PCS info

Nearest major city:
Vicenza to Venice - 40 miles
Aviano to Venice - 60 miles
Livorno to Pisa - 6 miles

Appliances/Electricity:
220 Volts/50 Cycles
Vicenza Military Housing has both type outlets, 110 and 220 Volts.
All Italian living quarters have 220 Volt outlets only.

60 cycle major appliances should not be shipped to Italy. They should be stored. Major appliances must be operated with transformers, which are costly and have a negative effect on the life of an appliance.
A permanent loan of all major appliances is available. Used or new appliances can be purchased locally.
All appliances needed in the normal household are available in your local post/base exchange.

Transformers are necessary to operate small appliances. They can be purchased before you leave the states. It is also not difficult to purchase transformers from people rotating back to the States.
Adapters are necessary to operate dual voltage hairdryers/curling irons, etc. It is recommended that you purchase a couple of adapters before your arrival or you can also purchase at the exchange.
All transformers and adapters needed in the normal household are available in your local post/base exchange. All 220Volt appliances needed in the normal household are available at your exchange.

Your TV will function in Italy, if it is a dual voltage TV.
If it is an "NTSC" TV, you will receive only AFN.
If it is a "PAL" TV, you will receive only Italian channels.
If it is an "NTSC/PAL" TV, you have a multi-system TV and will receive both.
You can operate your TV and your VCR off a transformer. It usually takes a 200 Watt transformer to do the job.

Local Economy Housing:
Average rent for an apartment (3-5 rooms): $600-$850
Average rent for a single family house (4-6 rooms): $850-$1200
Utilities amount to about 20% of the rent.

Pets:
Quarantine period: none, providing their vaccinations are up to date.
Vet clinic is available.
You must vaccinate your pet 30 days prior to your arrival in country. Bring all vaccination records,
health certificates (and copies) to the vet clinic for pet registration and numbered rabies tag.
Copies of documents will be placed in the pet's medical file.
You do not need to bring your pet along to register.
Some airlines have restrictions on shipping pets during the hot summer months. Please check with your airline for specific instructions.

Medical:
Military: medical clinic on the installation. For civilians, charges are about $134 per visit.
Civilian: All medical specialties are available on the economy. Dental care is available.

Schools:
Kindergarten - on installation
Elementary - same as above
Junior high - same as above
High school - same as above

Automobile:
Driving circumstances: Good roads, heavy winter fog in northern Italy. Italy has a good highway (autostrada) system. These are all high speed toll roads with excellent markings.
Type car recommended: Gas economy/small. Must have US and military driver's license.
As of January 2002, leaded gas is no longer available in Italy.
Insurance rates are higher than what you would normally find in the U.S.
Gas POL coupons may be purchased from the post/base exchange. The monthly rations are established on the basis of the Italian system of taxable horse power (HP), as follows:

POV up to 9 taxable HP	100 liters(+4 liters oil)
OV from 10 to 13 tax. HP	200 """""""+6"""""""""""
POV from 14 to 25 tax HP	300 """""""+8"""""""""""
POV more than 25 tax HP	400 """""""+8""""""""""""
Motorcycles:	60 liters

These rations are for the first POV only. 100 liters of super gas currently cost approximately $40.
The coupons are valid at AGIP, IP or ESSO stations in Italy and coupons purchased in Italy can only be redeemed in Italy.
To obtain gas coupons while on leave or TDY, you need your ID card, copy of your leave or TDY orders, and the vehicle registration. In Aviano, take these documents directly to the exchange cash cage to purchase your gas coupons. In Livorno and Vicenza, take these documents to the POL point to get an authorization form. Take the authorization form to the exchange cash cage to purchase your gas coupons. After POL point duty hours, go to the MP desk.

Logistical Support:
Local logistical support provided: all community services available, also all exchange facilities, commissary, theater, library, clubs, gym, bowling alley, swimming pools. US broadcast radio and TV.

Special circumstances of location:
Vicenza is located equal distance between Verona and Venice in the Veneto region of Italy. Venice is 40 miles east and Verona 35 miles west. Vicenza numbers about 180,000 inhabitants and has all metropolitan facilities except for an airport. The nearest major airport is the Marco Polo airport in Venice, full service in summer & limited connections in winter months.

Camp Darby (Livorno) is located in the Toscana region. The cities of Florence and Pisa are nearby. Beautiful museums and turistic sights are located there, while other cities are equally artistic attractions, such as Lucca, Siena, Arezzo, Assisi, Perugia. They are about 1-2 hours away. A camping area is available within the confines of Camp Darby.

Aviano is within 5-8 hours driving distance from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the former Yugoslavia and Switzerland. Venice and the beach areas are within one hour driving and the Piancavallo
ski area is at 20 minutes driving from base. The closest city is Pordenone, which is within 15 minutes from base and offers all large city facilities.

Recreational opportunities:
Full sports and recreational facilities except golf available on the installation.

Climate:
Four distinct seasons, similar to southeastern USA Fog and dampness in winter in the north.

Propane tanks for BBQs:
Military regulation states that propane tanks in any state (empty or full) cannot be shipped in household goods. AAFES is also not authorized to receive propane tanks from the manufacturer. To solve this problem, you can buy an adapter nozzle at the exchange for about $4.00. Customer service will provide you with names and directions to several vendors on the economy that will provide you with an Italian propane tank. You will need to pay the vendor a deposit for the propane tank.