"Lira" is derived from the Latin word libra, which referred to an ancient Roman unit of weight (a pound of silver) and acted as the basis for monetary systems. It signifies a direct, historical connection to the Roman pound, similar to how the British pound (£) traces its roots to the same Latin term.
The lira, along with the related currencies of Europe and the Middle East, has its roots in the ancient Roman unit of weight known as the libra which referred to the Troy pound of silver.
Lira is a feminine name in many languages, most often finding its roots in the Latin lira and Greek lúra. Meaning "lyre," Lira pays homage to the ancient stringed instrument used in many cultures around the world. If "rhythm has your two hips moving," a name like Lira will inspire your child to harmonize and shine.
Sometimes called a roll-over retirement fund, the money in a LIRA is “locked-in” and cannot be withdrawn (without tax consequences) until you are at least 55 years old and retired, though certain exceptions may apply.
On 28 February 2002, lire banknotes and coins ceased to be legal tender. The final deadline for converting non-expired lire banknotes was set for 28 February 2012 (Law 96/1997, Article 3, paragraph 1).
Yes, tipping is expected in restaurants. In small and casual eateries, rounding up the bill is enough. For example, if the bill is 190 TL, leaving 200 TL is polite. In mid-range restaurants, leaving 5–10% is common.
Paying by card makes traveling much easier; however, it is important to remember that it might not be available in some destinations. In most places in Italy, paying by card is no problem, yet having at least some local currency in cash is always a good idea for unexpected cases.
The lira was the official unit of currency in Italy until 1 January 1999, when it was replaced by the euro (the lira was officially a national subunit of the euro until the rollout of euro coins and notes in 2002). Old lira denominated currency ceased to be legal tender on 28 February 2002.
Generally it's enough when you don't overspend yourself and don't want to do all at once. Just my advice here is, don't come now and wait at least beyond September. Either make your plans for end of September or October, when the weather is still Okey and the crowd is a bit less.
