Italian stereotypes
How much truth is there ?
Pasta, only pasta
Types of pasta:
dried-fresh, long-short-minute, stuffed,
egg pasta… in hundreds of different
shapes and with a great variety of
condiments
Italian cooking is extremely regional:
different weather conditions and historical
influences (Greek, Lombard, Arab, French,
Austrian, German, Spanish invasions)
Coffee “obsession”
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Caffè normale (a small cup of very strong coffee, i.e., espresso)
Caffè al vetro (espresso served in a small glass)
Caffè in tazza grande (espresso served in a large cup)
Caffè macchiato caldo (espresso with a drop of hot steamed milk)
Caffè macchiato freddo (espresso with a drop of cold milk)
Caffè ristretto (espresso with less water)
Caffè doppio (double espresso)
Caffè corretto (espresso with a shot of grappa, cognac, or other spirit)
Caffè americano (American-style coffee, served in a large cup)
Hag/Dec (decaffeinated coffee)
Cappuccino (coffee with tepid steamed milk)
Caffellatte (coffee with hot milk)
Latte macchiato (hot milk with a bit of coffee, served in a large glass)
Marocchino (steamed milk, coffee and cacao, served in a small glass)
Caffè d’orzo (hot malt drink resembling coffee)
Caffè freddo (iced coffee)
(…)
Forever mamma's boy
In Italy, people think Jesus was Italian:
he lived at home until he was 33,
he thought his mother was a virgin...
and she thought he was God!
Romantic lovers
An Italian guy will never let a girl go home
unescorted…
is it romanticism?
An Italian guy will always know what to say to a
beautiful girl…
is it romanticism?
Tecnica dello sfinimento: talk, talk and talk
in order to “exhaust” a girl…
is it romanticism?
Fashion victims
Italians will never leave their house unless
they are convinced that they look well…
Appearance is important in the work
Not all Italian women “come" directly from the
cover of Vogue magazine
Not all Italian men wear Armani or Gucci
Many times, designer clothes have a negative
connotation (fighetto
posh)
Original speaking
Italians speak very loudly in public whether on
the bus, in the street or on the phone
We are really chaotic
Italian people simply cannot talk without move
their hands… or their heads, shoulders, eyes,
mouths…
Mafia and gangsters
Italian gangsters in American movies
Mafia as an attitude
Get the greatest personal advantage from any
situation
Trust in private “justice” more than in the
Public Justice
Use one’s own power or authority to control or
intimidate somebody
Choose to keep quiet to “not pass for a spy”