The Euro became Italy's official currency in 2002. There are 100 cents in 1 Euro. Within Europe, Euro notes are identical, so they have no country-specific designs on them. Italian Euro coins feature various designs, chosen by a committee and based on Italian art masterpieces. Eagerly awaited by the Italian people, the designs were shown first on Italy's biggest TV station, Rai Uno. Coin denominations and designs are:

2 Euro - portrait of Dante painted by Raphael
1 Euro - Da Vinci's famous painting of the human body, The Vitruvian Man
50 cent - statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius on horseback
20 cent - futurist sculpture by Boccioni, coin has scalloped edges
10 cent - Botticelli's painting 'The Birth of Venus'
5 cent - the Flavius amphitheatre, begun in 75 AD
2 cent - the Mole Antonelliana tower
1 cent - the Castel del Monte castle in Apulia

Cost of living - northern and central Italy are more expensive, especially the cities, while the south is generally cheaper. Cars and other luxury items like white goods can be costly. Wines, fruit and vegetables are often a bargain and of excellent quality. Some cost of living examples: petrol 1 Euro per litre, cappuccino 1 Euro, cinema 7 Euro.