Local customs and traditions in Italy

It was lovely to discover the two other countries and at this moment we are in Italy. It was a dream of me to visit this country.

I have noticed that like in every country there are certain customs and traditions that are important. I will explain some of the traditions.

Meeting people in Italy is similar with the other countries. When friends meet they greet each other with a kiss and when you meet new persons you shake hands. It is important to dress appropriately in Italy. Especially when you visit churches. We can conclude that shorts, tank tops and sleeveless garments are taboo in most churches. For that reason it is useful to carry a sweater to wrap around your bare shoulders. While we were sightseeing I have also seen it is forbidden to eat or drink when you enter a church and you should turn your cell phone off!

Like in every country we visited restaurants and we have experienced some table manners. It is very formal and you can’t share food from your plates or talk too loud. We were surprised that Italian people do not drink first a cocktail or beer before eating. They consume it as a part of the meal.

It is very important for us to know how to behave while we are doing business. It is important to show up on time. In Italy there aren’t a lot of business dinners or lunches because mealtimes aren’t periods to work but to relax.

While you are in Italy it is important to use the local language, even if you know just some basic words they will have respect for you. Some basic words are ‘per favore’ which means please, ‘grazie’ which means thank you or ‘prego’ when you want to say you’re welcome. In large cities most of the people speak English and this makes it easier to communicate.

The last thing I love to say: when you visit Italy read these tips and then I hope you will have a lovely time just like us.

I have to stop writing, we are going to discover the city.

Ciao!

Sources

http://www.fodors.com/news/story_3872.html