In 2002 Italy, along with the other European countries in the EU, adopted the Euro as its national currency, replacing the Lira. The currency is accepted throughout the Euro community.

ATMCards: ATMs, known as Bancomat, in Italy are found only at banks, not in grocery stores or pharmacies.

Credit Cards: It is a good practice to call your credit card company before your trip. Let them know that you will be in Italy, so that they won't place a hold on your card for security reasons when they start seeing charges from abroad. Note that some credit card companies charge a foreign currency transaction fee, which is typically anywhere from 2 percent - 5 percent of the transaction amount.

Foreign Currency:  http://www.foreignmoney.com
It is possible to purchase Euros before your departure. You can order Euros from International Currency Express, Inc.

Currency Exchange:  http://www.oanda.com
To find out the currency exchange rate between US dollars and Euros, visit.

Tax Refunds:  http://www.agenziadogane.it/wps/wcm/connect/ee/HomePageEn/VTA+Refund/
Non-resident vistors of the European Union can receive a tax refund (20 percent in Italy) for items purchased for personal use in Italy. You can read more detailed information on the Agenzia delle Dogane website.

The color, size, material and front of the Euro are the same for each nation; on the back of the coins each country could develop their own national designs. Italian coins are especially beautiful!

The €2 coin features Raffael’s portrait of Dante Alighieri. You can admire the original in the Vatican, in the wing Papa Giulio II.

The €1 coin shows Leonardo’s “Man of Perfect Proportions”. The original is in the galleria dell'Accademia in Venice.

The 0,50€ cent coin shows the equestrian statue of emperor Marco Aurelio. The original is kept in the Musei Capitolini in Rome; a copy can be seen in Michelangelo’s piazza del Campidoglio.

The 0,20€ cent coin features Boccioni’s famous futurist sculpture "Unique Forms of Continuity in Space". This artwork is displayed in the Civico Museo d’Arte Contemporanea (CIMAC) in Milan.

The 0,10€ cent coin reproduces the splendid "Birth of Venus" by Sandro Botticelli. The painting can be admired in the Uffizi in Florence.

The 0,05€ cent coin shows the Anfiteatro Flavio, also known as the Colosseum, in Rome.

The 0,02€ cent coin shows the Mole Antonelliana inTurin, designed in 1863 by Alessandro Antonelli. The Mole contains the interesting Museum of Cinema and you can reach the observation deck by taking a spectacular ride in the free hanging elevator up the middle of the large dome.

The 0,01€ cent coin shows the Castel del Monte. This amazing octagonal castle is in Apulia, close to the city of Bari. It was built under Federico II of Svevia in 1229 and it is considered to be one of the first gothic constructions of Southern Italy.