In Italy they use the Euro. I recommend exchanging your currency in your local bank for euros before you arrive. I would avoid exchange offices, they normally give you the worst rates. Depending on what your transaction fees are (varies on card and bank) I think atm withdrawals are the best. Since you normally get charged per withdrawal it's always better to take out more at once.

Also, don't forget to call your credit card companies and bank letting them know of your travel plans to avoid them blocking any cards while your overseas.

These are some movies that were filmed in Tuscany (Florence, Siena, etc.), in case you want some on-screen motivation before catching your flight.

Inferno

Under the Tuscan Sun

Life is Beautiful 

Letters to Juliet

Hannibal

A Room with a View

Tea with Mussolini

Medici: Masters of Florence

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Italian, one of the most romantic and beautiful languages in the world. Here are a few useful words.

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Hello - Ciao

Goodbye - Arrivederci 

Good Morning - Buongiorno

Good Evening - Buonasera

Good Night - Buona Notte

Thank You - Grazie

Excuse Me - Me Scusa

Please - Per favore

You're Welcome - Prego

Where is...? - Dove si trova...?

How are you? - Come stai?

Good - Bene

Bad - Male

Weather in Italy is typically dry, although you will find some cities that are very humid. The difference of temperature in summer and winter is big. A typical summer day will be around 30C or 85F. Note, it cools down significantly. 

Winter can get to freezing or close to.

Italy has several great athletes. However, the main sport in this country is football (or soccer), or calcio in Italy. 

The local team in Florence is Fiorentina. 

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Other sporting events in this region are:

Il Palio di Siena, the oldest horse race in the world. Every year on July 2 and August 16

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Calcio Storico, very early form on rugby, a violent sport that is thought to originally have been played in Ancient Rome as Harpastum

This is the outlet you will need to bring adapters for. It's important to remember this in order to charge any of your electronics. You will be able to buy them there but it may not be as easy to find right away.

Remember that different countries have different voltage, so be sure to check the voltage matches your electronics (mostly applies to hair dryers), because they can overheat permenantly break.