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The old vs. the new currency
Italy's previous currency, the lira,
has been replaced by the euro since
1 January 2002 as part of the
Eurozone's monetary integration. The
euro, or sometimes recognized by its
abbreviated form as "EUR"
(€), are issued in denominations
of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents, 1
€ and 2 €. The bills are issued
in 5 €, 10 €, 20 €, 50 €,
100 €, 200 € and 500 €
although the 200 € and 500 €
will not be in everyday
circulation.
Credit cards in Italy
MasterCard, Visa and Eurocheque
cards are widely accepted throughout
Italy. Establishments that accept
credit cards will normally post the
credit card logos in their front
windows.
In case of lost or stolen
cards:
American Express: 1678-72000/74333;
+067 228-0371
Thomas Cook-MasterCard: 1678-72050
MasterCard: 1678 70-866 or call
collect +001-314 275-6690
Visa: 1678-74155; 1678-77232
Diner's Club: 1678-64064
ATMs and Debit Cards
Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are
numerous and easy to find in Italy.
The ATMs in Italy are known as
Bancomat and cash (Euros) may be
withdrawn using a major credit card
or your local bank ATM card. Make
sure that the card you intend to use
has either the Cirrus or BankMate
symbol on it to ensure the card can
be used on Italian ATMs. In
addition, check with your financial
institution before departure to make
sure that you have a PIN number
valid for use abroad.
Banking Hours
Banks in Italy are open Monday
through Friday from 8.30 am to
1.30/2 pm and from 3 pm to 4 pm.
Most banks are closed all day on
Saturday and Sunday as well as on
national holidays. Banks are
generally the place that offers the
best exchange rates, but you can
also exchange your currency at the
airports, large hotels, or one of
the numerous exchange centers.
Tipping
Tips are customary in Italy, but not
essential. In general, a service
charge of approximately 15% is
already added to all restaurant
bills. However, you may leave small
gratuities for good service.
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Money in Italy 
