ITALY

Where is Italy?
Italy is a peninsula
in Europe extending
into the
Mediterranean Sea.
It shares its
northern land
boundary with
France, Slovenia,
Switzerland and
Austria. It is
in Southern Europe.
Italy's area is
116,305 sq. miles.
Geography of Italy
Italy is a smaller country with many islands and a
boot-shaped peninsula that juts into the
Mediterranean Sea.
Much of Italy is mountainous.
Has many islands.
 In Italy, the north half is very mountainous. The
South is more grassy and there is lots of
farmland.
There are two major islands in Italy: Sicily and
Sardinia.
Few Facts About Italy
• The capital of Italy is Rome.
• The population of Italy is 60,548,120.
• The language they speak is Italian.
• The money they use is the euro.
• It is also called by Italians lo Stivale
(“the boot”) or la Penisola (“the
Peninsula).
 GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY
GOVERNMENT ECONOMY

•Italy was a monarchy •For many years, Italy's

until 70 years ago. In currency had been the
1946 Italy became a Italian lira. But recently,
democratic republic. in 2002 the currency was
Now, the Prime Minister changed to the euro.
is Guiseppe Conte. •1 EUR= 57.33 PHP
RELIGION

The Pope
In Italy, although there is freedom of religion, 85% of the
population is Roman Catholic. Only 20% of the Roman
Catholics participate in services of worship. The other 15% of
the population is Jewish, Muslim, or another religion.
 Italian Society & Culture

Italian Style
• Appearances matter in Italy.
• The way you dress can indicate your social status,
your family's background, and your education level.
• They are extremely fashion conscious and judge
people on their appearance.
• You will be judged on your clothes, shoes,
accessories and the way you carry yourself.
• First impressions are lasting impressions in Italy.
FAMILY

In Italy, it is important to have a good bond with your

family. Families help each other out when someone makes
mistakes. Usually, when someone moves out of their parents'
house, they live close to their parents. Mother usually do all
of the cleaning and cooking and the father makes the money.
Grandparents often help raise children.
VALUES
Italians value many things. They value the handshake,
and they value cleanliness. They value niceness, and they
value timeliness. They value family, and they value health.
They value social interactions, and they value financial
safety.
MUSIC
• The music of Italy ranges across a broad
spectrum of opera and instrumental classical
music and a body of popular music drawn from
both native and imported sources.

Luciano Pavarotti, one of the world's

premier opera singers, performs in
"Turandot" at the San Francisco
Opera House in 1977.
 TRADITIONAL
DANCES IN ITALY
Tarantella
• It is a type of dance typical of the Southern regions of
the country.
• It was originally associated to the phenomenon of
tarantism, a form of hysteric behavior that caused
paroxysms and seizures similar to those of a grand
mal attack.
• People believed that it was the bite of a large spider, the
tarantula, to cause it.
• The dance was created to mimic the seizures and
movements of the sufferers (called tarantolati), who
were believed to manage to free themselves of the
venom by dancing.
Pizzica
• is a traditional dance born in Apulia. It is strictly linked to
the collective participation to the phenomenon
of tarantismo.
• After being bitten by the tarantula (essere pizzicati) the
person lived a moment of choc and music was the only
system to come out of it: musicians played for that person,
who danced until the effect of poison was destroyed.
• In other words, dancing the pizzica was a moment of
freedom and abandonment, viewed by many with a
positive sense of liberation.
Saltarello
• is the most popular of tarantella dances in the
central regions of Italy.
• In Abruzzo, Lazio, Marche, Umbria and Molise, it
was usually danced in couple, and for this reason it
differs from folkloric dances of Emilia Romagna,
Tuscany and the area of Adriatic, where people
dance in three.
• Saltarello may have a very ancient origin indeed:
some believe that it was already known by the
Romans.
Tourist Attractions in Italy

The Colosseum or
Coliseum, also known as
the Flavian Amphitheatre,
is an oval amphitheatre in
the centre of the city of
Rome, Italy. Built of
concrete and sand, it is
the largest amphitheatre
ever built.

Colosseum in Rome
 Venice Canals
-is a canal in Venice, Italy. It
forms one of the major water-
traffic corridors in the city. Public
transport is provided by water
buses and private water taxis,
and many tourists explore the
canal by gondola.

Pompeii
Pompeii is a vast
archaeological site located in
southern Italy’s Campania
region. Once a thriving and
sophisticated Roman city.
 Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa or
simply the Tower of Pisa is the
campanile, or freestanding bell
tower, of the cathedral of the
Italian city of Pisa, known
worldwide for its unintended
tilt.

Lake Como
Lake Como, in Northern Italy’s
Lombardy region, is an upscale
resort area known for its dramatic
scenery, set against the foothills
of the Alps. The lake is shaped
like an upside-down Y, with three
slender branches that meet at the
resort town of Bellagio.
Florence Duomo
Santa Maria del Fiore
The Cattedrale di Santa
Maria del Fiore, in English
"Cathedral of Saint Mary
of the Flowers") is the
main church of Florence,
Italy.

Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is a 50-
kilometer stretch of coastline
along the southern edge of Italy’s
Sorrentine Peninsula, in the
Campania region. It’s a popular
holiday destination, with sheer
cliffs and a rugged shoreline
dotted with small beaches and
pastel-colored fishing villages.
 Vatican City
Vatican City, a city-state
surrounded by Rome,
Italy, is the headquarters
of the Roman Catholic
Church. It's home to the
Pope and a trove of iconic
art and architecture.

St Mark's Basilica
The Patriarchal Cathedral
Basilica of Saint Mark is the
cathedral church of the Roman
Catholic Archdiocese of Venice,
northern Italy. It is the most
famous of the city's churches and
one of the best known examples
of Italo-Byzantine architecture.
 Italian Food Margherita Pizza
Margherita pizza has tomato
sauce and, optionally, fresh
tomatoes (red), mozzarella
cheese (white) and basil (basil)
and was named after Queen
Margherita of Italy in the late
1800s.

Pasta Carbonara
Carbonara is an Italian pasta dish
from Rome based on eggs, cheese,
bacon, and black pepper. Spaghetti
is usually used as the pasta;
however, fettuccine, rigatoni,
linguine or bucatini can also be
used.
Caprese Salad with Pesto Sauce
- meaning "Salad of Capri"
is a simple Italian salad,
made of sliced fresh
mozzarella (ideally Buffalo
mozzarella), tomatoes, and
green basil, seasoned with
salt and olive oil. It is made
to resemble the colors of
the Italian flag: red, white,
and green.

Panzenella
Panzanella or panmolle is a
Tuscan salad of bread and
tomatoes that is popular in the
summer. It includes chunks of
soaked stale bread and
tomatoes, sometimes also
onions and basil, dressed with
olive oil and vinegar.
 Bruschetta
- is an antipasto
(starter dish) from
Italy consisting of
grilled bread rubbed
with garlic and
topped with olive oil
and salt.

Focaccia Bread
- is a flat oven-baked Italian bread
product similar in style and texture to
pizza doughs. It may be topped with
herbs or other ingredients. Focaccia
is popular in Italy and is usually
seasoned with olive oil, salt,
sometimes herbs, and may at times
be topped with onion, cheese and
meat.
 Tiramisu –The ‘pick-me up’
cake
-meaning "pick me up", "cheer me
up", "wake me up" or "lift me up") is a
popular coffee-flavoured Italian
dessert. It is made of lady’s fingers
dipped in coffee, layered with a
whipped mixture of eggs, sugar, and
mascarpone cheese, flavoured with
cocoa.

Panna Cotta with

Raspberry Coulis
Panna cotta ('cooked cream') is
an Italian dessert of sweetened
cream thickened with gelatin
and molded. The cream may be
aromatized with rum, coffee,
vanilla, or other flavorings.
Don’ts
• Do not wear shorts which are unacceptable in public.
Be sure that your shoulders, knees and midriff are
covered when you visit churches. If possible, wear a hat
or scarf.
• Do not keep wallets in pockets or handbags. Carry only
what is needed for the day.
• Do not walk in dark, deserted streets near train or bus
stations. Bag snatchers treat these streets their hunting
places.
• Do not eat with your hands, not even fruits. Do not
leave the table during dinner, which is considered rude.
• Do not show up ten minutes early. Italians are not
very punctual. Be prepared to wait 15-45 minutes
before your Italian counterpart appears.
• Do not give even number of flowers. Do not give
chrysanthemums which are used for funerals. Do
not give brooch, handkerchiefs, or knives as they
connote sadness.
• Do not point with your index finger and pinkie
finger at the same time, which is considered
extremely vulgar in Italy.
dos
• Do shake hands for greeting. Use “Signore” (Mr.) and
“Signora” (Mrs.), plus the family name for strangers. Do
not use first names unless you are asked to do so.
• Do wear stylish clothing. Italians take pride in their
appearance.
• Do keep both hands above the table when dining, even
when you are finished eating.
• Do insist repeatedly that you don’t want more food once
you are full. Do place your fork and knife on the right
side of the plate to indicate that you are done eating.
 LANGUAGE
BASIC ITALIAN WORDS:
Hello Ciao (informal) Salve (formal)

Goodbye Ciao (informal) Addio

Good morning Buongiorno

Good evening Buonasera

Good night Buonanotte

Please Per favore Per piacere

Thank you Grazie

Thanks so much Grazie mille

You’re welcome Prego

Beautiful Bellissimo (masculine) Bellissima (feminine)

Good Buono (masculine) Buona (feminine)
Friend Amico (masculine) Amica (feminine)
Family Famiglia
Well Bene
Bad Male
Yes Si
No No
Who? Chi?
What? Che Cosa?
Where? Dove?
When? Quando?
Why? Perche?
How much? Quanto?
COMMON ITALIAN PHRASES:

I love you Ti amo (romantic) Ti voglio bene (family,

friends
How are you? Come va?
I miss you Mi manchi
I don’t know Non lo so
All is well Tutto bene
I’m sorry Mi dispiace
What is your name? Come ti chiami?
My name is… Mi chiamo…
Excuse me Scusami
 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ITALY

1. In Caldari di Ortona, Central Italy, there is a fountain that flows red

wine 24-hours a day.
2. The Italian Cuisine is spread worldwide.
3. Home to one of the oldest universities in the world.
4. Diverse nature and landscapes
5. Italy is the 5th most populous country in Europe
6. More than 30% of Italians don’t use the internet
7. Italy has the highest number of UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE
SITES
8. The biggest gender gap for house chores
9. Many Italian Brands are famous worldwide (Gucci, Ferrari, Prada,
Lamborghini, Nutella)
10.The largest producer of wine
11.Milano is one of the Fashion Capitals of the world
12.The tomato wasn’t introduced in Italy until the 1540’s
13. More than 50 million tourists visit Italy each year
14. Number 17 is considered unlucky in Italy
15. Italians eat pasta only with a fork, and no spoon
Visa requirement
• Depending on your country of citizenship, you may
need a visa to enter Italy.
• While visas are not always required to visit Italy for
short periods, visitors from some countries are
required to get a visa before traveling to Italy.
• The visa is issued to people who wish to visit Italy
for tourist purposes. Maximum stay: 90 days per
semester.