country report on Italy

8/14/2019 country report on Italy

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WELCOME

TO

ITALY

Submitted To:

Prof. Nina Muncherji

Submitted By:

Ankita Jain

084104

COURSE :

PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS ETIQUETTES

1 | P a g eInstitute of Management, Nirma University


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Introduction to ITALY

Officially called the Republic of Italy, Italy is located in southern Europe, and has a population

of roughly 58.2 million. Italy has much to offer its citizens and visitors. Surrounded by the four

seas of the Mediterranean, Italy is famous for its coastline activities. Italy also has a mountain

range with elevations over 13,500 feet for the skiing and hiking enthusiast. Italy has no official

religion, though the majority of Italy's citizens are Roman Catholic.

Italy - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette

Fun Fact

Italy is currently the home of three active volcanoes; Stromboli, Vesuvius, and Etna.The

Vatican City, the home of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church, is located within the city

of Rome and is considered a separate state completely. The Vatican has its own currency, flag,

and stamps, although Italian money can be used.



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Facts and Statistics

Location: Southern Europe, bordering Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (Vatican

City) 3.2 km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 232 km, Switzerland 740 km

Capital: Rome

Climate: Predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south

Population: 58,057,477 (July 2004 est.)

Dialling Code - The international dialling code for Italy is +39.

Time - Italy is +1 hours GMT.

Ethnic Make-up: Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in

the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south)

Religions: Predominately Roman Catholic with mature Protestant and Jewish communities and

a growing Muslim immigrant community

Government: Republic

Religion in Italy



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The Italian Language

Italian is the official language of Italy, and 93% of population are native Italian speakers

Around 50% of population speak a regional dialect as mother tongue. Many dialects are

mutually unintelligible and thus considered by linguists as separate languages, but are not

officially recognised. Friulian, one of these dialects, is spoken by 600,000 people in the north

east of Italy, which is 1% of the entire population. Other northern minority languages include

Ladin, Slovene, German, which enjoys equal recognition with Italian in the province of Alto-

Adige, and French, which is legally recognised in the Alpine region of the Val d'Aosta.

As one of the Italo-Romance languages, Italian is most closely related to Sardinian, Corsican

and the other dialects of the peninsula. It has approximately 63,000,000 speakers. Italian is the

official language ofItaly, the Vatican City and San Marino, and one of the official languages of

Switzerland, where it is used in the cantons of Ticino and Graubnden. It's also spoken by home

speakers in Malta, Monaco, Slovenia and Croatia. Although modern standard Italian is used allover Italy, it is very few Italians' first language. Most speak one of the 15 regional dialects as

their first language. In a fine display of the power of the pen over the sword, the Tuscan dialect

established dominance not because Tuscany was a greater military or financial power than other

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/language/about/italian.htmlhttp://www.kwintessential.co.uk/language/about/italian.htmlhttp://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/italy-country-profile.htmlhttp://www.kwintessential.co.uk/language/about/italian.htmlhttp://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/italy-country-profile.htmlhttp://www.kwintessential.co.uk/language/about/italian.html


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Italian regions, but because the 3 great writers of the Middle Ages, Dante, Boccaccio and

Petrarch, wrote in the Tuscan dialect.

Albanian is spoken by 0.2% of the population, mainly in the southern part of Italy, as too are

Croatian and Greek. Catalan is spoken in one city, Alghero, on the island of Sardinia, by around

0.07% of the population. On the rest of the island, Sardinian is spoken by over 1m, which

comes to 1.7% of the Italian population.

Italian

Society & Culture

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/language/about/catalan.htmlhttp://www.kwintessential.co.uk/language/about/catalan.html


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Italian Family Values

The family is the centre of the social structure and provides a stabilizing

influence for its members.

In the north, generally only the nuclear family lives together; while in the south, the

extended family often resides together in one house.

The family provides both emotional and financial support to its members.

Italian Style



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Appearances matter in Italy.

The way you dress can indicate your social status, your family's background, and your

education level.

First impressions are lasting impressions in Italy.

The concept of 'bella figura' or good image is important to Italians.

They unconsciously assess another person's age and social standing in the first few

seconds of meeting them, often before any words are exchanged.

Clothes are important to Italians.

They are extremely fashion conscious and judge people on their appearance.

You will be judged on your clothes, shoes, accessories and the way you carry yourself.

Bella figura is more than dressing well. It extends to the aura your project too - i.e.confidence, style, demeanour, etc.

Catholicism

The primary religion in Italy is Roman Catholic.

There are more Catholic churches per capita in Italy than in any other country.

Although church attendance is relatively low, the influence of the church is still high. Many office buildings will have a cross or a religious statue in the lobby.

Each day of the year has at least one patron saint associated with it.

Children are named for a particular saint and celebrate their saint's day as if it were their

own birthday.



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Each trade and profession has a patron saint.

The church promulgates hierarchy, which can be seen in all Italian relationships.

They respect and defer to those who are older, those who have achieved a level of

business success, and those who come from well-connected families



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Etiquette

&

Customs in Italy

Meeting Etiquette

Greetings are enthusiastic yet rather formal.

The usual handshake with direct eye contact and a smile suffices between strangers.

Once a relationship develops, air-kissing on both cheeks, starting with the left is often

added as well as a pat on the back between men.



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Wait until invited to move to a first name basis.

Italians are guided by first impressions, so it is important that you demonstrate propriety

and respect when greeting people, especially when meeting them for the first time.

Many Italians use calling cards in social situations. These are slightly larger than

traditional business cards and include the person's name, address, title or academic

honours, and their telephone number.

If you are staying in Italy for an extended period of time, it is a good idea to have calling

cards made. Never give your business card in lieu of a calling card in a social situation.

Gift Giving Etiquette

Do not give chrysanthemums as they are used at funerals.

Do not give red flowers as they indicate secrecy.

Do not give yellow flowers as they indicate jealousy

If you bring wine, make sure it is a good vintage. Quality, rather than quantity, is

important.

Do not wrap gifts in black, as is traditionally a mourning colour.

Do not wrap gifts in purple, as it is a symbol of bad luck.

Gifts are usually opened when received.

Dining Etiquette

If invited to an Italian house:

If an invitation says the dress is informal, wear stylish clothes that are still rather formal,

i.e., jacket and tie for men and an elegant dress for women.



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Punctuality is not mandatory. You may arrive between 15 minutes late if invited to dinner

and up to 30 minutes late if invited to a party.

If you are invited to a meal, bring gift-wrapped such as wine or chocolates.

If you are invited for dinner and want to send flowers, have them delivered that day.

Table manners

Remain standing until invited to sit down. You may be shown to a particular seat.

Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right

while eating.

Follow the lead of the hostess - she sits at the table first, starts eating first, and is the first

to get up at the end of the meal.

The host gives the first toast.

An honoured guest should return the toast later in the meal.

Women may offer a toast.

Always take a small amount at first so you can be cajoled into accepting a second

helping.

Do not keep your hands in your lap during the meal; however, do not rest your elbows on

the table either.

It is acceptable to leave a small amount of food on your plate.

Pick up cheese with your knife rather than your fingers.

If you do not want more wine, leave your wineglass nearly full.



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Business Etiquette

and

Protocol in Italy

Relationships & Communication



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Italians prefer to do business with people they know and trust.

A third party introduction will go a long way in providing an initial platform from which

to work.

Italians much prefer face-to-face contact, so it is important to spend time in Italy

developing the relationship.

Your business colleagues will be eager to know something about you as a person before

conducting business with you.

Demeanour is important as Italians judge people on appearances and the first impression

you make will be a lasting one.

Italians are intuitive. Therefore, make an effort to ensure that your Italians colleagues like

and trust you. Networking can be an almost full-time occupation in Italy. Personal contacts allow

people to get ahead.

Take the time to ask questions about your business colleagues family and personal

interests, as this helps build the relationship.

Italians are extremely expressive communicators. They tend to be wordy, eloquent,

emotional, and demonstrative, often using facial and hand gestures to prove their point.

Behavior

Italian history has played a crucial role in the modern business world.

Some of their contributions include banking, insurance, and double-entry bookkeeping.

"Time is money" is not a common phrase in Italy.

Foreign businessmen/women should be punctual for business appointments, although the

Italian executive may not be.

Handshakes are common for both sexes, and may include grasping the arm with the other

hand.



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Do not expect quick decisions or actions to take place, as the Italian bureaucracy and

legal systems are rather slow.

Italian companies often have a rigid hierarchy, with little visible association between the

ranks.

It is common for everyone to speak simultaneously at Italian gatherings. This applies to

business meetings as well as social events.

Do not exchange business cards at social occasions; but it is the norm at business

functions and meetings.

Italians often have two different business cards, one with business credentials for formal

relationships, and another with personal information for less formal relationships.

Italian cards are often plain white with black print.

When entering a business function, the most senior or eldest person present should

always be given special treatment.

When invited to someone's home, bring gift-wrapped chocolates, pastries, or flowers.

Flowers must be given in even numbers, except for a dozen (12) or half-dozen (6)

especially if roses.

If you bring wine as a gift, make sure that it is of excellent vintage, as many Italians arewine connoisseurs.

Avoid giving anything in a quantity of 17, as 17 is considered to be bad luck, or a

doomed number.

Business Meeting Etiquette

Appointments are mandatory and should be made in writing (in Italian) 2 to 3 weeks in

advance.

Reconfirm the meeting by telephone or fax (again in Italian).



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Many companies are closed in August, and if they are open many Italians take vacations

at this time, so it is best not to try to schedule meetings then.

In the north, punctuality is viewed as a virtue and your business associates will most

likely be on time.

The goal of the initial meeting is to develop a sense of respect and trust with your Italian

business colleagues.

Have all your printed material available in both English and Italian.

Hire an interpreter if you are not fluent in Italian.

It is common to be interrupted while speaking or for several people to speak at once.

People often raise their voice to be heard over other speakers, not because they are angry.

Although written agendas are frequently provided, they may not be followed. They serveas a jumping off point for further discussions.

Decisions are not reached in meetings. Meetings are meant for a free flow of ideas and to

let everyone have their say.

Business Negotiation

In the north, people are direct, see time as money, and get down to business after only a

brief period of social talk.

In the south, people take a more leisurely approach to life and want to get to know the

people with whom they do business.

Allow your Italian business colleagues to set the pace for your negotiations. Follow their

lead as to when it is appropriate to move from social to business discussions.

Italians prefer to do business with high-ranking people.

Hierarchy is the cornerstone of Italian business. Italians respect power and age.

Negotiations are often protracted.

Never use high-pressure sales tactics.



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Always adhere to your verbal agreements. Failing to follow through on a commitment

will destroy a business relationship.

Heated debates and arguments often erupt in meetings. This is simply a function of the

free-flow of ideas.

Haggling over price and delivery date is common.

Decisions are often based more on how you are viewed by the other party than on

concrete business objectives.

Dress Etiquette

Fashions and fashion design are trademarks of Italy. Therefore, in the business world

good clothes are a signature of success.

Men should wear fashionable, high quality suits.

Shirts may be colored or pin-striped, and they should be paired with an Italian designer

tie.

Women dress in quiet, expensive elegance.

Slacks are generally not worn by either sex.

Quality accessories such as shoes and leather goods will make a good impression with the

Italians.

Business Cards

Business cards are exchanged after the formal introduction.

To demonstrate proper respect for the other person, look closely at their business card

before putting it in your card holder.

It is a good idea to have one side of your business card translated into Italian.



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If you have a graduate degree, include it on your business card.

Make sure your title is on your card. Italians like knowing how you fit within your

organization.

Greetings

Hello: Buongiornio

Goodbye: Arrivederci. Ciao. (inf)

Yes: Si

No: No

Please: Per favour

Thank you: Grazie

That's fine/: Prego

You're welcome

Excuse me: Mi scusi

Sorry (forgive me): Mi perdoni

Small talk

What's your name: Come si chiama?

My name is .: Mi chiamo .



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Where are you from?: Di dov' ?

I'm from .: Sono di .

I (don't) like: (Non) Mi piace .

Just a minute: Un momento

Paperwork

Name: nome

Nationality: nazionalit

D.O.B: data di nascita

Place of birth: luogo di nascita

Sex (gender): sesso

Passport: passaporto

Visa: visto

Getting around

What time does arrive/leave? .: A che ora parte/arrive .?

The aeroplane: l'aereo

The boat: la barca

The (city) bus: l'autobus



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The (intercity) bus: il pullma / la corriera

The train: il treno

Public Holidays

1 January -New Year's Day

6 January - Epiphany

(variable) - Easter Sunday

(variable) - Easter Monday

25 April - Liberation Day

1 May - International Labour Day

2 June - Anniversary of the Republic

15 August - Ferragosto orAssumption of Mary

1 November - All Saints' Day

8 December - Immaculate Conception

25 December - Christmas Day

26 December - Saint Stephen

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year's_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Mondayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Labour_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferragostohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assumption_of_Maryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints'_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immaculate_Conceptionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year's_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Mondayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Labour_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferragostohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assumption_of_Maryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints'_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immaculate_Conceptionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen


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The Busseto Carnival

Busseto is a small town in the Parma surroundings. It has been home of the famous Italian

ComposerGiuseppe Verdi. Every year, Busseto has a big Carnival with parades in the town

center. Lots of people and kids in the streets.

Here are some pictures taken at the Carnival 2009

http://www.festivalsinitaly.com/the-busseto-carnival.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bussetohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Verdihttp://www.festivalsinitaly.com/the-busseto-carnival.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bussetohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Verdi


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Best of

Italy



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Portofino and Tigullio Gulf

Portofino and the Tigullio Gulf are emblems representing Italy throughout the world. The

coast is a serie of fashionable resorts with their marinas, colorful houses, first-rate sports

facilities and the attractive atmosphere of the Dolce Vita. But perhaps the most spectacular

thing for the traveller is the beauty of the seascapes, with some of the most celebrated views

in Italy, suspended between the intense blue of the sea and the green mountains.

Caf Florian

Caff Florian is a coffee house situated in the Procuratie Nuove of Piazza San Marco,Venice. It was founded in 1720, and is a adversary for the title of the oldest coffee house in

continuous operation. It is home to the Venice Biennale, an exhibition of contemporary art

that has been running since 1893.

Palazzo Te

Palazzo Te or Palazzo del Te is a palace in the suburbs of Mantua, Italy. It is a fine sample

of the mannerist style of architecture, the recognised masterpiece of Giulio Romano.

Trattoria Corrieri

Tuck into the world-famous culinary masterpieces of immaculate Parma - emphasis on five



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kinds of prosciutto and real parmesan cheese - at the memorable, but not overpriced,

Trattoria Corrieri.

Galleria dell'Accademia

The Florence's Galleria dell'Accademia is a Italian museum, founded in 1784, hosts a

collection of sculptures and paintings. This museum owes its own popularity due to the

presence of David by Michelangelo (completed around 1504), which was moved there in

1873.

Assisi

Assisi in Italy extends out on the hills of the Monte Subasio, above the plain where the

Topino and Chiascio rivers flow. Although this city can boast Roman origins, its present-

day aspect, because of the buildings and also the urban structure, is surely due to the city's

development during the Middle Ages. In Assisi, attend one of the fairly frequent concerts in

the Upper Church of the Basilica di San Francesco, a space so beautiful and uplifting the

music truly takes on celestial dimensions.

Abruzzi

Abruzzo or Abruzzi is a town picturesque in its scenery. Many old villages were abandoned

and continue largely complete and the country side is rich with historic sites. It is often said

that Abruzzo has as many castles as it does sheep. Most of this sleepy region has remained

lock in medieval times making Abruzzo the first stop for those seeking to take a glance at

the past or a chance to see nature as it was hundreds of years ago, unspoiled and perfect.

Da Michele

This famous place was described by experts and journalists as "The sacred temple of pizza".

Michele opened his first pizzaria in 1906, since then, five generations of master pizza



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makers have carried on the work of the founder, respecting the tradition and being loyal to

Michele's instructions, there are only two types of Neapolitan Pizza, the "Marinara" and the

"Margherita"; and no "junk" should be used in making the pizza that could alter its world

famous genuineness and taste.

Monte Solaro

From Piazza della Vittoria a chairlift takes you up Mount Solaro to the highest point of the

island (1932 feet). You should take the scenic chairlift ride up to the top of Monte Solaro,

the highest point on the island of Capri, for stupendous views of the entire Bay of Naples.

Mount Etna

Mount Etna or Mongibeddu in Sicilian and Mongibello in Italian, it is an active volcano on

the east coast of Sicily, close to Messina and Catania. It is the highest mountain in Italy

south of the alps and Europe, currently standing about 3,326 m (10,910 ft) high, though it

should be noted that this varies with summit eruptions.



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Documents

country report on Italy