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Italy travel facts
| Area (sq km): | 301,230 | |
| Population: | 58,103,033 | |
| Nationality: | Italian | |
| Local Name: | Italia | |
| Language: | Italian, German, French |
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| Time Zone: | +1 GMT | |
| Currency: | 1 euro = 100 cents | |
| Rate: | www.xe.com | |
| Capital: | Rome | |
| Dialling Code: | +39 | |
| Electricity: | 230V/50Hz | |
| Internet Code: | .it | |
| Religion: | Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish |
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| Climate: | Mediterranean, Mountain |
|
| Government: | Republic | |
| Inoculations: | None | |
| Driving: | Right | |
| Int'l License: | Not Required | |
| Banking: | M-F 8.30-13.30, 14.30-16.00 |
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| Major Airports: | Bologna(BLQ), Florence(FLR), Genoa(GOA), Naples(NAP), Palermo(PMO), Rome(FCO), Torino(TRN), Venice(VCE) |
Self catering in Italy & Marino Grape Festival
Wine. Gods desired it and royalty took great pleasure in it. In the small town of Marino for the Marino Grape Festival, the Golden Goblet Wine Cooperative literally turns water into wine! During the three day Italian Wine Festival choose self catering in Italy where the water spewing forth from fountains becomes wine; 5,000 litres of glorious wine!
Castelli Romani & self catering in Italy
The wine festival dates change each year, but count on it being the three days of the first weekend in October. Marino is in the Roma province, which is fantastic for staying in Italian villas, and is home to the great wine producing community Castelli Romani.
Early October 1925 saw the first Marino Grape Festival. Today it is one of Italy’s foremost wine celebrations! Over 100,000 people come to eat, drink and be merry at the Marino Grape Festival, so book self catering in Italy or an Italy villa rental now and you can join in the fun.
Grape Festival Events
The first weekend of October sees Marino transformed. Grape clusters are hung from doorways of homes and businesses in preparation of the Grape Festival events. The small cobblestone streets are heaving with stalls turning out mussels, clams, fruits, olives and porchetta (hot pork sandwiches).
There are two parades that are greatly anticipated. One carries the ‘virgin queen’ and her subjects floating upon a sea of grapes. The other notes the defeat of the Ottoman Empire.
The Sunday of the festival is called Sagra and is the main day of the festival. Sunday is when the water fountains pour forth the region’s wine. The estimated bill nears a quarter of a million dollars! Watch out for the spontaneous grape throwing fights, but don’t worry too much as you can clean up at your self catering in Italy accommodation.