10 Common Italian Stereotypes That Are Actually True

10 Common Italian Stereotypes That Are Actually True Brooke Neuman Italy, the land of contemporary fashion, historical art and men who adore their mothers, hand-gesturing enthusiasts, and gatherings about Dante? Actually, yes! While most Italian stereotypes are inaccuratefor example, all Italians are not mobsters and the men dont look like Super Mariothere are  a handful of stereotypes that hold some small kernel of truth. Below are the  10 most common Italian stereotypes that are actually true. 10 Common Italian Stereotypes 1. Italians Cant Live Without Pasta Italians live for foodin particular pasta. In fact, Italians consume the most pasta in the world, averaging 60 pounds a year for every man, woman, and child in the country. While most Americans cook dry pasta out of a box, Italians make pasta with precision from scratch. This dedication to quality plus the fact that Italians are the top consumers of pasta, makes Italy the champion of pasta. 2. Italians  Talk With Their Hands What if you could  communicate with someone only through hand gestures? Well, in Italy, you can! Italians use hand gestures to  enliven conversations, strengthen their point, and communicate on a non-verbal level. Theres a running joke in Italy that you can understand a conversation thats out of hearing range just from watching  someones  hand gestures. This endearing habit makes Italians some of the most expressive and passionate  speakers in the world. 3. Italians are All About La  Famiglia Family is so important in Italy that youll find that many Italians either live close to their parents or in the same house. In fact, its common for adults in their  20s and 30s to live with their parents. The  ties that bind families together are undeniably strong. Families often gather weekly for a meal or  stay in close contact. And yes, mamma rules the roost. 4. Italians are Habitually Late Everything in Italy happens on its own timeline, including work and appointments. If you comment on someones tardiness, most Italians will tell you that they just wanted to stop for  a coffee or smoke a cigarette before arriving, and that they were in fact on timeItalian time! This relaxed mindset can also be seen on the streets, as most people walk at a relatively leisurely pace. While habitual lateness is viewed as a negative thing in the United States, in Italy it is a reflection of taking life slowly and appreciating the moment. 5. Italians are Die-hard Football  Fans Juventus, Milan, Interâ€"these are just a few of the most famous names youll hear being thrown around when Italians are discussing football. Italians take soccer very seriously, and when theres a game on, all attention is directed toward it. Italians cant get enough of football because its a  chance for them to unite with their local team and express their regional pride. Since Italy was first composed of individual regions, Italians mostly identify with their regional culture rather than with Italy as a whole. 6. Italians Love a Good Cappuccino Breakfast in Italy is sacred. Unlike a  typical American breakfast, which includes eggs, bacon, and toast, an authentic Italian breakfast usually includes a cornetto (similar to a croissant) and a cappuccino. The quality of cappuccino in Italy, and coffee in general, is taken very seriously as well. Italians love the mix of coffee, milk and foam, and its an art in itself. Italians will travel blocks to find the best cappuccino. 7. Italians are Obsessed with Fashion Like coffee, fashion is wildly popular in Italy. Just look at all of the famous designers that hail from Italy, including Prada, Armani, Versacethe list goes on. Italians feel an obligation to fare la bella figura, or appear nicely in all respects, and fashion is a big component of that. While everything doesnt have to be designer, Italians like to wear high-quality fabrics.  Individualism is also valued in Italy, and men arent afraid to wear bright colors. In fact, dont be surprised if you  see men wearing orange, blue, or pink pants. 8. Italians Arent Scared of Public Affection Italians are no strangers to affection. In fact, its very common to see lovers embracing and kissing one another in public. Whats more, dont be  surprised to see two male friends expressing affection by walking closely together, perhaps with one arm across the others back for a few moments as they talk  and stroll. The warmth and outgoing nature of Italian culture encourages the expression of emotions, whether its crying, screaming, or showing affection. This is one of the reasons why Italians greet one another with the  classic kissing of the cheeks. 9. Italians Love  the  Opera A nation riveted by Puccini, Rossini and Bellini, Italians love the opera. Hordes of people  attend outdoor performances in amphitheaters, and its not surprising to find people discussing their favorite opera composer or the last performance they saw. Italians are very well-versed in opera and have strong opinions about the art form. Opera is similar to soccer in terms of  its widespread appreciation, attendance, and passion. It also showcases the beauty of the Italian language, which is another reason why it is beloved throughout Italy. 10. Italians Cant Get Enough of Dantes Divine Comedy Ask any Italian to recite the Divine Comedy and chances are they will be able to recite at least  some, if not a substantial amount. Italians are required to dedicate a significant amount of time studying each part of the Divine Comedyâ€"Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. Dante is idolized in Italy for writing in the most purest form of Italian, the Tuscan dialect.  The famed poet  is so popular youll  find societies devoted to studying the  medieval text. Well, there you have it. Can you think of any more Italian stereotypes we should add to the list? Do you agree or disagree with some of them? Let us know in the comments below! Post Author:  Nadia B. Nadia B. teaches Italian in New York, NY. She graduated summa cum laude from New York University, with a double degree in Italian Language and Literature and Classical Music Performance.  Learn more about Nadia here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher