Discovering Italy’s Way of Life: A Visitor’s Perspective

My first trip to Italy was almost twenty years ago. Since then, I’ve traveled to Italy thirteen times and had the opportunity to gain some insight and a better appreciation for the Italian way of life, as a visitor. I understand that a visitor’s perspective cannot compare to that of a person who has made Italy their permanent home, either as a citizen, an ex-pat, or a native-born Italian. With this in mind, I’ve made some observations that have allowed me to reflect and respect the lifestyle and culture of the country I love, the country of my ancestors.

Even when temperatures soar into the 80s and 90s, I hardly ever see local Italians wearing shorts, unless they are young people. The exception to this is at the beach, although with the recent prolonged, extreme heat wave and temperatures over one hundred degrees, even Italians have needed to wear less clothing, and some have resorted to wearing shorts to stay cool. Italians wouldn’t think of leaving their homes wearing sweat pants and a torn t-shirt. As part of the way of life here, Italians take pride in how they dress. The concept of “la bella figura” has always been an important part of the Italian lifestyle. The strong sense of pride in one’s appearance is inherent in Italians, male and female alike. It’s an integral component of Italian culture, instilled since childhood, and I love it.

Italy is considered one of the most dog-friendly countries in Europe, and Italians treat dogs as family members. They seem to be welcome almost everywhere, as I‘ve seen them on buses, trains, metros, boats, in stores, restaurants, cafes, and on tours. One bar even had a bowl of water and a specific section marked “Dog Bar.” Shopowners frequently bring them to work on a daily basis, and as a visitor, I loved it. By law, dogs are not permitted in churches or hospitals.

Each region in Italy is known for certain items either grown or produced in that area, such as olive oil, vino, ceramics, lemons, cheese, and other local products. The Italian people who live there are immensely proud of these items coming from the region, and they are eager to share with you anything they can. It may be as simple as taking a lemon from their tree, and scraping its skin, allowing you to smell its strong flavor. Their keen sense of pride is striking and sometimes moves me to tears. After a personalized tour by Crescenzo, the caretaker of an abandoned castle high above Maiori, he gave me one of his lemons. How kind of him.

Wherever I’ve traveled in Italy, the residents exhibit a strong connection to the earth. They appreciate whatever grows there naturally and use various herbs and plants to their benefit. Rather than taking these things for granted, the Italians have such a passion and respect for what they grow or produce themselves, and they know how to make the most use out of it. These parmigiano reggiano cheesemakers in Parma are an example of that passion.