When you go abroad, youtend to notice many small details that – from your point of view –may seem strange or incomprehensible. Different habits and cultures, customs, traditions and behaviours can affect positively or negatively.
If you're going to move to Italy and you don't want to make any faux pas,read on to discover the10things you should never do in Italy.
1.Don’t overtip
Here's a disconcerting truth: in Italy tipping is not mandatory.Waiters in Italy generally make normal salaries so they do not expect big tips from customers; this does not mean that theseare not appreciated.Tipping is not based on a precise calculation but is usually an estimationdepending on price, what kind of restaurant it is, theservice and the meal, number of people, etc.
2.Don’t order a cappuccino after 11am
Cappuccinois considered one most famous Italian drinks for breakfast and is often consumed in the morning with a croissant or a sweety pastry. For this reason when Italians see someone at the restaurant who orders a cappuccino withpasta or a second course... it’s a tragedy! The cappuccino covers all the flavors of these traditional dishes and Italians can not really accept it! If you need a splash of milk in your coffee, ask for a macchiato.
3. Don't putcheese on a pasta that contains fish or seafood
In Italy, this offense is comparable to high treason. Italians have a very strong relationship with food and extremely precise ideas about what can and cannot be done. This is one of the things that should never be done.
4.Don't cut your spaghetti with a knifeand fork, ever
Don't cut spaghetti!!! Non in Italy! Here thespaghettiis eaten more than anywhere else in the world and 'pasta etiquette' is a real thing. This one is one of the most horrible things for an Italian to witness.The correct way to eat spaghetti is to roll it up by wrapping it around the fork using the plate to help you. The reason for this method is that you must respect the essence of spaghetti.
5. Don't order the Fettuccine Alfredo
This is a real mystery. In most Italian restaurants abroad, this dish made with pasta, butter and Parmesan, sometimes house-Roasted Chicken or sour cream,is usually present on the menuas something typical. The problem is that nobody in Italy knows about it.
The true fettuccina "Alfredo" exists only in one specific place: the restaurant "ll Vero Alfredo", called the Emperor of Fettuccine, in the centre of Rome, where you can taste the original recipe, handed down from generation to generation, of this dish that has become famous all over the world but not, alas, in Italy.
6. Don'twearshorts, tank top orflip-flops when visiting a church
In sacred places in Italyyou must be dressed appropriately and it is not possible to enter with clothes as if youwere at the beach. Remember to bring a scarf or foulard foryour back and avoid shorts and sandals. Even entering with a hat, for a man, is considered unseemly.
7. Don't think you can just speakEnglish everywhere(and that everyone will understandyou)
Unfortunately, in Italy English isn't spoken very widely, so don't get your hopes up. You will not have any problem travelling in the most famous and touristic cities, but in the rest of the country, the situation is different. Always carry a little dictionary with all the essential words you need to know in Italianso you can get by even in the most remote villages.
Otherwise, trust Google Translate, but be careful! The English-Italian translations you want to say can sometimes give rise to unintended comic effects.
8. Don'texpect Swiss punctuality
Time in Italy is elastic. A guided tour scheduled for 11will start at 11.30am, and this also applies to the opening hours of many places and for public transport.
Many shops and facilities close at lunchtime (and also many restaurants) and at least two days a week. Always check that the place you want to visit or where you want to eat is open.
9. Don't assumeall Italians are related to Mafia
The majority of Italians have no problem with talking about it butit is quite offensive to assumethey’re all related to murderers and corruptors. "Pizza, mafia e mandolino?" The image of the country in the eyes of a foreigner is often accompanied by numerous (unfounded) stereotypes.Prejudices will always exist, but remember to bring respect.Do not stop at mere appearances, but rather learn about differences before criticising.
10. Don't call the taxi as if you were in "Sex and the City"
In Italy you can't stop a taxi on the street, as we're used to seeing in American movies. You have to call or go to special stops and wait. The taxi driver, on the other hand, if he sees someone hurrying on the street instead of going straight, can approach and indicate to tourists the right method to use this means of transport.
With all these tips,you're sure to be alright when you go to Italy!
