Italian Language Guide (2): Italian Culture in Italy
Sunday, 8th July 2007
The treasure trove that is Italian culture is brimming with delights for people of all interests, from the foodie and the wine connoiseur to the fashion addict, the designer, the artist, the historian, the art historian, the music-lover and the sun-seeking holiday-maker.
When it comes to culture in Italy it is almost impossible to know where to start. The treasure trove that is Italian culture is brimming with delights for people of all interests, from the foodie and the wine connoiseur to the fashion addict, the designer, the artist, the historian, the art historian, the music-lover and the sun-seeking holiday-maker. Year-round, there is something for everyone - and the great thing is that if you indulge in one thing you are more than likely to find yourself immersed in other aspects of Italian culture too.
Italian Food
You don’t have to be in Italy to enjoy Italian food, but there’s nothing like a fresh pizza pulled out of an authentic wood-fired oven in the land itself to get your tastebuds tingling. The Italians just seem to know what to do - which is just as well, as eating is a big deal in Italy. If invited for dinner you can expect a long drawn-out family affair of several courses (or piatti) washed down with a local wine and plenty of lively banter. And watching over it all will be the mamma of the casa, blessed with the innate ability to conjure up pots and yet more pots of delicious, hearty meals with the freshest of ingredients. Do not expect to lose weight in Italy.
Of all Italian cuisine, pizza and pasta are arguably the most famous - and the most replicated - in the world. From tagliatelle al ragù (spaghetti bolognese) and lasagna pasta staples to quattro formaggi and napoletana pizzas, much Italian food has become a household name, as has the quintessential Italian topping of parmesan cheese, or parmegiano reggiano.
It’s often the simplicity of the dishes that make them so impressive - partly thanks to the quality of ingredients picked freshly from the land. One of my most memorable dishes in Italy was a ‘simple’ bruschetta, but what a feast for the senses. An innocent piece of toasted bread piled high with warm ripe tomatoes and freshly picked basil, then drizzled in aromatic olive oil, has become the stuff of many dreams since.
Italian Desserts
Italian desserts, or dolci, can vary from light and healthy to rich and decadent. Unsurprisingly, it is the latter rather than the former that have become household names, and none more so than the king of desserts, tiramisu. So-called because it means ‘pick me up’ (literally, tirami su), from the coffee it contains, this is a rich and sumptuous dessert of ladyfingers dipped in coffee and mascarpone cream. Other delights to tempt a sweet tooth include biscotti, zabaglione, tortoni, cannoli and cakes...and how could we forget the ubiquitous ice cream, or gelati.
Word has it among food historians that ice cream was invented in Italy in the 17th century. Whatever its origins, it is fair to say that Italian ice cream, or gelato, is among the best in the world. And you don’t have to stick to gelato - delve into the world of sorbetto, granita and semifreddo and you’ll have an iced dessert for every day of the year! With flavours ranging from straciatella to panna cotta and pistachio to forest fruits, no Italian town would be without its gelateria, a local hang-out selling all colours and flavours of ice cream all day and late into the night.
Meal Times in Italy
Breakfast is not a huge affair in Italy - grab a coffee and croissant, or cornetto, on your way to workand that will usually be it. One thing to note is never to order a cappuccino after breakfast time; if you have one after a proper meal it will be assumed that you did not eat sufficiently, and you will stand out straight away as a foreigner. For a hit after food and to avoid raised eyebrows, order an espresso.
Lunch is normally eaten around 1pm, as the main meal of the day, and then dinner at around 8pm as a lighter meal. To allow time for a lunchtime meal, shops close for three or four hours in the afternoon, the perfect excuse to indulge in a long, lazy lunch and really enjoy your food. Meal times in winter and in the north of Italy may be slightly earlier than in summer and in the south of the country. Beware most restaurants close between lunch and dinner, so if you get the late-afternoon munchies you need to be prepared!
Drink in Italy
Coffee, or caffè, is an institution in Italy, and there are ways as to how and when to drink your daily (or thrice-daily) cuppa. See above for a brief word on espresso and cappuccino.
As knowledgeable as they are on coffee, Italians are perhaps even more knowledgeable on wine, which has been produced in Italy even before the Romans started to cultivate their own vineyards in 2 B.C. Since then, wine production has flourished and improved, and Italy is now one of the top wine producers in the world, with 20 wine regions and over a million vineyards. Famous names that may have graced your table include Barolo, Brunello, Chianti Classico, Montepulciano, Valpolicella, Pinot Grigio and Soave. Yet for many families a simple vino da tavola, or table wine, is sufficient as an everyday drinking wine - and this is the norm at mealtimes. Italians, like in other Mediterranean countries, do not leave work and drink on an empty stomach; instead, they enjoy a wine at lunch or dinner as a way to appreciate their food and encourage the general convivial atmosphere so typical of an Italian meal.
Other drinks you may come across include the after-dinner ‘digestivos’ of limoncello and grappa. Limoncello is mainly produced in the south of Italy and is a delicious liqueur made from lemon rind, alcohol, water and sugar. Grappa is a strong grape-based brandy, and is commonly drunk on its own or in coffee as a caffè corretto. In some restaurants you may be given a complimentary glass at the end of your meal - well, you know what they say, when in Rome…
Italian Music
There is perhaps no country that has contributed more to the world of music than Italy. Music is an integral part of Italian identity and throughout history it has played an important role in Italian politics and society.
Opera, an extravagant display of acting, singing, dancing and stage effects, arose in Italy in the early 17th century. Most native Italian composers of opera stem from the 19th and 20th centuries, Puccini, Verdi, Donizetti and Bellini among the most famous. Non-Italian composers delved into this sumptuous art form too, but the operas were still written in Italian - hence ‘Italian opera’ refers to both the art of opera, and opera in the Italian language. Opera is today performed in opera houses worldwide, but there is little to beat the experience of seeing it at one of Italy’s oldest and most authentic venues, La Scala, in Milan.
Italy also stands proud in the realm of classical music. Much modern European classical music, including the popular concerto and symphony, was able to develop thanks to Italian progression in aspects of music such as scales and harmony.
Religion in Italy
Under the leadership of the Pope in Vatican City, a sovereign city state within Rome, about 90% of the Italian population is Catholic (Catholicism being the largest branch of Christianity). Catholicism in Italy is an old and powerful tradition. It still provides an important structure to modern-day Italian life and, even though its influence is generally decreasing, its hierarchical approach and practices are still very much reflected in everyday society.
Italian Fashion
In a country hosting some of the world’s finest fashion houses, what you wear and how you wear it, or la bella figura, is not to be underestimated in Italy. Making a good impression, even subconsciously, is of paramount importance. Clothes shopping and designer labels are serious business. And even if some Italian fashion may not be to everyone’s taste, the Italians do seem to have style.
Just remember that shops in Italy tend to close for a few hours in the afternoon, so set off early with your credit card or see if a wine-fuelled lunch will help you part with your euros later in the day…
Tags: guide, italian, food, culture, language, italy, music, religion, opera, italian gelato, fashion, wine, la scala, coffee, drink
Posted by Sarah Gooding under Language guides,
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