Pasta
When you think of Italian food, pasta always comes to mind. True Italian-style pasta is a thing of divine elegance. Perfect in its simplicity, pastas are made from just semolina and water. It’s not just about the noodles — it is also about the sauce. I have found that the sauce is simple and the pasta and sauces are always fresh. In Italy, the pasta and other dishes are normally about the region. Many dishes known in the US, such as fettuccine alfredo or spaghetti Bolognese, don’t actually exist in Italy, except when restaurants are catering for tourists. Remember, because the cuisine varies a lot from place to place, if you simply order the only thing on the menu you’ve heard of before, you might end up underwhelmed so be open to trying the regional specialty.
Cars
We definitely kept our eyes open for luxury power sports cars while we were in Italy. Italy is known for their flair for auto design and where the Maserati and Lamborghini hail from. Although we didn’t see a lot of these two muscle cars on the streets of Venice, Florence and Rome, we spotted a couple of Ferraris, a few Alfa Romeos and definitely a ton of Fiats on the roads. Italian autos are not only sexy but also clever and “cute” in all aspects that begs for it to be seem as much as driven.
Coffee
Having coffee in Italy is so much different than anywhere else. There are a lot of different coffee cultures around the world but no one does coffee quite like the Italians. Coffee in Italy is not just a pastime or a profession but is definitely an art! Italians are very particular about their coffee. They have so much attention to detail making sure that they get the perfect grind, have the precise amount of heat applied to the milk to produce that silky crema. In Italy coffee is all about getting the perfect cup of Cappuccino, Espresso or Macchiato. While most American coffee drinkers will simply drink any coffee concoction as they please, Italians drink certain beverages at certain times of day. For instance, cappuccinos are generally reserved for breakfast—not to be ordered after 11:00 a.m. A macchiato is traditionally enjoyed as a bit of an afternoon pick-me-up and espresso is served after dinner. Also, try to stay away from ordering a coffee to-go. Most cafés in Italy are counter service or table seating only so try to keep that in mind. When it comes to coffee, Italians refuse to accept nothing but the right thing!
Aperitivo
Happy hour anyone? Not quite. The Italian’s version is so much graceful than the American happy hour. Aperitivo hour usually stretches from 6 or 7 pm to 9 pm and starts at noon for lunch. Before lunch or dinner, an aperitif is a light alcoholic beverage such as a sparkling white wine or a somewhat bitter drink to get the digestive juices flowing. In Italy, aperitifs usually arrive with a savory nibble sometimes called salatini. What is offered with your aperitivo drink really depends on the bar. A few olives and potato chips are the classic offering, though some get very elaborate with fresh pizza, fruit salads, roast, hot pasta, cold cuts like prosciutto and bresaola, fresh savoury pastries and even fresh mozzarella in some bars.
Shoes
If the French know love and the Germans know all about cars, then Italians know all about clothing and shoes. The greatest designer houses in the world hail from Italy, that include, to name just a few, Berluti, Brioni, Brunello Cucinelli, Dolce & Gabbana, Ermengildo Zegna, Etro, Fendi, Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, and, of course, Versace. Anything you pick up from an Italian artisan is sure to be among the ne plus ultra (no more beyond) of its class—and is thus a worthy investment. From precision-executed standards to design-forward flourishes, the finest craftsmanship and the most convention-shattering ideas in footwear are Italian. You can’t beat them, but you can wear them. From the columns of ancient Rome to Michelangelo’s David to palatial pastels of the Positano coast, style is baked into the fabric of Italian life. In fact, there’s a term for it: “La belle figura”— literally, “the beautiful figure,” but more broadly, to live life stylishly, at all times and in all ways. Any item you score from an Italian shop is an item born from this mindset.
Gelato
I’ve learned that gelato is not ice cream. Gelato is mostly milk; second, it’s not served frozen. Gelato is slow-churned, and dispensed, generally, at higher temperatures. Both of which make it, oddly, creamier. It is generally lower in fat than other styles of ice cream. Authentic Italian gelato isn’t scooped; it’s served with a spade. And lastly what won us over—and that we wish we could reproduce, reliably—is the taste. Of course it’s hard to separate the delicious taste from the location in which we enjoyed our authentic gelato—that too is irreplaceable.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses in Italy are very important. Everyone wears them from little kids to elderly people. The first glasses provided with UV filters were produced during the 1600 in Venice, Italy. Sunglasses are there to protect your eyes from the sun but they are also used to conceal your looks making you more confident and cool. Forget that Luxottica, the manufacturer of Ray Ban, Persol, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany and Versace, manages about 80% of the world’s eyewear brands, sunglasses are more than an accessory for Italian men and women. Sunglasses are indispensable as shoes and just as expensive. Sunglasses made in Italy can be replicated but what would be difficult to imitated will be the flair and stylish way that they are worn.
Healthy Living
How can a country where pasta and gelato are prevalent and even celebrated, still have healthy living? When it comes to living a long life, Italy is the place to be. Italy is ranked the healthiest country on Earth in the Bloomberg Global Health Index of 163 countries. It is the healthiest country due to a diet, rich in vegetables and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil that leads to better cholesterol and overall health. Italy also has “an excess of doctors, that pushes life expectancies into the eighties.
[…] for the trip. I am glad I did and brought the right stuff. Italians pride themselves on their fashion sense, especially in Rome, the nation’s capital. It shouldn’t be an issue to wear jeans but […]