Page 373 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

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many livelihoods are linked to the land and
the seasons. Main crops include wheat,
olives, and grapes. Although some of the
north’s postwar economic prosperity can
be attributed to industry (especially car
production in Turin), much of it has grown
from the expansion of family-owned
artisan businesses exporting handmade
goods abroad. The clothes chain, Benetton,
is a typical example of Italian design flair Children on their way to take First Communion in the Basilica di
capturing a large slice of the global market. Monte Berico, Vicenza
Language and Culture Modern Life
A tradition of literary Italian was established The number of practising Catholics in Italy
back in the 14th century by the poets is in decline. In spite of this, Italian society
Dante and Petrarch, who wrote in a is still highly traditional, and Italians can be
cultured Florentine dialect. Yet, even today, very formal. Italian chic decrees that your
with national television and radio stations, clothes should give the impression of
Italy’s regional dialects are resilient and wealth. If people wear similar outfits, it is
northerners have great difficulty because Italians are conformists in fashion
understanding a Neapolitan or Sicilian. as in many other aspects of daily life.
The arts in Italy have enjoyed a long and The emphasis on conformity and a
glorious history and Italians are very proud commitment to the family remain key
of this. Given the fact that Italy has some factors in Italian society despite the
100,000 monuments of major historical country’s low, and falling, birth rate.
significance, it is not surprising that there is Grandparents, children and grandchildren
a shortage of funds to keep them in good still live in family units, although this is
repair. However, with tourism accounting becoming less common. All children are
for 3 percent of Italy’s GDP, efforts are being pampered but the most cherished ones
made to put as many great buildings and are, usually, male. Attitudes to women in
art collections on show as possible. the workplace have changed, particularly
The performing arts are also underfunded, in the cities. However, the idea that men
yet there are spectacular cultural festivals. should help with housework is still a fairly
In the land of Verdi and Rossini, opera is foreign notion to the older generation.
well supported, with an opera house in Food and football are the great
almost every town. Cinema is another art constants; Italians live for both. Much time
form that flourishes, with great directors of is spent on preparing food and eating.
the second half of the 20th century, such The Italian diet, particularly in the south,
as Federico Fellini, and Vittorio de Sica. is among the healthiest in the world.
Football is a national passion and inspires
massive public interest.
Despite the political upheaval and
corruption scandals of the 1990s, Italy
appears little changed to foreign visitors,
maintaining its regional identities and
traditional values. The cost of living has
soared, however, since the introduction
of the euro in 2002, leading to increased
poverty for some. The global economic
The Italian soccer team lined up before a match crisis has also had a serious impact on Italy.

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