If you plan on doing any shopping for clothing in Italy, this chart will certainly come in handy!

This chart lists the popular clothing sizes for men and women along with the corresponding sizes compared to the US, Europe (UK) and Australia.

As is typically the case with clothing, there can be slight variations depending on the manufacturer, so you should use this as a guide and not something that is set in stone.

Rome Time Estimates for Various Transportation Options

Below is a useful table you can use to get an estimate of the various time estimates and the best way to get from different location in Rome to another location.

Of course, Rome is a big metropolis with close to 3 million people. With that many people, transportation issues can wreak havoc with the best laid plans of mice and men. Please keep that in mind as accidents, traffic strikes (which are common in Italy), detours, construction, etc., can change the time estimates below significantly.

View this file in a printer-friendly PDF version.

Other links of interest:

Top Hotels in Rome

Take a Train from Rome for Venice

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most fascinating and popular tourist attractions in Italy visited by thousands of people from across the world. The foundation of the tower is soft on one side because of which the ground could not support the weight and the structure gradually started tilting. It was built as a freestanding bell tower of the nearby cathedral and although it has been stabilized, it still leans significantly. This unique tilt of the tower makes it stand out from similar structures and makes everyone include it in their must-see list.

It was started in 1173 and took almost 200 years to complete!

Leaning Tower of Pisa Tourist Information and Hours:

The hours of operation vary throughout the year depending on the season and are subject to change. So it is better to check the official website and plan your trip accordingly.

For November through February
The tower is open from 10 am to 5 pm.

It is also open during the holiday season of December 25 to January 1
Extended Holiday Hours: 9 am to 6 pm.

For March
The hours of operation are 9 am to 6 pm.

From April through September
Hours are 8:30 am to 8:30 pm.

October, the tower is open from 9 am to 7 pm

The entry fee is 15 euros per person. Buying advanced tickets for climbing the tower and experience a breathtaking view is advised, as there is a huge rush due to such a large number of visitors. The last visitors are allowed on the tower for up to half-hour before closing time.

There are many ways in which you can travel to Pisa, the most popular being bus and train services. If you are in Florence, the best option will be to travel west on a train. Florence is a tourist hub and there are many trains leaving for Pisa every day at short intervals. You can board a fast train from the Florence Train Station (Santa Maria Novella) by getting tickets at the station ticket counter or automatic machines. Online bookings are available at the Trenitalia website which provides the schedules, rates etc. You can use cash or credit card to make the purchase and also book your ticket on the phone until 10 minutes before departure. The journey hardly takes an hour and you can relax and enjoy the view of the beautiful Tuscan countryside.

If you are short on time, flights are available too. Since Pisa airport is within the city, it does not take much time to reach the Tower. The two cities fall under the same time zone, so you do not have to make any time adjustments. Adventurous tourists can also hire a rental car or get a cab and you will have to pay the toll fee if you go by road.
Besides the Leaning Tower of Pisa, you can also check out the Florence Flower Festival in May or Luminara -- a candlelight street festival in June.

Overall, Pisa is a place you should definitely include in your travel itinerary and the Leaning Tower of Pisa is the highlight of this trip.

Related Links

Agritourism Vacation in Tuscany

Going from Rome to Florence by Train

Photo Attribution: By Alkarex Malin äger (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

One of my favorite things about Italy is the diversity of the dialects. And when you combine them with proverbs that have been passed down through the ages, it makes for some interesting comparisons.

Here are some more sayings in Neapolitan along with the Italian and English meaning:

First Neapolitan Saying:
'A bona mercanzia trova prièsto a ghjì pe' 'n'àutra via.

First Italian Saying:
Tutte le cose belle e buone trovano sempre chi le desidera e le prende.

First English Saying:
All the beautiful and good things always find who desires them and takes them.

Second Neapolitan Saying:
'A bona parola mògne 'a trista pògne.

Second Italian Saying:
La buona parola produce sempre del bene mentre la cattiva punge e nuoce.

Second English Saying:
A good word produces good, and a bad word stings and hurts. If you can't say anything good, don't say anything at all.