Can I directly type some HTML tags ?

Yes, all HTML tags are taken in account, and the result depends on from which view you entered the text : "Normal" or "Html" view.

In the "Normal" view, text is displayed literally : if you type "<i> Once </i> upon a <b> time </b>", you'll get "<i> Once </i> upon a <b> time </b>" in the final display (chek in the "Preview" view).

In the "Html" view, text is analysed and HTML tags are interpreted : if you type "<i> Once </i> upon a <b> time </b>", you'll get "Once upon a time" in the final display (chek in the "Preview" view).

Advice : don't use relative links in your text (they won't be analysed at generation time and may appear broken).