Feeling homesick? - Milan has got plenty of facilities to help you get in touch with home.
Phone
The country code for Italy is 39. The area code for Milan is 02. When dialing an Italian number from abroad, you no longer drop the initial 0 from the local area code. For example, a call from New York City to Milan would be dialed 011 + 39 + 02 + phone number.
Directory & Operator Information
For general information in English, dial 176. To place international telephone calls via operator-assisted service, dial 170 or long-distance access numbers.
International Calls
Since hotels tend to overcharge, sometimes exorbitantly, for long-distance and international calls, it is best to make such calls from public phones, using telephone cards. You can make collect calls from any phone by dialing 172-1011, which will get you an English-speaking operator. Rates to the United States are lowest on Sunday and between 10 PMand 8 AM (Italian time) Monday-Saturday.
From major Italian cities, you can place a direct call to the United States by reversing the charges or using your phone credit card number. When calling from pay telephones, insert a coin that will be returned upon completion of your call. You automatically reach an operator in the country of destination and thereby avoid all language difficulties.
The country code is 1 for the United States and Canada, 61 for Australia, 64 for New Zealand, and 44 for the United Kingdom.
Local Calls
For all calls within Italy - local and long distance - you must dial the regional area code (prefisso), which begins with a 0, as 06 for Rome, 041 for Venice. If you are calling from a public phone you must deposit a coin or use a calling card to get a dial tone.
Long-Distance Calls
AT&T, MCI, and Sprint access codes make calling long distance relatively convenient, but you may find the local access number blocked in many hotel rooms. First ask the hotel operator to connect you. If the hotel operator balks, ask for an international operator, or dial the international operator yourself. One way to improve your odds of getting connected to your long-distance carrier is to travel with more than one company's calling card (a hotel may block Sprint, for example, but not MCI). If all else fails, call from a pay phone.
Access Codes
AT&T USADirect (tel: 172-1011). MCI Call USA (tel: 172-1022). Sprint Express (tel: 172-1877).
Phone Cards
Prepaid carte telefoniche (calling cards) are prevalent throughout Italy and more convenient than coins. You buy the card (values vary) at post offices, tobacconists, most news stalls, and bars. Tear off the corner of the card and insert it in the slot. When you dial, its value appears in the window. After you hang up, the card is returned so you can use it until its value runs out. The phone card called Time Europa (about EUR28) is a good value, allowing you to call Europe and the United States at only about EUR.28 per minute during peak hours, although conventional phone cards remain cheaper when used from 10 PM to 8 AM and on Sunday.
Public Phones
Some pay phones accept only coins, others only carte telefoniche, so be smart and always have both ready in your pockets.
Mail
The Italian mail system is notoriously slow. Allow up to two weeks for mail to and from the United States and Canada, about a week to and from the United Kingdom and within Italy. Posta Prioritaria, a priority mail service for Italy and abroad, promises speedier delivery, and Postacelere, a special delivery service for Italy only, guarantees delivery within one working day.
Postal Rates
Letters and postcards up to 20 grams sent Posta Ordinaria, or regular mail, cost EUR.41 to Italy, Europe, and countries around the Mediterranean Basin, and EUR.52 to the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Delivery is from three to five days in Italy, about six days within Europe, 10 days around the Mediterranean Basin, and 14 days to the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The Italian post office aims to deliver Posta Prioritaria, or priority mail, within one working day (plus the day of mailing) to destinations in Italy, three working days to the rest of Europe, four or five working days to countries of the Mediterranean Basin, five or six working days to the U.S. and Canada, and seven or eight working days to Australia and New Zealand.
A standard Posta Prioritaria letter, weighing up to 20 grams (and measuring 14 to 23.5 centimeters by 9 to 12 centimeters) costs EUR62 for Italy, Europe, and countries of the Mediterranean Basin, and EUR.77 for the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. A package weighing the maximum 2 kilos (and measuring the maximum 34.3 by 35 by 5 centimeters) costs EUR8.06 for Italy, Europe, and countries of the Mediterranean Basin, EUR16.53 for the U.S. and Canada, and EUR20.66 for Australia and New Zealand. Stamps can be purchased at the post office or in tobacco shops; a special Posta Prioritaria sticker (free) is necessary. The envelope can be mailed at the post office or dropped in any letter box or in one of the 3,000 or so special Posta Prioritaria letter boxes.
Postacelere, for destinations in Italy only, guarantees delivery within one working day (Saturdays included, Sundays and holidays excluded). Envelopes sent Postacelere cost EUR7.23 and may not weigh more than 3 kilos nor exceed 45.5 by 32.5 centimeters. They can be sent only from a post office, where you must fill out a special mailing form.
Informazioni Poste Italiane (tel: 160; toll-fr ee 800/009-966; EUR.30) for information in Italian about rates and local post offices' opening hours; tel: 160; toll-fr ee 800/009-966 for information about Postacelere; www.poste.it for information in Italian about zip codes, rates, and post-office addresses and to trace packages sent as Postacelere.
Receiving Mail
Correspondence can be addressed to you in care of the Italian post office. Letters should be addressed to your name, "c/o Ufficio Postale Centrale," followed by "Fermo Posta" on the next line, and the name of the city (preceded by its postal code) on the next. You can collect it at the central post office by showing your passport or photo-bearing ID and paying a small fee. American Express also has a general-delivery service. There's no charge for cardholders, holders of American Express traveler's checks, or anyone who booked a vacation with American Express.
Cyber Cafes
After Line Gay Club
Via Sammartini 25 (near the main train station), Tel: 39-02-6692130, open 19-2am.
Cafe' Atlantique
Viale Umbria
Clup Viaggi
Via Pascoli 55, Tel: 30-02-26687501, open Monday through Friday 9:30-13, 14:30-18:30, closed Saturday and Sunday.
Gallery Games
Via Santo Sisto, 5 (near the Duomo) Tel: 30-02-7200-4602, open 10-1am.
Internet Cafe
Corso Sempione 44, Milan
Jenner 68
Viale Jenner 68, Tel: 39-02-3322-6287, cafe, bar, can order directly from your PC, Hours: 10-2am daily, Price: 15,000 lire an hour.
Metaverse
Via Plinio 48, Tel: 39-02-29415413
