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Communications: Post, Phones and the Media
Opening hours of main post offices are usually Monday-Saturday 8.30am-7.30pm; others are likely to be open Monday-Friday 8.30am-5pm and Saturday 8.30am-noon, and offices in smaller towns may close altogether on Saturday. Note too that offices may close an hour early on the last working day of the month. Stamps ( francobolli ), are sold in tabacchi too, as well as in some gift shops in the tourist resorts; they will often also weigh your letter. The Italian postal system is one of the worst in Europe, but if you’re determined to write, airmail letter rates are £800/¬0.41 anywhere within the European Union, and £1500/¬0.77 to North America, Australia and New Zealand. Letters can be sent poste restante to any Italian post office, by addressing them “Fermo Posta” followed by the study of the town. When picking something up take your passport, and make sure they check under middle obloquy and initials - and every other letter when all else fails - as filing is often diabolical.
Tags: 5pm, airmail letter, australia and new zealand, europe, european union, initials, middle names, north america, passport, post office, post offices, postal system, restante, stamps, tabacchi, tourist resorts