LANGUAGE
The official language of the country is Italian, though every region has its own dialect, with unique words and grammatical usages, that are still very much spoken. The Piemontéis is the dialect of the Region of Piedmont (also spoken in some French towns in the Alps). In the autonomous province of Val d’Aosta (100 Km from Turin) French is also the official language.

CLIMATE
The weather in Turin is predominantly continental. In May and all through springtime, Turin is at its best, with 20°C daytime average temperature. However, evenings, especially outside the city, can be cool

HEALTH
Italy doesn't present any more health worries than anywhere else in Europe and no vaccination is required.
The water is perfectly safe to drink and you'll find public fountains (usually button- or tap-operated) in squares and city streets everywhere.

STORE/BUSINESS HOURS
Shops and businesses open from 8-9 AM to 1PM and from about 4 PM to 7:30 Monday to Saturday. Most shops close on Monday morning. Except for bars and restaurants, especially in tourist areas, everything else closes on Sunday, although in the northern cities the trend is going towards more flexible hours and Sunday opening is becoming more common.
There are a few shopping malls in Turin and its periphery open all day (9:00 to 21.00) from Monday to Saturday and every other Sunday.
Banks are open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 1:30 PM and from about 3 PM to 4 PM. Most banks have an ATM/automatic teller machine (Bancomat) working 24 hours a day and allow withdrawal with most international credit card.

CURRENCY
As a member of the European Union, Euro banknotes and coins have been in circulation in Italy since 1st January 2002. There are eight different denominations in the current euro coin series, ranging from the 1 cent to the €2 coin. (2 and 1 euro, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cent) and banknotes of the value of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 euro.
Currency exchange is available at most banks, though the city center is well served by change bureau.
To find out about your currency exchange rates check: www.oanda.com

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Currently, the first metropolitan line is under construction. Both urban and suburban areas are served by an efficient network of buses and tramways that cross the city from morning (the first departure is at 5 AM) to about midnight. Some lines have a night service.
Tickets for urban travel can be bought in drugstores, newsagents and public places who exhibit the special sign.
Ordinary urban tickets are valid for 70 minutes. If you take more than 2 transports in on day, daily, weekly and monthly passes might be more convenient.
For itinerary, prices and conditions, check Turin's official public transport webpage.

TAXIS
If you wish to take a taxi you’ll need to stop it at the appropriate marked places around town or call the following numbers. They usually arrive in less than 3 minutes. The counter starts from the moment you get in the taxi.
A Taxi fare from the airport to the city center varies between €30 to €35.

Pronto Taxi
Tel: 011.5737
Radio Taxi
Tel: 011.5730
Turin Airport
Tel. (+39) 011.991.44.19
Main Railway station - Torino Porta Nuova
Tel. (+39) 011.54.73.31
Railway station- Torino Porta Susa
Tel. (+39) 011.562.25.35

CAR RENTAL
All major car rental companies have a desk at the Arrivals Hallat Turin airport and a couple of agencies in the city.
Avis
Hertz
Europcar
If you plan using the car only in the city, the car sharing programme, set up by the Italian Ministry for the Environment and the safeguard of the Territory might suit you best.

ACCESIBILITY FOR DISABLED PEOPLE
The accessibility for disabled people is not exactly at its best in Turin right now. The city is going through a lifting to welcome the XX Winter Olympic Games on February 2006 and construction sites have become part of the city life. It is difficult to know what will it be by Spring 2005.
But the city is working day by day at improving the existing infrastructure and creating new facilities for the IX Paralympic Games that will be held a few weeks later, in March 2006.
For more information on services and facilities, please check the following websites:

TargaRent is a local car rental company that provides cars for disabled people.

Other services: (only in Italian at this time) assistance and facilities at Turin airport in trains and Railway Stations (only in Italian for the moment)

PUBLIC PHONES
Public phones have become very rare in Italy. You can find them in some bars, hotels and train/metro stations. Otherwise, you need to buy a phone card (€2,58 - €5,16 - €7,74) available in any tobacco shop, newsagent, post office, and some bars (Local calls cost minimum € 0,10).
The international telephone access code is 39. Turin's city code is 011.
The call centers, managed by the ever growing immigrant community of Turin, offer very competitive prices for international calls.
To place direct international calls dial the following:
00+ country code + area code + local number
International Information service: 4176

FOOD & DRINKING
Italian cooking is difficult to summarize in a few words due to its immense variety. Not only every region has its own specialties, but also almost every city does as well. So, rather than a national Italian cuisine we have a huge number of local cuisines.
However, there are some dishes that you will find almost everywhere and that have become standards all around the globe, such as pizza and pasta. But Italian cuisine and habits are too often taken for granted and most visitors are surprised to find out the Italian eating pattern is quit different.
Most Italian eat a very simple breakfast of coffee or cappuccino and a pastry (brioche).
The main meal of the day is lunch (pranzo), which is normally at 1:00 PM. A weekday lunch will begin with a “primo”, or first course, consisting of either pasta, rice or a soup. The portion of a primo is rather small and is not intended as a full meal. It is usually followed by a “secondo”, a fish, meat, egg or vegetable main course. Again, portions are small and you need are served alone. If you want vegetables or potatoes with your main course you need to order a “contorno” or side dish separately.
Lunch usually ends with fresh fruit and an “espresso”.
The Italian dinner (cena) follows the same pattern or might be lighter, unless you decide to go for a Pizza.
While it is true that there are no regions with strictly vegetarian cuisine, there are a great amount of Italian dishes that qualify as vegetarian
In a restaurant menu you will also find “antipasto”, or starters. The recipes are as numerous and vary from region to region. They can be made of vegetables, meat, fish or different kinds of bread (foccacia, farinata…)
Restaurants usually serve from 12:00 PM to 14:30 PM and from 7:00 to 10:00. People in Turin usually have dinner at 8-9 PM.

Piedmont is a wonderland for gastronomes and connoisseurs of vintage wines.
The mild sunny climate and an extraordinary rich soil, produces some of the world’s best vines, in hill areas such as Langhe and Monferrato (40km from Turin).
Bordering directly with France, the influence of Savoy is evident in Piedmont’s food. Butter and cream are the preferred over olive oil in cooking; although immigrants from the south to towns like Turin have brought their cooking with them.
Piedmont cuisine is perhaps most famous for its tartuffi bianchi - white truffles, the most exquisite of which come from the town of Alba.
Turin is also famous for its sweets and the home of grissini, or bread sticks, which stand like logos on the tables of Italian restaurants