"GENERAL INFORMATION FOR ITALY" Italy by icunme

Italy Travel Guide: 68,947 reviews and 184,276 photos

"THE ITALIANS" - Luigi Barzini

THE ITALIANS - By Luigi Barzini

My Italian-born nephew believes this book is the most definitive re Italian life. He explains that it is not that others cannot describe Italy and her sons and daughters - it is more that people who are not Italian but like Italy and the Italians tend to define us through their own eyes, which is usually a somewhat romanticized and limited vision.
It is enough for Italy and the Italians that others like us so much that increasing numbers choose to make their home here. We find them leaving country and family behind - coming in increasing numbers from even the North Americas. First published in 1964, Barzini's "The Italians" is valid today and will likely apply tomorrow.

From the jacket cover: "His book touches on nearly every aspect of Italian life; it examines her many faces, landscapes, cities and peoples, it studies the Italians' habits, vices, virtues, hopes, failures and achievements, past, present and future. It also sets out to answer many highly complex questions........."

About Dr Barzini - from the jacket cover: "Besides being a Deputy (ideally placed to comment on Italian politics), he was one of the most distinguished modern journalists, travelled, cultivated and perceptive, and this volume is the result of a lifetime of reflection on his fellow-countrymen."

A portrait by an Italian who loves his country, recognizes its virtues and vices and conveys them candidly.

In Barzini's words: "I have tried to follow the technique of the honest portrait painter, who puts on canvas those traits which make the sitter the person he is, and not another. The sitter happesn to be my country, and I have felt at times like the man who does that most exacting of all things, the 'Portrait of the Artist's Mother.'"

MUST SEE - enjoy: If you think ITALY is like other European Community Countries

Italy has more World Heritage Sites than any other country - 46, including two with shared boundries.

18th-Century Royal Palace at Caserta with the Park, the Aqueduct of Vanvitelli, and the San Leucio Complex
Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy
Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia
Archaeological Area of Agrigento
Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata
Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and Other Franciscan Sites
Botanical Garden (Orto Botanico), Padua
Castel del Monte
Cathedral, Torre Civica and Piazza Grande, Modena
Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci
Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park with the Archeological sites of Paestum and Velia, and the Certosa di Padula
City of Verona
City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto
Costiera Amalfitana
Crespi d'Adda
Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna
Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia
Ferrara, City of the Renaissance, and its Po Delta 1
Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli
Historic Centre of Florence
Historic Centre of Naples
Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura * 2
Historic Centre of San Gimignano
Historic Centre of Siena
Historic Centre of the City of Pienza
Historic Centre of Urbino
Isole Eolie (Aeolian Islands)
Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (South-Eastern Sicily)
Mantua and Sabbioneta
Piazza del Duomo, Pisa
Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto)
Residences of the Royal House of Savoy
Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes *
Rock Drawings in Valcamonica
Su Nuraxi di Barumini
Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica
The Trulli of Alberobello
The Dolomites - shared boundry with Switzerland
The Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches of Matera
Val d'Orcia
Venice and its Lagoon
Villa Adriana (Tivoli)
Villa d'Este, Tivoli
Villa Romana del Casale

HOLIDAYS - LANGUAGE - ROAD SIGNS FOR DRIVERS

Shown on this map are the 20 regions of Italy - each Region is divided into Provinces - each Province is divided into Municipalities. The Italian regions are important in that many customs and cuisines are regional in Italy.
Shown on this map are the 20 Italian regions. Since customs and attitudes in Italy tend to be regional. even "Italian food" is basically made up of regional dishes.
You might like the wilderness in Italy's Abruzzo region, or the cheeses and wines of the Piemonte region, or the Italian Riviera.

Language - Italians are, by nature, helpful and engaging people. They naturally appreciate when a visitor makes any attempt to speak their language and will extend themselves to help you out. This has been true everywhere I have been in Italy - perhaps Milano a little less because the pace there is so much different from anywhere else and people don't have time - on the other hand, many more people seem to speak English fluently in Milano.

Here are a few basic phrases to help you get along:

*Buon giorno (bwon zhor-no) - Hello / Good morning/afternoon
*Buona sera (bwoh-nah seh-rah) - Good evening
*Scusi / Scusa (skoo-zee / skoo-zah) - Excuse me (formal / informal)
*Dove........ (Doh-vay) - Where is .........??
*Mi chiamo... (mee kee-ah-mo) - My name is...
*Come ti chiami? (koh-meh tee kee-ah-mee) - What's your name? (informal)
*Vorrei il conto per favore (Voh-rye ill kon-toh) - I'd lke the bill, please.
*Per favore / Per piacere (pehr fah-voh-reh / pehr pee-ah-cheh-reh) - Please
*Quanto costa? (quan-to cos-tah) - How much is it?
*Sì / No (see / noh) - Yes / No
*Dove sono i babinetti? (doh-vay so-no ee bah-be-nay-tee?) Where is the toilette? (signs are written t-o-i-l-e-t-t-e in Rome).
Ho fame (ho fah-may) I'm hungry.
Ho sete (ho say-tay) I'm thirsty.
Mi sono perso (Me so-no pehr-so) I'm lost.

On-line Italian/English/French Dictionary
On-line search for: Museums by City

Electrical, adapters, etc. This site will tell you what you must have for whatever you want to bring with you:Electrical

HOLIDAYS

On national holidays you may find information offices closed, museums open for shorter hours and public transport running a limited service. Be forewarned by checking the dates of your vacation against the list below.

(Note that Easter Monday is a mobile feast-day, and changes every year, while all the other holidays keep to the same date.)

January 1: New Year's Day**
January 6: Epiphany
April 17: Easter Monday (in 2006)
April 25: Liberation Day
May 1: Labor Day**
June 2: Anniversary of the Founding of the Republic
August 15: Feast of the Assumption (also known as Ferragosto)
November 1: All Saints
December 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception
December 25: Christmas Day**
December 26: St. Stephen's Day (Boxing Day)
(The dates marked ** are particularly difficult: practically all museums and monuments are shut and many restaurants too.)

As well as the above national holidays, each town celebrates the feast-day of its patron saint, which differs from town to town.

Dates for the major cities are as follows:

Rome: June 29 (Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul)
Florence: June 24 (Feast of St. John the Baptist)
Venice: April 25 (Feast of St. Mark - but also Liberation Day and a holiday anyway)
Naples: September 19 (San Gennaro)

A LINK TO ROAD SIGNS FOR DRIVERS:
Road signs in Italy

Livio De Marchi - ARTISTIC TALENT KNOWS NO BOUNDS!

Livio's floating Ferrari

It is generally agreed that Italy has an abundance of artistic talent and this seems to be engrained in our culture. This talent for creative art seems to know no bounds. If you do not already know about this gentleman, it is well worth a read. These two photos just didn't do Livio justice; so, we decided to devote a travelogue to Livio and his creations.

Enjoy..............

Photos and biographical information by permission Livio De Marchi for non-commercial purposes only

Pros and Cons

In a nutshell:Verdi: "You take the universe and leave Italy to me"

Intro Updated Apr 10, 2011
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (7)

ITALIAN CHRISTMAS CARD - UNKNOWN ARTIST - Italy

Christmas in Italy Local Customs (5)

We love Santa, known here as BABBO NATALE - but we wait for the Befana - or if we have been naughty, we just hope... more travel advice

A noble profession without the title "nobility" - Italy

Pomp and Pagentry in Roma Local Customs (5)

Villa Borghese was the site of Rome's impressive tribute on June 5, 2006, marking the 192nd Anniversary celebration of... more travel advice

"Busker" serenade in Piazza di Pasquino - Italy

"Buskers" Serenade you everywhere Local Customs (5)

Maybe not all those who listen to this busker who sings O Sole Mio in Piazza di Pasquino have read the pages Marcel... more travel advice

Click 4 full photo - Pizza Popolo, Piazza Margana - Italy

Outdoor Cafes - the preference in Italy Local Customs (5)

Italians go very often to restaurants, which means that there are restaurants in every city and that businesses do not... more travel advice

Favorites (2)
See All Banks in Italy

Been to Italy?
Share your travels with the world!

Travelogues (3)

1 - 3 of 3

Comments (25)

Reply
- Report abuse
Paris92 Jan 31, 2011 at 2:17 PM

I just love this page--totally enthralling! Congratulations on your Barney nomination!
Reply
- Report abuse
gingerwench Nov 29, 2010 at 10:29 PM

I love the humor you inject into your writings of Italy and Rome! Your tips are very helpful, especially since some are things I wouldn't have even considered! You've made me envious of the Italian life, job well done!
Reply
- Report abuse
hopang Jan 3, 2010 at 7:20 AM

Great insight into Italy especially the local customs tips. Thanks for sharing. ~ho & pang
Reply
- Report abuse
TheWanderingCamel Nov 15, 2009 at 1:56 AM

More please! We saw the Carabinieri out in full force when we were in Rome, in both working and ceremonial dress - they 're the focus of my introduction to the Eternal City! leyle
Reply
- Report abuse
hunterV Oct 7, 2009 at 9:53 AM

Hi, Carol! Thanks for your nice page about Italy! When will I pay a visit to your country, I wonder?.....
Reply
- Report abuse
pg12359 Oct 1, 2009 at 5:46 PM

I will be bringing the twins to meet their relatives in Torino in about 3 years. Until then, I'll just have to explore your pages! Grazie mille, Paolo!
Reply
- Report abuse
Faiza-Ifrah Sep 22, 2009 at 5:07 PM

small but very well done page on Italia. thanks for some Italian phrases :-)
Reply
- Report abuse
kokoryko Oct 3, 2008 at 3:08 PM

Ah! These Italians have wonderful customs! And have a wonderful sculptor! And a wonderful VTer! All the best Carol, wish you a wonderful birthday, with lots of people greeting you! Bon anniversaire!
Reply
- Report abuse
HORSCHECK Mar 28, 2008 at 2:07 PM

Carol, interesting overview about the Italian local customs. Well done. :-)
Reply
- Report abuse
volopolo Feb 19, 2008 at 5:19 AM

A lot of information here! Great job! Keep travelling! volopolo