Practical tips
Best time
Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) are ideal: mild weather, less stifled cities. Summer is hot and very crowded (and in August many Italians close shops for holidays). Winter suits art cities and the Alps/Dolomites.
Languages
Italian is the official language; English is spoken in tourist areas but less so beyond them. A “buongiorno”, “grazie” and “per favore” make a difference. Strong regional dialects (Neapolitan, Sicilian) appear in daily life.
Etiquette
Coffee has rules: cappuccino only in the morning, and standing at the bar costs less than sitting. Meals have set hours (lunch 1pm, dinner from 8pm) and a long rhythm. Dress well — “bella figura” matters. Cover shoulders and knees to enter churches (St Peter’s, the Duomo).
What to see & culture
Places
The Colosseum and the Forum in Rome, the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel; the canals of Venice; Renaissance Florence (Duomo, Uffizi, David); the Tower of Pisa; the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii; and Sicily with Taormina and Etna.
Culture
The cradle of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance, with more UNESCO World Heritage than any country. Art, opera, cinema (Fellini), fashion (Milan) and design define the identity — as does regional pride, from north to south.
Food
Neapolitan pizza, pasta in a thousand shapes (each region its own), northern risotto, gelato and espresso. Eat where the locals eat, follow the season and region, and finish with a limoncello or an amaro. Italian cuisine is UNESCO heritage.