100+ThingstoKnowIfYoureGoingtoItaly

MyfriendsoftenaskmeforsupportintravelpreparationwhentheyplantogotoItaly.Infact,Ithinkitsagreatideagoto
acountrypreparedtoexperienceitatthefullest!Ienjoylearningaboutthelittleidiosyncrasiesthatmakeavisittoanew
countrysointeresting,thesmalltraditions,theinterestingcustomsso,IthoughtIdgiveyouacheatsheetforItaly.
IfyoudlikeapersonalizedcrashcourseonItalianculturebeforeyourtrip,pleasecontactmeatvanessaatItalyinsfdot
com.Iwouldbehappytoscheduleatimetohelpyououtwithyourtriporganizationaswellasgiveyousomeusefultips
aboutcultureandtraditions!

Part1:GENERALADVICEANDTRAVELTIPS
1. Dontgooffthebeatenpathbeforevisitingtheholytrinity:Rome,FlorenceandVenice.Thesecitiesaretruly
remarkableandyoudontwanttomissthem.
2. Nevertheless,maketimetospendafewdaysoutsidethemajorcities.RealItalyisinthesmalltowns!
3. Tuscanyiswonderful.Therearehundredsofsmallwonderfulmedievalvillagesandplentytosee.However,Italy
isalotmorethanTuscany.FromthehillsofLanghetothetrulliofPuglia,goingthroughtheculinary
havenofRomagna,youwillfindfewertouristsandawonderfullandtodiscover!
4. Tippingisnotrequired.Servicestaffgetspaidashighasentrylevelengineersdo.Inparticular,tippingpeopleyou
personallyknowisconsideredoffensive.Ingeneral,theattitudetowardtippingisthatyoucantbuyapersonoff,
sobemindfulifyoudecidetotip.
5. PickpocketingisanissueinlargermetropolitanareaslikeRomeandVenice,butitsnotanyworsethanNew
YorkCity,LondonorParis.
6. Newspaperareboughtdailyattheedicola(newspaperstand),anddeliveryofnewspapersisrare.Edicoleare
verycommonandopeneveryday,andasmuchpartofthetypicalItalianmorningroutineasstoppingtothebarto
orderanespresso.
7. WatchthestreetbillboardsforadvertisementofFesteorSagre,streetfairsusuallydedicatedtoonefood.Ifone
isclosebyyourlocationatthetimeyourethere,dontmissittheyrewonderfuleventsgatheringpeoplefromthe
varioustownsandservingthematicfoods!

8. Datesareshownasdaymonthyear,always.
9. Timesareindicatedin24hrformat.
10. Andyes,weremetric!
11. Youpushtoenteraplace,andpulltogetout.ExactlytheoppositeasinAmerica!
12. Airportandrailstationshavepublicrestrooms,oftenwithattendantswhoexpecttobetipped.Ifsomeoneis
guardingthedooroftherestroom,youreexpectedtoleaveafewcoins.
13. Restroomsinallbarsandcafesareforcustomersonly.Orderanespressoandonlyafterwardheadtothetoilet!
14. Inpublicrestrooms,toiletpaperisararity.ItalianwomenalwayskeepatravelpackofKleenexintheirpursesfor
thisreason.
15. Youcantwalkinachurchwithatanktoporwithshortson.Youneedtobeproperlydressedtovisitmostholy
places.
16. Creditcardsarenotwidelyaccepted.Youcantpayanythingthatislessthan10Euroswithacreditcard,and
eventhenyouregoingtobefrownedupon.Alwaysbringcashwithyou!
17. Publicphonesarenowofficiallyextinct.Youwillneedtocarryacellphoneforanythingyouneed,fromcallingthe
hoteltoreservearestaurant.Ifyouregoingforabriefstay,useyourUScellphoneandgetacallingcard.Ifyoure
planningalongertrip,lookintogettingaSIMcardanduseitwithyour(unlocked)USphonemostcellphone
callingcontractsinItalyareprepaidservices,sononeedtolockinaplan!
18. WhenusinganItaliancellphone,allincomingcallsarefree.

Part2:SHOPPINGANDSTORES
19. Whenwalkingintoastore,especiallyclothingorshoes,inmostcasesyouwillhaveashopassistantwithyouat
alltimes.Sometimesyouwontbeallowedtoeventouchthethingsunlessyouretryingthemon!Theassistantwill
findyoursizeanddoallthework.
20. Ifyouenterastoretojusttotakealook,makesureyourintentionsareknowntothepersoninsidetheshop.Askif
youcanjustlookaroundwithoutbeinghassledbyashopassistanttryingtomakeasale!
21. TherudenessandbitchinessofItalianshopassistants,orcommesse,islegendary,especiallyifyourenotasize
0.Theyapparentlyconsiderasize4overweight.Donttakeitpersonally.
22. Ontheupside,though,shopassistantsarenotpaidoncommission.Feelfreetoabusethemtheyprobably
deserveitanyway!!
23. Storeexchangesdontexist.Ifyoubuysomethinganddecidelateryoudontwantitanymore,yourestuckwithit.
Choosecarefully!
24. ClearancesalesinregularshopsItalyarenotverygoodusuallya10%,20%attheverymost.
25. Shopscloseforlunchbetween12:30pmand3or4pm.Everythingshutsdownby7:30pm.

26. Askyourlocalhotelforoutletsstores.Outletstoreswillhaveitemspricedatamorediscountedrate.
27. BuyshoesinItaly.EvenwiththedreadfulEuro/Dollarexchange,leathershoeswilllastyouforyearsandtheyre
reallygoodforyourfeet!
28. InlargercitiesandmetropolitanareasstoresareopenonSaturdaybutclosedonSunday,andanotherhalfdayof
theweek.IntouristicresortsstoresareopenSundaybutclosedoneotherdayoftheweek.
29. Banksareonlyopeninthemorningandforonehourintheafternoon.Youneedtobankinthemorning!
30. NationalHolidays:
January1st,NewYearsDay
January6th,Epiphany
EasterSunday
EasterMonday
April25th,AnniversaryofItalysliberation
May1st,LaborDay
June2nd,AnniversaryoftheinstitutionoftheRepublic
August15th(Ferragosto),Assumption
November1st,AllSaints
December8th,Annunciazione
December25th,Christmas
December26th,StStefano.
Inaddition,eachtownwillhonoritspatronwithanadditionaldayoff.
31. Youhavetowearplasticglovestopickupfoodintheproducesectionofthegrocerystoreoroldladieswillyellat
you.
32. Youbagyourowngroceriesandpayforthebag.

Part3:FOODANDDRINKS
33. 99%ofItalianhotelsincludebreakfastintheroomprice.
34. Asaconsequenceof#33above,Italiansremainthemainaudienceatbarsforbreakfast.Dontmissthechanceto
getoutofyourhotelby9amonaworkdayandorderacappuccinoalbanco(atthecounter)withacornetto,
preferablywithcustard,andeatitstandingwithalltherestofthecrowd.
35. Cappuccinoisnotforbiddenintheafternoon,itsjustfrowneduponfollowingameal.Someplaceswillactually
refusetoserveittoyou.Dontgetupset,justembracetheculture
36. Inordertobeabletogetthesaidcappuccino,inmanyplacesyoufirsthavetopayforitsoyoucanshow
thescontrino(proofofpayment)tothebartender.

37. Italiansdontputiceintheirdrinks.Ifyoumust,askforit,butrealizetheylllookatyouasifyouwereaMartian.
When(if?)theybringyouice,theywillsendtothetableasmallsaucerwith5icecubesfortheentiretable.
38. Youcantorderfoodtogo,unlessyouareinapizzaplaceorinarosticceria.Ifyoutrytowalkinarestaurantand
orderamealtogo,peoplewilllookatyouasifyouwerecrazy!
39. Wheneatingatabuffetorfamilystyle,itismorethanacceptabletohelpyourselfasmanytimesasyouwant,and
neverokaytooverfillyourplate.
40. Aperitivoisawonderfultraditionyoushouldnotmissouton.Barsthatofferanaperitivobuffetwillchargeyoufor
thedrink,butnotforthefood,whichwillrangefromsimplechipsandpretzelstosophisticatedwarmappetizers
andparmigianocubessprinkledwithbalsamicvinegar.Buffetisallyoucaneat(butdontforgettherulesabove!).
Findabarthatservesanaperitivobuffetandheadtherebetween6pmand8:30pm,andyoucanskipdinnerifyou

want!
41. TherearenodippingsaucesinItaly,soItaliansarenotreallyfamiliarwithdoubledippingrules.
42. Whenstartingameal,breadwillbebroughttothetablebutneitheroliveoilnorbutterisserved.Abreaddishis
neveronthetable,sobreadrestsonthetablecloth.
43. Speakingofbread,nevereverleaveitupsidedownonthetable.Itsconsideredbadluckandunrespectfultoward
theownerofthetable.
44. Never,everpourwine(orwater)backhanded.Itsconsideredanoffensetothepersonyoureserving.
45. NodoggiebagsinItaly.Takinghometheleftoversisnotanoption,andleavingfoodontheplateisfrownedupon.
46. Saladisconsideredasidedish,notastarter.NomealinItalyeverstartswithasalad.
47. Ifyoureinvitedtoawedding,bepreparedtoeat.Imagineaminimumof15coursesandsittingatthetablefor5to
6hours.
48. Tapwaterisneverserved,anddespitethefactthatitsnowassafeasintheUS,peoplekeepondrinkingbottled
waterandrestaurantsonlyservebottledwater.
49. Whenwaterisnotsafeatfountains,itwillsayso.Otherwise,takeadvantageoftheonlyfreewaterinthecountry!
50. Coffeeisnotatogoitem.Youenjoyitatthebar,andnopapercupisprovided!
51. Cheeseisnevereatenwithfish.
52. Saladdressingisoilandvinegarandthatsit.Therearentdifferenttypesofdressings.
53. Thereareover100differenttypesofpasta,andeachregionhasitsown.Makeanefforttotryasmanyaspossible!
54. BreadandpastaarenevereatentogetherintheNorth,buttheyaresometimesintheSouth.
55. RestaurantcustomsareabitdifferentthanintheUS.Sinceserversaresalariedanddontrelyontipstomakea
living,theydontcareaboutturnoveritiscustomaryinItalytostayseatedatarestauranttableforthewhole
evening,anddinnerwouldusuallytakelongerthanintheUS.
56. Ifyoudontaskforthecheck,yourenotgoingtogetit.Italiansconsideracheckputonthetablebeforeyoure
donewithyourmeal,orwithoutyouasking,likeaninvitationtoleave.Itisconsideredanonoinrestaurants,so
youmustaskforyourcheckifyoudliketopay!
57. Whenorderingfoodatarestaurant,substitutionsorchangesareusuallynotaccepted.
58. AlfredosauceisnotItalian.Dontaskforit!

59. Frappuccinodoesntexist,either.However,allothercoffeedrinkswhosenameStarbuckshasstolenusuallymean
somethingdifferentthanwhatyouthinkyoureordering.
60. Hotchocolateisadifferentexperiencealtogetheritsdenser,morelikeapudding,anditsusuallyorderedinthe
afternoon,asamerendaitem.
61. AppropriateuseofgratedParmigianocheeseislimitedtopastaandpastawitheithervegetableormeatsauce,
notfish!Thereisnogratedparmesancheeseonsaladorpizza.Occasionally,sliversofparmigianowillbeserved
overbresaolaorcarpacciobutnevergratedcheese!
62. Nothingbutporkisconsideredappropriatemeatforyourpizza.Nochicken,notbeefonlyporkinvariousformats
(prosciutto,salame,salsiccia,etc.).
63. Chickenisnottobeeatenwithpasta.Thatsit.ThereisntasinglepastasauceinItaliancuisinewherechicken
canbeaningredient.
64. Dinnerispast8pm,notat5pm.Ifyourehungryat5pm,gotoapasticceriaandgetahotchocolateandsome
pastries.Ifyourehungryat7pmgotoabarandorderanaperitivo.Dontshowupfordinnerbefore8pm(and
thatsstillkindofearly!).
65. Dontmissthechancetotrypizzainapizzeria,butbeawarethatpizzaisadinnerfood.Thevery
fewpizzeriaopenatlunchusuallycatertotouristsonly(andthepizzaisprobablynotlikelytobegreat!).
66. Speakingofpizza,itisconsideredinappropriate(andmanyplaceswilljustsayitsnotpossible!)toaskforasplit
topping:halfapizzaonewayandhalfapizzaadifferentwayisjustnotaconceptItalianpizzaioliareableto
grasp.

Part4:CULTURE
67. MostItaliansunder40speaksomeEnglish,butmanywillbeembarrassedtotalk.
68. Sundayisaholydayandnotforchurch,butforsoccer!Whenthegamesareon,youwillseeplentyofpeople
walkingdownthestreetswiththeirfamilywitharadiogluedtotheirear.Sometimesasyouwalkdownabusy
streetonaSundayafternoonyouwillhearamixofcheersandmumblingsthatsthesignforoneoftheteams
scoring!
69. Oh,anditsnotsocceritsfootball(orcalcio).
70. Girlwatchingisanationalpasttime,secondonlytosoccer.Dontbealarmedwhenmenstareatyou.Menlookat
womenasarthistorianslookattheSistinechapelceiling.
71. ThirdaftersoccerandwomencomeFormulaOneandtheFerrariteam.DontevenattempttospeakillofScuderia
Ferrariinpublic.Youmightbeverballyassaulted.
72. Italiantelevisionspendsonedayshowingsoccerand6daystalkingaboutit.Otherprogrammingincludesplenty
ofhalfnakeddancinggirlsandinappropriatenuditycommercialsandsometimesFormula1races,perprioritylist

setabove.
73. Azzurro,lightblue,isthecolorofeverynationalathletesjersey.WhenyouheartalkingaboutAzzurripeople
usuallyreferstothenationalteamsoccerplayers,althoughitsusedingeneraltermsforallnationalathletes.
74. YoushoweratnightinItaly,andyouchangetodressupclothesbeforegoingoutfortheevening,whetheryoure
goingtoarestaurantortoabar.Daywearisnotconsideredappropriatefornighttime.
75. InItalyitisnotsociallyacceptabletobedrunk.Peopleboastabouttheiralcoholresistanceandnoonewouldever
admittobedrunk.
76. Businessformalisthenormforallofficeandsalesjobs.Wearingatieisconsideredappropriatewearforpretty
muchanyworkplace.
77. Italianmendressverynicely.Leathershoesandslacksarealotmorecommonthanshortsandflipflops.
78. YoucanseealotofspeedosonItalianbeaches,andnobodyfindsithilarious.
79. Toplesssunbathingisquitecommoninthenorthernbeaches,andmorefrowneduponintheSouth.
80. WhileintheUStemperatureinpublicplacesisdeterminedbytheonewhofeelshot(andhencesheistheone
wholowersthetemperatureinthespace),inItalytheonewhoscoldisalwaysrightandherrequestswill
determinearoomstemperature.
81. Never,evergivechrysanthemumsasaflowergifttoanyone.Theyareconsideredtheflowersofthedead,and
onlybroughttocemeteries.
82. Whenenteringsomeoneshouse,itiscustomarytoaskforpermissiononthedoorstep,evenifyouvebeeninvited
already.YousayPermessouponenteringahouse.
83. Lines(atthepostoffice,atthebank,atthebar,atthebakery)areneverreallylines.Theyareadeclarationof
intentthatyouneedtoassertifyouwanttobehelped.Makesureyoudemandyourrightinlineifyoudontwantto
beovertaken!
84. Purplebeingthecoloroflent,itisconsideredacolorthatbringsbadluck.Avoidthedarkerpurplehuesfor
eveningsatthetheatre,anditsdefinitelyaforbiddencoloratweddings!

Part5:DRIVINGANDMOVINGAROUND
85. DrivinginItalyisnotterrible.Keepyourright,becareful,butmanyItaliansareterrifiedtodriveinCalifornia,soyou
shouldbejustfine!
86. However,donteventhinktodriveinNaples.Roadrulesaredifferentfromwhatyoureusedto,anddespitebeing
incomprehensibletomost,theykeepthecitygoing.Youdbethewrenchthrownintheperfectlyoiledwheel!
87. YoudontflagcabsinItalyusually,youwalktooneofthetaxistandswheretheywaitinlineusuallylocated
closetomainattractions.
88. Ifyoucallacab,youareoftenchargedforthetimeittakesforittocomeandgetyou.

89. Makingapitstopalongsidetheroadtorelieveoneself(Pullingovertothesideoftheroadandpeeing)is
accepted.Itsdisgustingandterrible,butyoullseeplentyofmendoingit.
90. Neverdriveontheleftlaneoftheautostradaunlessyouarepassingacar.
91. Leaveyourleftblinkeronwhileyouareintheleftlane.Turnleftblinkeroffwhenyoureturntotheslowlane.
92. Makesureyourespectthespeedlimits.Contrarytogeneralassumptions,andespeciallyinrecentyears,police
hasgottenverystrictaboutspeeding.Theywontstopyoujustsendapictureofyoutothecarowner.Ifyoure
renting,youareliabletopaytheheftyticket($200+).
93. Ifsomeoneflashestheirbrightsbehindyou,itsbecausetheywantyoutomovetotherightlanesothattheymay
pass.
94. Beforeboardingatrainyouneedtovalidateyourticket.Youwillhavetovalidateyourticketdirectlyonbuses
instead.Makesureyouallowplentyofpaddingonyourtransfers,asItaliantraintimesare,onceagain,morea
declarationofintentthanasetrule
95. Scooters,bicyclesandmotorcyclessharetheroadwithcars,andtheywillzipbyonyourleftandrightinaone
laneroad!
96. Itshardtopayforgaswithacreditcard,especiallyafteroperatinghoursotherthanontheautostrada.
97. Norightturnonred!
98. Donttrytofindacupholderinyourcar.Ifitsmorethan5yearsold,therewontbeone!
99. Eatinginthecarisunheardof.Italianswouldneverdosuchacovetedandsocialthinglikeeatinginthemost
unsocialplaceofall,thecar.
100. However,thatdoesntmeanItaliansdontliketheircars!!Actually,carsarecovetedsignofsocialstatus.Asa
consequence,garbagethatyouproduceinthecargetstakenoutimmediately.Youwillseepeoplethrowing
thingsdirectlyoutsidethewindow.Aslongasthecarisclean,whocaresaboutlittering?
ThislittleguidetoItalianculturehashadsomuchsuccessIhavethoughtofafewotheritemstoaddtothislist.Ifyouhave
more,keepthemcomingbyemailingmeatvanessaatitalyinsfdotcom!
101. Theperfectdrinkforapizzaisbeer,orsoda.AlmostnoItaliandrinkwinewiththeirpizza,whentheydothey
consideritanoverindulgentpleasureandusuallyitwillbeasparklingwine,likeProsecco.
102. Pestodoesnotbelongonpizza,onsandwiches,asasidetoacapresesaladpestoonlybelongsonpastaal
pesto.
103. Martiniisavermouth,notadrink.IfyouaskforaMartini,youwillbeservedwhitevermouth,usuallyontherocks,
withatwistoflemoninitadeliciousaperitivoifyouaskme!ToorderaNorthAmericastyleMartini,askfora
MartiniCocktail!