Italy is a country full of art, architecture and lovely people. The line up of cities in Italy each have their own rich history, unforgettable culture, mind boggling food and flashy accents! Brush up on these interesting facts about Italy before you make a move to travel to this eternal country.
7. Three-thousand euros every day!
The world famous Trevi Fountain is located in Rome. The fountain is spotted in many notable movies like Sabrina Goes To Rome, Roman Holiday etc. Following the old tradition of ‘Coin Throwing’ which supposedly brings luck; roughly around 3000 euros are thrown in the fountain every day. At the end of the day, the money is collected and donated to a charity which looks after the Rome’s needy. The generosity of these people is commendable.
“Traveling is the ruin of all happiness! There’s no looking at a building after seeing Italy”
– Frances Burney
6. Gastronomical delights!
Home to Pizza and Pasta, Italy is best known for its multitude of cuisine offering countless famous foods. For starters, Pasta is prepared differently in every different region of Italy. Also, there are over 200 different shapes of Pasta! Other popular Italian dishes to try out are Arancini, Lasagne, Osso buco alla Milanese, Tiramisu, etc.
“Life is too short. If we’re in Italy, have pizza and pasta. But not every day.”
– Harley Pasternak
5. “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?”
Thirteen out of thirty eight of Shakespeare’s plays are set in Italy. Romeo and Juliet is set in the city of Verona; where ‘Juliet’s house is open to visit for all the lovers of love. Meanwhile Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra takes place in Rome. Othello and the Merchant of Venice are set in Venice. Yes Much Ado About Nothing is based in the Sicilian city of Messina.
“Travelers never did lie, though fools at home condemn them“.
-Shakespeare
4. Michelangelo’s frescoes
The Sistine Chapel draws in around 20,000 visitors everyday, to gaze at the ceiling which depict scenes from the Old Testament, painted by the famous Michelangelo 1512.‘The Creation of Adam’ is the most famous ceiling panel in the Sistine Chapel. The whole experience is breathtaking and absolutely fantastic.
“The creator made Italy from designs of Michelangelo.”
-Mark Twain
3. Salad after Dinner!?
To contrary beliefs, Italians love to eat salads AFTER dinner to end their meals on a perfect note. It is believed that through this way, the fibre content in the veggies and fruits helps ease digestion, cleanses the tummy and makes place for the incoming desserts!
“The trouble with eating Italian food is that five or six days later you’re hungry again.”
– George Miller
2. Boot shaped country.
Italy has been the subject of many jokes and anecdotes because of it’s ‘boot shaped’ peninsular structure. It’s unique shape makes it very easy for the eyes to spot it on a map!
“The most stylish country in the world is Italy!”
-Nick Rhodes
1. Bad luck bread!
A lot of Italians consider placing a loaf of bread upside down to be bad luck! There’s no clue to where this superstition originated, but some historians have said that in the Middle Ages bread allotted for the town executioner was placed this way, and it may be where the superstition rose from.
“For us to go to Italy and to penetrate into Italy is like a most fascinating act of self discovery”
-D.H Lawrence
References :
https://www.factretriever.com/
By Arya Koyal
