Italy is a country of passion, wine, pasta, fashion and men. It is divided into two dozen regions. Having been in one of them, you cannot say that you have learned everything about the country. Italy is constantly opening up new facets to travelers. Each region is interesting for its traditions, cuisine, lifestyle, ideals and culture. We will present the most interesting facts about Italy, which will help you learn more about this fascinating country.
Eternal feast of the abdomen
In Italy, a real cult of food has long been established . They talk about food for hours in restaurants, on the streets, and over the phone. The question of what a person ate today can be heard as often as the traditional “How are you?” It is noteworthy that usually the answers to them coincide, that is, if you managed to eat well, then everything else is also in perfect order.
Most tourists like Italian cuisine, but sometimes you want to relax a bit from it. And here you have to face a problem: there are few restaurants with cuisines of other peoples in the country. But this difficulty will not be the only one for those who want to "just eat something." Interesting facts about Italy: dinner in all restaurants of the country, without exception, lasts exactly 60 minutes - from 12.30 to 13.30. Dinner time - from 19.30. If you get hungry after two, you have to be content with sandwiches. The only exception is the few "despicable" restaurants especially for tourists. In them you can dine even after half past one.
Great combinators
Italians are very sensitive to the compatibility of certain products. Naturally, travelers often violate unspoken rules. As a result of unsuccessful, according to local residents, food combination, one can even see a scornful mockery at one's address. Here are some examples:
- Cappuccino is drunk only in the morning. The desire to have a cup at dinner is considered inappropriate and even shameful.
- Salad is a dish that is served after hot. It is not used as a snack.
- An unacceptable combination is fish and cheese.
- An act equivalent to a crime - adding ketchup to pasta or pizza.
Attitude towards visitors
Tourists often have to deal with a passive and dismissive attitude towards themselves. If a person has a foreign accent and not an Italian appearance, he will probably get the worst cheese in the shop, in addition, he is held with an unkind look full of suspicion. As some travelers note, if you order coffee in English, an invigorating drink often costs twice as much.
Often the first question that strangers ask each other is the following: "Where are you from?" This is not only a way to start a conversation, but also an opportunity to decide on a further communication strategy.
Features of the division of the country
Italy on the map appears before us in the form of the well-known boot with the capital in Rome. However, residents of the state represent their homeland in a completely different way. For them, there is an industrial North and a provincial South. Interesting facts about Italy: even in a town with five hundred inhabitants there will be its own architecture, cuisine, history and, of course, a dialect.
Residents of large cities and regions are endowed with certain traits of character. Examples of the most common stereotypes: “She did not call you back? And what did you expect, she’s from Venice !? ”,“ He’s not sad, he’s just from Piedmont, everyone behaves there like that ”,“ This is a vulgar consumer magazine, it is published in Milan. ”
Those born in different cities are secretly assigned certain names. So, Gennaro or Pasquale probably came into being in Naples, Lavinia and Prisca - in Rome. Of course, there are general Italian neutral options, for example, Mario or Francesco, but most parents prefer names that are traditional in their area.
The Italians become one nation in two cases - when watching football matches and as part of a tourist group abroad.
Adult children
We noted above that the country in question does not differ in cohesion. But still there are features that are characteristic, if not for everyone, then for most Italians for sure. So, foreign travelers primarily notice the amazing infantility of the inhabitants of this sunny country. Some blame the education system, others - the economy, but the exact cause of this phenomenon, of course, is now difficult to establish. Most Italians are in no hurry to leave their parents' homes even after thirty-five, while no one condemns them.
Amazing Italy. Interesting facts for children and adults
- This is the most densely populated European country. For every square kilometer, there are two hundred and one people.
- A dog named Rocco found in Tuscany one and a half kilogram truffle. A significant event took place in 2007. At the auction for the find managed to gain 333 thousand dollars.
- Talking about Italy, one cannot fail to mention the University of Rome. This is one of the first higher education institutions on the planet (year of foundation - 1303rd).
- Most of the local fauna and flora has disappeared due to centuries-old cultivation of land and a very high population density.
- Continuing the description of Italy, we note that the highest (4807 m) mountain in Europe - White - is located in this country. In Russia, its other name is better known - Mont Blanc.
- The most common Italian surname is Russo.
Interesting places. Arena di Verona
This is an amphitheater erected by the ancient Romans. The incredible size of the pink marble building has been pleasing the eyes of residents and guests of the capital for two thousand years.
Vesuvius
Striking in its grandeur, the volcano is the first thing that tourists see when they come to Naples. This is not only the most famous, but also the most dangerous sight of the city.
Duomo
The magnificent building in the Gothic style does not leave indifferent any traveler visiting Milan. This cathedral is the largest in the world. At the same time it can be up to forty thousand people. In addition, he has no equal in beauty of external and internal decoration.
Coliseum
The famous symbol not only of Rome, but of the whole of Italy gained its present name due to the statue of the mad ruler Nero set before it. Originally it was called the Flavian Amphitheater.
La scala
For three centuries, this opera house has been a meeting place for representatives of the aristocracy of Milan. Many connoisseurs of beauty dream of visiting it. La Scala is imbued with luxury. The interior decoration is amazing - armchairs upholstered in first-class velvet, unique gilded stucco molding on the walls, very expensive outfits of artists. The cheapest ticket will cost 25 euros, and the most expensive one costs ten times more.
Leonardo da Vinci Museum
He is rightly called one of the most unusual and informative in Milan. It has many interesting exhibits and unusual pavilions. From the tour you can learn interesting facts about submarines , sailing ships, trains, trams, transatlantic liners and other inventions.
Leaning Tower of Pisa
Unusual "falling" building is famous for Italy. Interesting facts about the country: some experts note the influence of Muslim motifs on the architecture of the state in question. A striking example of this is the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which resembles a minaret in its appearance. This is the only bell tower in the world erected at some distance from the cathedral.
Conclusion
We examined some interesting facts about Italy. We hope the above information has helped you learn more about the features of this beautiful country. However, remember that it is much better to see once than to hear a hundred times.