Money isn’t the sexiest aspect of travel, but without it you don’t get very far. Get acquainted with Italy’s notes and coins, plus a few other crucial bits of information, and you’ll minimise the chances of awkwardness, theft or abuse. Here’s what you need to know.
January 1, 2002, saw the introduction of euro coins and notes. The former local currency, the lira, ceased to be legal tender at the end of February, 2002. All transactions are now made in euros.
Euro notes come in denominations of EUR500, EUR200, EUR100, EUR50, EUR20, EUR10 and EUR5. The euro is divided into 100 cents, and coins are available as EUR2 and EUR1 and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, and 1 cents. The euro can be used in 11 other European countries: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.
Change offices in Venice
Change Shop S.n.c.
S.Polo, 3013 (C.po Frari) - Venezia
Tel: 041-5242376
Italtravel S.n.c.
S.Marco, 72/b - Venezia
Tel: 041-5210198
Maaorp Italiana S.p.A.
Castello, 4138 - Venezia
Tel: 041-5236065
Maccorp Italiana S.p.A.
Stazione S.Lucia - Venezia
Tel: 041-5244009
Mattiazzo Bus S.r.l.
S.Croce 497/I - Venezia
Tel: 041-5207876
Metamorphosys 2000 S.r.l.
S.Marco 3468 - Venezia
Tel: 041-5228022
Thomas Cook Italia LTD
S.Marco, 5126 - Venezia
Tel: 041-5287358
VE.N.I.CE.
San Marco 2956, campo Santo Stefano - Venezia
041 5220601
041 5222581
E-Mail: a.cera@venice-cera.it
Venezia Turismo S.r.l.
S.Croce, 520 - Venezia
Tel: 041-5289781
Società Venezia Turismo S.r.l.
Aerop. Marco Polo - Mestre
Tel: 041-5415471
Banks
You can get your best deal of exchange rates at a bank. Travellers Cheques are also easy to encash. Always count your change. You can get short-changed if you are not used to the currency. Preferably carry smaller denomination change for purchases of odds and ends. Banks are open on weekdays from 08-30 to 15-45 hours with a lunch break from in the afternoon from 13-30 to 14-45 hours. Italy has a two-day weekend, Saturday and Sunday.
Credit cards are not a problem in shops and hotels but are often met with a frown at restaurants. Leave your tip in cash.
Banca d'Italia
S.Marco, 4799
Venezia
Tel: 041 2709111
Banca di Roma
Mercerie dell'Orologio, 191
Venezia
Tel: 041 662411
Banca Nazionale del Lavoro
Bacino Orseolo
Venezia
Tel: 041 667511
Banca Popolare di Novara
S.Marco 4187, S.Luca
Venezia
Tel: 041 5231640
Banca Popolare di Venezia
Rialto,
Campo delle Beccarie, 370/371
Venezia
Tel: 041 5210722
Banca Popolare di Verona
S.Marco, 1336
Venezia
Tel: 041 5205344
Banco Ambrosiano Veneto
S.Marco, 4481
Venezia
Tel: 041 2903111
Banco di Napoli
Campoi S.Bartolomeo, 5400/01
Venezia
Tel: 041 5226849
Banco di Sicilia
S.Marco, 5051
Venezia
Tel: 041 5220525
CAB S.p.a.
S.Polo, 2004
Venezia
Tel: 041 5246122
Cassa di Risparmio delle Province Lombarde
S.Marco, 1126
Venezia
Tel: 041 5330411
Cassa di Risparmio di Venezia
S.Marco, 4216
Venezia
Tel: 041 5291111
Credito Bergamasco Banco S .Marco
S.Marco, 383
Venezia
Tel: 041 5293892
Credito Italiano
Campo S.Salvador
Venezia
Tel: 041 5226330
Deutsche Bank
Via XXII Marzo, 2216/17
3024 Venezia
Tel: 041 5490811
Istituto Bancario S. Paolo di Torino
Rio Terrà S.Leonardo, 1353
Venezia
Tel: 041 717722
Istituto Mobiliare Italiano
Dorsoduro, 1057 S.Trovaso
Venezia
Tel: 041 5229403
Mediobanca S.p.A.
S.Marco, 2847
Venezia
Tel: 041 5299611
Monte dei Paschi di Siena
S.Croce, 574
Venezia
Tel: 041 5204000
Rolo Banca 1473
S.Marco 4586
Campo S.Luca
Venezia
Tel: 041 5285744
