Italy - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

Don’t just see the sights—get to know the people.

Italy delights and stimulates with its magnificent cities and monuments, stunningly beautiful landscapes, the glory of its art and architecture, the richness and variety of its food, the elegance of its design and fashion, and the vitality and charm of its people. Italian style and culture have been exported all over the world. At home, however, Italian society and politics are facing challenges as the country struggles to maintain its standard of living, the stability of its currency, and its ability to provide jobs. The influx of refugees across the Mediterranean is putting pressure on both its social fabric and its economy.

Culture Smart! Italy is an insider s guide to their daily lives, passions, and preoccupations. It introduces you to their history and culture, and provides vital information and practical tips to help smooth your path in different social situations.

Have a richer and more meaningful experience abroad through a better understanding of the local culture. Chapters on history, values, attitudes, and traditions will help you to better understand your hosts, while tips on etiquette and communicating will help you to navigate unfamiliar situations and avoid faux pas.

Barry Tomalin is an English writer and teacher specializing in international communication and cultures who has worked with Italian companies in Italy and the UK. He has taught at Link University in Rome, and run training programs in Milan, Rome, Genoa, and Naples. Barry has traveled extensively in Italy and provides first-hand experience and professional insight into this fascinating country and its people. The author of many books on culture and cultural training, he currently teachers at Birkbeck College, University of London, and at Glasgow Caledonian University London.