Are you thinking about living in Italy using one of their recently launched digital nomad visas?
You won’t be a tourist, so you’ll have to get to know the Italian lifestyle and blend in like a local.
To make the learning curve smoother, Laura Bruzzaniti, Italian language and culture advisor at the language learning platform Promotehas put together a list of things foreigners should know about Italy before diving into living la dolce vita.
From Italians’ habit of shouting (a lot) to kissing customs, and from when not to order a cappuccino to the dangers of crosswalks, Laura’s list is useful and insightful.
Not all Italians speak English
Laura Bruzzaniti has put together a list of things foreigners should know about Italy. She is an Italian language and culture advisor at the language learning platform Promova.
“Italians start studying English in kindergarten and continue through middle and high school,” says Laura. ‘However, as in any country, not all locals speak English well. Therefore, if you don’t speak at least some Italian, you may have difficulty making yourself understood. Learning some Italian before traveling can be a good idea. Start from the basics so that you can be autonomous in everyday life and move forward.’
You can work comfortably
Laura says: ‘In Italy, you’ll find plenty of coworking spaces where you can rent a desk from €25 (£21.38/$26.68) per day. And it’s cheaper if you rent for a week or a month. We are talking about big cities, of course. Another option is to use your phone as a hotspot. With an Italian SIM card, you can get up to 180G per month for €9.99 (£8.53/$10.66). Nothing bad.’
Cashless payment does not exist everywhere
Laura says: ‘Yes, in Italy you can still find small shops that do not accept card payments. Or they will tell you that “the device does not work today.” Always carry some money with you, just in case.
You can find amazing Italian cuisine almost everywhere.
Italian hosts can be quite insistent when it comes to offering food to their guests, says Laura
Laura says: ‘Italians are very proud of their culinary traditions. Hosts can be quite insistent when it comes to offering food to their guests. This insistence is rooted in the desire to ensure that guests feel welcome and well cared for. If you decline a dish, don’t be surprised if your host offers it again or encourages you to try some. This persistence is part of Italian gastronomic etiquette.”
A 30-year-old man could continue living with his parents
‘Finding work in Italy is not easy. Salaries are low and rents high in big cities,’ reveals Laura. «So yes, you can find people in their twenties and thirties who still live with their parents. Sometimes it is the only option.
They will kiss you on the cheeks all the time.
‘A handshake and two kisses on the cheek. This is the usual greeting in Italy,” says Laura. ‘Sometimes, even the first time they meet you, people kiss you on the cheeks. To tell the truth, it’s not a real kiss, but cheek-to-cheek contact. cheek without the lips actually touching the cheek.’
There is a common time to have a glass of something.
Laura reveals: ‘In Italy, a night out with friends usually starts with an “aperitif”, usually between 6pm and 9pm. It is a pre-dinner social gathering where friends gather at bars or cafes to enjoy drinks and light snacks. Appetizer menus usually include appetizers such as bruschetta, olives, cheese and cold cuts such as “prosciutto”, accompanied by spritz or Prosecco.
Be prepared because some Italians may be loud, but that doesn’t mean they are arguing.
Laura reveals: ‘Southerners, from Rome on down, can be quite loud. And, of course, they will move their hands a lot when speaking. If you don’t speak Italian, a conversation between two Romans can seem like an argument because of the high tone and frenetic gestures. Don’t worry; 99 per cent of the time it’s just a normal conversation between friends.’
No need to buy water
There are more than 2,500 drinking water fountains in Rome (above)
“You can carry a reusable water bottle with you while you live in Italy because you can probably refill it anywhere,” Laura reveals. ‘Most places in the country have public street fountains where residents get drinking water regularly. Rome is most famous for this. Thanks to the city’s ancient aqueduct system, there are more than 2,500 fountains. You can safely drink water from all of them. There are even special mobile applications that will show you the location of the nearest nason. [drinking fountain].’
Impossibility of renting an apartment without an employment contract
Laura explains: ‘If you are thinking of renting an apartment for a few months, you will need a work contract. If you are self-employed and do not have a contract, renting can be complicated. You may find landlords willing to turn a blind eye if you pay “in nero” (under the table) and agree to rent without a regular lease. But these are illegal situations that do not guarantee your protection.’
Public transport is often delayed
Traffic is dense in large Italian cities, especially early in the morning and around 7:00 p.m., and public transport does not always respect schedules.
“Patience is a virtue that you will often need in Italy,” notes Laura. ‘Even more so when we wait for the bus or the subway. Traffic is dense in large cities, especially early in the morning and around 7:00 p.m., and public transportation does not always respect schedules. Always carry a book with you, just in case. Or just keep going.’
You don’t have to tip in restaurants.
“An entry called ‘coperto’ may appear on a restaurant bill in Italy,” explains Laura. ‘Coperto is a table service charge, added to the cost of food and drinks. It covers the cost of bread, table service and service. general. However, that does not mean that tips are not welcome and coperto replaces them. It is not mandatory as it is in the US. But it is good to tip and most people do it. It can be as low as 10. percent and that’s fine. You can also decide not to tip, but most people would.’
Vague meeting times: “see you at 8, 8.30”
“Yes, meeting times can be very vague in Italy,” notes Laura. ‘Italians (in the south) are quite relaxed in terms of schedules. Showing up to an appointment 10 or 15 minutes late is fine.”
Cars do not stop at pedestrian crossings
‘Are there pedestrian crossings in Rome and Naples? Of course,” says Laura. ‘Do they have the same meaning as in other cities in Italy and the world? Of course. Do drivers stop at crosswalks to let pedestrians cross? No. If you stand there waiting for the cars to stop, you may have to wait a long time. A little initiative and a lot of caution will eventually get you to the other side of the road.’
Ice cream all year round
“Ice cream is healthier than regular ice cream,” Laura points out. ‘Ice cream shops make it daily with fresh, all-natural ingredients, and it contains 70 percent less fat (and consequently many fewer calories) than factory-made ice cream. There is also much less air in the ice cream, which makes the flavor more intense. Maybe that’s why Italians are so thin.
No early dinner at 6:30 pm
‘Making friends in Italy is easy,’ says Laura, ‘and the people are generally quite friendly. If you are invited to dinner, make sure you don’t show up at 6:30 pm. In northern Italy, dinner is around 7:30. But in the rest of Italy people sit down to dinner around 8:30 p.m. Or even later.
No cappuccino after dinner.
Cappuccino is something that Italians only drink for breakfast or in the afternoon, when it’s cold.
“Italians find it very funny to see foreigners having a cappuccino after eating,” says Laura. ‘Cappuccino is something that Italians only have for breakfast or as a “merenda” (snack) when it’s cold outside. If you want to blend in, order coffee at the end of the meal. Try all the different coffees you can get in Italy: macchiato, schiumato, al vetro, con panna. Or even “corretto” with a little grappa.’
free wine
“A free wine fountain seems like a dream, but it’s very real in Caldari di Ortona, Italy,” says Laura. ‘The small town has a free wine fountain flowing 24 hours a day with locally grown red wine. The fontana di vino can be found in the Dora Sarchese vineyard, which is located on the Italian pilgrimage route of Cammino di San Tommaso.’
