February 26th, 2010
Culture
Italy has made immense contributions to the fields of science, philosophy, painting, music, theatre and architecture in Europe. Several movements, in the fields of painting and architecture especially, originated there. Current classical music forms such as symphony, sonata and concerto have roots in early Italian music. Italy is the birthplace of the opera and of musical instruments such as the piano and the violin.
Famous Italians include:
- Andrea Palladio, Filippo Brunelleschi, Bernini (architects)
- Michelangelo (sculptor and painter)
- Leonardo da Vinci (painter, polymath)
- Donatello, Botticelli, Fra Angelico, Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Bernini, Titian and Raphael (painters)
- Dante,Giovanni Boccaccio, Petrarch, Carducci, Pirandello, Quasimodo (writers/ poets)
- Federico Fellini, Sergio Leone, Roberto Benigni (filmmakers)
- Galileo Galilei (physicist, mathematician, astronomer)
- Lagrange, Fibonnaci (mathematicians)
- Luciano Pavarotti (Operatic Tenor)
Many present day popular actors, musicians, directors have their roots in Italy. E.g. Madonna, Al Pacino, John Travlota, Francis Ford Coppola, Quentin Tarantino, George Clooney to name a few.
Tags: concerto, Culture, fields of science, opera, piano And violin, sonata, symphony
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February 24th, 2010
Weather
Owing to its spread, Italy experiences diverse weather conditions but the larger chunk is mainly Mediterranean. Winters tend to be colder in the North near the Alps whereas the south has milder winters. The seasons in Italy are: – Spring (March – May) – Summer (June – August) – Autumn (September – November) – Winter (December – February) Italy also has volcanoes: Etna, Vesuvius, Stromboli and Vulcano.
Food
Italian cuisine is one of the most renowned cuisines in the world and is found in most countries (albeit adapted to local tastes). Cheese and olive oil are chief ingredients. In fact, Italy boasts of a large variety of cheeses such as Parmesan, mozzarella, mascarpone, ricotta and gorgonzola. Pasta, pizza, lasagna, focaccia and gelato are the most commonly known as well as enjoyed dishes.
Wine is the most popular alcoholic beverage and Italy is one of the largest producers of wine in the world. There are different varieties of wine depending on the region it is produced in and the type of grape used.
Coffee, too, has a central role in Italian cuisine. Espresso coffee is a hot favourite of coffee lovers around the world, as are other varieties such as cappuccino, macchiato and caffe latte.
Tags: Italian cuisine, Mediterranean, Weather, wine
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February 23rd, 2010
One has to only say ‘Italy’ and it immediately conjures up images of fashion, food, football, architecture and art amongst various things. Italians have been making a mark in these arenas for centuries now.
Italy is a nation of sports lovers and some of the most popular sports include football, cycling, Formula 1 racing and basketball. The Italian football team is one of the most successful teams in the world and has won the World Cup four times. Italy also hosts Serie A – an event that every football fan eagerly awaits. In northern Italy, winter sports are very popular. Sports are also part of some of the country’s traditional festivals. Famous Italian sportspersons are Roberto Baggio (football), Dino Zoff (football), Alessandro del Piero (football), Valentino Rossi (Moto GP motorcycle racer), to list a few.
The major festivals celebrated in Italy are Christmas (Natale), Easter (Pasqua), Assumption Day (Ferragosto and Assunzione) and New Year (Capodanno). Some non-religious holidays having national significance are the Anniversary of Liberation, celebrated on the 15th August, and the Republic Day, celebrated on 2nd June.
Italy also has a number of carnivals and traditional festivals which lend a festive air to the country all year round. Some of them are the Carnival of Venice, Palio di Siena, Calcio Storico, the Ivrea Carnival etc. The Venice Film Festival is one of the most eagerly awaited movie festivals of the world and it also happens to be the oldest film festival in the world.
Tags: Anniversary of Liberation, carnivals, Festivals, Formula 1 racing
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February 21st, 2010
Economy
Italy has a diversified economy with industries being predominant in the north, whereas agriculture is the major contributor in the south. Major exports include luxury goods, food and beverages, textiles and clothing, motor vehicles and chemicals. The list of famous Italian brands is long – Ferrari,Ducati, Fiat, Piaggio, Armani, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli, Prada, Ferrero, Martini & Rossi, Edison, Agip and so on. Tourism is also a major contributor to the economy.
Politics
Italy is a parliamentary, democratic republic. The President is the head of the state and appoints the Prime Minister on the basis of majority support from the Parliament. The Prime Minister is responsible for law and order and the day to day functioning of the country. S/he appoints the Council of Ministers with approval from the President.
Tags: diversified economy, Economy, parliamentary
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February 18th, 2010
Meetings are based on appointments. You are advised to write ahead seeking an appointment. Punctuality may not always be observed and a small delay is accepted as long as a valid reason is provided. However, it is best for visitors to be on time. Moreover, routinely missing deadlines/appointments is frowned upon.
Handshakes are common while meeting or taking leave. Business cards are exchanged without any formal ritual. It would be advisable to mention your designation and academic titles on your card. Do also have one side of your card in Italian and while presenting your card hold the Italian side up.
Formality is maintained in most business contexts and this reflects in the dressing style as well. Italians lay a lot of importance on dressing well. Both men and women wear fashionable business suits, mostly in dark shades. Women should choose simple yet classy accessories.
Compared to several other countries, the space maintained between two people is less. Ensure you do not offend your business associate by moving away very obviously.
Italians tend to use several gestures while speaking. However, it is important to note that some gestures may carry different cultural connotations. E.g. touching your nose with your thumb is likely to be interpreted as an insult.
Tags: appointments, business cards, Handshakes, Italians
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February 14th, 2010
A country with a long tradition of excellence in various fields, Italy is a peninsula located on the European continent, and also comprises two islands in the Mediterranean Sea. It can be considered the birthplace of Western civilization, with its capital Rome having been the centre of politics and culture in the Roman Empire. The numerous city states and kingdoms, created due to the fall of the Roman Empire, united in 1861 to become the nation-state of Italy. After the two World Wars and the Fascist period of the 20th century, the modern democratic state of Italy was established in 1946. Today, Italy is one of the most developed nations of the world and plays a leading role in politics and culture.
Some facts
- Capital: Rome
- Population:58,126,212 (July 2009 est.)
- Religion: Roman Catholic (approximately 90%)
- Official language: Italian
- Time zone: GMT+1 in summer and GMT +2 in winter
- Currency: Euro
Places of importance and interest
- Rome : The capital city has a glorious past and has several important places. The Pantheon (an ancient Roman temple first built in 27 BC) , the Collosseum (an amphitheater completed in 80 AD), the catacombs (ancient underground burial sites) and the Seven Hills are only some of the landmarks of the city. The historic city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rome is also famous for its numerous piazzas (city squares) and fountains . Located close by is the Vatican City renowned for St. Peter’s square, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. One of Michelangelo’s masterpieces, La Pietà, is located in St. Peter’s Basilica. The Sistine Chapel is world famous for its architecture as also its frescoes, especially the ceiling fresco which was painted by Michelangelo.
- Milan : The second largest city of the country is synonymous with fashion and is also a financial hub. Visitors flock to the various art museums, churches and historic monuments. San Siro stadium, the home of Italy’s two most successful football clubs – AC Milan and F.C. Internazionale- is also located here.
- Florence : An art and architecture lover’s paradise, Florence is home to Michaelangelo’s renowned statue of David, which is currently housed in Accademia Gallery. Galleria degli Uffizi is another famous museum. Santa Maria del Fiore,Palazzo Vecchio,Santa Croce,San Lorenzo are also interesting places to visit.
- Venice : It is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the world and is said the have the maximum number of artistic masterpieces per square kilometer. Apart from visiting museums and grand churches, a ride in gondolas through the city’s picturesque canals is recommended.
- Pisa : It is best known for the Leaning Tower located in Piazza dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles). Other sights include the Cathedral of Pisa, Battistero, Piazza dei Cavalieri among other places.
Other important places include Naples, Bologna, Turin and the ruins of the ancient Roman towns of Pompeii and Ercolano
Tags: Florence, Milan, Pisa, Rome, Vatican City, Venice
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February 9th, 2010
Belgian culture is diverse given its multilingual nature and has had a great influence on European culture, especially in the fields of art, music and literature. Several movements in art either originated or flourished in Belgium. Some famous Belgians include:
- James Ensor, Constant Permeke, Paul Delvaux, Pieter Bruegel and René Magritte (painters)
- Emile Verhaeren, Hendrik Conscience, Georges Simenon, Amélie Nothomb, Maurice Maeterlinck (authors)
- André Delvaux, Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne (directors)
- Victor Horta (architect – pioneer of the “Art Nouveau” style)
Belgium is also the home of Tintin, the world famous comic strip which was created by Hergé. The Belgian comic strip industry is one of the most active ones in the world.
An aspect of Belgian culture that stands out is the numerous processions, parades and cavalcades which take place across the country. Most of them are of mythological or religious origin. The UNESCO has accorded the recognition ‘Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity’ to two such processions – the Carnival of Binche and the ‘Processional Giants and Dragons’ of Ath, Brussels, Dendermonde, Mechelen and Mons.
Tags: 'Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity', Belgian comic strip industry, Belgian culture, European culture, multilingual nature, Tintin, UNESCO
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February 9th, 2010
Weather
Belgium experiences a temperate climate. Rainfall is possible at any time of the year. The temperature is the highest in July and lowest in January.
Food
Belgian cuisine is famous around the world and several Belgian restaurants feature in popular food guides like the Michelin Guide. The most popular Belgian dishes are steak and fries with salad and mussels (moules) with fries. Contrary to popular belief, French fries are actually from Belgium. Belgian waffles and chocolates are also highly popular.Beer is the most popular beverage and over 500 varieties of beer are said to be produced in Belgium.
Tags: Beer, Belgian cuisine, Belgian waffles, chocolates, Food, temperate climate, Weather
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February 9th, 2010
Given its small size, travelling in Belgium is not a time consuming affair. In addition, public transport is reliable, efficient and reasonably priced.
The train network in Belgium connects most places in the country. It is managed by NMBS (SNCB in French). Trains from neighbouring countries stop at major stations like Brussels and Antwerp. A high-speed train network is being developed as well. In the center town of Brussels, the easiest and fastest way to travel is to use public transportation as the traffic is usually heavy.
One can also travel by buses or trams in major cities. They usually cover short routes, but some intercity bus services are also available. Belgium also has a very dense network of motorways which link to expressways.
While houses are the preferred type of accommodation in most parts of the country, apartments are common in the town centre, especially in Brussels. Due to the regular movement of diplomatic and corporate staff, rental accommodation is available all year round.
Tags: high-speed train, motorways, NMBS, public transportation, train network, Transport
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February 9th, 2010
Major festivals in Belgium include Christmas, Easter, St. Nicholas’s Eve and New Year’s day. Also important is the Belgian National Day which falls on 21st July. Children eagerly await St. Nicholas’s Eve since Saint Nicholas (Sint Niklaas in Dutch) hands out gifts on the night of the 6th of December to children who have been brave during the year. July also witnesses the Ghent Festivities (14th – 21st July), one of Europe’s largest culture festivals. In Southern Belgium, the August 15th festival in Liège and the Walloon festival in Namur are also major events.
Apart from diamonds, Belgium is most commonly associated with chocolates. In fact, pralines were first made in Belgium in 1912. Belgian chocolate brands like Neuhas, Leonidas, Godiva and Galler are known names.
Belgium is a sports loving nation and association football and cycling are highly popular. Famous Belgians include Eddy Merckx (cyclist and five time winner of Tour de France), Jean-Marie Pfaff (football), Kim Clijsters (tennis) and Justine Henin (tennis). Belgium also hosts various sport events like the Belgian Grand Prix (Formula 1).
Tags: Belgian Grand Prix (Formula 1), chocolates, cycling, Football, Southern Belgium, St. Nicholas's Eve
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