Page 31 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

A POR TR AIT OF IT AL Y  29

The solution to heavy traffic in Rome: motorbikes and scooters
2013, Berlusconi was barred from any public The emphasis on conformity and a
office for seven years for tax fraud. In 2014, commitment to the institution of the family
leftist Democrat Matteo Renzi became Italy’s remain key factors in Italian society despite
youngest prime minister. In December the country’s low birth rate. Grandparents,
2016, Renzi resigned after his plans for children and grandchildren often still live in
reform were defeated in a referendum. family units, although this is becoming
less common. Women’s Liberation fought
Modern Life a powerful campaign in the 1970s and did
Food and football are the great constants; much to change attitudes to women in
Italians live for both. Much time is spent the workplace, particularly in metropolitan
on preparing food and eating. The Italian areas. However, the idea that men should
diet, particularly in the south, is among help with housework and the care of the
the healthiest in the world. Football is a children is still a fairly foreign notion
national passion and inspires massive among the older generation.
public interest and media attention, With the miracle of its postwar economic
not least as a way of expressing recovery, where industry and technology
regional loyalties. were united with design, Italy became a
As far as religion is concerned, the success story. Although the economy has
number of practising Catholics has been badly affected by the worldwide
been in de cline for some years. Although recessions and political upheaval including
Rome lies at the centre of world the exposure of corruption in public offices,
Catholicism, today many Italians are Italy appears unchanged to foreign visitors.
uninterested in religion, but still attend Its ability to keep its regional identities and
Mass in number on saints’ days or feast traditional values seems to have allowed
days. As a result of immigra tion, other the country to ride out the difficulties of
religions are now on the increase. recent years relatively unscathed.

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