To an Italian, a lot of milk is almost a meal in itself, therefore a cappuccino should only be served at breakfast, alone and with nothing else. However, an espresso is OK to order any time of the day, just make sure you order it after your food as Italians believe it to be a digestivo, and that it should not be mixed with heavy foods or salads.
In fact, Italians on a whole seem to be extremely obsessed with digesting food, to the point where it is common to indulge in an alcoholic beverage such as a Limoncello or Grappa after a heavy meal. And if you are driving? No worries! Upon explaining to the police that you have just eaten the world's biggest meal and needed a very drastic digestivo to settle your stomach, they are likely to give you an extra two hours until they breathalyze you again. Depicted throughout the world as the one of the friendliest nations, Italians have a warm and welcoming reputation.
From mothers that are desperate to feed you to fathers that are desperate to flatter you, Italians even make catcalling seem OK. Usually only limited to men in white vans or overweight builders on a construction site, catcalling can so often be the bane of every woman's day.
However, with beauty becoming something that should not be ignored, both Italian men and women suddenly feel compelled to let that other person know. Sure, they have their faults, but then so does every nationality. Yet there is something in an Italian's core that just expresses such a warm and friendly atmosphere that it's difficult not to feel right at home. Plus, with family being such a core element to an Italian person's heart, it is hard not to envy the three-hour dinners and three-day Christmases that are usually put into place.
In fact, right from the very beginning, you have already had both your cheeks kissed, with personal space being such a nonissue for a typical touchy-feely Italian. With so many Italians being kind, friendly, and courteous, you are sure to meet some of the nicest people in your life. Holding a language that is only spoken in one country in the world, a language that refuses to die out and a language that is so old it is one of the closest in the world to Latin, you know that they are definitely going to have some good curse words.
And that they do, with Italian swear words the most looked up curse words on the internet. But why? What is so different about swearing in Italian then say swearing in English or French? The reason? Often referred to as the language of love or the 'romance language,' Italians are considered to be the most passionate nationality in the world, and even more so when expressing their anger.
When cursing, Italians sound almost as if they are singing, using that last note to form an operatic legato, as if it is their dying performance to the world. With inspiration coming from religion, mothers, women and mostly pigs, the result is as shocking as it is humorous.
And that's not all. Italians have even devised a whole new language using only their hands, causing the Italian nationality to be the most elegantly hands- on language in the world.
In fact, you don't even need to learn the language, with surviving by the hand signals alone just as sufficient. With more tourist attractions then you can shake a stick at, Italy outrageously outdoes competing countries in sightseeing destinations. In Rome alone, there are hundreds of things to see, big and small. Still, without a scheduled plan, you can have just as much fun wondering around the winding streets pretending you are working in one humongous archaeological dig.
Then, of course, there is Venice, a magical, Utopian, car-less spectacle, floating on a murky lagoon, which in turn just so happens to be near Verona, the romantic setting of one Romeo and Juliet.
With the north so extremely different from the south, it can sometimes feel like you have entered two different countries, with drastic weather changes and preferences for food. However, that is the beauty as, with no two places the same, every town and city has something different to offer, coming with it a sense of unique pride that only makes you love it that little bit more. Famed for its sunny weather and hot humid days, Italy is actually much more than a sweaty, unbearable, heat wave.
Holding its status as a four-season country, it actually really is, with moderately cold winters, a mild fall and spring, and a summer you can really count on. However, not only does it have the best weather, it also has the best locations, making it easy to plan your seasons accordingly. For example, in the winter, the mountains become a huge hot spot for Italians and tourists alike. Each finding the cool air and snow capped mountains perfect for indulging in some winter sports.
And in the summer? Look no further than Europe's finest beaches, with white glorious sands and water so clear you can see your toes dancing with the fish. In fact, the two Italian islands, Sicily and Sardinia, have each become huge tourist attractions for holiday makers around the world, just desperate for that "tropicana" vibe that can so often be misplaced elsewhere. Plus, with the weather being separated into seasons, so is the food, with certain items only becoming available when in-season, making it extra special when they do and also totally worth the wait.
Respecting the need for relaxing, Italians are by far the best in practicing long lunch breaks. Fresh or dried, stuffed or coated with sauce, each region has its own way of cooking it. Like yellow taxis and New York or red double-decker buses and London, Vespas are synonymous with Italy. Invented in , this sexy scooter became an icon thanks to a number of appearances on the silver screen. Now, over 18m models have been sold. Not just limited to paintings and sculptures in museums, artistic wonders can be found everywhere in Italy — in churches, castles, historical residences — and in the architecture of the country itself.
Italian automotive design is coveted by petrolheads the world over for its beauty, exclusivity and performance. Take Ferrari, for example — the company began as a race car manufacturer in and is now the gold standard for aspirational autos.
Italians like to let their hands do the talking and, according to one study , there are around gestures used in everyday conversation. Football, or il calcio , is taken very seriously in Italy. Their defeat against Sweden was met with disbelief and marked the first time in 40 years they failed to qualify for the tournament. The Italians played a big part in the Age of Discovery, exploring the world in search of trade, wealth and knowledge. Though Columbus was born in the Republic of Genova he sailed on behalf of Spain.
When it comes to beaches, it's a tough choice between blinding-white dunes, pebble and even turf shores, but Italian beaches have been awarded Blue Flag status for clear waters and unspoiled sands. Italy's best beaches and islands. Changing governments. Italians tear through regimes like their sports cars do dinosaur juice. Since the end of World War II, Italy has established 63 governments under 39 prime ministers 42 if you count Silvio Berlusconi's three total terms , and only one has lasted a full five years.
Fearing the rise of another Mussolini, Italy's constitutional system years ago provided for a weak executive branch that requires majorities in both legislative houses just to get anything done. That, combined with an already fractured political landscape of small, opposed parties, puts Italy's average MPG months per government barely over Italy's Mount Etna, Europe's tallest and most active volcano erupts again.
Etna, the world's second most active volcano, is in Italy. Ten active volcanoes allow Italy's geology to vent the way voting gives release to its citizens.
The country's and Europe's largest volcano is Mt. Etna in Sicily, the world's second most active volcano after Hawaii's Mauna Loa. Etna's spectacular eruptions, soot-blackened scenery, lava flows and extensive caves draw more than a million tourists a year. It leads TripAdvisor's top must-see volcanoes list, along with four other Italian spouters, including Mt. Etna tours and excursion: sicilytravel.
Apple pie is good and all, and it's never a bad time for a sticky slice of baklava, but for sheer volume and variety of treats, nothing beats an Italian dessert case.
Much is made of the peninsula's food, the usual suspects being pizza, pasta and antipasti. But the real stars of Italian cuisine are gelato, tiramisu, cannoli, Neapolitan, biscotti spumoni, tartufo, zeppole -- Italy has nearly as many signature desserts as it's had governments. Italian confectioners work in all media, too, combining cakes, cookies and creams both iced and otherwise to create the world's vastest, tastiest arsenal of desserts.
Ironically, Italians don't even really eat this stuff, most often preferring a piece of fruit or chocolate after a meal instead. Greatest travel rip off?
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