Euro (€) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Traveller's cheques, cheques and foreign money can be changed at banks, railway stations and airports, and very often at major hotels (generally at a less convenient rate). Many UK banks offer differing exchange rates depending on the denominations of currency being bought or sold. Check with banks for details and current rates.

Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted, as well as Eurocheque cards.

Traveller's cheques are accepted almost everywhere. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.

Check with the Embassy before departure. Import and export of both local and foreign currency is limited to €12,500. If it is intended to import or export amounts greater than this, the amount should be declared and validated in Italy on form V2.

These vary from city to city but, in general, Mon-Fri 0830-1330 and 1500-1600.