Italy: An Overview

Introduction

For many years, Italy, to the majority of Britons buying properties there, meant just three areas: Venice and Florence, Tuscany, and the Isle of Capri. The realisation dawned finally that, from Lake Como to Marche and from Umbria to Sicily, Italy was home to some stunning properties of exceptional value, including everything from wonderful ski chalets and mega-chic city apartments to tumbledown farmhouses.

There aren’t many places in Europe where you can eat and drink better, or where you can find people who adore the idea of spending an afternoon in the shade of an old tree with a large group of friends and family, enjoying a meal that has been prepared by the whole group amid shouts of laughter and large helpings of drama.

Geography

From Liguria in the west, the Italian coastline extends down to the tip of the Calabrian boot and back up to the area called Friuli-Venezia, where it borders Slovenia. Below Italy’s southernmost tip lies Sicily, with Sardinia and Elba to its northwest.

The Italian peninsula offers something for everyone. Think of beauty and art and you’ll inevitably think of Florence, Venice and Verona. These three don’t appear to have an ugly corner between them. Head further south and you’ll leave the bustle of Turin and Milan and come into a much more Mediterranean region, where life slows down and the climate warms up. Down here, colours seem brighter and the sun hotter. Apart from Calabria, take a look at the regions of Basilicata and Puglia.

Climate and weather

Italy’s climate can best be described as Alpine in the north and hot and dry Mediterranean in the south. Interestingly, rainfall in Rome is greater than that in London. In Rome, it’s 762mm a year, compared with 610mm in London.

The mountains in the north provide an effective barrier against cold north winds, and the sea moderates the climate and keeps the overall weather relatively temperate. Sea breezes can help to keep coastal regions cooler in the summer, which is the best time for outdoor activities.

History

As far back as the 12th century, a few Italian cities became independent city states. These included Florence, Venice, Genoa, Milan and Pisa. Despite continual rivalries, the city states were a major influence on the economic and cultural development of Italy.

Between 1796 and 1814, the Italian peninsula was under the heel of Napoleon Bonaparte. By 1815, Italy consisted of two kingdoms, the Papal States and a few smaller duchies in the northern part of central Italy.

Even when the Kingdom of Italy was declared in 1861, Italian politics continued to be turbulent. Unification was achieved in 1871, and Rome was declared the capital of Italy. However, there were problems between the Vatican and the state right up to 1929.

Following the downfall of Mussolini, the king abdicated in 1946, and the country was declared a republic.

Italian culture

There can be few races that look as elegant and well groomed as Italians. They seem to have an innate sense of what looks right, of what appears chic and what appears shabby. This spills over into Italian style: car design, haute couture, architecture and interior décor.

In business, it means that many Italians take a long lunch between 1:30 and 3:30 pm. This doesn’t mean that work is forgotten, and it’s often the topic of conversation during the extended break. In keeping with other Mediterranean peoples, there is a tendency to prefer doing business with an existing contact or a ‘friend of a friend’.

Politics and government

Italy’s parliament is composed of a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies. The Speakers of the Senate and Chamber are second and third to the president in order of precedence.

In March 1957, the Treaty of Rome, which gave birth to the European Economic Community, was signed in Rome.

In 2001, Silvio Berlusconi and his centre-right House of Liberties coalition won the general election, and Berlusconi went on to become Italy’s longest-serving post-war prime minister. His leadership was defined by his somewhat colourful character.

Berlusconi’s coalition collapsed in April 2005, but he continued with a new coalition until April 2006, when opposition leader and former prime minister Romano Prodi won a close-fought general election.

Healthcare

According to the World Health Organisation, Italy ranks among the top 10 countries for quality healthcare services (in contrast, the US holds 37th place). Italy’s national health service (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale) provides hospital care.

Residents of Italy and their dependants who are covered by the Italian health plan can access hospital services free of charge. Most general and regional hospitals have accident and emergency services (pronto soccorso), which are open 24 hours per day. To call an ambulance, dial 118 from any telephone in Italy.

Pharmacies usually have an illuminated green cross outside the shop and have the same opening hours as other businesses. Cities and larger towns generally have at least one pharmacy open all night, and, in an emergency, visitors can find the contact details outside local pharmacies.

Sightseeing

The problem with sightseeing in Italy is that most people would need two lifetimes to see everything. This is a country that has a multitude of wonderful cities, museums, archaeological sites and historic buildings. Probably the only way to approach it is to choose a town or city and use it as a base from which to explore the area.

Depending on the visitor’s tastes, he or she can spend an entire visit seeing the wealth of historic sites in, for example, Umbria, before going on to enjoy the rolling hills with their castles and fortresses.

Natural beauty

Italy is approximately 160km to 240km wide and 1,223km long. Contained within its borders is some of the most stunning scenery in Europe.

This is a land of vineyards, olive trees, medieval villages perched on rocky outcrops, vines heavy with pendulous bunches of black grapes, and acres of olive trees; a land where delicious food is cooked from the freshest of produce.

Go to Campania in the southwest corner of Italy, where Vesuvius lurks near the sea, and there is the Amalfi Coast, with wonderful beaches and attractive fishing villages. Italy is a country where beauty is the norm.

Shopping

One of the joys of Italian shopping is to go to food markets and join in the pleasure and pride that the stallholders take in their produce. Mountains of apples and pears and towering peaks of carefully placed strawberries bring colour to the picture.

Go to a grocer’s shop and try to order everything needed for breakfast. Make a mistake with a word or a sentence and enter into the fun as the shopkeeper and the other customers try to figure out what was meant. Buy some real parmesan cheese (parmigiano) while you’re there. You’ll find it totally different to the desiccated version you normally buy in supermarkets. The texture, slightly scrunchy, is wonderful, and it is a cheese for eating on its own with a glass of good, hearty Italian red wine.

Many Italian products are world famous, from cars to clothes, and from wine to glassware. The best way to enjoy them is to live there.

Eating out and nightlife

Italian bars are fun and fast. Ideal for anyone in a hurry and wanting a glass of wine, a beer or a coffee, they also serve sandwiches (panino are the flat rolls; tramezzino are triangular shaped). Bars are inexpensive, but if you’re counting the euros, stand at the bar to save a possible service charge.

Restaurants come, as they do around the world, in a variety of shapes and sizes, from the basic osteria, which is relaxed and casual, through the trattoria, which generally features home cooking, a limited menu and lower prices, to the full-blown ristorante. This is definitely more upmarket, with higher prices, a better selection of wines and, in the cities, a tourist menu. In a ristorante, a 15 per cent service charge may well be added to the bill.

Nightlife equals street life in Italy. Lots of people don’t bother with clubs – they just grab a table, have a drink and people-watch the night away as Italians stroll around socialising.

Sport and leisure

Italian is one of those languages that sound beautiful even if the listener doesn’t understand a word of them. The words tumble over each other like a stream over stones, and that’s what happens when Italians discuss the national game. It’s not hard to define Italians’ greatest passion in terms of sport. Mention football and there’s instant excitement and passion. Italy also plays rugby at international level.

With its wonderful coastline, Italy offers tourist and resident alike the entire range of watersports. These include windsurfing, swimming, scuba diving, sailing and fishing, while back on dry land there’s tennis, riding, climbing and golf.

But as a race, Italians aren’t all energy. They love nothing better than sitting and talking over a coffee with a group of friends, hands waving animatedly. The group will shift and change, as some leave and others join in, always with a round of kisses and ‘ciaos.’ To them, leisure means being leisurely.

Public holidays

In addition to New Year’s Day, Easter Monday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, Italy’s national public holidays are:

• Epiphany (6 January)
• Liberation Day (25 April)
• Labour Day (1 May)
• Anniversary of the Founding of the Republic (2 June)
• Feast of the Assumption, also known as Ferragosto (15 August)
• All Saints’ Day (1 November)
• Feast of the Immaculate Conception (8 December)

On Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Labour Day, practically all museums and monuments, and many restaurants, are shut.

As well as the national holidays, each town celebrates the feast-day of its patron saint, which differs from town to town.

Dates for the major cities are:

• Venice: Feast of St. Mark (25 April – coincides with Liberation Day)
• Florence: Feast of St. John the Baptist (24 June)
• Rome: Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul (29 June)
• Naples: Feast of St. Gennaro (19 September)

Getting there

Air France, Alitalia, BMI, British Airways, Delta Airlines, EasyJet, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa, Ryanair, Sabena and SAS all fly to Italy. Many cities, including Milan, Genoa, Pisa, Trieste, Turin and Palermo, have international airports.

The islands are linked to the mainland by ferries and hydrofoils. These are generally inexpensive and accessible. There are plenty of daily services to the two biggest islands, Sicily and Sardinia

The national rail carrier, Trenitalia, is efficient and its network comprehensive. Trenitalia runs several categories of train. The Eurostar only stops at the regional capital cities. Intercity and Intercity Plus are fast and comfortable. There are also Intercity Notte, Eurocity and Espresso.