Ciao a tutti! I’m a Patrick Tunno - professor and author of "A Guide to Italy: Cultural Insights and Tips to Maximize Your Trip." As an educator first, I’m on a mission to help you experience an authentic trip through meaningful travel - connecting with Italy’s culture and its people.
This channel is ideal for first time travelers to Italy or anyone who wants to better understand Italy’s language and culture.
Great tips! DO learn a few words, but just as important, do your best to pronounce them correctly! Making the effort to properly say Grazie (not "gratzee"), Buon giorno (not "bon") etc. will go a long way towards your having a great experience.
Thank you for this little guide to Italy. As an Italian, I appreciate the respect you show for our country, its people and their ways. Those who will follow your advice will enjoy being respected and very welcome tourists. I agree with most of what you say, but I would like you to observe better people who are queuing up for whatever it may be... they do, sometimes, have a small conversation with a stranger, or exchange a smile or an "uffa" expression referred to the waiting ; it isn't considered bad manners, and most people don't mind being spoken to. Have a nice day!
I am Italian (Veneto Region) and I can basically confirm everything you have said. I would only add one thing: we Italians are generally well-disposed (is that how you say it?) towards everyone, but we can't stand rude people. The "cafone" n Italy almost always gets an equal and opposite reaction. Be polite and respectful (even with monuments) and everyone will be friendly to you.
I'm in Rome rn, there's 38 degree celsius with 90% humidity, no way I'm gonna wear long pants. I don't have a single friend regardless of social class, that wear anything other than shorts during the daytime and possibly at night too. Maybe only if you are invited to a fancy restaurant or a night at the opera. In the south (i'm from sicily) we pride ourselves in being able to wear short for three quarter of the year. The entire idea of italian being obsessed with fashion is one of the most stereotypical BS I see spouted on YT. It really stops to No naked torso in city centers, possibly no pajama out of your house. That's it. Kids gonna be kids and dress exactly like kids in the UK or Germany, we have all the subcultures you can expect coming with their looks, you'll come to Rome you'll see punks, bboy with baggy pants, emo with fishnets and what not. I'd avoid blanket statement, hell I literally only wear short and vans, my favorite brand is Volcom or a dixxon flannel, F*ck Armani and all that crap
Nowadays you do not pay any extra if you sit unless you want waiter's service. So order something at the counter and than bring it to a table. NO extra charge.
The Pimsleur audio course of Italian that I am listening to now clearly says "mUlto", not "mOlto". This is confusing. Also, most videos on RU-vid about Italy feature this phrase: "Parla Inglese?" The Pimsleur course instructs that "Inglese" is just an adjective, while "L'Inglese" is the English language. Confusing again.
We need a law that prohibits foreigners (Americans) from walking around in oversized clothes and slippers/flipflops/crocs with white socks and Hawaiian shirts.
I’m in Italy now in Abruzzo and I see lots of Italians wearing shorts and even sports wear. Also, many people are saying ciao in shops etc. I think some concepts of this video need updating.
I'd rather stay with the video tips. As an Italian, I do get upset when someone I don't know greets me with "ciao". Ciao is for friends and treating you as a friend is considered a breach of boundaries. Try not to do it by imitating bad mannered Italians!!
Saying "ciao" in a shop where you know no-one is bad manners, as well as it is bad manner with people you don't know. You should say "buongiorno" or "buonasera" to be polite and proper. And wearing shorts is just for young people or certain places. In cities is not exactly proper, unless you are a tourist or a young one.
Italians view being hungry as a minor medical emergency. In an Italian eating establishment, you will be served very quickly, but in a ristorante for example, no one will try to turn the table. It’s yours.
As a young woman, I was put off Italy for life by the attitude of men - who felt free to touch and pinch my bottom. There seemed to be men on the street and women nowhere to be seen. I still feel sick thinking about them.
@@alfredodallalibera5091 Questo commento è indegno di una persona civile. Sorridere non è affatto il via libera a ricevere le mani addosso. Colpevolizzare lei invece di chi tocca senza permesso peggiora solo il problema. Rivolta la risposta: non si tocca qualcuno che ti sorride. MAI. Piantiamola con queste idee da medioevo.
Finally someone who talks about serious things and not just food, what an obsession! Io sono di Roma but I feel I can speak on behalf di tutti gli Italiani by saying that in our wonderful country culture and education are very important aspects as guests of our Country. Being polite, kind and respectful of each other is fundamental per noi Italiani. As a first suggestion to those who want to come and visit L’Italia would give as a first suggestion to find out about our history, our culture and the way of being kind and respectful with the locals and then to worry about the Cappuccino or the Pasta alla Carbonara (which does not everyone likes it, even if it seems like we eat carbonara all the time 😅). Thank you Patrick for placing the emphasis in all your videos on the polite way of relating to us natives, we pay a lot of attention to this and will hardly be rude to those who appear kind and respectful while we will be poorly disposed towards the rude and arrogant and this it applies to everyone, even among Italians themselves! ps. It's very noticeable that you have a more in-depth cultural education! 😅🙏☮️
Quite accurate, but on working days lunch is between 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm and is dedicated to your meal. Aperitivo will take place from 7.00 pm onwards.
As a young child I was frequently ill. My parents did not imbibe. When my Dad would take me to visit my Italian grandparents they would send him on an errand and present me with a small glass of my grandfather's red wine. They'd say, "Drink, it's good for the blood" in their Italian accents. They wanted me to be healthy! My dad figured it out and told my grand parents to stop.
I was relieved to learn that Italians don't use as much garlic as Italian Americans do. I prefer it as a part of the flavor of a dish, not as the only flavor in a dish.
Just returned from my 5th and probably last trip to Rome. I know a little Italian, We are respectful, dress appropriately. We are not loud. Only eat dinner after 8:00 pm. And then after all that, restaurants serve garbage food, ask if we want coffee in the evening, have extra Parmesan cheese on the table , are rude to us. Breaking all of the supposed rules, not to mention if we want full American breakfast! . Mi scusi , I will take my vacations elsewhere. You can have the day cruise ship people spitting on the ground and eating frozen pizza on a paper plate. Restaurants we used to frequent, and were very nice have changed noticeably in the last year, and not for the better. Tired of all of the rules that only apply to tourists while Italians prostitute themselves for a buck.
You don't know Italian well and before defining junk food, tell me where you are from and what you usually eat. then I thank you because it will be the last time, we already have too many haters. Frozen pizza in Italy can only be found in the supermarket and it doesn't do much. I don't understand the part about the passenger who spits, but it's okay, goodbye and never again
Dear sir, spell the name of the restaurant that served you garbage and Frozen food for dinner. If you leave such of feedback, witch Is in your right to do so, you must take your own duty . Furter more , I never heard someone saying that people were so rude to spit on tourists. I am Sorry , but as italian this bothers me very much. I am 54 years old and i Guess i should be considered a globe trotter, since my job gave the chance to visit 92 countries already among four of the five continents. I Guess i can sentence to have a certain experience in travelling , but the respect for different colture and habit It s a must . I can stand a list of inconvenient and un confortable situation ,those happened to me world Wide, in airports...hotels....restaurants...drunk taxi drivers...terrorists attacks and consecutive restrictions, but i never generalized. Maybe because i am lucky to speak several languages , and this helping me a lot . Thank you for the five times you decided to visit my beloved country. It means to me that you have been enjoying at least the previous four. I Hope you finally matured the decision do not come back again, and i Wish you to find elsewhere in the lovely polite sweet world , the great kindness and services that your person deserves. Kind Regards Michele Corazza
I'm afraid those inconveniences that you complain about are the result of overtourism. I was born and raised in Venice, and I can assure you that we the natives hate those inconveniences as much as you do and even more. May be some of us - living and working in the most overcrowded tourist destinations - sell ourselves for a buck, but mostly we are given away for free. You are wise to stay away from Rome ever after.
@@caterinazanetti4320 may I take this moments to thank you and your wonderful city for the lovely and inspiring visits I have enjoyed. I understand your difficulties and can only wish you have better times ahead
For Americans: in a nutshell formal = polite and informal can come across as rude unless you know the person very well or have previously established a connection with them and/or they have let you know that it's ok to use informal language with them. As a rule of thumb: it's always best to err on the side of caution and especially in situations where you're unlikely to meet the person again (like in a shop) it's best to use formal language. People will understand and appreciate that you are trying to be polite and will make allowances for any mistakes.
While buongiorno literally translates to "good day" it's used the same way you'd say "good morning" and "good afternoon" in English. Buongiorno is used only when you initially greet someone (not when you take your leave). While you can say buon pomeriggio (literally good afternoon), it's not as commonly used. Good day, on the other hand, in English is only used when you are taking your leave and in Italian corresponds to our "buona giornata".
Good insights. Thank you. In my experience, there are no rigid or precise rules around greetings. It depends on the situation. Some can be quite personal to the shopkeeper and circumstance. In certain instances buona giornata might feel informal for an encounter. But saying buongiorno in the right tone can be acceptable when leaving a shop especially if it’s a more disconnected more formal encounter.
@@aguidetoitaly Guarda che sono italiana. A dire la verità l'espressione "buona giornata" viene utilizzata nelle situazioni formali anche se si può usare anche in modo informale. In contesti molto formali ci si esprime con "Le auguro una buona giornata". Invece nelle situazioni informali, al momento del congedo, spesso si dice: "alla prossima", "a presto", oppure "a dopo". Il tipo di saluto/congedo più opportuno da utilizzare con un negoziante dipenderà dal rapporto che si ha già instaurato con lui/lei. Per esempio: quando ci si trova in un negozio per la prima volta, è più opportuno usare un registro formale. Invece se si tratta di un cliente abituale che frequenta il negozio da parecchio tempo, e ha quindi instaurato un rapporto di confidenza con il negoziante, in quel caso si può permettere di usare un linguaggio più informale. Il modo in cui ci si saluta e ci si congeda dipende dal tipo di situazione e dal tipo di rapporto che si ha con la persona a cui ci stiamo rivolgendo.
@@aguidetoitaly Actually buona giornata tends to be used in formal situations but can also be used informally. To be very formal you'd say "Le auguro una buona giornata". When taking your leave informal expressions would be: "alla prossima" or "a presto", "a dopo". When interacting with shopkeepers: it depends on the relationship you have have with them. If you're stepping into a shop for the first time then you would use more formal language (if you want to be polite). If you're a local, have been a regular customer for some time and have built a friendly rapport with the shopkeeper then you could use more informal language. How we greet someone (and take our leave from them) depends on the type of relationship we have with them as well as the situation.
Thank you, Mr. guidetoitaly! I really appreciate how you dwell on, and point out, some of the finer details that make the use of language (any) so rewarding! Your presentations are rich, easy to follow, and truly personal in the knowledge conveyed. Thanks again!
Grazie! I’m very glad you’ve found the content helpful! I agree - using Italian when you travel is rewarding and a wonderful way to show respect. Buon viaggio!
Oh, God, not SALVE !!! By italian standards it's what you say when you really DON'T want to say hello😬. Ciao is totally OK if you are addressing people way younger than yourself or know then so well they have given you "permission" to use it. Greetings from Bergamo 🇮🇹
i have been living in Italy for more than 30 years now and most of what you said is correct, however I see the younger generations are more 'informal' let's say so they are saying 'ciao' to everyone, even the younger shop attendants I think its a good idea to learn a few words in Italian, they will appeciate it and will go out of their way to help you and understand you. If you only speak Englsih and don't even say 'buongiorno' the Italians tend to not be as helpful to tourists.
Se un italiano va nei paesi di lingua inglese, loro si aspettano che tu parli inglese, lo stesso fanno quando vengono in Italia.😮 Si aspettano che tu parli inglese. If an Italian goes to English speaking countries, they expect you to speak English, they do the same when they come to Italy.😮 They expect you to speak English.
@@alfredodallalibera5091 Tempo fa, davanti al banco di un fruttivendolo al "mercato contadino", una signora Inglese diceva a una sua amica "these people - ( si riferiva ai venditori del mercato) - don't speak English." 😲 Gli Inglesi non ricordano più quali Paesi facessero parte del British Empire e quali no, in realtà non ricordano di non avere più il loro Impero e, tanto meno di essere stati sudditi dell'impero Romano 😂. The Brits don't seem to know that Italy was never under British rule, whereas They were part of the Roman Empire 😊😂.
Exactly the same goes for the Spanish and Spanish habits. El ultimo is what you ask when joining a line waiting at post office or pharmacy etc. Smiling at strangers in the street is looked at as odd too, I'm English and do it with women my age, but they don't normally smile back. Love it when I go back to England where I get a smile and a greeting.
Thanks for sharing. I can see how there could be some similarities among customs in Spain. I agree, while being away is wonderful, there’s something special about coming home.
We visit Italy yearly and try to be as nice and polite as we can. You can learn a lot of Italian by purchasing an Italian phrase book. As Americans we are representing America and we act accordingly as polite Americans.
I’ve never seen it in Italy. Although it’s possible it might be a novelty in lemon producing areas? Has anyone seen that? But certainly not common across Italy.
Maple Syrup maybe not...unless they know about pancakes and know how to make them....Kissing on the cheek only OK if you know the people otherwise a nice handshake will do....Yes.....offering to take off your footwear is very important and a kind thought which will be highly appreciated in an Italian home..even though, most of the time your Italian host will tell you not to bother and keep them on. ...As an Italian...I am an oddity I know...but I refuse to eat any kind of fish pasta without a nice dusting of pecorino cheese on top of it....The two most important things to remember....Never show up empty handed when invited to dinner at somebody's home and please NEVER kiss anyone on the cheeks unless old time friends ...or relatives....PS..asking to have cheese on your pasta fish sauce..it's OK only if you are eating with friends or family...If you do not know the people very well...refrain...Bella figura is everything in Italy....LOL Enjoy bella Italia...
Grazie mille! Lots of great insights here. Thanks for sharing your perspective. And you’re absolutely right. While there are cultural norms, not all Italians adhere to them. They’re not laws 😊
I actually desagree. If we say come for 1 o'clock, you shouldn't arrive before at least ten past one. Going for a visit is not the same as a professional appointment, where you shouldn't be late. You want to give your ost time enough to be ready. Also, when you're invited to dinner, you will often start with an aperitivo and this is the time when the diffrent guests arrive one by one.
Sei bravo. Usi la pronuncia italiana corretta, conosci i termini, gli usi, e insegni cose pratiche senza girarci intorno. Video lunghi il necessario. 👍
They will understand. Let them know you do not drink and it will be completely fine. You can say “sono astemio” in Italian. Note that alcohol can be found in some desserts. You should ask if that’s also something you want to avoid.
well, you wouldnt make a "bella figura", you'd better just accept a glass of wine and pretend to sip it. same thing sitting at the dinner table and telling your hosts you don't eat this or that after they've probably worked hard to prepare their best plates. Of course everybody will understand, but italians dont like extremists, vegans or teetotals or such, since wine and food is such an important part of the culture, so even if they graciously accept your particular needs they'll be disappointed inside
@@lucafmsvI understand and appreciate this perspective. Thinking about when traveling with individuals who are allergic, recovering alcoholics, or have religious restrictions, it can be helpful to be forthcoming. Just a thought.
Just saying Sono Astemio. many people are. As well as vegans, vegetarians, celiacs or having allergies! At a private home or in a restaurant, just say it: restaurants have many options, at home whoever cooks will understand it and prepare something else for you, easy
