Italy
Italy is the ideal destination for a seaside vacation. It boasts around 8,000 km of coastline, lapped by the waves of the Adriatic, the Tyrrhenian, the Ionian, the Ligurian, and the Sardinian Seas. From north to south, stretches of sandy beaches alternate with jagged shorelines and sheer cliffs that plunge into the sea - a land full of picturesque, fascinating seaside locations and islands with spectacular natural views that are well worth visiting.
Rome is one of Italy's top destinations during the Christmas and New Year holiday season. Not only are there special holiday events in Rome, but going to the Vatican during the holiday season is very popular. One of the top attractions is going to a mass presided over by the Pope at Saint Peter's Basilica. Tickets are required to attend these popular masses.
Climate
With its hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, Italy experiences a Mediterranean climate. Winters in Italy are cool and humid in the north and the mountainous zone. Sometimes cold air from northern Europe can spread south into Italy, bring snow to most mountains, while the coasts are kept warm by the high sea temperatures. Storms like the Mistral can bring snow and gales, sometimes even in southern districts of Italy.
Visa
Check the current validity of your passport and the availability of blank visa pages.
All travelers will need a valid passport for their travels to Italy. Also, the passport must contain un-used visa pages for the visa to be issued. We recommend traveling with at least 6 months of remaining validity on your passport at all times. Visa HQ can assist U.S. citizens with a full range of expedited passport services, including new passport application and passport renewal. We recommend that you have at least two free pages in Visas section of your passport before any international travel. U.S. citizens can get extra passport added to their passports as fast as within 24 hours.
Contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Italy.
Take advantage of our extensive embassy and consular database to find the nearest one. Upon contacting the embassy confirm the required documents, the time it takes to process the visa and whether the consulate accepts applications by mail.
