Everyone knows that in Italy there is a cult of food, and restaurants, bars or pastures are open at every turn. However, unlike Russia (especially Moscow), it is impossible to eat at any time of the day or night in Italy. The fact is that almost all restaurants in Italy work on schedule, and if you don't know it, you can easily stay hungry. We talk about the working hours of Italian restaurants and other nuances in today's review.
Photo: Alberto Sordi eating spaghetti, still from the movie "An American in Rome"
In Russia, there is still a myth that Italians and discipline are incompatible concepts (thanks to comedies with Celentano), in fact, when it comes to eating hours, the life of an average Italian is strictly subject to a schedule.
THIS SCHEDULE LOOKS LIKE THIS
โfrom 8 to 10 am - colazione, that is, breakfast
- from 12.30 to 14.00 - pranzo, that is, lunch
- from 18.30 to 22.00 - cena, that is, dinner
Accordingly, restaurants in Italy are open strictly during the eating hours of the local population, that is, from 12.00 to 14.00, then a break until 18.00. Restaurants reopen at 18.00, but the kitchen starts working at 18.30 and closes at 22.00.
In short, if you decide to dine at 15.00 or 16.00, the best thing you can find in Italy is an open bar where sandwiches are served along with wine.
Photo: Cincio restaurant in the Euganean Hills, Italy
Of course, in big cities, for example, in Rome or Milan, there are establishments that work until late, but on average in the country, the schedule of opening hours for restaurants is exactly the same.
If, in Venice or Milan, you see a restaurant that works without a mandatory pause in the middle of the day, then I do not advise you to go there. As a rule, these establishments are aimed at tourists, as a result, immigrants from friendly China, Moldova or African countries work in the kitchen, and the quality of the food is below average.
WHERE TO EAT BREAKFAST?
Since restaurants in Italy open at 12.30, a reasonable question arises, where to have breakfast? The answer is simple - in the pasture.
In the photo: sweets on the pasta counter
Pasticheria is a cross between a pastry shop and a bakery, brioches are baked here (a local variety of the good old croissant), espresso and cappuccino coffee, all kinds of sweets and cookies are prepared, which appear under the names dolce and biscotti.
In the photo: morning in the pasture of San Marco, Padua
On average, brioche (aka croissant) in Italian pasta costs 1.20 euros, coffee in the region: 1-1.5 euros. However, it depends on the region, in Sicily, for example, food is several times cheaper than in Veneto, breakfast for two with brioche, granite (local variety fruit ice) and a cappuccino will cost 4.5 euros.
Pastures are open from 08:00 am to 1:00 pm, then from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm there is a break, again the establishments open at 3:00 pm and work on average until 8:00 pm. An important point - on Mondays the pastures are closed, for everyone Monday is a hard day, and for workers and owners of the pastures it is a day off.
If you find yourself in the region of Liguria (), then you can have breakfast in focaccia, the so-called establishments where the famous Ligurian focaccia is baked every morning.
In addition to the versions of focaccia known in Russia, in local establishments you can taste tortillas stuffed with tomatoes, olives or with pesto sauce.
HOW DO RESTAURANTS IN ITALY WORK?
Although the overwhelming majority of Italian restaurants open their doors to guests only at 12.30, the working day in the restaurant starts as early as 9 in the morning. First of all, the restaurant staff tidies up the premises, that is, they wash the floor, wipe the dust, in a word, make the exterior shine.
In the photo: the summer terrace of the Cencio restaurant in the Euganean Hills
Meanwhile, work is already beginning to boil in the restaurant kitchen. Despite the fact that most of the dishes in decent Italian restaurants are prepared "in live time", that is, after receiving the order, in the morning the chefs also have something to do with themselves.
Photo: baking desserts in the kitchen of the Cencio restaurant, early morning
As a rule, desserts are baked early and ahead of time, tomato paste is prepared, plus meat is cut and fish is cleaned, in a word, they perform the necessary preparatory work, which is not worth wasting time on during reception hours.
Photo: morning in the kitchen of the restaurant Cencio, butchering a pig
Around noon, the restaurant employees have lunch, often with wine, (for the mood), and during the break, which lasts from 14.30 to 17.00, the owners close the institution, and the entire staff of the restaurant goes about their business.
Photo: freshly baked desserts at the Cencio restaurant
Yet interesting moment... As a rule, in addition to full-time employees, Italian restaurants also have their own staff of freelance waiters, they are invited to work on especially busy days, for example, on Easter eve, when Italians go to restaurants or trattorias with their families, or if the restaurant is booked for a wedding or dinner at honor Christening of the child.
Photo: Restaurant Cencio in the Euganean Hills
And one more important point As a rule, on Mondays, many restaurants in Italy are closed; it is Monday that the owners of the establishments consider their legal day off. By the way, if you decide to dine in a good restaurant, then a table should be booked in advance, in Italy, in decent places with adequate prices, it is invariably sold out. Agritourism establishments are kept apart from the point of schedule and opening hours. These are restaurants open at small farms where vegetables, wine and livestock are grown, and only what is produced in the home is served on the table.
Photo: agritourism restaurant in the Prosecco hills
Some agritourism restaurants are open only on weekends, others only a few times a month, it all depends on the will of the owners. So, in order not to get into a mess, check the working hours of agritourism restaurants by phone.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE NOT ON SCHEDULE?
Unfortunately, most grocery stores and tobacco shops in Italy work according to a schedule close to that of a restaurant, that is: from 08.00 to 13.00, from 13.00 to 15.00 - lunch break, evening hours: from 15.00 to 20.00. If you realize that you are hungry around 14.30 - 18.00, the best way out of the situation is to visit the bar, they are open at any time.
In the photo: cheeses and wine in an Italian bar
Of course, you will not have a full lunch, but you can get by with sandwiches, piadina, cheese, ham and other snacks.
The second option is gelateria, that is, an ice cream parlor, in Italy ice cream (gelato) is prepared from natural ingredients, so it is not only very tasty, but also very satisfying.
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Yulia Malkova- Julia Malkova - founder of the site project. In past Chief Editor internet project elle.ru and chief editor of the site cosmo.ru. I'm talking about travel for my own pleasure and the pleasure of my readers. If you are a representative of hotels, tourism office, but we are not familiar, you can contact me by email: [email protected]
The distance from Milan to Rome is about 600 km, and the journey will take you from 3 to 10 hours. The most comfortable and fastest way to get from Milan to Rome is by high-speed train. In this article, we will consider all the options for any wallet.
There are 2 high-speed train companies in Italy: (detailed) and Trenitalia.com (). Each has direct trains that will take you from Milan to Rome in just 3 hours without stopping, so you just have to figure out the prices.
Italotreno
Italotreno has the cheapest option at โฌ 19.90 in the Smart showroom. You need to book such a ticket at least 1-2 months in advance, it is non-refundable. The usual price is in the region of 33-47 euros.
Trenitalia
At Trenitalia, for 19.90 euros, you will at most find a regional train that takes more than 6 hours and arrives at the Tiburtina station, not. The usual price for early booking is in the region of 40-50 euros.
Thinking about buying a few weeks in advance, you will most likely already be faced with higher prices. As you can see, the cost of a ticket for a regional train (the one that runs 6.5 hours!) Starts from 49.90 euros, and a comfortable and quick option direct costs 79.90 euros.
By bus
If you have not had time to buy the best train tickets and are on a budget, then buses are your option. Due to my height of 190 cm, I am skeptical about any travel not by buses, let alone the journey from Milan to Rome which will take about 8-9 hours. The only option that I would agree to is traveling by Flixbus buses, which, in addition to the price, are also very comfortable, there are sockets, service with tea / coffee and even TVs in the headrests.
Spending a whole day in Italy, even in a comfortable air-conditioned bus, is a very controversial idea, but if you easily fall asleep on buses or are cheerful, reckless students, then choose the night move. We left Milan at 21:45 and already at 06:00 in the morning you will meet the sunrise in Rome with a cup of cappuccino, romance, at the same time you will save money on the hotel. Please note that there is also a direct bus from (Aeroporto di Milano-Malpensa) to Rome.
By plane
Traveling by plane from Milan to Rome will take you about 4-6 hours, taking into account the way to one of the (Bergamo, Malpensa, Linate), the time for check-in, baggage check-in and waiting for the flight, as well as the route from Rome. In terms of cost and time, this is the most expensive option, but if you prefer airplanes, then use the search form below.
By car
Traveling from Milan to Rome by car is logical to combine with visiting large and small authentic towns along the way, that is, I would stretch this trip for at least 4-5 days.
USEFUL ARTICLES AND SITES ๐ฎ๐นโ๏ธ SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDSMany travelers, coming to Italy, consider it their duty to visit at least two cities of this country. It is the ancient and modern capital of Rome, and the city of fashion, shopping, opera and delicious cuisine, Milan. Each of them has its own history, holidays, sights, iconic places. There are many ways to get from one city to another. This includes an airplane, a bus, a rented car, and even a taxi. But we want to talk about how to be budget travelers who may not have a driver's license and don't have much time. Therefore, we will devote this article to one method of transportation. This is the Milan - Rome train. Most independent travelers come to Northern Italy. Many low-cost airlines fly to Milan from different parts of Europe. Therefore, first, let's talk about how to come to the capital of Italy.
How fast
The distance between these two cities is quite significant, so a few years ago such a trip took a lot of time. It took five to six hours to get from the north of the country to the capital. After all, it was necessary to drive about six hundred kilometers. Now the Milan - Rome train covers this distance in just three hours. Of course, if it's fast. There are only two types of such trains. The first of these is Italotreno. It is considered the most comfortable one. The company "Trenitalia" also has But they are more expensive, although the level of comfort is less. Their trains are called "Freccia", which means "arrow". Italotreno is a private carrier. The fact is that in 2012 they were liberalized and the right to carry out transportation was taken away from the monopolist. It was the Trenitalia company. But the competitor has already achieved popularity for several years with both the fastest trains and the lowest prices.
On the way to
How to get on the high-speed train Milan - Rome? Itโs very simple. These trains leave from the main station of the city "Milano Centrale". They arrive at the main station of the capital "Roma Termini". Express trains run non-stop. The Italotreno teams do it in record time - two hours and forty minutes. Other high-speed trains can pass through different stations. For example, some of them make stops along the way in Florence and Bologna. Traveling on high-speed trains is very convenient. The road resembles a rest. In addition to admiring beautiful landscapes, you have the opportunity to use Wi-Fi. There is climate control, electronic displays indicating speed and time, as well as outside temperature. Uniform guides are very polite. The chairs are comfortable and the toilets are clean. Apart from restaurants, there are cinemas in Italotreno cars.
Train Milan - Rome. Schedule
High-speed trains and express trains travel to the capital from six in the morning until ten in the evening. In order not to be mistaken, pay attention to the stands at the station. One of them will be written "Arrivi", that is, arrival. On the other "Partenets" - retreat. The number of the train, the gauge from which it departs, and the name of the station of the terminal station are usually indicated there. As a rule, trains of any category arrive on time. The delay can be within a few minutes. There are, of course, situations when the Milan-Rome train - however, like any other - can be canceled due to strikes by railroad employees. But this is usually warned about a week in advance. But, for example, in France, you can learn about a strike in just a day, when you no longer have time to change your plans. Regional trains, to put it simply, electric trains, or even "Intercity", go on the route Milan - Rome for a long time. The train, the travel time on which can be six or even ten hours (if you count with transfers), often arrives not at the Roma Termini station, but at the Tiburtina station. The night express arrives at the Ostiense.
How to buy tickets
To take the Milan - Rome train, you must, of course, purchase a travel document. Tickets can be bought by regular, the classic way- at the ticket office at the station. But be aware that you will have to stand in a long queue. However, if you know how to use the machine, it will save time. But on the day of departure, tickets can be very expensive. In addition, this direction is very popular. And it is not uncommon for tourists who were going to go to Rome to encounter a situation when there were not enough tickets for them. Therefore, experienced travelers are advised to make such purchases in advance and via the Internet. Then you can "get" to sales and promotions, as well as have time to buy economy class tickets. The average price for such a one-way train is about fifty to seventy euros. If you buy a ticket on the day of departure, then you can pay one hundred percent. Children under 14 have a fifty percent discount. Italotreno trains are slightly cheaper. The trip in their carriages costs 33 ะ, and if you buy a travel document for two months at a discount, then you will pay less than twenty euros. But it is no longer possible to return it. If you buy tickets online, it comes to your e-mail as a PDF file. You print it out and you can get on the train. But the ticket purchased at the box office must not forget to punch. Otherwise, your travel document will be invalid.
Return trip
Sooner or later you will have to return to Milan. Or, suppose you want to visit this proud city of Northern Italy while in the capital of the country. Then you will need the Milan - Rome train. The price and travel time are approximately the same as for the road from the North of Italy to the capital. High-speed or regional direct trains run every hour between 7 am and 8 pm. There is also a night flight. It leaves Rome at almost midnight and arrives in Milan seven hours later.
It can surprise its guests not only with famous historical monuments, but also with the tradition of afternoon rest, which is widespread throughout the country, that is, siesta.
Siesta in Italy is called pennicella. It starts at about 12.30 and ends at 15.30. During the siesta, in many Italian cities, especially those in the south of the country, shops, banks, communication salons, law offices, and doctors' offices do not work. Both public and private institutions close for a long lunch.
A day in Italy
A traveler visiting a particular country should be prepared to adhere to local customs and traditions. In Italy, as in other countries, it is customary not to rush anywhere. There is a morning for everyday affairs. Lunch and evening time can be devoted to relaxation and family.
To avoid annoyance and stress, seeing the doors of museums and churches closed for a long lunch break, it is better to plan your day correctly while on vacation in Italy:
- sightseeing should be devoted to the first half of the day - until 12.30. This way you can be sure that the castle or museum you need will be open;
- at lunchtime, you can have a snack in one of the tourist places that work without lunch in the hope of profit, and then wait out the heat in a hotel room;
- for the evening it is better to leave unhurried walks around the city and shopping. Large shopping centers in big Italian cities like Milan are open without interruption. Small private shops are only open in the morning and evening.
Southern phenomenon
The results of recent studies of the phenomenon of the Italian siesta are striking: until now, about 30% of the country's inhabitants prefer to sleep after a hearty meal. And since lunch in southern countries is quite plentiful, consisting of several changes of dishes, which are also washed down with wine, it is absolutely impossible to start work immediately after it. You also need to take into account the intense heat, which is established in Italy from April to November at lunchtime. Going into the garden, picking oranges, doing something with your own hands in the open air under the scorching rays of the sun means putting yourself at risk of cardiovascular disease.
Young people in Italy are indulgent towards the traditions of afternoon naps. Most often, the older generation goes to relax on the sofa in the middle of the day. At this time, their children and grandchildren go shopping in large supermarkets that work without interruption, or meet with friends.
What is open after all?
In cities in northern Italy, about 1/5 of the population recalls siesta. So, only 20% of residents sleep in the afternoon, in - already 36%. In southern Italy, siesta traditions are still alive: almost half of Italians prefer to relax here at noon. Pharmacies, banks and cafes located in the province, away from tourist roads, will probably be closed during the day for several hours. All establishments will work in resorts and in the centers of big cities. Large, significant museums, such as the Museum Complex or the Uffizzi Art Gallery, operate without interruption. Outlets near Milan, where all fashionistas come to shop at bargain prices, are also open all day.
But in the afternoon, even at crowded places where there are many visitors, most restaurants and cafes take a break. During the siesta, they regularly receive visitors, and after 15.00 they close until the evening. The Italians themselves consider this quite reasonable, because it is hours at 19-20 locals go to supper. And the desires of tourists, who are accustomed, for example, to eat at 18 o'clock, are not taken into account here. Again: if you come to a country, live by its laws.
Italy is not the only country in Europe that encourages afternoon relaxation. The traditions of siesta are strong in, na. It is interesting that it is in these countries that the happiest people live, who are not fixated on the indispensable urgent fulfillment of all matters. Maybe travelers should learn from their experience?