Italians often don't automatically use ice in drinks due to a cultural belief that icy drinks hinder digestion or cause stomach issues like colpo d'aria (sudden chill) or congestione (abdominal cramps), and they prefer strong, undiluted flavors in coffee. While you can request ice, especially in tourist spots, many restaurants serve drinks like bottled mineral water chilled in the fridge instead, and ice is more common in aperitivi or cocktails than with water or basic sodas.
Europeans managed to make a virtue of necessity and build an entire food culture in which plain water and ice plays very little role. Hence the lack of ice.
Italian Food Rule: No ice cubes in beverages. Ice in Italy is to keep fresh fish fresh. Full stop.
The vehement denial of iced beverages here all stems from Italians' deep-seated phobia of colpo d'aria and congestione (abdominal cramping). To contract either would be a fate worse than death, and drinking iced beverages is too great a risk to take.
Nonetheless, circulatory diseases remained the leading cause of death in Italy in 2020, and were responsible for over 30 % of all fatalities. Cancer was the second leading cause of mortality in 2020, accounting for 22.5 % of all deaths.
In 2023, the metropolitan city of Milan ranked first in terms of crime rate, as it recorded 7,100 felonies per 100,000 inhabitants. Furthermore, the provinces of Rome and Florence followed with around 6,000 cases reported.
Eating plenty of fresh fish, fruits and vegetables, nuts, and cooking with olive oil could explain the high life expectancy rate in Italy. The number of centenarians, or people that are over the age of 100, has tripled in Italy over the last 15 years. Out of the total number of centenarians, 83 percent are women.
6. The unwritten rule is that wine and cappuccino aren't ordered with pizza. Beer or sparkling water are the preferred choices. In the area around Sorrento, you'll be served a small glass of Limoncello with your pizza—and anything else you order.
The 20-minute wine rule is a simple guideline to bring wines to their optimal serving temperature: put red wines in the fridge for about 20 minutes to cool slightly (as room temp is too warm), and take white wines out of the fridge for about 20 minutes to let them warm up a bit (as too cold masks flavors). This helps unlock the full aromas and flavors, as serving wines too hot or too cold mutes their complexity.
No one in Italy ever gives me ice." The response, delivered with classic Italian flair, questions the logic of adding ice to sparkling water ("acqua frizzante"). The argument is that it dilutes the bubbles, defeating the purpose of sparkling water.
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.
You will not get ice in your drinks
You are unlikely to be served any ice with your water, or indeed any other drink unless it's a specific cocktail that calls for ice. Even if you ask for ice you may get a quizzical look and just one or two cubes.
What is the minimum drinking age in Italy? The drinking age in Italy is 18 years old. However, it is not strictly enforced. We recommend to always carry a photo ID to prove your age.
Don't say you dislike something or make a face implying dislike. It is considered rude to leave something on your plate or to decline a meal. Do not call someone by their first name unless asked to. Call them by their appropriate title (Mr, Mrs, Miss, etc.)
There isn't one single country with the absolute lowest age, as some have no minimum age (like Angola, Mali, Guinea-Bissau), while others have very low ages, with Burkina Faso often cited at 13, and countries like Germany, Austria, and Denmark allowing beer/wine at 16 (sometimes with parental supervision). The Central African Republic and Mali are sometimes listed at 15, and many African nations have no national laws.
The most popular way to take it is Kleiner Brauner (espresso) and Großer Brauner (espresso with a little bit of milk). Vienna coffee is also popular: an espresso shot topped with whipped cream.
The "3-2-1" (or often "1-2-3") drinking rule is a guideline for moderate alcohol consumption: 1 drink per hour, no more than 2 drinks per occasion, and at least 3 alcohol-free days per week, helping to pace intake and reduce risks. It aligns with official health advice, emphasizing that the body processes only about one standard drink (e.g., 12oz beer, 5oz wine) per hour, and provides a framework for mindful drinking to avoid binge patterns and health issues, though it's a simplification of broader guidelines.
The "75 rule" for U.S. wine labels means that if a specific grape (like Chardonnay or Merlot) is named, at least 75% of the wine must be from that grape variety; this rule extends to the 75-85-95 rule, where 85% of grapes must come from a named region (AVA) and 95% from a specific vintage year for those claims to be valid, offering consumers transparency about the wine's origin and composition.
You should not chill full-bodied red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, and Malbec. These wines have more tannins, and cooling them makes them taste bitter. Instead, serve these wines at room temperature or just slightly cooler, around 65°F.
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.
It's not considered at all rude to leave your pizza crusts in Italy. Many Italians do so, especially in thicker crust pizzas such as Neapolitan style pizzas.
The Italian FDI regime is also known as the Golden Power Law or Golden Power regime in Italy, as it gives the Italian government "golden" or special powers to approve or veto FDIs.
The Job Market & Wages
In many industries, salaries are lower than in Northern Europe or North America. For those focused on career growth, this can be a major downside when weighing the pros and cons of living in Italy.
Italian DNA is unique due to its exceptionally high genetic diversity, a result of Italy's position as a crossroads for migrations and invasions, blending ancient Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, Neolithic farmers, Bronze Age steppe nomads, and later influences from Greeks, Celts, North Africans, and Germanic peoples, creating distinct regional genetic profiles, like the isolated Sardinians and the North-South gradient reflecting varied environmental adaptations.
In Italy, the 🤌 (pinched fingers) emoji and gesture primarily mean "What do you want?" or express disbelief, frustration, or "What are you talking about?", but it can also signify something is "perfect" (like a chef's kiss) or add emphasis to questions like "Why?" or "Are you crazy?" depending on context and tone. It's a very expressive gesture used to convey confusion, emphasis, or exasperation, a hallmark of Italian communication.