Yes, many Italians practice the midday break known as riposo (or pennichella), a tradition involving a pause in the afternoon, often including a short nap (a pennica) and a large lunch, especially in hotter, southern regions, though it's less common in big cities now, with shops closing for several hours. It's a cultural practice to avoid the midday heat and enjoy family time, with short, restorative 20-30 minute naps being ideal.
Siesta is also practiced in some still colder regions, such as Patagonia. The power nap is called riposo in Northern Italy and pennichella or pisolino in Southern Italy.
Riposo, also known as pennichella in some parts of Italy, is the Italian version of Spain's, siesta. It's a time in the afternoon when shops close, streets empty out, and Italians retreat indoors to escape the midday heat. But it's not just about catching some zzz's.
As a result, bedtime can be relatively late, with many Italians going to sleep between 11 p.m. and midnight.
With all these benefits of napping, it's no wonder they're popular across the world, even if they can vary with each culture.
In Italy siesta is known as riposo. Shops are closed midday for three hours or so, that way Italians get to go home, rest, and be with family. Riposo to Italians means enjoying a home cooked meal and spending time with family. Nothing beats the summer heat than laughter and being in the company of the people you love.
The siesta doesn't just happen in Spain, but also in other warm European countries and tropical countries outside of Europe. Around noon, workers return home and shops close. At the hottest part of the day, people take a nap and then go back to work.
Eating habits are also a factor. Italians who regularly consume fruits and vegetables, for example, have a significantly lower rate of overweight than those who regularly drink alcohol and consume junk food. Obese people seem to get more pleasure from shopping and are more interested in cooking.
In Italy, staying fresh is part of everyday life. More than 95% of the population showers at least once a day, with many doing it twice during the hot summer months. Most keep it short at around five to ten minutes.
Mornings are reserved for milky drinks, such as a cappuccino or caffè latte, and it is often frowned upon to drink milkier beverages later in the day. After 11 a.m., Italians switch to espresso-based drinks like a simple shot of espresso or a macchiato instead of a milkier cup of coffee.
The 7% tax rate applies to any type of foreign sourced income taxable in Italy, not just pension income. If you meet the requirements above, you can take advantage of a 7% flat tax rate on all your foreign earnings of any nature.
Almost all Italians claim to be in the shower for 5 to 10 minutes. Then there are the two extremes that claim to stay there less than 5 minutes or more than 15. The majority shower as soon as they return home after work (41%), while the rest split between morning (25%) and before going to bed (28%).
"Fangool" (or Va fangool) is a heavily slang, often playful-sounding, Italian-American corruption of the Italian phrase "Va' a fare in culo," which directly translates to a vulgar "go f*** yourself" or "go stick it up your ass," used to express strong anger, dismissal, or contempt. It's a colorful expression of telling someone to get lost or that you don't care about their opinion, similar to "get out of my sight!".
The Do's and Don'ts of Italian Food Etiquette
The Social Aspect of Dining
In Italy, dinner is more than just a meal; it's a social event. Italians value spending time with family and friends over a long, leisurely dinner. Eating late allows for a more relaxed and extended dining experience, where conversation and connection are as important as the food itself.
Riposo. Riposo, or the Italian version of "siesta," is a time for rest and relaxation during the day. Often, this acts as an extended lunch break. During the riposo, many businesses, stores, and restaurants close for the break, and the streets usually become emptier and quieter.
Circulatory diseases remain the leading cause of death in Italy, followed by cancer. In 2022, Italy's adult smoking rate was slightly higher than the EU average at 19.6 %, marking a resurgence of smoking during the pandemic following a decade of gradual declines.
Scusi/Scusa, posso andare in bagno? (Excuse me, can I go to the bathroom?): a polite way to ask for permission before answering nature's call.
The latest global comparison of bathing habits reveals striking differences between countries, with Brazil topping the list at an average of 14 baths per week.
1️⃣ Portion control. Italians enjoy pasta as a primo piatto (first course), not a huge main meal — around 70–100g uncooked, satisfying but not excessive. 2️⃣ Balanced meals. Pasta's rarely eaten alone!
In Italy, traditional pasta makers use ancient grains or high-quality durum wheat (zero glyphosate), slow-dry the pasta for up to 72 hours, and bronze-cut the dough to keep its natural structure intact. The result? Pasta that's easier to digest, higher quality, and actually tastes like wheat.
10 hours before bed: No more caffeine. 3 hours before bed: No more food or alcohol. 2 hours before bed: No more work. 1 hour before bed: No more screen time (shut off all phones, TVs and computers).
The koala is the animal that sleeps approximately 90% of the day (20-22 hours), a necessity due to its low-energy eucalyptus diet requiring intensive digestion, making it the ultimate champion of sleep in the animal kingdom, followed closely by sloths and bats.
But no other group of people takes their naps quite as seriously as those living in Spain. The siesta - which means "a midday or afternoon rest or nap" - has become a big part of Spanish culture. Many businesses in Barcelona and other parts of the country still shut down every day so that siestas can take place.