products abound at open marketplaces and from walk-up merchants.  Let the buyer beware.

Let shop owners know that you’re shopping around for an item in their store, and the price may drop on the spot.

While department stores and mall shops have hours similar to what we’re used to in the USA, everywhere else, it’s old school Italy customs… Open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., closed for the middle of the day, then reopen  approximately 4 p.m. to 7:30 or 8 p.m.

August in Italy and Europe:
For the most part, Europe takes the month of August off.  Tourist destinations will be busier and family owned businesses shut down as people get on with their vacations.  Don’t be surprised when “mom and pop” shops aren’t open if your pilgrimage occurs during August.  Because the tourism industry operates at full steam, all services will operate as usual for your pilgrimage.

Cell phones:
Even though cell phones make it possible to communicate everywhere in the world, you are likely to incur big charges if you don’t let your carrier know you are heading out of the country.   Set up a text and call package for while you’re overseas. If you don’t set up a plan including internet access, turn off cellular data in “settings”.  The difference between turning off cellular data and turning on airplane mode is that airplane mode doesn’t allow calls or texts to come through while turning off cellular data does. When you’re hooked up to Wi-Fi is the only time you should access the internet or email.  Be informed of what you can and can’t do with your phone so you don’t incur expensive roaming charges.

Telephones:
Approximately two weeks prior to your departure to Italy, we’ll send you a list of your hotels including their addresses and phone numbers where you may be reached.

Calling Italy is different.  In the USA we’re used to having three digit area codes followed by seven digit phone numbers. That’s a total of 10 digits.  Italian phone numbers have variable length.  Sometimes it is ten digits, however a number with only 9 digits is not wrong, it’s just a short number.

So here’s how it works:
Let’s say someone in the USA wants to call you at your hotel in Italy.  We’ll create a hypothetical hotel phone number: +39 089 555 1212.

First, dial the international access code.  For the USA and Canada it is 011.  When you see an international phone number that starts with a +, it means that you need to replace the + with international access code (011) for the country you are calling from.

Next, dial the Italy country code: 39.  To call Italy from the US or Canada you must dial 011 39.

Next comes the phone number: 089 555 1212.  Now, this is crucial, and unique to Italy.  With almost every country in the world you omit that zero when calling from abroad (that’s the 0 in 089); for Italy,  you include the leading zero. You end up dialing 011 39 089 555 1212.

If that wasn’t enough to confuse you, mobile numbers play by different rules.  Italian mobile numbers all begin with a 3. When you dial a mobile number from abroad don’t add a leading zero to it.  Just dial: 011 39 338 555 1212. Accidentally adding the zero would cause you to reach a landline in the north of Italy.

Electrical considerations:
Italy runs on 220V current.  Most cell phones / smart phones, computers and handheld devices now accept and immediately adapt to whatever voltage comes through wall current anywhere in the world.  You do not need to purchase a voltage converter for them.  You will, however, need an adapter compatible with Italian electrical outlets.

Other electrical equipment such as hair dryers, mini steam irons, etc. require an electrical converter.  It is possible to conveniently purchase adapters as well as converters online at Amazon.com.  Simply search for a “Universal Travel Adapter”, or “Universal Travel converter”,  for full voltage conversion.

Most hotels in Italy have blow dryers in each room.

USA embassy / consular services in Italy:
US Embassy in Rome:
Via Vittorio Veneto, 119A
00187 Roma
Phone: +39-06-46741
FAX: 06-488-2672

US Consulates in Florence:
Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci 38
50123 Firenze
Phone: +39-055-266-951
FAX: 055-284-088

US Consulates in Milan:
Via Principe Amedeo, 2/10
20121 Milano
Phone: +39-02-290-351

Emergency:
The national emergency number (toll free from any phone) is 113.  This is the Italian equivalent to calling 911 in the USA.

Have additional questions?
Please look at our Travel Info page.  Almost anything you want to know about traveling on a Pilgrimage Tour is covered there.