Italy

Country Basics

Italy is slightly larger than the U.S. state of Arizona and has a population of about 59 million people. It’s bordered by France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia and has the microstates of Vatican City and San Marino inside its borders. Vatican City is the smallest country in the world and is under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Italian peninsula is surrounded by five seas – the Adriatic, Ionian, Tyrrhenian, Ligurian, and Mediterranean. More than 400 islands in the waters are part of the country. The two largest are Sicily and Sardinia.

Language

Italian is the official language of Italy. It evolved from the Latin of the Roman Empire. In addition, there are about 34 other languages and dialects in the nation. This includes Sicilian and Sardinian. However, overall about 93% of the population speaks Italian. Therefore, it’s a great idea to know some basic words and phrases before traveling to Italy:

• Hello: Ciao
• Goodbye: Arrivederci
• Good morning: Buon giorno
• Good evening: Buona sera
• Good night: Buona notte
• Excuse me: Mi scusi
• Yes: Sì
• Please: Per favore
• Thank you: Grazie
• You’re welcome: Prego
• Where is the bathroom?: Dov’è il bagno
• What is your name?: Come ti chiami?
• My name is ____.: Il mio nome è ____.

Social Norms & Expectations

Italians tend to dress well and take pride in their appearance. Therefore, it’s important to dress neatly and respectfully. Here are some other expectations you may encounter :

• When meeting someone new, it’s common to shake hands and smile.
• Italian friends and family members generally kiss each other on the cheek when they meet.
• Respecting elders is important in Italy. You should stand and greet any older people who walk into a room and hold doors for them.
• Hats should be removed when going inside, but don’t take off your shoes in front of others.
• Italians are relaxed about time, so people may be late for engagements.
• During meals, Italians generally wait for their host to sit before they do. Italians may also pray before eating a meal.
• The host may say “Buon appetito” (Enjoy your meal) to invite people to start eating.
• Don’t rest your elbows on the table or keep your hands in your lap.
• Italians use continental table manners and put their fork in their left hand and the knife in the right.
• Bread is often used to absorb sauce at the end of a meal.
• Cheese is often picked up with a knife rather than fingers.
• Italians generally drink water with a meal. Other beverages are less common.
• Breakfast is not a big meal and is sometimes skipped. However, Italians often enjoy eating lunch as a family.
• Do not leave the table until everyone has finished eating.
• Outdoor dining is very popular in the summer months. It’s called al fresco.

In general, a concept called bella figura is important in Italy. It generally encourages Italians to dress well and make a good first impression. It’s good to follow suit so you’ll feel at home in no time.

Religion

According to the CIA Factbook, the religious breakdown in Italy is:

• Christian 80.8% (overwhelmingly Roman Catholic)
• Muslim 4.9%
• Unaffiliated 13.4%, other 0.9% (2020 est.)

Weather

In June and July the weather is rather warm in Italy. And in recent summers, the temperatures have been increasing! Make sure to pack your SPF and drink lots of fluids while you’re traveling in the hot weather. Here are the average weather conditions in Verona, Italy.

Food & Drink

Italy is sometimes ranked as the best nation in the world for food (don’t tell that to the French!). The country is known for the invention of several foods. This includes the ice cream cone and pizza which originated in Naples (we should send this city ‘thank you for inventing pizza’ cards every year)! It’s also believed people in the region ate pasta as long ago as 4 BC (we’re pretty jealous about this).

Italians also love espressos. It’s estimated that fourteen billion espressos are consumed in Italy each year. In addition, it’s common in Italy to eat salad after the main course. Italians believe it helps with digestion.

Many of the dishes offered in Italy you’ll recognize. In addition to pizza and pasta, here are some the foods may encounter in Italy:

• Risotto
• Focaccia
• Italian Cheese
• Lasagna
• Ossobuco – veal shanks with wine sauce, vegetables, lemon, and spices
• Arancini – fried rice balls
• Gelato
• Gnocchi
• Prosciutto di Parma – Parma ham
• Polenta
• Ravioli
• Fiorentina – Italian beef steak
• Gelato

Other Key Facts About Italy

• The Roman Empire fell in 476 AD after invaders forced emperor Romulus Augustulus to abdicate.
• Italy didn’t become a united country until 1861.
• Benito Mussolini ruled as a dictator from 1925 until 1945 when he was executed.
• Amazingly, Italy has 58 UNESCO World Heritage sites – 53 cultural and five natural. That’s more than any other country and includes the historic centers of Rome and Florence.
• Most of the 150 canals in Venice weren’t created by Venetians. They were gaps between a cluster of nearly 120 islands. Some manual dredging allowed the smallest canals to be usable by small boats.
• Italy has the oldest population in Europe with an average age of 45.7 years.
• In Italy and France it’s considered bad luck to place bread upside down on a table. This idea is said to stem from the Middle Ages when bakers would set aside baguettes for executioners by turning them or hanging them upside down.
• The piano was invented in Italy by Bartolomeo Cristofori in 1700.
• Only about a third of Italy’s land is arable for farming.
• The colors of the Italian flag represent hope (green), faith (white), and charity (red).
• Italy has nearly 2,900 museums.
• The mafia on the island of Sicily began when members of small private armies called mafie were hired by absentee landlords to protect their estates in the 19th century.
• Soccer is the national sport of Italy.
• It’s estimated that tourists throw more than a million dollars into the Trevi Fountain in Rome each year.

Currency

Italy uses the euro which includes a colorful array of bills and silver and gold colored coins. Before adopting the euro 1999, the nation’s currency was the lira. The exchange rate for the euro has been fluctuating, but generally the euro and U.S. dollar are close to a one-to-one exchange rate with the euro being slightly stronger. Students will see the euro represented at shops by the symbol € and or the initials, EUR. 

Rustic Pathways in Italy

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