There is a north-south divide even when you consider the cultural makeup of the Italian population. The northerners have strains of the French and the German, with many families having ancestors from there. Both the geographical proximity and years of political influence have had an undeniable influence culturally. The south of Italy has been influenced by Spanish and Arab cultures.

Strong family ties and a deep, warm relationship between parent and child characterise Italian social structure. The 20th century has seen tremendous upheaval in the otherwise traditional Italian social system. Student revolutions, labour strikes for social security and other movements gripped the nation in the 1960s. These were the forerunners for better education and employment opportunities.

Feminist issues gained momentum in 1973, what with the world overseeing remarkable changes in the work force with women in the fore in almost every field, from heading governments to looking after the home and hearth with equal aplomb. Divorce law reforms and abortion were legalized in1978. This was an amazing transformation, for a country steeped in religion and religious sentiments, influenced by Vatican City.

Italy has always had a very religious society, with religion most aspects of life whether art and architecture or government and the legal system.

The seat of the Roman Catholic Church is in Vatican City in Rome, where the Pope resides. Though figures suggest that only 25% of Italians attend mass regularly, it can’t be denied that most Italians are firm believers in their faith.
Mature Protestant and Jewish communities are also present and now there is a growing Muslim immigrant community.

Italian is the official language. Even a little knowledge of Spanish, French, Portuguese or Latin will help you in your understanding of the Italian language. And in business dealings, even a sprinkling of Italian will be an asset.

Italy is quite used to English–speaking tourists and most Italians speak at least some English. You could help yourself by learning a few basic phrases of Italian, especially if you find yourself in smaller hotels, restaurants and on public transportation.

Food

Traditional Italian cuisine includes pizza, spaghetti, lasagne and pasta, bites of which slip through between hearty doses of great wine. Wind up your Italian dream meal with Italy’s contribution to mankind – ice cream (gelato).

Your full meal would include an appetizer (antipasto), pasta or soup (primo), meat or fish (secondo), with a vegetable occasionally (contorno), and salad, fruit or cheese. Butter and cream are primary flavours in the north, whereas farther south, it is tomatoes all the way. In central Italy and in Rome they like their dish hot and spicy!

Pastries seem to become sweeter as you go down southwards. Coffee is rich and different. Cappuccino is the breakfast drink. Caffe macchiato is espresso coffee with a touch of milk and latte macchiato is the other way around – milk with a dash of coffee!

Culture and Crafts

Italy, with one of the oldest civilizations of the world, has contributed to art, architecture, music, philosophy, and literature immeasurably. It was at the forefront of the movement of cultural ‘rebirth’ that swept Europe in the 15^th century, with those like the Medici family providing great encouragement to artistic talent.

The history of art in Italy dates all the way back to the Classical Period, the times of the Greeks and Etruscans. Whether the Gothic or the Renaissance, the Romanesque or the Byzantine, you’ll be exposed to most major art movements that the world ever witnessed. Italy bears the legacy of the greats of the Renaissance: Giotto, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Titian and Raphael and master composers like Verdi, Vivaldi, Puccini and Rossini. You can lose yourself in the priceless art of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, Uffizi Gallery and Medici Museum in Florence and other centres in Rome, Venice and Naples.

Adding to this richness are Italy’s regional folk dances, such as the ballu or the tunfu, called the "round dance", performed to the accompaniment of the Italian accordion or the Sardini.

Opera is more alive in Italy today than anywhere else, and you can treat yourself to the soulful sounds of the Italian sopranos. Choirs, art classes, symphony, ballet and opera are synonymous with Italy and Italian culture. World-class presentations take place at Venice and Milan, while open-air shows are on in summer at Rome, along with other year round concerts and national performances can be seen at Florence.

In literature too, the work of Italian masters like Horace, Seneca, Ovid and Virgil has been invaluable. Dante, Machiavelli, and the great chroniclers Petrarch and Boccachio were all Italian. In recent times the playwright Luigi Pirandello, novelist Italo Calvino and Umberto Eco have ensured that Italy continues to influence the world of literature.

Education is free and compulsory between the ages of 6 and 14. Thereafter, children can undertake specialized training in a trade or prepare for exams. According to a recent estimate, a total of 7.5 million students were enrolled in primary and secondary schools.

Higher college and university education is given a lot of importance and attention in Italy. In 1995, almost 2 million college students were undertaking higher studies.