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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