Every country and culture has their own way of doing day to day tasks. One of the best parts of traveling is discovering these differences! Sometimes these variances can cause more than a bit frustration.
Shopping
Italians are very clean and, even prior to the pandemic, are very mindful of sanitary practices. In a store, you allow the workers to serve you. Never start sorting through products. If you need assistance, point to what you need and allow them to help you. While store employees of course want to sell you items, they take a lot of pride in providing a service in helping you find the right item. If an employee is already helping someone else, wait until they are done - do not help yourself.
This is even more evident in a grocery store. Always use gloves in the produce section. You'll find them right next to the produce bags. You will also need to tag your produce yourself with weigh machines located throughout the produce area. Numbers are listed for each fruit or vegetable that correspond to the produce machine.
Bring your own bags for check out because Italians charge for bags, not unlike some US states. If you do buy bags, they are often compostable and can double for organic waste pick-up. On the conveyer, lay all bottles down and if you have a case of water, show it to the cashier, but do not set it on the belt. There is a divider to create two bagging areas - you bag yourself and can start while the employee scans. Some larger stores have self-checkout now often with English language options. Be aware that you will need to scan your receipt to exit.
Most towns also have market days (one day a week in smaller towns) where you can also buy produce, meats, fish, cheeses, clothes, and essentials. The same shopping rules apply as above, just in a open air setting.
Pharmacies often have the same over the counter items that we are used to, but expect to be helped by a staff member. Many items are behind the counter even though a prescription isn't required. If you have a prescription item, make sure you carry a signed prescription from your doctor and, if there is a generic, include the name. Prescription names are routinely different from the States even if the product is avaialble.
Pharmacies are also the source of formula, particularly if you need a speciality formula. In the grocery, you can buy more mainstream option. Be prepared for a breastfeeding lecture as this is obligatory to promote breastfeeding. You can also buy diapers, baby foods, pacifiers, and bottles at the pharmacy as well which is handy if you left something behind or broke an item.
Riposta and Sunday Closures
While it is becoming less common in the big cities, many shops close for riposta in the afternoons. Even smaller or rural groceries and pharmacies will follow suit. Typically closures begin at 1 or 1:30 in the afternoon (marked 13:00/13:30) and reopen between 3:30 and 4p (15:30 and 16:00). Note that times are always listed in 24 hour format in Europe.
Sundays and the myriad of Italy holidays also promote closings and special transit schedules. Keep this in mind, particularly if you are self-catering and reliant on a store being open.
Many stores and businesses also have a closure day. Sometimes they are Sundays, but with restaurants, it is more typical to see a closure day on a weekday. Pharmacies follow a similar vein, but even in a smaller town, they tend to stagger the days so you aren't without an option. However, 24-hour pharmacies only exist in large cities so don't expect to find one open after 8p.
Queues
I have generally found that they warmer the climate, the less people tend to queue. Unless stantions are provided, Italians do not form a line. But there is still an awareness of order - pay attention to who came in when and where you fall in that order or you risk being told off. Often pharmacies, banks, grocers, and counter service restaurants will have a take-a-number system. Look for a lighted number to make sure you aren't endlessly waiting without actually being a part of the line.
Conversations
Like many romance languages, Italian has both formal and informal uses, most clearly seen in greetings. If you don't know someone or are in a shop, use formal language. You would never use "Ciao" with someone that you do not know. If in doubt, repeat however you are greeted.
Buongiorno: Good morning, used through lunch
Buona Sera: Good evening, used from riposta on
Buona Notte: Used only when headed home for the evening
Arrivederci: Formal goodbye
Grazie or Grazie a Lei: Formal thank you
Italians work to live, not live to work. Talking about work is an American thing, not an Italian thing. It can even be considered rude, like talking about money. Stick to asking questions about the person, what they like to do, their family, even their town. Most Italians have immense civic and territorial pride. More often than not, they are happy to tell you why their home is the greatest spot on the peninsula.
Modern Conveniences
The modern appliances that Americans hold dear haven't quite caught on in Italy. Namely air conditioning, dishwashers, and clothes dryers. I have seen more microwaves over the past few years, but they aren't necessarily common place, either.
Many of the homes in Italy predate all these modern contraptions and have been retrofitted to fit the most important items - electricity, hot water, and, often, a very tiny washing machine. The remainder aren't viewed as wildly important. Air conditioning is viewed as a bit unhealthy and given the stone structures and window placement, often isn't necessary, even on a hot day. Italians have a fantastic mechanism for dishes which involves installing a dish drying rack immediately over the sink. You wash, put into the rack, let dry, and the next meal, everything is stored and ready to go again.
As for a clothes dryer, there really isn't space or a reason. Italians line dry everyone (and that sunshine smells so good). Even if they wanted the dryer, its very expensive to have one not to mention that often, there simply isn't space for a washer and a dryer.
Trash & Recycling
No one sorts trash quite like the Italians. I thought I knew the ends and out of recycling after living in Austin. When I was in college, the city provided a tiny trash can and an enormous recycling can. Any excess bags outside of the trash were charged extra so we learned how to recycle everything possible. But Austin has nothing on Italians. There are five types of trash:
Glass (Vetro)
Plastic and Metal (Plastica and Metallo)
Papers (Carte and Cartone)
Organic (Organico)
The Rest (Indifferenziata)
If you rent a home, be prepared to sort and double-check what day collection is for each type of trash. Prepare yourself for a talking to from your pick-up crew if you mess it up. Some cities even have special bins or bag colors so be sure to ask your host. Even out and about in cities, the garbage cans are often divided to separate types of garbage so check before you toss.
Restaurants & Bars
With the Italian love of food, it isn't suprising that cuisine is the fountain of variety. Osterias, trattorias, pizzerias, cafes, etc.
For coffee, you visit a cafe. If you drink it at the bar, it will be cheaper. If you drink your coffee at the table, you will pay for the luxury. Coffees with milk are solely a breakfast food in Italy - before 11am. If you want one after, go for it, just know you might meet a raised eyebrow. Also note that a latte is simply milk and iced coffee is often unheard of. In larger establishments or a place that you aren't known, you will need to pay at the till before you approach the bar (often labeled Cassa). If you aren't sure, watch for a minute and see how things work.
If there is any space where the cultural divide between European and American sentiments show up most profoundly, I would say that it is the restaurant. Its the essence of the clash between the revered slow enjoyment of life for Italians vs. the must do and see and be it all natures of Americans. In Italy, the meal is the main event - a prolonged and enjoyable outings with friends or even colleages. There isn't a rushed sit down meal. If you are willing to get a table, you are willing to spend the time to dine. If not, you grab a panini or pizza slice and get on with your day.
As a result customer service simply looks different in Italy. As Americans, we are used to an almost invasive level of service, ensuring our needs are met, in part, because the US service industry is dependent on tips. For a very interesting deep dive on that, see here. In Italy, a restaurant job is a good job with reasonable wages and a pension. The staff do it all - bussing, changing linens, servings, and often the check. They genuinely want you to be happy with your experience, but also are going to give you the space to do so and not rush you out the door. If you need something, catch anyone's eye (your waiter isn't just your waiter), politely say "Scusi" and ask for what you need.
Toliets
Toliets are strictly for customers - if you want to use the bathroom in a cafe, purchase an espresso or a bottle of water. Sometimes the receipt has a code to punch in on the bathroom door or sometimes the key (chiave, kee-ah-vay) is kept behind the counter.
The alternative is to pay at public toliets. Typically between 50 cents and a euro, public toliets are a good way to go. Because they are managed, they are typically clean and well stocked with paper goods and soap.
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