Etiquette from Lonely Planet
Etiquette
Italy is a surprisingly formal society; the following tips will help avoid awkward moments.
-
-
Greetings Greet people in shops, restaurants and bars with a 'buongiorno' (good morning) or 'buonasera' (good evening); kiss both cheeks and say 'come stai' (how are you) to friends.
-
-
-
Asking for help Say 'mi scusi' (excuse me) to attract attention; use 'permesso' (permission) to pass someone in a crowded space.
-
-
-
Dress Cover shoulders, torso and thighs when visiting churches and dress smartly when eating out.
-
-
-
At the table Eat pasta with a fork, not a spoon; it's OK to eat pizza with your hands.
-
-
Gifts If invited to someone’s home, traditional gifts are a tray of dolci (sweets) from a pasticceria (pastry shop), a bottle of wine or flowers.
​
​
Things NOT to Do When in Rome
Don’t Expect Tap Water at a Restaurant
Rome is full of public drinking fountains. Every few blocks, you’ll stumble upon a fontanellespigot (sometimes quite elaborate and sculptural) where you can wet your whistle or fill your water bottle. This is the civilization that engineered mighty aqueducts, and their water is safe, clean and fresh – albeit a little high in calcium and chlorine. By all means, drink it and brush your teeth without fear of Ceasar’s revenge. However, tap water is rarely served in restaurants. Most locals and visitors buy inexpensive bottles of water when dining out, either acqua naturale (still) or acqua frizzante (sparkling), depending on if you want bubbles or not. While the tap water is perfectly potable, its just not the norm at restaurants and one of those things not to do when in Rome. You can insist on a glass of tap water, if you really want it, but your waiter may be a little put off by the request.
Don’t Splash in the Fountains
Speaking of water, put away any fantasies you may have of dancing barefoot in the fountains of Rome. It’s just not done. Anita and Marcello may have frolicked in the Trevi Fountain in La Dolce Vita, but that’s just in the movies. Go on, toss the traditional three coins in the fountain to ensure a return trip to Rome someday, but dive in for a dip and the polizia may have something to say about it.
Don’t Snap Selfies in the Sistine Chapel
The official rule is there’s no photography in the Sistine Chapel, no matter how much you want to Intagram Michelangelo’s masterpiece ceiling. Yep, you see tourists trying to break this rule all the time, but it’s usually met with a chorus of “No photo! No video!” from the vigilant security guards. There’s a rule against flash photography in many museums around the world, including the Vatican Museums, mainly due to concerns of incessant flashes affecting the priceless artwork. That’s not the case in the Sistine Chapel. Expensive restoration work was done in the 1980s and, to help fund the endeavor, exclusive rights to photograph this artistic wonder were sold to the Nippon Television Network of Japan. This deal has since expired, but the official rule remains in place. After all, lovely photobooks are available at the gift shop. Consider this one of the things not to do when in Rome, although many tourists manage to sneak a snap now and then.
Don’t Take a Photo With a Fake Gladiator
Walk by the Colosseum and you’ll no doubt be approached by an elaborately costumed gladiator trying to convince you to strike a pose with them. They look tempting in their flashy tunics, golden helmets, flowing red capes and mighty swords. However, they can be rather aggressive as they hassle passersby, and have been known to demand exorbitant fees for photographing them. Some deliberately photo-bomb unsuspecting tourists then demand payment. Others casually offer to take your photo and then demand payment to get your camera back. It’s actually illegal for them to loiter in front of the Colosseum and ask for money, but it’s a difficult operation to shut down. There are better ways to spend your money or get a scenic shot in Rome than with these cheesy faux gladiator tourist touts.
Don’t Ask for Parmesan Cheese
Speaking of cheese… remember, this isn’t the Olive Garden. While many American “Italiano” restaurants offer a sprinkling of tasteless cheesy snow atop sorts of entrees, real Parmesan (preferably official Parmigiano-Reggiano produced in Parma) is a hard, slightly sharp, nutty, complex artisanal craft formaggio not meant to be used as an afterthought condiment. If you ask for some Parmesan for your seafood pasta or risotto, your waiter might be aghast. It’s akin to ordering a cappuccino past twelve. It’s just not done. A good rule of thumb is to wait for the waiter to ask you if you’d like some cheese on your meal. If he offers, it’s appropriate. If he doesn’t, it’s not. By all means, ask if you really want it (it’s your money and mouth, after all), but they’ll be snickering about you back in the kitchen
https://www.destinationtips.com/destinations/10-things-not-to-do-when-in-rome/
http://www.reidsitaly.com/planning/shopping/us_customs.html
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/packing-light/clearing-customs
Official What you can bring in:
​
From Lonely Planet