Interesting facts about Italy and Italians for adults and children, the most interesting traditions and customs of the country. What did the Italians invent and what do they suffer from the most? What they believe in, how they dress, what they prefer to give as gifts, common superstitions in Italy. Why, according to Italian tradition, people in the Apennines love black and are in no hurry to give up siesta – explains Eurotraveler.
Italy is a European country, well developed in technology and excellent – culturally. It has a number of interesting features and scrupulously observed traditions that make it “different from others.”
Bright and original – to approximately the extent that tourists like who go to see Venice or Rome and bring back an incredible amount of impressions. Sometimes, however, travelers are disappointed.
After all, some of the customs of Italy can create serious problems for punctual people. Or, for example, for those who are not used to paying attention to far-fetched restrictions.
Often face inconvenience and ordinary, completely average tourists. Those who act abroad carefully and carefullybut sometimes they simply do not know about the existence of any special rules and exceptions.
And everyday reality in Italy is replete with interesting facts and features. Although, fortunately, not in such quantitieslike somewhere in China.
To minimize risks and bring back from travel in addition to souvenirs only positive emotionsread our material carefully! Which will certainly help you not only prepare, but also easy to understandhow Italians think and live.
Interesting facts from the history of Italy
Italy is a predominantly Catholic country with an incredible number of churches. Number of churches per capita exceeds the same in any other country in the world.
It’s great that visitors very little even in large churches. And to be convinced of this, you need little – just go to the first temple that comes your way.
At the same time, of course, one should not deny the immutable but interesting fact that the main cathedral of Italy, St. Peter’s in Rome, is not crowded with visitors even in the “lowest” months of the year. The Duomo in Florence is never empty; the human river constantly flows inside the Basilica of St. Mark in Venice.
Well, as always – shortly before 17 o’clock (to be precise – at 16.45) the flow is dried up by closing the doors. Here – about where you can go in Venice before or after this moment…
Well, we continue our story!
Need to know
At the beginning of the 2nd century AD, the Roman Empire stretched from modern Britain in the west to Syria in the east, and the number of its inhabitants was 120 million. For reference: today only 60 million people live in Italy.
Italian is closer to Latin than any other language. And the alphabet consists of 21 characters, and in it no letters: J, K, W, X and Y.
The first European university was founded in 1088 in Bologna (Emilia-Romagna). It still operates today, considered one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the country.
Naturally, the university is far from the only thing a tourist needs to see in Bologna!
Presumably Italy – the birthplace of European ice cream. Its recipe was brought in the 13th century by the Venetian Marco Polo, who returned from his journey to China.
And the world’s first waffle cone appeared in New York…
it was invented by an Italian immigrant
By the way, what should you bring home from a trip to Venice? It’s not gelato, is it?
Ballet
originally from Italy. A representative of a powerful Florentine family, Catherine de Medici, wife of the French king Henry II, made it popular in France. And since then he began his march around the world.
Another interesting fact: it was in Italy that they invented piano. In 1700, this was done by Bartolomeo Cristofori, invited to the court of the Tuscan Dukes of Medici.
It was also Italy that gave the world some other musical instruments: violin, guitar and organ.
The Italian word tifosi, meaning a passionate football fan, comes from tifoso, meaning “typhoid.”
There are no other countries in Europe with such a number active volcanoes!
After all, in Italy there is Etna in Sicily, Vesuvius near Naples. And Stromboli on the island of the same name in the Aeolian archipelago just north of Sicily.
Here is how to climb Mount Etna in Italy on your own without getting hurt)
Italians suffer more from earthquakes than other European nations. Alas, but this is a fact – Italy is considered country with high seismic activitysince it is located at the junction of two tectonic plates: Eurasian and African.
The strongest earthquake in modern history in Italy occurred in January 1693 in Sicily. A magnitude 7.4 tremor is believed to be the strongest of all the disasters that ever occurred on the peninsula, about 60 thousand people died as a result of this natural disaster.
Cities in the eastern part of the island were practically destroyed. During their restoration, almost from the “ashes” was born isolated architectural movement – Sicilian Baroque.
The last strong earthquake in Italy occurred on January 18, 2017. And it caused an avalanche that covered a hotel with guests in the province of Pescara.
On August 24, 2016, as a result of an earthquake in the Abruzzo region, the ancient city of Amatrice was practically destroyed, Norcia was destroyed, and almost 300 people died.
Amazing fact: tourist ascents to Etna continue today. Although the Sicilian hill erupts several times a year!
Traditions
Family is a fundamental value in Italy.
This does not mean just a “unit of society” consisting of mom, dad and children. A broader concept, including aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents.
Large family gatherings are not uncommon, but a well-rooted Italian tradition.
Children often live with their parents even after 30 years of age. Even if they have have a job and a decent income. And this does not seem strange and unusual, as, for example, in Germany
A significant number of large Italian corporations are still controlled individual families. The automobile giant Fiat, originally from Turin, or Benetton, the Treviso emblem, are prime examples of this.
This applies to churches, banks and shops, as well as cafes and restaurants.
Thus, tourists often take risks stay hungry. If you are going to see a small town and don’t take anything to eat with you.
If you are going to have a snack in the middle of the day, you may simply not find an open catering establishment. In resort and large cities in the north of the country, Not everyone follows this tradition.. But in the provinces and southern Italy it is in use.
If you are planning to visit any church, even one as famous as Santa Maria della Salute in Venice, plan this for the first or second half of the day. Because in the middle it will almost certainly be closed for lunch.
Exists in Italy and a certain problem with toilets – even in large cities there are few of them. Moreover, there is simply no talk of free ones. And toll roads.
For a one-time visit to such an establishment, you sometimes have to pay up to 1.5-2 €.
In smaller cities, public toilets are an endangered species. So if you are planning to visit Verona, for example, or Ferrara, be sure to plan and a visit to some museum (the toilets there are free!).
Customs
When greeting each other, Italians say buongiorno – “good afternoon.” When meeting acquaintances and friends, close people, as well as among young people, it is often used the word ciao or “hello”.
“Good evening” in Italian is buonasera. When saying goodbye, it is customary to say arriverci, “goodbye.” Or, in the case of parting with acquaintances, again – ciao.
Being late for a meeting is usually not considered an offense: an Italian can easily come after 10-15 minutes after the appointed time. In the northern regions of the country, however, it is better to observe punctuality.
You shouldn’t be surprised by the pronounced expression of your interlocutor, fast and loud speech, violent gestures – that’s how they communicate here. Although not all.
Appearance very important when we first met.
At the same time, clothes do not have to be expensive and fashionable. To win the respect or sympathy of an Italian, look need to be neat and, if possible, stylish.
Black color still dominates in women’s clothing. And I must say, it suits Italians: there are a lot of slender young ladies hereand few are complete.
It would seem that pasta and pizza should be the other way around. But no!
- Inexpensive excursions in Rome
Food and wine
If you give wine to Italians you know, don’t be stingy and buy a good one. And not the “every day” canteen that they like to sell on special offer in stores.
However, prices for wine in Italy are not off the charts: 5-7 euros for a bottle of a drink with decent organoleptic qualities is the norm!
Pasta for every taste, and pizza – the most famous italian dishes. However, not everywhere in Italy they are prepared in a finger-licking manner.
Pretentious establishments in the centers of tourist cities often serve dishes that are very average in taste. On the contrary, frozen pizza bought in a supermarket could be great!
If you are in small towns, be sure to try the food in a small cafe or tavern on one of the side streets, where where do the locals eat?. With a high degree of probability, the pasta here will be stretched by hand, and the pizza dough is prepared according to ancient recipes.
Superstitions
In Italy it is not customary to give someone a gift yellow flowersbecause they symbolize envy. And wrap gifts in purple paper– it is considered to be bad luck.
The number 17 in Italy is traditionally considered unlucky. It’s the same as 13 in Russia, for example, or the USA.
Holidays
The annual Venice Carnival in February is the most famous such event in Europe. The tradition began in the 13th century. The holiday is held annually at the end of winter and ends at the beginning of Lent, that is 40 days before Catholic Easter.
The Venice Carnival is a landmark event in winter Europe. So much so that it takes place with an incredible crowd of tourists.
The schedule of events can be found here – carnevale.venezia.it/.
The carnival in the resort of Viareggio in Tuscany is famous. The holiday takes place annually late January – early March (dates vary depending on the year), and the main events are held on Saturdays and Sundays.
The Carnival and Orange Battle are held annually in the town of Ivrea in Piedmont. Festive events in Ivrea begin in January shortly after La Befana, which here replaces the “Three Kings Day”.
It is interesting that oranges for the February battle are imported from the south of the country, from Calabria.
Very old and the carnival in Putignano in Apulia. The longest and possibly the oldest in Italy. It begins immediately after Christmas and ends before Fat Thursday.
© Eurotraveler
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