Many foreigners consider Italians as cheerful, kind, helpful and friendly people. In most cases, it's true. There are some exceptions, in fact, some cities are considered quite “cold”, even by Italians themselves. In general, however, the majority of the encounters you'll have with Italians, should be rather pleasant.
Basic Etiquette
It is common for Italian friends and families to kiss on the cheek when they meet, irrespective of their gender. Stand up out of respect when an older person enters the room. It is important to dress neatly and respectfully. Cover your mouth when yawning or sneezing.
Italian lifestyle is largely imitated all over the world. It is made up of small and big habits that create a peculiar and sought-after image. Italians value and celebrate all aspects of life, such as spending time with family and friends, eating and drinking well, and enjoying beauty in all its forms.
Italian culture is steeped in the arts, family, architecture, music and food. Home of the Roman Empire and its legendary figures such as Julius Caesar and Nero, it was also a major center of the Renaissance and the birthplace of fascism under Benito Mussolini.
The famous elements of Italian culture are its art, music, cinema, style, and iconic food. Italy was the birthplace of opera, and for generations the language of opera was Italian, irrespective of the nationality of the composer.
While men and women have equal rights in law, society is still largely male-dominated. Within the family dynamic, the man is usually the patriarch and considered the primary income earner. Traditionally, a woman was expected to fulfil roles of matrimony and motherhood.
Values, Lifestyle, & Language
Italians seem to have developed an excellent balance between innovation and tradition, and between work and leisure, and they are often perceived as a cheerful and passionate people.
Love in Italy is also friendship, attention, solidarity and the ties that bind both traditional and newly-minted. Love and attachment to people, to nature, art, culture and to work ennobles and energises the best of Italy.
Try to find any family documents, such as birth certificates or immigration papers. If you're an American-Italian, the Ellis Island records might help. Try to find your ancestral hometown in Italy, many of the secrets of the past may be buried there. Look for historical census information.
Family Culture
Italians are extremely family-oriented, and it is common to live with extended family such as grandparents, aunts/uncles, and cousins. And if you do not live directly in the same household as your extended family, then they are no more than a walking distance from you or a 5 minute drive.
The common verbal greeting is “Ciao” (Hello). This is quite casual. People may also say “Buongiorno” (Good day) or “Buonasera” (Good evening) to be more formal. Address a person by their title and last name, and continue to do so until invited to move to a first-name basis.
Young Italians meet friends on a daily basis, often in the cities' piazzas in the evenings, making frequent trips to bars, cinemas, pizzerias, and discos.
Don't point to people: Italians don't like people pointing to them with their fingers. It makes them feel like animals at a zoo. Ask for permission before photographing someone: For the same reason, you should always ask their permission before taking a photo of someone.
Italians are known for having high cheekbones and a strong jawline, giving them sharp-looking facial features. What is this? Coupled with their dark hair and eyes, plus their auquiline noses, Italians can give off an imposing aura when they wear a serious expression.
The most common Italian stereotypes include a love of pasta, expressive hand gestures, love of family, passion for football, that Italians have a passion for coffee, the opera, and Dante's Divine Comedy.
Emotion. Along with the importance of food and rest comes the famous Italian "emotion". Italians are known to express their emotions openly, and that covers all aspects of life throughout the country.
Italian business culture is hierarchical, flexible, and sociable, and their working practices are both focused and person-oriented. Employees in Italy work long hours and are very productive. Communication between peers is both personal and professional.
Women's Rights at the start of the Kingdom of Italy
Under the Kingdom of Italy, women did not have the right to vote and were excluded from political life. Only in 1874 were women allowed to enter high school and universities, although many institutions continued to refuse them.
The Italian culture is commonly associated with art, music and food. It is the homeland of the Roman Empire, the Roman Catholic Church and the main center of the Renaissance, which flourished through Europe for centuries.
Being Mediterranean, Italian women have very distinct characteristics that set them apart from other ethnicities. Italian women are known to have an intense gaze, olive skin, dark eyes, and dark hair. High cheekbones, a small or Roman nose, long hair, and soft lips are considered beautiful in Italy.
Social Life
People of every age meet with friends in bars, pizzerias or nightclubs. Sometimes parents leave their children at home with grandparents or with a babysitter so they can go out with their friends. It is common to invite friends to your home for lunch or dinner.
Legally, Italian nationals are citizens of Italy, regardless of ancestry or nation of residence (in effect, however, Italian nationality is largely based on jus sanguinis) and may be distinguished from ethnic Italians in general or from people of Italian descent without Italian citizenship and ethnic Italians living in ...