INTERNAL AFFAIRS

POPULATION

Italy: 58.3 million

Milan: 1.46 million

TIME

GMT plus one hour; summertime (end of March to end of September) plus two hours

TELEPHONE

IDD country code 39

Milan 39-2

Rome 39-6

Venice 39-41

Florence 39-55

To telephone internationally from Italy, dial 00 followed by country code and number you require.

To telephone within Italy, dial 0 plus city code and number you require.

NB It is standard practice in Italy to identify yourself immediately when calling and it's considered ill-mannered not to do so. The receptionist may ask ''Chi lo desidera?'' (who wants him?), which is your cue to identify yourself, if you have not already.

Directory assistance 12

Inter-city calls 175

International calls 176

Intercontinental calls 170

AT&T numbers 172-1011

MCI numbers 172-1022

WEATHER

Average temperatures: spring 13°C; summer 23°C; autumn 13°C with lots of fog and rain; winter, around 2°C to below zero

NATIONAL HOLIDAY 1996

1 and 6 January, 31 March, April, 1 May, 15 August, 1 November, 8, 25 & 26 December

BEST MAPS & GUIDES

Difficult to find a good guide book on just Milan. The Gault Millau guide The Best of Italy, written by Andre Gayot includes Milan and gives overall information on hotels, restaurants, bars and nightspots as well as a selection of shops; Made in Italy (published by Workman) is the best guide for shop-until-you-drop types.

ELECTRIC CURRENT

220 volts/AC 50 cycle

TRADING PLACES

Number of cinemas in Milan: 113

Number of screens in Lombardy (Milan region): 583, of which 311 are commercial, 258 are church cinemas and 21 are film clubs/occasional.

VCR penetration (Italy): 47 % of households.

TV NETWORKS

Canale 5/Italia 1/Retequattro

(all Finivest TV), Via Marconi 27, Milan Tel 21021 Fax 2138019

Odeon

Via dell'Industria, Fiano Romano Tel 0765 4571

RAI

Corso Sempione 27, Milan Tel 3888

Rete A

Via Stromboli 18, Milan Tel 4694715

TMC

Via Visconti di Modrone 12, Milan Tel 58208130

Videomusic

BETA TV, Il Ciocco, Castelvecchio Pascoli, Lucca 55020

INDUSTRY EVENTS 1996

Taormina Film Festival

mid-July

Venice Film Festival

late August-early September

Prix Italia Festival

late September

Mifed

27 October-1 November

LOST/STOLEN CREDIT CARDS

Amex (06) 72 282

Visa 167 821001

Mastercard 1678 68086

Diners 3213841

ALL-NIGHT PHARMACIES

Stazione Centrale 66 90 735

Corso Buenos Aires 22 17 80

Corso Sempione 33 10 11 76

Piazza Duomo 87 22 66

COURIERS

Local

Mototaxi 5434

International

UPS 50791

DHL 575721

EMERGENCIES

Police 113

Sport

For information on any sport in the city:

Pronto sport 801460

THE OUT OF TOWNERS

Pavia

Originally a Roman stronghold called Ticinium, Pavia was Milan's rival during its 200 year reign as the capital of the conquering Lombards from the sixth to the eighth century. Its wealth and importance continued on in the Middle Ages when it was called Pappia - city of a hundred towers. It is also home to one of Europe's oldest universities.

While in Pavia look at the cathedral (Duomo) in fine Lombard Renaissance style built on sketches by Bramante, l Da Vinci and Amadeo.

The Basilica of San Michele, and the 14th century castle of the ruling Visconti family now house the Municipal Museum and the picture gallery with works by Bellini and Coreggio.

Just outside Pavia, at Certosa di Pavia is the famous Carthusian monastery with its dazzling marble facade where you can purchase traditional herbal liqueur and wine made by the monks from a medieval recipe.

THE X FILES TIPPING

In most restaurants, a service charge of 10-15% is added to the bill so tips aren't necessary, although Italians often round up the figure (same in taxis). Tipping is expected for hotel porters and theatre ushers.

RECEIPTS

When buying anything or paying for meals out, you should be given a 'ricevuta fiscale' - an official receipt which lists the proprietor's tax ID number. If you don't get one you should ask for one because, by law, you are jointly liable: although it rarely happens, finance police may stop you within 100 yards of the establishment and can fine you if you can't produce a receipt.