The

land of

Michael Angelo Mussolini Leonardo da Vinci

 CONTENTS
• History
• Country profile
• Religion & Arts
• Family values, Style,
Marriage
• Communication
• Social etiquette
• Business etiquette
• Meeting etiquette
• Dinning etiquette
• Gift Giving etiquette
• Misconceptions
corrected
• Italian Presence in
 History
• Italy (Italia) -- an ancient name for
country and people of Central Italy.
• Mythological roots of the name date
back to a legendary ancient king
named 'Italus‘.
• The name Italia was imposed upon the
Roman Republic by the conquering
Italic tribes of the contemporary
Abruzzo region, centering in the area
of Corfinium (Corfinio).,
•A fte r th e fa llo f th e W e ste rn
R o m a n E m p ire a n d th e Lo m b a rd
in va sio n s, " Ita ly " o r " Ita lia n "
g ra d u a lly b e ca m e th e co lle ctive
n a m e fo r d ive rse sta te s

•Pa llo tin o cla im s th a t th e n a m e

w as o rig in a lly d e rive d fro m
th e Ita ly se ttle d in m o d e rn
C a la b ria .
 Country profile
•Location : Southern Europe.
•Capital : Rome.
•Climate : Predominantly
Mediterranean, hot &
dry in
south.
•Government : Republic.
•Population:58,057,477
•Famous Places :Milano,Venice,
Rome
 Religion
Catholicism

• Roman Catholic is
the official religion
of Italy.
• More Catholic
churches per
capita in Italy than
any other country.
• Children are named
after Catholic
Saints.
• Great influence of
the church .
 The Arts
• Italy has a culture
rich in the Arts.
• Famous artists
such as
Leonardo Da
Vinci and
Michelangelo
were Italian.
• Well known for its
opera, where it
originated.
• Italians are very
 Italian Family Values
• Family is very
important to the
Italian people.
• Family is the center
of social life. Family
provides both
emotional and
financial support.
• In the north, nuclear
families live
together; while in
the south,
extended family
 Italian Style
‘Bella Figura’
• ‘Bella Figura’ is not only your
appearance, but how you
carry yourself.
• Fashion and style is very
important to the Italian
people.
• Indicate your social and
economic status.
• Italians can judge someone by
their appearance alone.
• Milan, Italy is known as the
fashion capital of the world.
•
 Marriage
Italian Style!
•
•
• The groom often proposes by
musically serenading their
bride.
• The bride wears green the
evening before the wedding
to bring good luck.
• Sunday marriages are
believed to be the luckiest.
• A glass vase is broken at the
ceremony. The shattered
pieces represent the many
years the couple will have
together.
• The food at the reception is
very important and tends to
be elaborate.
 Verbal Communication
• Official language of Italy – Italian--
Language of Love
• English is spoken by many
businesspeople.
• Avoid talking about religion, politics, and
World War II.  
• At social gatherings, it is considered
insulting to ask someone you have just
met about their profession.
• Good conversational topics include
Italian culture, art, food, wine, family,
and films.
 Non Verbal Communication
• Italians use body language and hand
gestures to punctuate an expression
and give it a shading that the word or
phrase itself lacks.
• Long handshakes.
• In greeting, warm hugs and kisses are
common.
• Eye contact and the amount and length
of eye contact
•
 Non Verbal Communication
• "Time is money" is not a common phrase
in Italy.
•  Foreign businessmen/women should be
punctual for business appointments,
although the Italian executive may not
be.
•
•
 social Etiquette
• U se ca llin g ca rd s in so cia lsitu a tio n s.
• T h e se a re slig h tly la rg e r th a n
tra d itio n a l b u sin e ss ca rd s a n d
in clu d e th e p e rso n 's n a m e , a d d re ss,
title o r a ca d e m ic h o n o rs, a n d th e ir
te le p h o n e n u m b e r.
• If yo u a re sta yin g in Ita ly fo r a n
exte n d e d p e rio d o f tim e , it is a g o o d
id e a to h a ve ca llin g ca rd s m a d e .
•
 Business Etiquette
• Italian prefer to do business
with people they know
and trust.
• Italians much prefer face-to-
face contact.
• Your business colleagues will
be eager to know
something about you as a
person before conducting
business with you.
• Take the time to ask
questions about your
business colleagues family
and personal interests, as
this helps build the
relationship
• Appointments are
 Business Etiquette
• Many companies are closed in August, and if
they are open many Italians take vacations at
this time, so it is best not to try to schedule
meetings then.
• The goal of the initial meeting is to develop a
sense of respect and trust with your Italian
business colleagues.
• Decisions are not reached in meetings.
Meetings are meant for a free flow of ideas
and to let everyone have their say.
• Dressing well is a priority in Italy.
• Men should wear dark colored, conservative
business suits.
 Business Etiquette
• Allow your Italian business colleagues to
set the pace for your negotiations.
Follow their lead as to when it is
appropriate to move from social to
business discussions.
• Business cards are exchanged after the
formal introduction.
• To demonstrate proper respect for the
other person, look closely at their
business card before putting it in your
card holder.
•
 Meeting Etiquette
• Greetings are
enthusiastic yet
rather formal.
• The usual handshake
with direct eye
contact and a smile
suffices between
strangers.
• Once a relationship
develops, air-kissing
on both cheeks,
starting with the left
is often added as well
as a pat on the back
between men.
 Dinning Etiquette
•  If you are told to come
in informal then, wear
stylish clothes like jacket
and tie for men and an
elegant dress for
women.
• You may arrive up to 15
minutes late.
•  If you are invited to a
meal, bring gifts such as
wine or chocolates.
• If invited for dinner and
want to send flowers,
have them delivered
that day.
 Table Manners
• Remain standing until invited to sit
down. You may be shown to a
particular seat.
• Table manners are Continental -- the
fork is held in the left hand and the
knife in the right while eating.
• Follow the lead of the hostess - she
sits at the table first, starts eating
first, and is the first to get up at the
end of the meal.
 Table Manners
• The host gives the first toast.
• An honored guest should return the
toast later in the meal.
• Women may offer a toast.
• Always take a small amount at first so
you can be cajoled into accepting a
second helping.
•
 Gift Giving Etiquette
• Do not give
chrysanthemums as they
are used at funerals.
• Do not give red flowers as
they indicate secrecy.
• Do not give yellow flowers
as they indicate jealousy.
• If you bring wine, make
sure it is a good vintage.
Quality, rather than
quantity, is important.
• Do not wrap gifts in black,
as is traditionally a
mourning colour.
• Do not wrap gifts in purple,
as it is a symbol of bad
luck.
 Misconceptions Corrected
• Belief- Italians are all in the Mafia.
• Truth- Italians refer to mafia as a group of people
working together for a common cause.
• Belief- Italians are loud.
• Truth- Italians do like to entertain and are friendly,
but do not consider themselves “loud”.
• Belief- All Italians are Catholic.
• Truth- The majority of Italians are Catholic, (98%)
but some may be protestant or another
religion.
 Italian
presence in
India
So, How was your journey?
 References
• www.languagecenter.cla.umn.edu/elsiespe
• www.italian.about.com/library/weekly/aa0
• www.italian.about.com/od/italianculture/tp
• http://www.cyborlink.com/besite/italy.htm
• https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/th
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