Best Places to Live
Rome
Storied Rome is Italy’s capital and the capital of the Lazio region. Located in the central-western part of Italy, Rome’s population is spread over the city’s seven hills and beyond. The Tiber River winds its way through the Eternal City and its 17 major districts. Rome is living history and beautiful architecture, such as St. Peter’s Basilica, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and the Pantheon. Rome’s historic center, which includes the Forum and the Coliseum, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The center of Rome is 15 miles from its Ostia district on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Rome’s climate is Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. January’s average high temperature is 53 F and the low is 38 F. In the summer, July’s average high is 86 F and the low is 64 F. Rome receives about 32 inches of precipitation each year.
Milan
Milan is Italy’s main industrial, commercial and financial center and the capital of the Lombardy region in the north of the country. Located in the northwestern section of the Po Valley, this sprawling metropolitan area is Italy’s fashion and design center. Milan is very trendy, with many festivals, theaters, galleries and museums. Milan is not only at the forefront of clothing design, but also is becoming a prominent technology center. Thanks to important landmarks like the Milan Cathedral and the Santa Maria delle Grazie, which displays Leonardo da Vinci paintings, Milan is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Only an hour away from stunning Lake Como, Milan offers both the beauty of nature and sophisticated urban living. The city’s climate is not affected by the Mediterranean Sea, so it experiences sultry summers and cold, rainy winters. The average high in January is 40 F and the low is 29 F. In July, the average high temperature is 84 F and the low is 63 F. Average annual precipitation in Milan is 37 inches annually.
Florence
Beautiful Florence straddles the Arno River just 175 miles north of Rome. The city is the capital of the Tuscany region and the province of Florence and has a metropolitan area population over 1 million. Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. The city’s deep artistic roots, museums and art galleries, which include the Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace, and its history and culture, helped earn Florence a top spot on Forbes magazine’s Most Beautiful Places in the World list. Florence is also ranked within the top fifty fashion capitals of the world in addition to being a major tourist attraction. The city has hot, humid summers and cool, rainy winters. January’s average high is about 52 F and the low is 36 F. Summers can be very warm. In July, the average high is 88 F and the low 64 F. Precipitation measures about 34 inches each year.
Financial
Italy uses the euro currency system and the currency designator EUR. Paper currency denominations in Italy are: €5.00, €10.00, €20.00, €50.00, €100.00, €200.00 and €500.00. Coin unit denominations are: €0.01, €0.02, €0.05, €0.10, €0.20, €0.50, €1.00 and €2.00. For the most current exchange rate, visit the country’s central bank at the Bank of Italy or the European Central Bank’s website.
The World Economic Forum (2014) ranked Italy’s Soundness of Banks ninety-third out of the 144 countries it studied and thirtieth for Availability of Financial Services. Here is a partial listing of banks in Italy that provide retail services:
Cassa di Risparmio di Ferrara
Italian banks are similar to their U.S. counterparts in services offered, such as checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, joint accounts, ATMs, mortgages and insurance. Check each bank individually for requirements to establish an account.
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