A reasonable and prudent tourist, before setting off on a trip, will always try to find out about his country of destination in advance, try to study some traditions and habits of the local population in order to form a certain impression of the country and not get into a mess. It would seem that Italy is not so far away and we can understand Italians, however, tourists arriving in the country of wine and sunshine will inevitably make mistakes from year to year, which in some cases can ruin the whole impression of a vacation. We picked up the ten most common unpleasant tourists misses in Italy.
Tip
The question of whether to tip in Italy is quite common, although a definite answer cannot be given. On the one hand, gratuities are already included in the bill, therefore, additional remuneration to the staff of the institutions is not required. On the other hand, Italians themselves sometimes tip. Usually they consider it necessary to encourage waiters after visiting VIP-class restaurants, but they never tip in ordinary cafes and taxis. It is worth noting that Roman taxi drivers and waiters have long been accustomed to paying over bills, so they are very welcoming to overseas guests.
Trying to get tickets from the bus driver
In major cities of the country, it is customary to pay for travel already having a ticket in hand. However, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the chance that you will find a ticket machine near the public transport stop is almost zero. Be prepared to go over to the nearest kiosks selling tobacco or newspapers. If you are going to move around the city on Sunday, it is better to take care of the purchase of tickets in advance. And do not forget to stamp the coupon, getting into the transport.
Call Afternoon Siesta
Perhaps calling the daytime when the shops are closed is one of the most common misconceptions of tourists. Some institutions have certain operating modes, according to which they do not work on certain days of the week. Most of them are closed in the morning, and opens its doors only after lunch. The work schedule to a certain extent depends on the region, city and season. Tenants of places in large shopping centers and outlets do not at all consider it necessary to close stores for lunch, being afraid to miss buyers.
Ignore local food regimen
Not taking into account all the patterns of eating in a foreign country is simply stupid. Many restaurants and cafes close after lunch and until the evening, so if you don't have time to eat before two or three in the afternoon, you run the risk of being hungry until dinner. And here, too, there are some nuances: the south of the region of the country, the later its inhabitants sit down to enjoy an evening meal.
Hope for attention to the client from the employees of shops and restaurants
Arriving in Italy, forget the phrase "the client is always right" and do not count on the attention of the staff. The flow of tourists in bars, cafes and restaurants is so great that the waiters simply do not have time to ask if everything suits you and offer to repeat the drink.
Count on spicy pizza by ordering peperoni
Do not be surprised if, after such an order, you get pizza of medium severity. Pepperoni in Italy is a bell pepper, not a hot salami. If you still want to taste pizza with spicy salami, order Devil's pizza (pizza Diavola), or find in the menu options an ingredient called salame piccante.
To order the first, second, third and compote in cafes and restaurants
The scale of your order will simply shock you. The portions are often very impressive, so pay attention to the weight of the dish that you are going to order. Most likely, you have a good snack first and second. Otherwise, there is a possibility of overeating.
Order food without understanding when it is necessary to pay for the order
Many cafes require payment even before you order something. The easiest way will be to clarify with the staff what orders are in this institution.
Drink coffee while eating
Italians firmly believe that coffee is able to beneficially influence digestion, and therefore drink it after eating. While drinking cappuccino peacefully during a meal, you run the risk of catching the surprised and even slightly condemning looks of the waiters and visitors.
Touch fruits and vegetables with bare hands in stores
Do not rush to check how ripe this apple or this pineapple is. In stores in Italy, special gloves are provided for this, which are usually located near fruit and vegetable trays. And in local markets, do not touch products at all, the seller will choose the product for you and weigh it. Please also note that by indicating to him exactly what kind of fruit he should put to you, you will show disrespect to the seller and offend the smiling and friendly Italian.
