100+ Things to Know If You're Going to Italy _ Italy In SF
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Transcript of 100+ Things to Know If You're Going to Italy _ Italy In SF
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100+ThingstoKnowIfYoureGoingtoItaly
MyfriendsoftenaskmeforsupportintravelpreparationwhentheyplantogotoItaly.Infact,Ithinkitsagreatideagotoacountrypreparedtoexperienceitatthefullest!Ienjoylearningaboutthelittleidiosyncrasiesthatmakeavisittoanewcountrysointeresting,thesmalltraditions,theinterestingcustomsso,IthoughtIdgiveyouacheatsheetforItaly.
IfyoudlikeapersonalizedcrashcourseonItalianculturebeforeyourtrip,pleasecontactmeatvanessaatItalyinsfdotcom.Iwouldbehappytoscheduleatimetohelpyououtwithyourtriporganizationaswellasgiveyousomeusefultipsaboutcultureandtraditions!
Part1:GENERALADVICEANDTRAVELTIPS
1. Dontgooffthebeatenpathbeforevisitingtheholytrinity:Rome,FlorenceandVenice.Thesecitiesaretrulyremarkableandyoudontwanttomissthem.
2. Nevertheless,maketimetospendafewdaysoutsidethemajorcities.RealItalyisinthesmalltowns!3. Tuscanyiswonderful.Therearehundredsofsmallwonderfulmedievalvillagesandplentytosee.However,Italy
isalotmorethanTuscany.FromthehillsofLanghetothetrulliofPuglia,goingthroughtheculinaryhavenofRomagna,youwillfindfewertouristsandawonderfullandtodiscover!
4. Tippingisnotrequired.Servicestaffgetspaidashighasentrylevelengineersdo.Inparticular,tippingpeopleyoupersonallyknowisconsideredoffensive.Ingeneral,theattitudetowardtippingisthatyoucantbuyapersonoff,sobemindfulifyoudecidetotip.
5. PickpocketingisanissueinlargermetropolitanareaslikeRomeandVenice,butitsnotanyworsethanNewYorkCity,LondonorParis.
6. Newspaperareboughtdailyattheedicola(newspaperstand),anddeliveryofnewspapersisrare.Edicoleareverycommonandopeneveryday,andasmuchpartofthetypicalItalianmorningroutineasstoppingtothebartoorderanespresso.
7. WatchthestreetbillboardsforadvertisementofFesteorSagre,streetfairsusuallydedicatedtoonefood.Ifoneisclosebyyourlocationatthetimeyourethere,dontmissittheyrewonderfuleventsgatheringpeoplefromthevarioustownsandservingthematicfoods!
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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.Ifyoureplanningalongertrip,lookintogettingaSIMcardanduseitwithyour(unlocked)USphonemostcellphonecallingcontractsinItalyareprepaidservices,sononeedtolockinaplan!
18. WhenusinganItaliancellphone,allincomingcallsarefree.
Part2:SHOPPINGANDSTORES
19. Whenwalkingintoastore,especiallyclothingorshoes,inmostcasesyouwillhaveashopassistantwithyouatalltimes.Sometimesyouwontbeallowedtoeventouchthethingsunlessyouretryingthemon!Theassistantwillfindyoursizeanddoallthework.
20. Ifyouenterastoretojusttotakealook,makesureyourintentionsareknowntothepersoninsidetheshop.Askifyoucanjustlookaroundwithoutbeinghassledbyashopassistanttryingtomakeasale!
21. TherudenessandbitchinessofItalianshopassistants,orcommesse,islegendary,especiallyifyourenotasize0.Theyapparentlyconsiderasize4overweight.Donttakeitpersonally.
22. Ontheupside,though,shopassistantsarenotpaidoncommission.Feelfreetoabusethemtheyprobablydeserveitanyway!!
23. Storeexchangesdontexist.Ifyoubuysomethinganddecidelateryoudontwantitanymore,yourestuckwithit.Choosecarefully!
24. ClearancesalesinregularshopsItalyarenotverygoodusuallya10%,20%attheverymost.25. Shopscloseforlunchbetween12:30pmand3or4pm.Everythingshutsdownby7:30pm.
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26. Askyourlocalhotelforoutletsstores.Outletstoreswillhaveitemspricedatamorediscountedrate.27. BuyshoesinItaly.EvenwiththedreadfulEuro/Dollarexchange,leathershoeswilllastyouforyearsandtheyre
reallygoodforyourfeet!28. InlargercitiesandmetropolitanareasstoresareopenonSaturdaybutclosedonSunday,andanotherhalfdayof
theweek.IntouristicresortsstoresareopenSundaybutclosedoneotherdayoftheweek.29. Banksareonlyopeninthemorningandforonehourintheafternoon.Youneedtobankinthemorning!30. NationalHolidays:
January1st,NewYearsDayJanuary6th,EpiphanyEasterSundayEasterMondayApril25th,AnniversaryofItalysliberationMay1st,LaborDayJune2nd,AnniversaryoftheinstitutionoftheRepublicAugust15th(Ferragosto),AssumptionNovember1st,AllSaintsDecember8th,AnnunciazioneDecember25th,ChristmasDecember26th,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.Someplaceswillactuallyrefusetoserveittoyou.Dontgetupset,justembracetheculture
36. Inordertobeabletogetthesaidcappuccino,inmanyplacesyoufirsthavetopayforitsoyoucanshowthescontrino(proofofpayment)tothebartender.
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37. Italiansdontputiceintheirdrinks.Ifyoumust,askforit,butrealizetheylllookatyouasifyouwereaMartian.When(if?)theybringyouice,theywillsendtothetableasmallsaucerwith5icecubesfortheentiretable.
38. Youcantorderfoodtogo,unlessyouareinapizzaplaceorinarosticceria.Ifyoutrytowalkinarestaurantandorderamealtogo,peoplewilllookatyouasifyouwerecrazy!
39. Wheneatingatabuffetorfamilystyle,itismorethanacceptabletohelpyourselfasmanytimesasyouwant,andneverokaytooverfillyourplate.
40. Aperitivoisawonderfultraditionyoushouldnotmissouton.Barsthatofferanaperitivobuffetwillchargeyouforthedrink,butnotforthefood,whichwillrangefromsimplechipsandpretzelstosophisticatedwarmappetizersandparmigianocubessprinkledwithbalsamicvinegar.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,theydontcareaboutturnoveritiscustomaryinItalytostayseatedatarestauranttableforthewholeevening,anddinnerwouldusuallytakelongerthanintheUS.
56. Ifyoudontaskforthecheck,yourenotgoingtogetit.Italiansconsideracheckputonthetablebeforeyouredonewithyourmeal,orwithoutyouasking,likeaninvitationtoleave.Itisconsideredanonoinrestaurants,soyoumustaskforyourcheckifyoudliketopay!
57. Whenorderingfoodatarestaurant,substitutionsorchangesareusuallynotaccepted.58. AlfredosauceisnotItalian.Dontaskforit!
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59. Frappuccinodoesntexist,either.However,allothercoffeedrinkswhosenameStarbuckshasstolenusuallymeansomethingdifferentthanwhatyouthinkyoureordering.
60. Hotchocolateisadifferentexperiencealtogetheritsdenser,morelikeapudding,anditsusuallyorderedintheafternoon,asamerendaitem.
61. AppropriateuseofgratedParmigianocheeseislimitedtopastaandpastawitheithervegetableormeatsauce,notfish!Thereisnogratedparmesancheeseonsaladorpizza.Occasionally,sliversofparmigianowillbeservedoverbresaolaorcarpacciobutnevergratedcheese!
62. Nothingbutporkisconsideredappropriatemeatforyourpizza.Nochicken,notbeefonlyporkinvariousformats(prosciutto,salame,salsiccia,etc.).
63. Chickenisnottobeeatenwithpasta.Thatsit.ThereisntasinglepastasauceinItaliancuisinewherechickencanbeaningredient.
64. Dinnerispast8pm,notat5pm.Ifyourehungryat5pm,gotoapasticceriaandgetahotchocolateandsomepastries.Ifyourehungryat7pmgotoabarandorderanaperitivo.Dontshowupfordinnerbefore8pm(andthatsstillkindofearly!).
65. Dontmissthechancetotrypizzainapizzeria,butbeawarethatpizzaisadinnerfood.Theveryfewpizzeriaopenatlunchusuallycatertotouristsonly(andthepizzaisprobablynotlikelytobegreat!).
66. Speakingofpizza,itisconsideredinappropriate(andmanyplaceswilljustsayitsnotpossible!)toaskforasplittopping:halfapizzaonewayandhalfapizzaadifferentwayisjustnotaconceptItalianpizzaioliareabletograsp.
Part4:CULTURE
67. MostItaliansunder40speaksomeEnglish,butmanywillbeembarrassedtotalk.68. Sundayisaholydayandnotforchurch,butforsoccer!Whenthegamesareon,youwillseeplentyofpeople
walkingdownthestreetswiththeirfamilywitharadiogluedtotheirear.SometimesasyouwalkdownabusystreetonaSundayafternoonyouwillhearamixofcheersandmumblingsthatsthesignforoneoftheteamsscoring!
69. Oh,anditsnotsocceritsfootball(orcalcio).70. Girlwatchingisanationalpasttime,secondonlytosoccer.Dontbealarmedwhenmenstareatyou.Menlookat
womenasarthistorianslookattheSistinechapelceiling.71. ThirdaftersoccerandwomencomeFormulaOneandtheFerrariteam.DontevenattempttospeakillofScuderia
Ferrariinpublic.Youmightbeverballyassaulted.72. Italiantelevisionspendsonedayshowingsoccerand6daystalkingaboutit.Otherprogrammingincludesplenty
ofhalfnakeddancinggirlsandinappropriatenuditycommercialsandsometimesFormula1races,perprioritylist
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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),inItalytheonewhoscoldisalwaysrightandherrequestswilldeterminearoomstemperature.
81. Never,evergivechrysanthemumsasaflowergifttoanyone.Theyareconsideredtheflowersofthedead,andonlybroughttocemeteries.
82. Whenenteringsomeoneshouse,itiscustomarytoaskforpermissiononthedoorstep,evenifyouvebeeninvitedalready.YousayPermessouponenteringahouse.
83. Lines(atthepostoffice,atthebank,atthebar,atthebakery)areneverreallylines.Theyareadeclarationofintentthatyouneedtoassertifyouwanttobehelped.Makesureyoudemandyourrightinlineifyoudontwanttobeovertaken!
84. Purplebeingthecoloroflent,itisconsideredacolorthatbringsbadluck.Avoidthedarkerpurplehuesforeveningsatthetheatre,anditsdefinitelyaforbiddencoloratweddings!
Part5:DRIVINGANDMOVINGAROUND
85. DrivinginItalyisnotterrible.Keepyourright,becareful,butmanyItaliansareterrifiedtodriveinCalifornia,soyoushouldbejustfine!
86. However,donteventhinktodriveinNaples.Roadrulesaredifferentfromwhatyoureusedto,anddespitebeingincomprehensibletomost,theykeepthecitygoing.Youdbethewrenchthrownintheperfectlyoiledwheel!
87. YoudontflagcabsinItalyusually,youwalktooneofthetaxistandswheretheywaitinlineusuallylocatedclosetomainattractions.
88. Ifyoucallacab,youareoftenchargedforthetimeittakesforittocomeandgetyou.
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89. Makingapitstopalongsidetheroadtorelieveoneself(Pullingovertothesideoftheroadandpeeing)isaccepted.Itsdisgustingandterrible,butyoullseeplentyofmendoingit.
90. Neverdriveontheleftlaneoftheautostradaunlessyouarepassingacar.91. Leaveyourleftblinkeronwhileyouareintheleftlane.Turnleftblinkeroffwhenyoureturntotheslowlane.92. Makesureyourespectthespeedlimits.Contrarytogeneralassumptions,andespeciallyinrecentyears,police
hasgottenverystrictaboutspeeding.Theywontstopyoujustsendapictureofyoutothecarowner.Ifyourerenting,youareliabletopaytheheftyticket($200+).
93. Ifsomeoneflashestheirbrightsbehindyou,itsbecausetheywantyoutomovetotherightlanesothattheymaypass.
94. Beforeboardingatrainyouneedtovalidateyourticket.Youwillhavetovalidateyourticketdirectlyonbusesinstead.Makesureyouallowplentyofpaddingonyourtransfers,asItaliantraintimesare,onceagain,moreadeclarationofintentthanasetrule
95. Scooters,bicyclesandmotorcyclessharetheroadwithcars,andtheywillzipbyonyourleftandrightinaonelaneroad!
96. Itshardtopayforgaswithacreditcard,especiallyafteroperatinghoursotherthanontheautostrada.97. Norightturnonred!98. Donttrytofindacupholderinyourcar.Ifitsmorethan5yearsold,therewontbeone!99. Eatinginthecarisunheardof.Italianswouldneverdosuchacovetedandsocialthinglikeeatinginthemost
unsocialplaceofall,thecar.100. However,thatdoesntmeanItaliansdontliketheircars!!Actually,carsarecovetedsignofsocialstatus.Asa
consequence,garbagethatyouproduceinthecargetstakenoutimmediately.Youwillseepeoplethrowingthingsdirectlyoutsidethewindow.Aslongasthecarisclean,whocaresaboutlittering?
ThislittleguidetoItalianculturehashadsomuchsuccessIhavethoughtofafewotheritemstoaddtothislist.Ifyouhavemore,keepthemcomingbyemailingmeatvanessaatitalyinsfdotcom!
101. Theperfectdrinkforapizzaisbeer,orsoda.AlmostnoItaliandrinkwinewiththeirpizza,whentheydotheyconsideritanoverindulgentpleasureandusuallyitwillbeasparklingwine,likeProsecco.
102. Pestodoesnotbelongonpizza,onsandwiches,asasidetoacapresesaladpestoonlybelongsonpastaalpesto.
103. Martiniisavermouth,notadrink.IfyouaskforaMartini,youwillbeservedwhitevermouth,usuallyontherocks,withatwistoflemoninitadeliciousaperitivoifyouaskme!ToorderaNorthAmericastyleMartini,askforaMartiniCocktail!
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