Italy: Culture

Making appointments

Given the choice, Italians would prefer to do business with even a superficial acquaintance rather than a complete stranger. Since familiarity is so important in Italian business culture, ensure that you find a contact who can establish the right introductions on your behalf. Italians preference for contact is (in descending order): face to face, telephone, letter, email. It is often very difficult to establish first contacts with an Italian business person by email. This is less true if the Italian you are contacting works for an international organisation.

In Italian business culture, punctuality is not as much of a priority. As a visitor, however, it's usually a good policy to arrive on time. Be prepared to wait 15-45 minutes before your Italian counterpart appears or lets you into his or her office. Consequently, you may want to bring work, a book or another diversion to fill the time while you wait. Being kept waiting is not a sign that they are not interested in your product or service but a consequence of the multi-tasking way of working. A senior manager may also not want to be seen to be too available so being kept waiting can also be a signal of how senior your contact is.

Northern business hours for small businesses, shops and public offices are usually 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Also, a lot of businesses are open Saturday mornings. Larger companies usually work from 8.30 /9.00 until 6.00/6.30 with an hour or so for lunch. This lunch break will be significantly longer when eating out at a restaurant with guests.

In central and southern Italy, business hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. then 4:30 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The southern business pace is usually less intense.

Generally, the best times to plan appointments are between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. and after 3 or 4p.m.

Be aware of summer vacation periods. Most firms are closed in August. If you write for an appointment in early August, you may not receive a satisfactory reply until September.

Many Italian public holidays follow those of continental Europe but are usually different from the U.S., U.K. and Canada. It is worth checking while planning a trip that a public holiday does not fall in the middle of it as the company and whole region may close down that day.

Italian public holidays are as follows:

1 January: New Year’s Day Capodanno

6 January: Epiphany Epifania

March-April: Easter Sunday Pasqua

Day after Easter: Easter Monday Pasquetta

25 April: Anniversary of Liberation Festa della Liberazione (end of World War II in Italy 1945)

1 May: Labour Day Festa dei Lavoratori

2 June: Republic Day Festa della Repubblica (birth of the Italian Republic 1946)

15 August: Assumption Day Ferragosto

1 November: All Saints Ognissanti

8 December: Immacolata Concezione

25 December: Christmas Day Natale

26 December: St Stephen's Day Santo Stefano

There is usually one more local day of holiday in the year but this various from place to place. It is worth noting that if these public holidays fall on a Tuesday or Thursday that businesses may close for a long weekend (called a bridge or ponte).

Business Dress

Dressing well is a priority here. Your clothing will be perceived as a reflection of your social standing and relative success, as well as your competence as a businessperson.

Generally, dress tends to be on the formal side for both men and women, whether in business or social situations. Aim for clothing choices that are both tasteful and stylish. Italians enjoy designer clothes and often invest in big name brands.

An Italian would never wear scuffed, unshined or unfashionable shoes. If in doubt, wear the best pair of shoes you possess.

While you should make every effort to look your best, you'll probably find it difficult to “out style” the Italians, especially the Milanese. To most Italians, Milan is considered to be the center of the fashion and design world.

Men should wear expensive, sophisticated ties and well-cut dark suits. Italian men do not wear short-sleeved shirts to work even in the summer. Likewise they always wear knee length socks as revealing bare leg above short socks is not considered elegant!

Men often wear accessories such as cuff links, tie clips, and stylish watches.

Choose only quality fabrics, such as lightweight wools and silks.

Women are advised to dress simply and with elegance. Accessorizing is also widely practiced here.

The most commonly worn colours are darker, subdued shades. Brighter colours should be reserved for accessories.

Italian businesswomen usually wear more makeup and jewelery than American women.

It is usual for women not to wear stockings in the summer.

Perfumes and colognes are frequently used by both men and women.

When you receive an invitation stating “informal” dress, don't assume that you'll be welcome arriving in a t-shirt and sweatpants. For a social gathering, informal more often than not means tastefully coordinated clothes, sometimes including a jacket and tie for men.

An invitation stating “formal” dress usually means formal evening wear, which is very dressy by American and northern European standards. Italians use the word “smoking” to indicate black tie/tuxedo. These events are fairly rare in Italy. If in doubt, it is always better to ask – it is not considered poor manners to double check.

Shorts are unacceptable in public [they are reserved only for foreign tourists or the gym]. You will not be admitted into a church wearing shorts, a sundress or even a sleeveless top so when sightseeing or if invited to any religious ceremony (e.g. wedding or baptism) it is normal for a man to wear a suit and a women to cover up (e.g. with a jacket) in the church.

On the street, jeans and sneakers can be acceptable leisure wear [especially for young people]. This attire is not considered suitable in any business context except maybe the fashion or IT industry.

Summers can be very hot and humid, while winters are damp and cool in the south and can be very cold in the north.

General Guidelines

Italians enjoy talking, discussing topics of interest and are full of creative ideas. They find it easy to chat with new acquaintances as well as life- long friends. In fact there is rarely a moment of silence in the course of a conversation in Italy with people jumping in with new ideas or thoughts. Italians often feel uncomfortable with silence – a fact that can be used to great effect during negotiations!

You will be expected to “jump in” with your thoughts and opinions too rather than stand on ceremony and wait to be asked.

It is worth, however remembering that if the conversation is in English rather than in Italian that you should adapt your speech accordingly e.g. slow down, don’t use jargon or sporting phrases that are unlikely to be understood by your Italian colleagues.

On the other hand if the conversation is in Italian you might find the use of dialects difficult to understand. It is perfectly acceptable to ask your Italian colleague to speak only in Italian.

Welcome Topics of Conversation

Italian architecture

Italian art and films

Sports, especially soccer

Italian food and wine

Italian countryside and landscape

Opera

Praising the hospitality you're receiving

Current events

Culture, history and current affairs in your home country

Topics to Avoid

Religion/the Vatican and its policies

Politics

Taxes

The Mafia

World War II

Making “off-colour” jokes or in fact any discussion on sex – it is considered private

Criticizing Italian culture, even if your Italian counterparts are doing so

Criticizing Italian inefficiencies, especially if your Italian counterparts are doing so

Negative Italian stereotypes

Inquiring about the profession or income
of someone you've just met

Questions about private family concerns

Negative comments about the local soccer team

Implying that Italians from the North, Centre or South of Italy behave in the same way. Italians value the differences and there is a strict order of who each area thinks is best. This is a bit of a minefield – it is better to stay well out of it!

Addressing others with respect

Follow Italian business protocol by waiting until you are invited before using first names. Italians always start with the more formal title + family name and some continue to do so even when they have worked together for years. It is a sign of respect, though it can also mean that they feel that they do not know each other well enough to move to first names. Moving too quickly to first names can make Italians uncomfortable as they may feel that you are pretending to be friendly for ulterior motives.

In most Italian companies, executives and subordinates continue to use titles and surnames only. In many large Italian multinationals, however, the corporate culture of using first names has become the norm and you may find that your Italian colleagues move very quickly to familiar terms.

If the person you are meeting is outside your company e.g. a supplier he or she would expect to use the more formal greeting for a long time.

You are expected to use “Signore” [Mr.] and “Signora” [Mrs.], plus the family name, when introduced to strangers.

“Signorina” [Miss] is rarely used in Italy today, and is best avoided. It is most commonly used when a woman appears relatively young [late teens /early twenties] and is unmarried.

Where a title is known, it is best to use it, as a title relating to a university degree has higher status than "Signore" or "Signora." A male university graduate is given the title of “Dottore”, while the female equivalent is “Dottoressa.” If in doubt whether someone has a degree or not it is best to err on the side of caution. You pay a compliment even if you get it wrong.

Italians who have a degree in engineering use the title Ingeniere (written Ing.) instead of Dottore and lawyers use Avvocato (written as e.g. Avv. Rossi) as they are considered to have higher status again.

When greeting someone formally then you say:

“Buon giorno dottore Rossi” when you arrive and “arriverdeci” as you leave

or the informal greeting:

“Ciao Marco” when you arrive and “ciao” again as you leave

If this sounds very confusing – don’t worry too much as Italians know that other nationalities are more informal than they are and that it is not easy. The fact that you are trying will be appreciated.

If you have to summon a server in a restaurant or clerk, you may use the phrase “senta”, which means, generally, “please come here.”

General Guidelines

Gift giving in Italian business is not standard practice although it is fairly common for suppliers to give a gift to clients around Christmas time. These range from a bottle of very good wine/Italian champagne to hampers to luxury food products. For particularly important customers a more expensive gift such as a silver ornament, clock etc may be used. Many multi-national companies have rules about their employees accepting gifts, often with a limit to the value. So a bottle of wine may be a good present whereas a set of crystal glasses is not.

It is also very common that a potential or current customer may be given some examples of product to take home and try after a company visit especially if they make a high value product. It would not be usual to bring a gift to a new business contact however if you are meeting someone who you have known for some time or worked with at a distance a small gift from your home town would be appreciated. It should not be expensive otherwise the recipient may be embarrassed.

If you are invited to dinner at someone’s home you should always bring a gift such as a bottle of very good wine, flowers or chocolates. It is better to bring one bottle of good wine than three medium priced ones! Again a thoughtful gift from home would be much appreciated. If it is from you home town or country be prepared to explain the history/traditions of the gift. Italians value highly the differences and customs between their own regions and would be interested in learning more about yours.

Gifts are usually opened at the time they are given and received.

Appreciated Gifts

Your gift could be a prestigious brand name that is at the same time small and not obviously expensive.

Gifts of alcohol or crafts from your own country are often good choices.

If you want to give a gift to someone who has been particularly helpful around the office, good choices include fine pens, a framed print/picture, silver key chains, or small electronics. Regardless, make sure your gift is a reputable name brand!

Secretaries generally appreciate a gift of flowers or chocolates but it would be common to give these only if they have been particularly helpful.

If you are invited to a home, bring gift-wrapped chocolates or flowers. Never give an even number of flowers. Do not give chrysanthemums as they are used only for funerals. Likewise, red roses are reserved for romantic occasions.

If you are invited to a home a good wine or spirit from home could be an excellent choice as Italians are interested in learning about other countries. If you live in Italy, it would be nice to offer to bring e.g. a dessert when dining at someone’s house. One that is typical of your country would be very appreciated. Be prepared to explain in great detail how you made it and the exact ingredients used! Italians are very interested in all aspects of food and especially something novel that they have not heard of before.

If you are staying with a family, good gift selections can include coffee table books about your home country, or anything that reflects the interests of your hosts and is representative of your country.

Holiday cards are a nice idea as card sending is not common in Italy, so your card will be received with great interest. Italian post is notoriously unpredictable so ensure that your cards are mailed in plenty of time if you wish them to arrive for a certain occasion e.g. Christmas. Thank you cards are also not widely used – thanks are usually given personally at the time of receiving a gift or by telephone otherwise. Again, a thank you card (especially one in English) would be greatly enjoyed.

Gifts to Avoid

Gifts showcasing your company's logo

Brooches and handkerchiefs--these items are associated with funerals

Gifts wrapped in black or purple paper--traditionally, these are the colours of mourning

Knives or any other type of sharp object--such items may be interpreted to suggest the severing of a friendship or other close bond

Gift wrapping

The wrapping and appearance of your gift is very important (as important as the gift itself) so it is worth investing some time in making it look beautiful. If you buy a gift in Italy the shop will usually wrap it for you.

What you should know before negotiating

Most Italians who work for international organisations or large companies in Italy speak very good English but this is not always the case.

Italians who work in family-run or smaller companies may speak very little English or perhaps have only one or two managers in the company who are fluent. So it is advisable to ascertain the language level of the people you are meeting with while setting up the meeting. Organising for an interpreter may significantly help discussions and negotiations.

Be aware that the person who speaks the best English and with whom you are having the meeting is not necessarily the decision maker. This is especially true in family run businesses. If this is the case it is vital that you have an opportunity to meet the key decision maker and that they sign off on any agreements made. Without this you may have difficulties later with commitment and implementation.

If your Italian counterpart does speak reasonable English it is worth ensuring that your presentation materials and discussions are kept clear and simple. It is highly unlikely that he or she would admit to not understanding parts of the conversation.

When selecting your negotiating team, be aware that Italians generally prefer to do business with only the most important people in any organization. Sending a high-flying youngster to negotiate with an Italian senior manager is doomed from the off set!

The use of business cards is common – it might be worth having your card translated into Italian on the reverse side. Any advanced educational degrees and your full title or position should be featured on your business card. Italian business people will want to know whom they are dealing with and your position in your company.

You will probably notice that very senior Italian businesspeople usually have less information on their business cards.

In Italian culture, people are traditionally expected to behave with a sense of decorum and formality. This concept is known as "bella figura" ["beautiful figure"] and is often used in reference to the ability to put on a good performance or simply to present oneself well. What other people think is extremely important, and your actions must always at least appear to be the "right" thing to do. Moreover, there is a belief that behaving appropriately, especially out of loyalty to family members, friends, is the correct way to behave.

The initial meeting is usually conducted in the office, where your Italian counterparts will make an assessment of you, your proposal and company. It will be in your best interests to present a warm, dignified demeanour during the meeting.

The goal, at least for the initial meeting, is to start to build a good relationship. Once trust, respect and mutual liking have been established, the details of the individual proposal can be agreed upon. Initial meetings decide if you are a company/person with whom they can or want to do business. The details of the sale or contract come only after mutual good feeling and trust have been established.

Although establishing a good relationship is important to present a carefully planned, logically organized proposal and interesting proposal. All presentation materials and packaging should be aesthetically pleasing. In this culture, it's essential that things [as well as people] look good: appearance is frequently considered more important than "what's inside."

Italians are generally receptive to new ideas and concepts, although you'll perceive little change in the opinions of the participants.

Hierarchy is key, especially in larger traditional Italian businesses where the importance of the "cordata" [chain of command] cannot be underestimated. Moreover, a belief in status and hierarchy permeates all aspects of Italian society.

There is tremendous respect for power, as well as age.

There are not large numbers of women at the highest levels of business and government in Italy. Women may be treated with particular respect by Italian men, but not necessarily to the point of attaining equal recognition or authority in business settings. This is changing slowly and Italians would not be surprised to do business with senior business women from other cultures.

It is considered good manners for Italian men to open doors, carry bags or otherwise act in a chivalrous way towards women. As a woman in business it is best to accept these actions gracefully and then get down to business as usual.

In business settings, the individual with authority rarely has to raise his or her voice. In most cases, however, Italians speak loudly, animatedly, and interruptions are to be expected.

Italian communication styles tend to be eloquent, wordy, demonstrative, and emotional.

Italians tend to be guided by their feelings. Consequently, make an effort to ensure that the Italians you do business with decide that they like and trust you.

Italian businesspeople will often base their decisions on what has worked for others in similar situations-even when the two situations may not be directly related to each other. Consequently, if an idea does not correspond with an individual’s subjective experience or opinion, it is often rejected.

Italians will look at the particulars of each situation rather than seek guidance from a law or policy to solve a problem.

In Italian business culture, most decisions are made in “closed quarters” by various people, not just the highest figure in authority. There are, however, a large proportion of family-owned businesses here; in these organizations, the head of the family usually makes the final decision.

Final decisions can take time and the process from initial contact to implementation can take several months to a year.

Be patient, since rushing or putting pressure on the decision-making process will put you in a less powerful position.

Italians will sometimes make sudden, unexpected demands as a way of unsettling the other side. The use of this strategy does not automatically mean the negotiations will collapse.

The relationships between families, friends, and neighbours are of crucial importance, especially in the south of Italy.

Honour and personal pride are critical in this culture. Consequently, never insult the honour or personal pride of the Italians, their families, their towns, or their friends.

Employees provide what their bosses expect of them, and the preparation of reports and plans can be time-consuming and even complicated. Compiling the information required in order to do what your boss expects from you, or creating consensus among your colleagues in order to accomplish a particular goal, can take a considerable amount of time. All of this occurs in a formal and sometimes very rigid hierarchical structure. Consequently, deadlines and efficiency are usually secondary to considerations such as attention to detail and logic.

Complimenting and rewarding employees publicly are not often done.

The Italians, generally, can be receptive to criticism, as long as it is constructive. Try, however, not to be too blunt.

In Italy, office doors often remain closed, so ensure that you knock before making an entrance and when leaving a room, always close the door behind you.

Entertaining for business success

The business breakfast is almost unheard of. Very rare exceptions may be found in the major cities.

Breakfast tends to be a very quick affair in Italy so it does not lend itself to talking business.

Breakfast in bars [cafes] is served from about 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Typically, it consists of a brioche which is a roll similar to the French croissant. It can be plain [liscia], filled with jam [con marmalata] or confectioners custard [con crema]. Frequently, the coffee served in the morning is cappuccino [coffee with foamy milk]. Standard coffee is espresso and is dark and strong. In the south, breakfast begins earlier and can be more substantial. Cappuccino is considered to be a breakfast drink only and Italians typically drink it up until about 11.30 am. Usually only tourists drink it at any time during the day.

Hospitality plays a key role in Italian business culture, and usually involves dining in a restaurant. Regardless of how you feel, refusing an invitation of any kind will be perceived as an insult. When planning your schedule make sure to leave time for lunches and dinners with your host as they may assume that you will dine with them. It is best to play this by ear keeping some flexibility.

Business dinners involve only a small, exclusive group. If you are the host, consult with your Italian contact before extending any invitations. Since you have no way of knowing all of the “inside” personalities and ranks, don't hesitate to ask for help.

Business is often conducted over a long lunch, which can last some time.

Depending on how well developed your relationship is with your Italian colleagues, business decisions usually are not made during mealtimes. Follow the example of your Italian dining companions and wait for them to initiate any discussions about business.

Be aware that the formalities of dining are taken seriously here. If you feel that you have upset your hosts in any way--make some comment about how different the Italian culture is from your own and let them understand that it was not deliberate. Italians know that they have many formal ways of doing things and are tolerant of blunders. They can, however, be sensitive if they sense criticism [however unintended].

Lunch is still the main meal of the day in most areas of the country and is usually served after 12:30 p.m. in the North of Italy, 1 –2pm in the centre and 2-3pm in the South. Business lunches used to last for hours but nowadays they tend to be shorter especially in the North. Whether at home or in a restaurant, lunch can be quite an elaborate meal with numerous courses. Typically, however, lunch will include a light starter, followed by soup, pasta or rice, then meat or fish with vegetables, or a side salad. The meal finishes with dessert or cheese with fruit, and, of course, espresso.

Wine and water are served throughout lunch, along with bread. Sometimes olive oil is used as a substitute for butter. Avoid mopping up any olive oil or sauce on your plate with your bread.

Italians believe that wine should be sipped slowly. Drinking too much at once or appearing inebriated is considered gauche and will always be an affront to Italian business etiquette. It is normal to have a glass for wine and a glass for water simultaneously. The bigger glass is usually the water glass.

If you need to alert the waiter or server, motion with your fingers pointing down or simply make eye contact accompanied by saying “senta” or “scusi”. One would never snap one’s fingers to attract a server’s attention.

Smoking is not allowed in public places in Italy (e.g. bars, restaurants, cinemas etc) and it is very strictly enforced. You will often see little groups of smokers just outside on the patio or in the street instead.

If you are invited out, you may offer to pay. In accordance with Italian business etiquette, however, your host will usually decline this offer. As a general rule, insist on paying only when you have made the invitation.

If you are hosting a meal in a restaurant and footing the bill, it's a good policy to make all payment arrangements ahead of time. This guideline is especially important to follow if you are a woman, since your male guests may refuse to let you pay.

Tipping'

For taxis, a simple rounding up is sufficient e.g. 8 euros instead of 7.50 euros. In restaurants 10% is sufficient if the food and service have been good. There is often an item on the bill called “coperto” which is usually calculated on a per person basis. This coperto is considered as a tip and rarely comes to more than 5%. If you have been particularly happy with the meal you could tip up to a total of 10%.

Coffee is taken throughout the day. A coffee break during a meeting is often used to re-establish personal relationships, especially when the meeting has been a tough one. Even if you are not a coffee drinker, it is worth taking the time out anyway and perhaps drinking water instead.

Cafes [called "bars"] can be found everywhere: they are the places to go for breakfast, coffee, filled roll (panini) at lunch, aperitif in the evening, even an ice cream. They are popular venues for socializing, open at all hours. These establishments traditionally have indoor and outdoor seating, with tiny tables, often crammed next to each other. Usually you pay a different price whether you consume your food/drink standing at the bar or sitting down with waiter service. In bars that do not offer waiter service it is fine to order at the bar and then go and sit down at a table. If however they offer waiter service you must be served by the waiter (and pay the higher prices) if you wish to sit as well.

Bar staff get annoyed sometimes when tourists pay the bar price but then sit down at a table and are usually quick to let you know that you are in the wrong place. If this sounds confusing – it is a bit! Usually though you will see a waiter and the choice is clear.

When you enter a café, you may seat yourself. Once you ask for the bill, be prepared to pay it, since the waiter will typically wait at your table until you pay.

Dinner tends to be served late. For example, 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. is the customary starting time in the north, 9:00 p.m. in Rome, and 10:00 p.m. in Naples. In the major cities, dinner can last well past midnight if it substitutes for lunch as the main meal of the day.

You might find all but the “tourist” restaurants closed prior to 8.00

If the main meal of the day was lunch, then the family dinner at home is light. In this case, it is usually a simple pasta or soup and cold cuts with salad, followed by fresh seasonal fruit.

Being invited to a private dinner party is a rare honour; so accept this opportunity to solidify a business relationship.

Dinner parties usually end at around midnight.

When you are invited to a home, refrain from wandering around from room to room. Houses are considered private. Likewise, you shouldn’t help yourself to a beer from the fridge!

Dinner parties or large lunches often start with an aperitif such as prosecco, campari or a non-alcoholic cocktail. One popular after-dinner drink is grappa, which is a brandy made from grape skins and stems; another is sambuca, an anise-flavoured drink.

Italian regional wines are usually served with dinner and are carefully selected to complement the food. Again, when wine is served with a meal in Italy, it is meant to be savoured, and is not to be used for getting drunk.

White wine [bianco] is typically served with appetizers or fish, while red wine [rosso] usually accompanies appetizers and meats. A sweeter wine may be served with dessert.

The most common toast is “salute” [to your health], or, more informally, “cin-cin.” When clinking glasses with other members of your party it is considered bad luck to cross arms with another couple that are clinking glasses at the same time.

The most honoured position is at the middle of each side of the table, with the individual of the greatest importance seated to the immediate right of the host. If a couple is hosting, one will be at one end of the table, and the other at the opposite end.

Occasionally, at dinner parties, couples may be broken up and seated next to people they do not know. The intention of this arrangement is to introduce new acquaintances and promote conversation.

The Italians do not switch knives and forks, as Americans do. When both are to be used, the knife remains in the right hand, and the fork remains in the left.

There are often many additional pieces of cutlery. If you are unsure of which utensil to use, the best policy is to start from the outside and work your way in, course by course.

Pass dishes to your left.

Italian dishes vary and include risottos [rice-based dishes], pastas, pizzas, gnocchis, soups and stews. Seafood and fish are abundant throughout the country thanks to the enormous coastline. Vegetables and fruits are impressive, especially in the south.

Be careful about adding salt, pepper or ketchup to food, since this implies to your hosts that the dish is bland or otherwise inadequately flavoured.

Instead of cutting lettuce in a salad, you are expected to fold it with your knife and fork so that it forms a small bundle that can be picked up with your fork.

An Italian would not use a spoon for assistance in handling spaghetti but there is no problem if you want to do it. You could instead, discreetly use a fork and the sides of the bowl or plate to twirl the pasta into a manageable bundle. Then place the entire forkful of pasta into your mouth at once; slurping the strands is considered poor manners. Lifting your napkin so that it protects the front of your shirt while you are eating pasta is perfectly acceptable. You should hold it in place though and not tuck it in as this is what children do.

If there is gravy or sauce, you may use your bread to soak some of it up using a fork. Do not, however, go so far as to mop the bread around your plate using your hands (though this is what Italians would do in the privacy of their own homes).

When the meal is finished, the knife and fork are laid parallel to each other across the right side of the plate. If you put both utensils down on the plate for an extended period of time, it is a sign to the servers that you are finished, and your plate may be taken away from you.

When not eating, keep your wrists resting above the table.

Portions are generally smaller than in the United States, but with a larger number of courses.

You are always welcome to have additional beverages. Fruit should always be peeled, cut into easy to eat pieces and in a more formal setting eaten with cutlery. It is never correct to pick up a piece of fruit e.g an apple or a peach and just take a bite out of it.

You won’t be expected to eat everything on your plate, but eat as much as you can. If you do not want more food, you will probably have to insist several times before the hostess will believe you.

A cup of strong, black espresso is traditionally served at the conclusion of the meal and is known simply as café. It should be drunk fairly quickly while it is still hot. If you want to have milk in it you should ask for “café macchiato”. If you want decaffeinated coffee, look for the term “hag”, which means without caffeine.

You may find yourself in a lengthy conversation about food and how it differs from place to place. You should look interested and be willing to try different meals. Extensive praise should be given to your Italian hosts and do not be afraid to use superlatives. To say that food is merely “good” or “nice” is bordering on an insult. Do not be afraid to use words like “wonderful”, “Exquisite”, “delicious”, “fantastic”!

Regional Cuisine

Italians have a wide variety of regional food and one of the major pleasures in life is visiting a new region and eating the local specialities

Bologna--food from this region is characteristically rich and substantial--representative dishes include tortellini and prosciutto

Florence and Tuscany--dishes from these regions rely on boar, meats, beans, generous amounts of olive oil, herbs, and garlic.

Genoa—gnocchi, pesto, fresh fish stews

Lombardy—osso buco, lamb dishes, polenta

Rome—varieties of pastas, meats e.g lamb, vegetables e.g artichokes

Veneto—fried fish from the Adriatic, fresh vegetables

The south and beyond Sicily—pizza, fresh farm vegetables, figs, olive oil, herbs, seafood

Acceptable public conduct

Generally, the Italians prefer third-party introductions whenever possible.

You will always be introduced to older people and women first and it is best to follow this protocol when introducing yourself.

Upon introductions and departures, shake hands with everyone individually in a group; the American "group wave" will not be appreciated. It is polite while doing this to say "buon giorno" [in the morning] and "buona sera" [in the late afternoon and evening].

Frequent warm and vigorous handshakes can be common for both business and social occasions.

Italians will not hesitate to greet people they know with an embrace.

You'll notice that the Italians are often very animated and like to gesture with their hands while talking. In most cases, they gesture good-naturedly to emphasize a point or feeling.

While passionate gestures are common among Italians, they would not expect someone from another culture to do the same. When you know your Italian colleague well, it would be considered friendly to return a warm embrace.

Upon your arrival, it is considered common courtesy to greet people in the workplace, stores or restaurants with an appropriate daily greeting such as "buon giorno" or "buona sera" and "arrivaderci" upon leaving.

You'll also observe people [i.e. men with women, men with men, and women with women] walking arm in arm or holding hands in public. This often occurs in the evening, during a customary stroll known as "passeggiata."

Don't be surprised if your Italian colleagues stand much closer to you than you are used to or even feel comfortable with. Italian personal space is smaller than that of northern Europeans and significantly smaller than that of Americans.

Likewise, you may experience some gentle pushing and shoving during line-ups. It is not uncommon to see a person walk right up to the front of a line at a bank, restaurant or store and get served first because of the relationship he or she has with the clerk.

Queue-jumping is not the crime in Italy that it is in other countries. Italians are very tolerant of people who take advantage of the lack of strict queueing to get served first. There is even a certain admiration for someone who beats the system.

On public transportation, younger people should give up their seats to older people, while men should still give up their seats to women.

Eye contact remains direct and is the way Italians show their interest. Be aware that looking away may be perceived as a sign of boredom or outright rudeness. A romantic interest is usually implied when the eyes of two strangers meet and linger.

Do not presume to seat yourself at a gathering; whenever possible, wait for the host to tell you where to sit.

Placing the hand on the stomach signifies dislike, usually for another person.

Rubbing the chin with the fingertips, and then propelling them forward, is a gesture of contempt.

Contorting the fingers and hand to resemble the devil's horns pointed outward is an obscene gesture. Pointing the fingers inward, however, is a sign to ward off evil.

Pointing with the index and little finger is a gesture used only when wishing someone bad luck.

Slapping one's raised arm above the elbow and thumbing the nose are both considered extremely offensive.

In public, behaviours such as gum chewing, leaning, and slouching are unacceptable. Likewise, it is rare to see Italian businesspeople eating as they walk along a street. Eating an ice-cream is the only and perfectly acceptable exception to this.

Geography, climate, regions and cities, government

Italy, the famous 'boot-shaped' peninsula lies in central southern Europe and is surrounded by the Mediterranean sea to the south and bordered by Austria, France, Slovenia and Switzerland to the North. The country stretches for over 1000 km from north to south and has a total area of over 300,000 sq km. Italy also includes two large islands, Sardinia and Sicily, and many smaller ones--Capri, Ischia, Elba--to name but a few.

Two independent states: the Vatican City [in Rome] and the Republic of San Marino lie within Italy's geographical borders.

Italy is justifiably well known for its beautiful mountain ranges; the Alps to the northwest, Dolomites to the northeast and the Apennine range, which forms the backbone down the centre. The largest lakes are found mainly in the North [lakes Garda, Maggiore, Como, and Iseo].

Northern Italy is made up of an extensive plain through which Italy's longest river, the Po, flows into the Adriatic Sea. Italy is also home to two major volcanoes: Mt. Etna [Sicily] and Mt. Vesuvius [near Naples].

Regions and Cities

Italy has a population of 60 million inhabitants and is the fourth largest population in the European Union. Over 7.5% of the nation's population are from abroad (of these the largest immigrant groups are: Romanians 15.1% Moroccans 10.5% Albanians 10.3% Ukrainians 5.3%). Immigration ensures that the country’s population is growing despite the low fertility rate among Italians of 1.4 children per family The country is made up of 20 regions and its principal cities [in descending order of population] are: Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin, Palermo, Genoa, Bologna and Florence.

Government

Italy became a Republic in 1946 and was a founding member of the EEC [which later became the European Union or EU].

The seat of government is in Rome. The head of state is the President of the Republic, who controls the armed forces and the judiciary. He is elected by Parliament and holds office for a period of seven years. Next in the hierarchy comes the President of the Senate and third the President of the Chamber of Deputies. Parliament is made up of two chambers, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, and is elected by popular vote every five years [or less]. Legislation can be initiated in either house but must be approved by both houses before becoming law. The chamber of Deputies consists of 630 members, the Senate around 320.

Major parties

The current major political parties (having scored more than 4% in the 2008 general election) are:

- The People of Freedom (Il Popolo della Libertà)

- Democratic Party (Partito Democratico)

- Northern League (Lega Nord)

- Italy of Values (Italia dei Valori)

- Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (Unione dei Democratici Cristiani e di Centro)

Economy, entrance requirements, legislation, and religion

The Economy

In 2009 the economy of Italy was the seventh-largest economy in the world and the fourth largest in Europe, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Italy belongs to the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations; it is a member of the European Union and OECD. Italy is considered to offer a high quality of life, rating 8th according to the Economist’s quality of life index.

Its economic strength owes much to the success of small and medium-sized companies--often family-owned and managed and concentrated in industrial clusters throughout the country. There is a thriving culture of artisan workers [artigiani]. Italy remains an economy where the manufacturing sector is strong. Key industries include automobiles, shipbuilding, chemicals, furniture, clothing and textiles, leather goods and footwear, food processing, ceramic products, components and machinery. Italy is the world's fifth largest industrial goods producer and an important agricultural exporter for fruit and vegetables such as kiwi fruits, grapes, artichokes, and tomatoes.

Tourism is one of the fastest growing and most profitable sectors of the national economy: with 43.7 million international tourist arrivals and total revenues estimated at $42.7 billion in 2008 (latest available figures), Italy is the fifth major tourist destination and the fourth highest tourist earner in the world.

Italy is in the Eurozone having converted its currency from Italian lira to the euro in 2002.

Entry Requirements

EU nationals may travel to Italy for up to three months with either a valid passport or valid identity card. If, however, you wish to work in Italy you need to visit the Questura [special police station] within three days of arrival to apply for a permit to stay (permesso di soggiorno) and permit to work (permesso di lavoro). Non-EU citizens should check with their nearest Italian embassy or consulate for the exact visa requirements that apply to them.

Religion

Italy is a secular state but the dominant religion is Roman Catholic. Although a steady stream of immigration in recent years has introduced a more multi-ethnic society, other religions are still a relatively small percentage.

Legislation

Once in Italy, it is necessary to carry some official document with you at all times [with a photograph and signature e.g. Passport, ID card or permesso di soggornio]. Italian citizens over the age of 15 are required to carry an ID card. It is quite common to be asked to show some form of ID (some shops when paying by credit card, any government buildings, renting a car/bike, checking into a hotel etc).

Car drivers are required to carry a valid driving licence when driving a car. Failure to produce one if stopped by police will result in a fine. Car lights [dipped] should be on at all times when driving on motorways and major roads.

Sometimes visitors may get the impression that there are fewer laws in Italy than in other countries or that they are less closely adhered to and take risks that they would not do at home. This would be a mistake. There are in fact more laws in Italy than many other countries and if ignored risk the corresponding penalties. Illegal parking (for example) though widespread will result in a fine if a traffic warden/police catches you!