12 Common Myths To Stop Believing About Italy Before You Visit

An Italian getaway is a dream for many Americans. Whether you're of Italian heritage and long to explore your ancestral homeland or love all things Italian culture, heading to the Boot to explore art, artifacts, and more can be life-changing. Italy looms large in the American mind, and the global community is in agreement with over 57 million tourists visiting the country in 2023. Around 10 million Americans consistently explored the Italian landscape annually before the pandemic, and numbers appear to be returning to that norm today.

But plenty of myths and misconceptions keep Americans from steeping themselves in the country's spirited culture. Arriving with preconceived notions about what the country and its people offer can be a major stumbling block. It can potentially negate the positive experience you might otherwise have while traveling. Similarly, stereotypical ideas of "proper" Italian food can hinder a genuine experience and cultural diffusion of ideas. Opening your mind to the possibilities and opportunities of a new place begins with dispelling old misconceptions. Some are basic frameworks that may not impose themselves too heavily, but other myths can be downright harmful to a bright and cheery experience in this European haven of travel.

A great starting point for dispelling Italian myths rests in the cuisine. Italian food in the United States leans heavily into pastas and sauces. Italians indeed partake in a considerable volume of pasta dishes, but the most visibly prominent selections are actually nowhere to be found in authentic Italian cooking. Italian "staples" like fettuccine alfredo or spaghetti and meatballs aren't endemic to the Italian experience.

Instead, visitors exploring Italy can expect glorious pasta dishes like cacio e pepe, carbonara dishes, flavor-bursting bowls of ragú, and adventurous risottos. Cacio e pepe is a particularly decadent pasta that literally means cheese and pepper. These pastas are typically short and rough-edged varieties dripping in a cheesy and peppery sauce that's absolutely divine. Another thing to note is that Italian pasta dishes don't always feature a meat addition. Cacio e pepe is a great example of this phenomenon, allowing the sauce to shine in all its glory without the interference of beef, lamb, or chicken selection plopped into the equation.

Another culinary myth that persists among people who haven't fully explored the Italian landscape is a misunderstanding of what a typical dinner looks like. Cinema and television frequently portray Italian dinners as an enormously involved affair. Multiple courses and a huge selection make these dining experiences seem extravagant. But the reality is that multi-course meals can be found in the language of just about any cultural cuisine, and Italians aren't particularly overbearing with their meal selection. 

Dinners extending multiple courses are an infrequent treat reserved for special occasions like weddings or other large gatherings of major importance. You'll almost certainly be able to find restaurants in Italy that will offer two or three-course meals, but this isn't indicative of Italian eating culture on the whole. There's no need to gorge yourself on an extravagant meal if you don't want it just for the sake of experiencing a sort of idealized cultural phenomenon.

With such a sprawling Mediterranean coastline, there are naturally many seafood dishes that play a prominent role in Italian cooking. Many of these dishes don't involve pasta at all, like shrimp or squid concoctions that instead feature fillings or cream bases. Whole fish dishes that champion the local catch are also prominent in Italian cooking.

The reality is that Italian food runs across a wide stretch of meat varieties, vegetable and fruit fusions, pasta options, and flavor profiles. There's so much to explore and discover when it comes to eating in Italy. Closing yourself off and only trying pizza and pasta dishes is an unfortunate way to experience an entire vacation in the ancient European country. It would prevent you from sampling some of the more vibrant selections on the rich and diverse Italian menu.

Many people have heard that Italians are warm and welcoming by default. Big and expressive personalities seemingly abound across Italy. This frequently translates into an understanding that Italians are a cheery bunch that is quick to open their hearts and homes to anyone they meet. But the reality is that strangers coming into contact with Italians won't necessarily feel the immense friendliness that might be considered stereotypical. In the real world, Italians are often just like everyone else and exhibit a more closed-off outward behavior toward those they're meeting for the first time.

This is only natural, no matter what cultural norms you might expect in a new place. However, there's certainly some truth to the myths that Italians are consistently friendly, social creatures. If you spend some time getting to know a café owner or hotel manager on your trip, there's a good chance you'll leave Italy feeling like you've made a new and lasting friendship. On another note, it's often stereotypical to think of Italians as dark and stormy characters. But Italians don't universally showcase dark features or hairy bodies. Returning to the real world, anyone visiting Italy will find that true Italians are just as visually and characteristically diverse as Americans, Canadians, or Britons. There's no one-size-fits-all description of what an Italian is or looks like.

Visitors planning their first getaway to the Italian shores might find the packing component of their trip quite daunting. Italians, after all, are a stylish bunch that takes fashion seriously, potentially looking down on a lowly American traveler, it's reasoned. But Italians are just like everyone else. It's true that Europeans frequently dress in more subdued styles than their American contemporaries across the Atlantic. However, the fashion bug hasn't bitten Italians as a monolithic community. Some people in Italy consistently dress up, aiming to impress, while others exhibit a far more casual style on a daily basis.

In truth, there's no need to think that you'll have to bring along your fanciest clothing or risk standing out like a sore thumb in one of Italy's many metropolitan hubs or countryside towns. Dressing like a local is one of the best ways to minimize your visual appearance as a tourist. Consider packing fewer clothing items that feature prominent logos (like those of a college emblem or professional sports team) and lean into the layered look for a comfortable and stylish attire that doesn't drag you out of your wheelhouse altogether.

Siestas are a frequent feature of Spanish culture. It's thought that in Italy, this same break in the middle of the day can be seen prominently, too. Those visiting Italy for the first time may have heard they need to work around this afternoon nap when planning an adventure. It's a good idea to keep this piece of information in the back of your mind, but in truth, siestas aren't an overwhelmingly common occurrence in Italy.

Some shops in smaller towns might close for a little while in the heat of the afternoon sun, but this isn't a standard practice or general rule that you'll have to abide by as a visitor (in the same way it might be in Spain). It's also worth noting that siestas are more common in the south during the summer months because of the immense heat that blows over the Italian peninsula in this region. As a result, you're more likely to experience siesta closures during warmer months or heat waves than at other times of the year. Plenty of shops and restaurants won't close, so planning for this occurrence is a good idea but not something you'll have to spend too much time worrying about.

The classic myth of the prototypical Italian revolves almost crucially around the way they speak. Such emphasis has been placed on the Italian cadence and voice that spectators who have no experience with anything Italian can spot a parody from a mile away based on this facet alone. But, as is the case with many other myths of the Italian personage, the idea that Italians are all overwhelmingly loud talkers isn't factual.

Perhaps the best place to start when dispelling this myth is to focus on hand gestures instead. It's absolutely true that Italians frequently "talk with their hands." Expressive hand gestures play a central role in the communicative experience of just about any Italian. This visually "loud" brand of expressiveness is perhaps where the bleedover occurs. Italians aren't vocally loud as a rule, although just as is the case in any culture, some will speak much louder than others. You may be surprised to find that you need to lean in and really listen to have a conversation with some Italians because they voice their words at a much lower volume than you might expect.

Another common trope about Italian life lies not in their culture or ideas but in the worry of falling victim to pickpocketing. It's frequently highlighted in travel guides, and elsewhere that pickpockets are often found operating in European cities. Pickpockets prey on tourists specifically because they frequently have their guard down. The activity is a crime of opportunity and not a personally targeted attack. It's just objectively true that tourists are frequently easier to steal from and often have more cash in their wallets or purses than locals.

Places like Rome or Milan (or nearby Lombardy, an overlooked Italian town) are no different from other parts of Europe, and you can expect there to be thieves operating in busy segments of these and other Italian cities. But the reality is that if you remain vigilant, you are unlikely to be targeted. People who find themselves totally engrossed in their phones, flashing their wallets around as they enter and exit souvenir shops, or simply being clumsy with their belongings should expect to be noticed by pickpockets. But remaining sensible and acting as you normally would on any other day can help deter this theft all on its own. Avoiding pickpockets in Europe (and in Italy specifically) is really all about planning and understanding. Moreover, if you are pickpocketed, professional travel writers and guides like Rick Steves suggest not letting it sour the mood of your trip.

It's commonly thought that Italians are heavy smokers. Whether through cinematic universes or anecdotal evidence from travelers who have come back from Italy in the past, Italians have gotten a bad rap when it comes to their affinity for cigarettes. In truth, around 20% of Italians reportedly smoke, while roughly 12% of Americans partake in the activity. This is a higher figure, to be sure, but given the population makeup of these two countries, there are actually fewer aggregate smokers in Italy than there are in The United States. The result is that there may be a higher proportion of Italians who smoke, but the total number of smokers you might encounter is potentially lower in Italy than back home.

Moreover, smoking has been banned in public in Italy since 2005. For one thing, this has led to a reduction in the number of Italians who smoke. Perhaps this also indicates that the myth of the Italian smoker was once true. No matter, even if it was once a legitimate label, the moniker has faded away in the present. The prohibition against smoking in public also means that you aren't likely to find smokers sitting near you in cafés or restaurants as you engage with the tapestry of Italian life.

The stereotypical myth of the sexually explicit Italian man is dangerous and has no real grounding in contemporary reality. Italian men aren't unapologetic gawkers. It's just not the reality that you'll experience when you land in Italy. It's important to note that there are men like this who exist all around the world, and some certainly will hail from Italy. If you are approached or made to feel uncomfortable by someone while on vacation here, it's a good idea to think about the circumstances beyond this vacation mentality. Locals who frequent tourist sites during the day to harass travelers don't reflect the values and norms of Italian culture. They are outliers in the same way that a person who might harass you in the middle of the day at home doesn't fit the normal mold of an individual living in your community.

Most Italians are just like the rest of us. They go about their daily business, heading off to work or school, going shopping for groceries, and maybe sitting for a bite to eat in the afternoon or evening at a place that's convenient for their daily routine. Italians can be expressive and friendly. However, they're too busy going about their own lives to actually fit the caricatured mold of a cat caller who has nothing better to do than ogle tourists.

Italy is a place of brilliant sights, sounds, and tastes. Many people traveling to this part of the world will seek highlights that feature destinations like the Vatican or the country's many art museums. Artwork, architecture, and particularly churches and cathedrals are prominently featured in many people's ideal vacation to this European nation. But the reality is that there's so much more to Italy than church spires and art museums.

The Italian experience is one that combines so many different elements. In the north, there's Milan, and its fashion icons are placed directly alongside some of the continent's preeminent ski resorts and mountain landscapes. These are fabulous destinations for travelers who want to spend time exploring the great outdoors and the Renaissance architecture that's typically older than the United States itself! In the south, Italy features countless beach towns that act as wonderful hubs for inland exploration or a lazy coastal adventure that won't require much movement at all.

Speaking of leaving behind the main events of an Italian vacation, it's important that travelers heading off to Italy remember there's far more to the country than just a few major cities. Rome is the frequent entryway into an Italian adventure. The city features Italy's modern capital and is draped in regal trappings as a result. There's also the Vatican and its sprawling complex that will obviously command the attention of nearly any visitor. All this doesn't even take into account the vastness of ancient Roman architecture that can still be found sprawled across contemporary Rome.

Places like Umbria and Le Marche are underrated gems, while Bologna, Sicily, and Campania offer a local Italian flair that's unmatched in authenticity and memory-making. It's a great idea to spend a few days exploring all that these metropolitan entry points into an Italian holiday have to offer. However, thinking this is the height of an Italian adventure is a critical misstep when planning a vacation here. As is the case with any destination, researching and planning a trip that reflects the experiences you want will give you the best bang for your buck. Getting out of Rome and Venice to see these local treats is a must when exploring everything Italy offers.