Italian Postal Codes/Zip Codes and the Post Office

Posting a letter in Italy? Find out how to make sure that the letter is addressed correctly...

Since 2000, the Italian postal system has undergone large-scale changes. It is no longer a state-owned monopoly, although the government still owns the majority. The service is managed by Poste Italiane. Services include mailing letters and parcels, banking and financial services, and managing certain local administrative matters. Poste Italiane also has services catering specifically to small business.

• For further information on services, in English: Click here
• To find a post office, a list of postal services and opening times: Click here (in Italian)

The Vatican state has its own postal service. Stamps can be bought in the Vatican City; mail with Vatican stamps must be posted there.

Post/Zip Code Finder

Italian postcodes (Codice di Avviamento Postale, CAP) are five digits long, the first two indicate the town and province and the last three, the street.

• To find regional Italian postcodes see Nonsolo CAP: Click here (in Italian)

Writing Italian Addresses

There is a specific way to write an Italian address. The surname (family name) is usually written before the Christian/first name and the house/building number comes after the street name. As many buildings in Italy are apartment buildings, make sure that the post box has the correct name on it.

The postal code is written before the town name and the two-figure province code is written at the end of the line, without brackets.

• Bianchi Gianni
  Via Roma 32
  10123 Torino TO
  Italy

When posting to Italy from overseas, it may be useful to insert the ISO country code "I-" before the postcode ("I-10123 Torino", in the example above).

Glossary of Postal Terms

• Buying Property
• Renting Accommodation
• Property Jargon
• Setting Up Home
• Moving House
• Postal System
• Useful Contacts