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LA BELLA VITA

La Bella Vita: How to do the Italian cheek kiss and Italy’s deepest rivalries

From the unwritten rules regulating Italians' trademark greeting to some of the fiercest rivalries going on in the country, our weekly newsletter La Bella Vita offers you an essential starting point for eating, talking, drinking and living like an Italian.

Palio di Siena
Far from being just a horse race, the iconic Palio di Siena is a vibrant celebration of the age-old rivalry between Siena's 17 city districts. Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP

La Bella Vita is our regular look at the real culture of Italy – from language to cuisine, manners to art. This newsletter is published weekly and you can receive it directly to your inbox: go to newsletter preferences in ‘My Account’ or follow the instructions in the newsletter box below.

From how to order your coffee to which pasta shapes to pair with which sauce, to hand gestures and usage of tu and Lei, Italy has no shortage of unwritten rules.

And falling foul of these rules, especially as a foreign national, can occasionally result in slightly awkward situations involving moderately befuddled locals.

Among a plethora of etiquette protocols, the double cheek kiss – Italians’ trademark greeting – is one of those with the highest potential for embarrassment as newcomers are faced with the ‘to kiss or not to kiss’ dilemma each time they meet someone new.

So, to clear up at least some doubts on the topic, here’s some essential info on the Italian cheek kiss, including when to do it and how.

Here’s how to do the Italian cheek kiss

Italy is a country of romance, even more so onscreen as Italian cinema has over the decades gifted international audiences with a long list of critically acclaimed films about love.

Federico Fellini

The Dolce Vita by Federico Fellini (pictured) is largely considered one of the best films of all time. Photo by AFP

So, we have selected some of the best romantic Italian films of all time to give you some inspiration for your next movie night. 

11 of the best romantic Italian films of all time

While the north v south divide (and the numerous stereotypes associated with it) may be known well beyond national borders, Italy is home to many more fierce and long-lived rivalries. 

And you may be surprised to know that one is all about the popular tiramisù dessert. 

From football to tiramisu: A look at Italy’s deepest rivalries

Finally, visitors often balk at the sight of Italy’s coperto charge on their restaurant bills and complaints about the fee abound on social media. 

But what is the coperto charge really about and what does Italian law say about it?

‘A rip-off’: Should you really get mad about Italy’s table charge? 

Remember if you’d like to have this weekly newsletter sent straight to your inbox you can sign up for it via Newsletter preferences in “My Account”.

Is there an aspect of the Italian way of life you’d like to see us write more about? Please email me at [email protected].

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LA BELLA VITA

La Bella Vita: Must-try Roman foods and alternative places to visit in Veneto

From enjoying typical Roman culinary delicacies to exploring the region of Veneto beyond Venice, our weekly newsletter La Bella Vita offers you an essential starting point for eating, talking, drinking and living like an Italian.

La Bella Vita: Must-try Roman foods and alternative places to visit in Veneto

La Bella Vita is our regular look at the real culture of Italy – from language to cuisine, manners to art. This newsletter is published weekly and you can receive it directly to your inbox, by going to newsletter preferences in ‘My Account’ or following the instructions in the newsletter box below.

Italian cuisine is incredibly diverse, with culinary traditions, recipes and delicacies varying greatly from region to region, or even from city to city in some cases.

Rome and the surrounding Lazio are no exception as the region boasts a 2,000-year-old food scene that truly has something for all tastes and preferences. 

From typical pasta dishes such as cacio e pepe, amatriciana, and carbonara to deep-fried artichokes and finger-licking street food, we’ve put together a list of the Roman specialities you should try at least once.

15 typical Roman foods you need to try at least once

Gnocchi are a Roman favourite, particularly on one day of the week. Photo by Neilson Barnard / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP.

With prestigious attractions such as the Doge’s Palace and Saint Mark’s Basilica, and its timeless aura as the world’s most romantic city, Venice is one of the most popular Italian destinations among international visitors.

This, however, means that many of its sites and central areas often get hopelessly crowded during peak tourist season, with visitors frequently facing long queues and disheartening waiting times.

Whether you’ve already visited Venice multiple times or you just want to escape the chaos of the summer months, you may be happy to know that the Veneto region is home to many wonders beyond the ‘floating city’, with plenty of small hilltop towns and lesser-known natural parks and beaches just waiting to be explored.

25 alternative places to see in Veneto other than Venice

After a spell of changeable weather and unusually cool temperatures, particularly in the north of the country, mercury levels have risen all around Italy this week, with heat alerts in place for multiple major cities from Wednesday to Friday. 

But as the peninsula experiences the first heatwave of the summer, with highs of around 41°C expected in parts of Puglia, Sicily and Sardinia this weekend, there is further proof that estate is well and truly here. 

From bars and beach clubs everywhere blasting tormentoni tunes of questionable taste to the return of bulky cooler bags stuffed with anything from pasta fredda (pasta salad) to prosciutto e melone (ham and melon), here are nine unmistakable signs that summer has arrived in Italy. 

Nine unmistakable signs that summer has arrived in Italy

Remember if you’d like to have this weekly newsletter sent straight to your inbox you can sign up for it via Newsletter preferences in “My Account”.

Is there an aspect of the Italian way of life you’d like to see us write more about on The Local? Please email me at [email protected].

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