8 ways the Italian lifestyle teaches you to appreciate life more

A trip to Italy demonstrates how the Italians respect and enjoy every aspect of life. They are good at eating and drinking well, spending time with family, noticing beautiful architecture and design, and living in a lovely warm climate. We think they have it sorted. Here are 8 ways the Italian lifestyle teaches you to enjoy life more.

Man laughing with friends at lunch table

 

1. Italians take time to appreciate the simpler things – like taking a lunch break!

We don’t mean just an hour – the Italian habit of closing shops for a few hours over lunch deserves some consideration. It lets everyone eat a decent meal, and even take a little nap, before they return to work refreshed and ready to go. We think it’s very civilised and good for a sense of wellbeing.

 

2. Talking, Talking, Talking

Italians love to talk. It’s better for your health to express your emotions instead of bottling them up, and the Italians agree with that. When you hop on board an Italian train, you’ll find that whoever sits nearby will want to exchange a few words. Italians talk with their hands as well as their voices, so you get a bit of a workout for your body, and the chance to vent your emotions and opinions too! They also like to touch while talking – for example, a friendly hand on the shoulder, or ruffle of a child’s hair – and science shows that touching is good for us, releasing the feel-good hormone Oxytocin. The Italian lifestyle is all about enjoying the moment, and Italians’ love of talking proves that. They’re rarely too busy to stop for quick natter.

Bowl of olives

 

3. The Italian lifestyle is predisposed to healthy eating!

A great deal of research on the Mediterranean diet has proven that it’s good for you – particularly eating plenty of tomatoes, olive oil, fresh fruit and veg, fresh fish, and a glug or two of decent red wine. In fact, it’s even been recognised by UNESCO* as being representative of the ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’. Food is a key component of the Italian lifestyle, and it’s one of the main reasons we all love the country so much. Even if you’re simply eating pasta with a simple drizzle of garlic and olive oil, in Italy the meal should be an occasion, meaning it should be eaten with other people, sitting at a table, and with proper respect for the food and yourself. Eating while rushing around, or sitting alone at a computer, is a no-no. Adopt the Italian respect for food, and you’re sure to feel an improvement to your life.

Learn to cook authentic Italian dishes to enjoy with your friends and family by joining one of our online cooking classes! You’ll be transported to Italy from the comfort of your own kitchen as you whip up delicious Italian recipes!

Three women laughing during a cooking holiday

 

4. Drinking a Lot of Coffee

It might not quite fit with most doctors’ advice, but it seems to us that the frequent highly-caffeinated espresso hits taken by most Italians throughout the day pep up life no end.

Food market in Italy

 

5. Being Proud of the Local Culture

Whichever beautiful Italian town, city, or village you end up visiting, ask any local, and they will tell you why it’s the best one. Italians are fiercely proud of the place they’re from, and will tell you all about its traditions and food. Local shops always sell the specialities of the region, and the shopkeepers will be knowledgeable about each item. This love of local food has also meant that markets thrive in Italy, as well as small shops. Going to get your daily groceries from a bustling and vibrant outdoor market is tangibly better for you than wandering up and down the strip-lit rows of an indoor supermarket. This pride in local produce is also a great source of self-confidence, which would be beneficial for everyone.

Group of guests smiling and posing in front of pool on holiday

 

6. Celebrating Beauty

OK, so if you’re a young attractive woman, this aspect of Italian life can be a bit of a pain, but the beneficial aspect of celebrating beauty is that Italy is full of wonderful things to look at. The Renaissance churches have been immaculately preserved, and buildings and artworks all over Italy are some of the most ornate and breathtaking in the world. They’ve built entire town centres out of marble, for goodness sake! And they really do make wonderful clothes. Thumbs up for a bit of beauty to enhance all of our cultural appreciation.

Group of Italian holiday guests around a white table with drinks overlooking an Italian mountain panorama

 

7. Taking an Evening Passeggiata

The passeggiata is a leisurely walk or stroll, taken in the evening for the purpose of socialising. It combines exercise, showing off your new outfit, enjoying a drink or gelato at the local bar, taking pleasure in a warm evening, and hanging with your friends. This is how to enjoy life in one simple word.

 

8. A major part of the Italian lifestyle is time spent with family

Every Italian loves their nonna and any bambini in their family. Take a baby to Italy and it will be appreciated, have its little cheeks squeezed, and be passed around for cuddles. Italian’s love their families, and tend to stay living closer to their extended family than Brits do. Of course, families can be annoying, but if they’re close by you can simply pop in every few days or so and catch up, or be fed with nonna’s amazing pasta on Sunday, without having to spend days together. It’s a healthier relationship all round.

To come and experience this lifestyle yourselves, book a relaxing trip to the beautiful Italy. Click here to find your perfect Italian holiday!

*UNESCO summarises the Mediterranean Diet, as follows: ‘The Mediterranean diet constitutes a set of skills, knowledge, practices and traditions ranging from the landscape to the table, including the crops, harvesting, fishing, conservation, processing, preparation and, particularly, consumption of food. The Mediterranean diet is characterized by a nutritional model that has remained constant over time and space, consisting mainly of olive oil, cereals, fresh or dried fruit and vegetables, a moderate amount of fish, dairy and meat, and many condiments and spices, all accompanied by wine or infusions, always respecting beliefs of each community. However, the Mediterranean diet (from the Greek diaita, or way of life) encompasses more than just food. It promotes social interaction, since communal meals are the cornerstone of social customs and festive events. It has given rise to a considerable body of knowledge, songs, maxims, tales and legends. The system is rooted in respect for the territory and biodiversity, and ensures the conservation and development of traditional activities and crafts linked to fishing and farming in the Mediterranean communities which Soria in Spain, Koroni in Greece, Cilento in Italy and Chefchaouen in Morocco are examples. Women play a particularly vital role in the transmission of expertise, as well as knowledge of rituals, traditional gestures and celebrations, and the safeguarding of techniques.’

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One comment on “8 ways the Italian lifestyle teaches you to appreciate life more

  1. I really enjoyed reading this article. Great writing and very informative! I love the Italian culture, and think we’d all benefit from integrating and cherishing the points you made into our lives. Thank you!

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Flavours Blog

Food, Recipes, Lifestyle and Travel blog – by the Flavours Holidays team.