10 Things to Know Before Visiting Italy

We walk into Italy often with the fantasy that it's one of the oldest countries in the world, when in fact it's technically one of the youngest. Italy was unified into one country in 1871 — which is why tourists and expats notice varying dialects and an undeniable sense of competiveness among the different regions (especially when it comes to olive oil, wine, and pasta game).

Italians take their midday riposo quite seriously, with most restaurants, cafes, and shops closing from 1-4 p.m. in the afternoon. Don't be annoyed, you overwired westernized hustler. Join them.

This time is often dedicated to going home, taking a nap, eating delicious homemade food (slowly), and having conversations with family. Take a minute to comprehend that Italians take three hours out of the middle of their day to make sure those are priorities — la vita è bella.

Between roughly 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. unfolds one of the most relaxing, delicious, and socially uplifting hours in Italy: aperitivo time. These short golden hours consist of refreshing Italian cocktails and an array of crunchy, heavenly, and often salty snacks. Forget the boozy value for a moment and visualize the social atmosphere of European dreams: Italians getting off of work meeting up with friends, laughing with your travel buddy, happy tourists enjoying their little slice of the Italian lifestyle.

It's no secret that Italians are arguably the most fashionable subset of humans to walk this planet. Women in the city do wear Emilio Pucci to the grocery store. Men do have an impressive collection of loafers from Salvatore Ferragamo on reserve for their morning runs to the espresso bar. Yet, to Italians, there is no fuss required. Fashion isn't a means to show off your socioeconomic place in the world, it's a way of life. The biggest fashion houses in Italy are cultural legacies and major benefactors of preserving Italy's artistic and historical heritage. When visiting Italy, don't be intimidated by the fact that it's a nonstop fashion show, but rather admire a country that prides itself on being at the forefront of the fashion industry.

Italy is saturated with tourism opportunities, so it's important to be selective and ensure you're supporting the local economy in the most direct way possible. When it comes to booking tours, my advice: do research and hire a private local guide or concierge. Not only are you supporting a small Italian business rather than a big company, but you also have the opportunity to customize your Italian experience in a way that a one-size-fits-all standard tour can never provide.

Imagine spending your afternoon in the sun-drenched Italian Riviera, jumping off rocks into the aquamarine waves of the Mediterranean Sea, and finishing your day with a sunset spritz overlooking the silhouette of Cinque Terre as the yachts play on the horizon. Yes, a Summer in Italy is guaranteed to be the most enchanting Summer of your life and every moment will feel like a vibrant, visual run-on sentence. However, if you're looking for an intimate Italian travel experience with less crowds and more locals in every city, visit off-season (November-March).

Did you know that pesto is from northern Italy while heaven-sent cannoli actually originated in Sicily? Or that our BCF (bread crush forever) focaccia is from Liguria while the original address of risotto is Milan? Fact: Italy can be geographically mapped by culinary gifts to the world. It's absolutely worth researching your destinations so you can map which specialty dishes (and wines) to try as you eat your way through the world's most celebrated food culture.

I won't judge you if your main prerogative when visiting Italy is to double your current body weight by the means of gelato — I get it, but be sure you're devouring the real stuff. In cities like Rome and Florence, gelato shops tend to pump gelato with air so they can create the illusion of irresistible, vibrant, impossible-to-ignore gelato mountains of tourist temptation. Take a walk down the Instagram-worthy alleys less traveled and look for gelato shops that boast more modest colors and aren't endeavoring to have their gelato displays rival Sistine Chapel ornamentation; less is more.

If you're a fan of pumping yourself with vats of caffeine in the morning (*raises hand*), then it's important to scope out your coffee game quickly. While the grand piazza or seaside boardwalk often has prime views of the city, it comes with subpar Italian coffee for prices only a New Yorker would deem reasonable. Head to a local "bar" and order a cappuccino (con cocoa, per favore) — add a cornetto con crema to the menu and you just discovered the ultimate Italian breakfast of champions.

Rule of thumb: a cappuccino should always cost less than €1.50. Anything above that price tag is tourist zone inflation.

There is nothing more respectful to the Italian culture than to adopt a few Italian phrases — even if visiting for only a short while. Download an app, learn to say the basics, and allow your mind to devour the harmonic syntax of the Italian language — it's beautiful. There is so much to discover about a culture within its language, and one can't comprehend the romantic lifestyle of Italy without indulging in the decadent tongue that made it.

For more travel inspiration on Italy, be sure to visit The Modern Jetsetter, a luxury travel website dedicated to inspiring wanderlust for Italy and New York City.