Speak the Culture! Italy: Be Fluent in Italian Life and Culture

Speak the Culture: Italy offers a captivating and insightful exploration of the people, events, and movements that have shaped Italy and its culture. While a guidebook can show you where to visit and a phrasebook tells you what to say, this book leads you straight to the heart of the nation.

The Italian character is complex, full of contradictions, and endlessly fascinating. Italy is home to the legacy of the greatest ancient empire, yet it is often ungovernable; a land that gave birth to Western civilization, yet also to the Mafia; a hub of modern design, tangled in bureaucracy; a center of the Catholic Church, and a symbol of "la dolce vita." The book examines Italy's rich, multifaceted identity, from its ancient history to its modern complexities.

Speak the Culture: Italy dives into a 3,000-year history, exploring architecture, music, food, art, literature, cinema, family life, and much more. It offers a comprehensive look at the cultural pillars that define Italy, including food, drink, religion, politics, sports, manners, and character. While Italy has an ancient past, it has only been a unified nation for less than 150 years, with strong regional identities that are explored in the book.

Written for anyone looking to understand Italian culture, this book covers everything from Giuseppe Verdi to Sophia Loren, offering a blend of history, culture, and personality. Beautifully illustrated and easily readable, this fourth installment in the Speak the Culture series is perfect for residents, second home-owners, travelers, businesspeople, students, or anyone with a passion for Italy.