Despite an economic turnaround in recent decades, Italy is split into two very different halves. Northern Italy is the country’s economic powerhouse, and the Lombardy region, which produces about 40 percent of Italy’s GDP, is at its...

Italians tend to be innately curious about people from other cultures, although some project an attitude of suspicion toward certain foreigners. Despite their feelings about some foreigners, Italians tend to be charming toward visitors,...

Building relationships is critical to doing business in Italy—even more important than the quality of your product or service. In fact, unless you can establish solid relationships based on mutual respect and friendship, your business...

Haggling over prices is a national Italian pastime. So be prepared—Italians tend to relish the art of negotiating. In general, negotiations take place among managers of equal rank. The Italians may seem informal, but take care not to...

Did you know that meetings in Italy tend to be scheduled well in advance? In fact, scheduling a meeting several weeks ahead isn’t unusual. Deciding who will attend an initial meeting is critical everywhere, but this is especially true in...

Northern Italy—and Milan in particular—has been a hub of economic activity since the Middle Ages and is one of the most important financial and industrial centers in the world today. Many businesses have been in families for generations....

As in many parts of the world, Italians usually greet each other with a fairly firm handshake. Men sometimes clutch each other’s arms, embrace, or pat each other on the back. To an Italian, a greeting should have a tone of respectful...

Italians are warm and personable, and you’re likely to find doing business with them a pleasure. You’ll need to be prepared, though. Their business culture can seem curiously contradictory. In general, the atmosphere is...

Italians spend much of their leisure time socializing with friends in restaurants, indulging in a good meal, and enjoying a fine wine. Restaurants are always filled with people, and, regardless of the day of the week, patrons are there...

Italy has no official religion, and freedom of religion is protected under the country’s constitution. At the same time, more than 90 percent of Italians claim to be Roman Catholic, and the Catholic Church tries to exert a strong...

Italians are lively communicators and literally speak with their hands—at times, they use their entire bodies! They generally stand close together and often touch each other’s arms or shoulders while talking. In fact, touching someone is...

Italy is ranked among the top nations in the world for its standard of living. Even so, a constant refrain that’s heard when people talk about Italy is how divided the country is between north and south. For centuries, northern Italy has...

Italy offers some of the most stunning architectural living spaces, whether you’re looking for a downtown palazzo or a cozy farmhouse nestled in a small village. Availability, of course, varies by area. Explore the options by region and...

Italians take great pride in their food. Quite simply, they think it’s the best in the world, and certainly the number of Italian restaurants across the globe is testimony to the food’s appeal. For Italians, every meal’s a...

The banking sector is a lynchpin of the Italian economy. The Banca d'Italia is the central bank of Italy, and all banks are subject to its authority. Also known as Bankitalia, it's part of the European System of Central Banks. Until...

It may come as no surprise that in the Italian workplace, the dress code tends to be formal—and casual Fridays don’t exist. Italians tend to dress up when they go out, as socializing is all about making a good impression. Part of who you...

Italy is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. While parts of Italy are highly urbanized, it might surprise you to learn that the interior of the country is underpopulated; in fact, this part of the country continues...

Turin is the capital of the Piedmont region and an important business and cultural center in northern Italy. Explore the city's origins as a Roman municipality, whose ancient influence can still be seen in the chessboard-grid layout of...

With 2.7 million inhabitants, Rome is Italy's most populated city. It is also the nation's capital, and all international embassies are located here. Rome also contains Vatican City, the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. Home to...

Located on a lovely bay named after the city, Naples is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city in Italy after Rome and Milan. The city has the stunning backdrop of Mount Vesuvius, the still-active volcano that...

Milan is a bustling and immensely productive city located in northern Italy. It's the capital of Lombardy and the second-most populous city in Italy after Rome. Milan makes its mark as a global fashion capital and also serves as the...

Florence is the regional capital of Tuscany and is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture. Florence was a center of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of that era. It is considered...

Wondering how to navigate around Italy? The country’s long-distance railroad system is excellent, and if time isn’t an issue, traveling by train can be an absolute pleasure. And, all the while, you’ll have incredible views of beautiful,...

Italy is a generally safe place for travelers. Your chances of being the victim of a violent crime are low. However, the odds go up for petty crimes, like bag-snatching and pickpocketing. Unfortunately, these types of crimes occur much...