From as early as the 16th century, Italy was at the centre
of Western culture. Italian’s are known as the creators of the Etruscan
civilization, Ancient Rome, the Roman Catholic Church, Humanism and the
Renaissance.
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| The Last Supper- Leonardo da Vinci |
Whether from the north or south, Italians share one common
thing - a love and lust for life! They're lively, sociable and have a passion
for everything they do. Most Italians are Roman Catholics. The influence of the
church can be seen in everyday life and in their stunning art pieces. Most
religious monuments and paintings and local traditions are based on Christian
celebrations.
Italians are
proud of their artistic heritage and so they should be. Italy has produced some
of the greatest artists in the world; Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and
Raphael, to name just a few. Italy’s finest artists are displayed in Museums,
churches and courtyards all over the country.
Italy is
home to the Opera and Opera music. Everyone's heard of Rossini, Verdi and
Puccini - the classics. It's accessible to everyone, from the rich to simple
peasant farmers. Most Italians will have a firm knowledge of opera and will
attend a performance whenever possible.
The typical
Italian home is simple yet practical and always colourful. You'll see balconies
with fresh red roses hanging on bright blue railings, tables full of apples,
grapes, fresh cheese and bottles of local wine; colourful flowers everywhere,
tiny courtyards and gardens with statues. The homes reflect what the people of
Italy love; beauty, color, style, family and friendship. Italy is exactly what
you would expect it to be!
Fashion is a
top priority in Italy. Your social status depends on your sense of fashion and
will affect the way people view you. Italian’s refer to this as “bella figura”
which comes from the Italian word meaning “to impress”. Today, Italy is one of
the world centers of modern high fashion clothing. Fashion houses such as
Armani, Fendi, Gucci, and Versace have become very popular high class brands. The
city of Milan takes its place amongst the most important centers of fashion in
the world.
http://www.mapsofworld.com/italy/culture.html
http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Italy.html
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/italy-country-profile.html
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/4033.htm
Italian is considered one of the most romantic and melodic
languages in the history of the world. The Italian language made its first debut
during the 10th century in written documents such as lawsuits and
poetry. It was inserted within Latin documents. As of today, Italian is the
official language throughout Italy. In fact, 93% of Italy’s population have an Italian
tongue. Did you know there are different dialects of Italian such as Friulian?
Other minor languages in Italy include: Ladin, Slovene, German, French,
Albanian, Croatian and Greek. As you can see, Italy is a very diverse speaking
country. Arrivederci! (Goodbye) 
