Italy - Electrical plugs/sockets in Italy???

It's been so many years since I have been to Italy, I can't remember. What type of plugs/sockets do they use? It is the same type (two parallel round plugs) as in northern Europe .... or is it a different type of socket?

http://www.kropla.com/electric2.htm

I used to consult the Web site that PTravel links to before every international trip, until I got one of these (http://www.tonywublog.com/20090809/travel-tip-transformers.html). Now I just pack two of them (they are very slim) and don't worry about it anymore.

It's been so many years since I have been to Italy, I can't remember. What type of plugs/sockets do they use? It is the same type (two parallel round plugs) as in northern Europe .... or is it a different type of socket?

The two prong plug (as on a laptop) is the same as in Germany. The adapter is found in dollar stores in North America or for $5 at the airport. For three prongs, there are some variations but that would be for things that have grounded motors. I found that in Switzerland I needed something unique. Even if the socket can take the three pronger the two prong plug works.

output is 230V, 50 hertz. some hairdryers do not have a 230v setting. running a hairdryer at 50 hertz is slow.

some battery chargers do not like 50 hertz.

Try this link (http://tinyurl.com/italy-power)for more info and some pictures on the plugs in Italy!

Also, this probably seems stupid, but check the input voltage/freq accepted by any electronic devices you plan to take with you. When I moved from the US to Italy, I naively assumed that all modern devices take 100-240V 50-60Hz. Not so: take my Uniden cordless phone or my Linksys VOIP phone adapter, for instance...

And the vocab to keep handy if spare parts are needed ;)

Plug adapter = adattatore - easy to find at houseware stores (casalinghi) etc
Transformer = trasformatore - I've also heard convertitore - may need to find at an eletrical store, or the airport of course

For those of us who have family in Italy and BKK/KUL ;), there's also the 150-country plug adapter/surge protector, $9.99 on amazon.com at the moment. It now lives in my international ready-to-go bag.

http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Adapter-Protection-Supports-Countries/dp/B0036EYH1A

Hammacher Schlemmer had a similar but more expensive gizmo that was also a converter, but they seem to be out of it.