Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

23 November 2024

4-minute read

Italy, a European country with a long Mediterranean coastline, is a place on many people’s bucket lists, and according to Umayya Theba, a place one can visit repeatedly. Tourists to Italy can apply for a multiple entry Shangan visa for 3 to 6 months, with the embassy of the first EU country they will be visiting. Requirements for the visa would include flight tickets, booking confirmations of accommodation, photos, letter of confirmation of employment, bank statement, and proof of address.  There are several countries one can chose to fly via as there are no direct flights to Italy from South Africa.

Italy has several famous cities, some world-renowned and others not so famous. Tourists would usually visit Rome, Venice, Florence and Milan. Rome boasts the Vatican Museum that is a treasure trove of tapestries and paintings. The capital city, Venice, is a museum on water made up of more than a hundred tiny islands. In Florence, the renaissance city of art and design, one can do the Vintage Fiat 500 tour and drive really old cars through the undulating hills. In Milan, the fashion capital and economic hub of Italy, one should visit the main area in the Quadrilatero Della Moda for luxury shopping and food, museums, antique markets, the La Scala Theatre, and the old columns at the Roman ruins. Lake Como, an hour away from Milan, is a “slice of heaven on earth”. The Amalfi Coast is the most popular beach destination in Italy, but the sand is more gravelly than one can expect. Accommodation options a little out of the main cities are perfect for families on a budget and Umayya recommends at least 3 days in each city.

The Red City Bus tour, a hop-on hop-off bus that transports visitors to the main attractions in each city with earphones to learn about each place in a language of your choice, is a good option to get the “lay of the land” at a reasonable price.

Although many Italians don’t speak much English and language is a barrier for those who don’t speak Italian, it is advisable for tourists to learn a few basic words of Italian to endear themselves to the locals.

Italy has a large Muslim population with many immigrants from the Arab regions and a few mosques and Islamic community centres in each of the major cities. Italians are very tolerant to Islam as they are a mostly Catholic country and because of the vast number of nuns, they do not frown upon the hijab or the Islamic way of dressing. Italy is famous for its pizzas, pastas, pastries, and of course coffee. Halal options are widely available for Muslim tourists, especially around the train stations.

Listen to the full interview on the Early Breakfast Show with Ml Ibrahim Daya and Ml Muhammad Kara.