About Italian Culture

Italy is a land of castles and wine, latin lovers and singing gondoliers, movies and olive oil, pasta and pizza. It's a land of contrasts, where Pope presides and an adult film star becomes a Parliament member. But the essence of Italian culture never changes.

History

Each individual city in Italy has its own particular history that can easily be traced through its art and architecture. Each city has its own particular history, but none is more significant than Rome.
Originally built on seven hills, Rome is situated halfway down the Italian peninsula along the Tiber river. Along with its gift of significant art to the world, the ancient Roman government of senators and parliament is the historical base of most modern day governments, with elected and appointed rulers who use a system of voting to pass new laws and regulations.
A visit to Rome is a visit to our past. Many of the original stones that were placed to form the roads are still in place today. Visitors are quite literally walking on the same stones that their ancestors walked upon hundreds of years ago.

Geography

Italy is surrounded by water on three sides, which one would think would make Italy a land of imports. However, this is not so. Italy exports much more than it imports, as government regulations prohibit diffusion of its economy through the high value Italy places on handmade products. Italy, although roughly the size of the state of Arizona, is the eighth largest economy in the world.

Features

Italy is a land of many of the world's finest products. Olive oil, wine, clothing, art, food and accessories such as sunglasses, shoes and handbags are some of the products consumers consider to be the best only if they come from Italy. Italian designers offer a "clean line" in their clothes, and no matter how many separate designer articles one seems to be wearing, somehow they all fit together. A Prada handbag is the perfect accessory to an Armani suit with an Enrico Colveri scarf. Clothing boutiques offer one-of-a-kind articles of clothing, so if you see something hanging in the window, you had better hope that it is in your size, as there won't be another like it in the store.

Benefits

One of the most trying aspects of Italian culture can be the public transportation system. Despite the fact, however, that strikes exist and can leave a traveler or resident stranded for hours in a particular spot, Italians find this a mere annoyance. Many people find that walking serves them best, and Italians do plenty of it. Italians are always prepared to walk a few extra blocks to reach their destination. Walking, in turn, helps burn off all those carbs from pasta and wine.
The fresh food markets host a remarkable amount of produce. Italy imports very little food. If it's in season, it will be at the market. If it isn't, you are out of luck. The benefit to this is it forces people to eat a variety of foods, thereby varying their palate and forcing them to consume a broad base of nutrients.

Misconceptions

Navigating the rules and regulations of the Italian legal system can be confusing and difficult to an expatriates accustomed to living in the United States. Each city has a commune, or city hall, and not every commune has the same authority in each city. One system governed by one commune does not mean that the neighboring commune will have the same authority. Regulations can be tedious and difficult to understand. Seemingly stupid taxes abound, with one of the most ridiculous being the yearly TV tax. If you own a TV in Italy, you will be expected to pay a tax in January on its use.
The easiest method for circumventing lost time and frustration with Italian rules and regulations is to have a native resident friend assist you. Italians do not mind foreigners coming to their country and living there. They, in fact, adore that you would want to make their homeland your home too. What they do mind, however, are foreigners who believe the Italian system will change just because there is a better, faster and easier way to do things.