Italian culture is steeped in the arts, family, architecture, music and food. Home of the Roman Empire and a major centre of the Renaissance, culture on the Italian peninsula has flourished for centuries. Here is a brief overview of Italian custom and traditions
Religion in Italy
The major religion in Italy is Roman Catholicism. This isn't surprising, as Vatican City, located in Rome, is the hub of Roman Catholicism and where the Pope lives. Roman Catholics make up 90 percent of the population, though only one-third of those are practising Catholics, while the other 10 percent is composed of Protestant, Jewish and a growing Muslim immigrant community.
Languages of Italy
The official language of the country is Italian. About 93 percent of the Italian population speaks Italian as native language, There are a number of dialects of the language spoken in the country, including Sardinian, Friulian, Neapolitan, Sicilian, Ligurian, Piedmontese, Venetian and Calabrian. Milanese is also spoken in Milan. Other languages spoken by native Italians include Albanian, Bavarian, Catalan, Cimbrian, Corsican, Croatian, French, German, Greek, Slovenian and Walser.
Ciao, come ti chiami?
Hi, what's your name?
Mi chiamo Marco.
My name is Marco.
Piacere!
Pleased to meet you!
Come va?
How're you doing?
Come stai?
How are you?
Bene grazie e tu?
Well thanks and you?
Di dove sei?
Where are you from?
Sono spagnolo.
I'm Spanish.
Dove abiti?
Where do you live?
Abito vicino a piazza Garibaldi?
I live near Garibaldi square.
Scusa, non ho capito
I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that.
Che lavoro fai?
What do you do?
Faccio l'insegnante.
I'm a teacher.
Quanti anni hai?
How old are you?
Ho trentadue anni.
I'm 32.
Hai il ragazzo / la ragazza?
Do you have a boyfriend / girlfriend?
Hai amici italiani?
Do you have Italian friends?
Parli inglese / spagnolo / francese / tedesco?
Do you speak English / Spanish / French / German?
Un po'.
A little bit.
Si, mi piace moltissimo.
Yes, I like it very much.
Ciao.
Goodbye.
Art and architecture in Italy
Italy has lots of different architectural styles, including classical Roman, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical. Italy is home to some of the most famous structures in the world, including the Colosseum and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Florence, Venice and Rome are home to many museums, but art can be viewed in churches and public buildings. Most notable is the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican, painted by Michelangelo sometime between 1508 and 1512.
Opera has its roots in Italy and many famous operas — including "Aida" and "La Traviata," both by Giuseppe Verdi, and "Pagliacci" by Ruggero Leoncavallo — were written in Italian and are still performed in the native language. More recently, Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti made opera more accessible to the masses as part of the Three Tenors.
Italy is home to a number of world-renowned fashion houses, including Armani, Gucci, Benetton, Versace and Prada.
Religion in Italy
The major religion in Italy is Roman Catholicism. This isn't surprising, as Vatican City, located in Rome, is the hub of Roman Catholicism and where the Pope lives. Roman Catholics make up 90 percent of the population, though only one-third of those are practising Catholics, while the other 10 percent is composed of Protestant, Jewish and a growing Muslim immigrant community.
Languages of Italy
The official language of the country is Italian. About 93 percent of the Italian population speaks Italian as native language, There are a number of dialects of the language spoken in the country, including Sardinian, Friulian, Neapolitan, Sicilian, Ligurian, Piedmontese, Venetian and Calabrian. Milanese is also spoken in Milan. Other languages spoken by native Italians include Albanian, Bavarian, Catalan, Cimbrian, Corsican, Croatian, French, German, Greek, Slovenian and Walser.
Ciao, come ti chiami?
Hi, what's your name?
Mi chiamo Marco.
My name is Marco.
Piacere!
Pleased to meet you!
Come va?
How're you doing?
Come stai?
How are you?
Bene grazie e tu?
Well thanks and you?
Di dove sei?
Where are you from?
Sono spagnolo.
I'm Spanish.
Dove abiti?
Where do you live?
Abito vicino a piazza Garibaldi?
I live near Garibaldi square.
Scusa, non ho capito
I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that.
Che lavoro fai?
What do you do?
Faccio l'insegnante.
I'm a teacher.
Quanti anni hai?
How old are you?
Ho trentadue anni.
I'm 32.
Hai il ragazzo / la ragazza?
Do you have a boyfriend / girlfriend?
Hai amici italiani?
Do you have Italian friends?
Parli inglese / spagnolo / francese / tedesco?
Do you speak English / Spanish / French / German?
Un po'.
A little bit.
Si, mi piace moltissimo.
Yes, I like it very much.
Ciao.
Goodbye.
Art and architecture in Italy
Italy has lots of different architectural styles, including classical Roman, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical. Italy is home to some of the most famous structures in the world, including the Colosseum and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Florence, Venice and Rome are home to many museums, but art can be viewed in churches and public buildings. Most notable is the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican, painted by Michelangelo sometime between 1508 and 1512.
Opera has its roots in Italy and many famous operas — including "Aida" and "La Traviata," both by Giuseppe Verdi, and "Pagliacci" by Ruggero Leoncavallo — were written in Italian and are still performed in the native language. More recently, Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti made opera more accessible to the masses as part of the Three Tenors.
Italy is home to a number of world-renowned fashion houses, including Armani, Gucci, Benetton, Versace and Prada.
Italian cuisine
Italian cuisine has influenced food culture around the world and is viewed as a form of art by many. Wine, cheese and pasta are important part of Italian meals. Pasta comes in a wide range of shapes, widths and lengths, including penne, spaghetti, linguine, fusilli and lasagna.
For Italians, food isn't just nourishment, it is life. Family gatherings are frequent and often centered around food and the extended networks of families..
No one area of Italy eats the same things as the next. Each region has its own spin on italian food. For example, most of the foods that Americans view as Italian, such as spaghetti and pizza, come from central Italy. In the North of Italy, fish, potatoes, rice, sausages, pork and different types of cheeses are the most common ingredients. Pasta dishes with tomatoes are popular, as are many kinds of stuffed pasta, polenta and risotto. In the South, dishes are dominated by tomatoes, either served fresh or cooked into sauce, and also includes capers, peppers, olives and olive oil, garlic, artichokes, eggplant and ricotta cheese.
Italian cuisine has influenced food culture around the world and is viewed as a form of art by many. Wine, cheese and pasta are important part of Italian meals. Pasta comes in a wide range of shapes, widths and lengths, including penne, spaghetti, linguine, fusilli and lasagna.
For Italians, food isn't just nourishment, it is life. Family gatherings are frequent and often centered around food and the extended networks of families..
No one area of Italy eats the same things as the next. Each region has its own spin on italian food. For example, most of the foods that Americans view as Italian, such as spaghetti and pizza, come from central Italy. In the North of Italy, fish, potatoes, rice, sausages, pork and different types of cheeses are the most common ingredients. Pasta dishes with tomatoes are popular, as are many kinds of stuffed pasta, polenta and risotto. In the South, dishes are dominated by tomatoes, either served fresh or cooked into sauce, and also includes capers, peppers, olives and olive oil, garlic, artichokes, eggplant and ricotta cheese.
Italian holidays
Italians celebrate most Christian holidays, including Christmas and Easter. Pasquetta, on the Monday after Easter, typically involves family picnics to mark the beginning of springtime.
Italians celebrate most Christian holidays, including Christmas and Easter. Pasquetta, on the Monday after Easter, typically involves family picnics to mark the beginning of springtime.
- November 1 commemorates Saints Day, a religious holiday during which Italians typically decorate the graves of deceased relatives with flowers.
- Many Italian towns and villages celebrate the feast day of their patron saint. September 19, for example, is the feast of San Gennaro, the patron saint of Napoli.
- The celebration of the Epiphany, celebrated on January 6, is much like Christmas. Belfana, an old lady who flies on her broomstick, delivers presents and goodies to good children, according to legend.
- April 25 is the Liberation Day, marking the 1945 liberation ending World War II in Italy in 1945.
Sport
As with many European countries, football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Italy. Other sports such as rugby and volleyball are also popular. In areas of Italy, where the Americans stayed during the Second World War, there is a strong, although small, following of the sport of baseball.
As with many European countries, football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Italy. Other sports such as rugby and volleyball are also popular. In areas of Italy, where the Americans stayed during the Second World War, there is a strong, although small, following of the sport of baseball.
Music and Dance
In Italy, traditional music differs from region to region and is heavily influenced by its historical past. In the northern region of Italy, for example, music has strong Celtic influences, while the southern half of the country has hints of Greek and Arabic influences. Most traditional music is rich in religious meaning.
Sardinia is known for its distinctive polyphonic style of chanting. Similarly, the Sardinian ‘launeddas’ or triple pipe, a triple clarinet like woodwind instrument dating at least as far back as the 8th century, has a polyphonic sound and is played using circular breathing.
Sicily has a variety of associated styles of music with strong Christian influences. Traditionally, the music of Sicily is recognized for its devotional choir songs. The traditional instrument of Sicily is the flute.
Opera is a well-known form of music to come out of Italy beginning as early as the 16th century in Venice.
Tarantella dance is commonly practiced in most parts of Italy with regional differences. Tarantella is the name given to a group of folk dances characterized by quick music and movements. The dance is believed to have origins as a cure for spider venom. Tarantella can also be a courtship dance and it is considered unlucky to dance tarantella alone.
In Italy, traditional music differs from region to region and is heavily influenced by its historical past. In the northern region of Italy, for example, music has strong Celtic influences, while the southern half of the country has hints of Greek and Arabic influences. Most traditional music is rich in religious meaning.
Sardinia is known for its distinctive polyphonic style of chanting. Similarly, the Sardinian ‘launeddas’ or triple pipe, a triple clarinet like woodwind instrument dating at least as far back as the 8th century, has a polyphonic sound and is played using circular breathing.
Sicily has a variety of associated styles of music with strong Christian influences. Traditionally, the music of Sicily is recognized for its devotional choir songs. The traditional instrument of Sicily is the flute.
Opera is a well-known form of music to come out of Italy beginning as early as the 16th century in Venice.
Tarantella dance is commonly practiced in most parts of Italy with regional differences. Tarantella is the name given to a group of folk dances characterized by quick music and movements. The dance is believed to have origins as a cure for spider venom. Tarantella can also be a courtship dance and it is considered unlucky to dance tarantella alone.