La Bella Vita is our regular look at the real culture of Italy – from language to cuisine, manners to art. This newsletter is published weekly, and you can receive it directly to your inbox: go to newsletter preferences in 'My Account' or follow the instructions in the newsletter box below.
A video has made the rounds on social media this week of a person calling out a tre campanelle street scam artist in Rome and capturing the scammer and his accomplices angrily fleeing the scene.
Social media posts about people getting ripped off in Italy often go viral. Last week, we wrote about common restaurant scams after a post by an American tourist who paid €44 for two gelatos in central Rome made international headlines.
It's little wonder that people are wary of scams when visiting Italy. As one reader commented: "It really is exhausting that the country is so rampant with scams that it is hard to feel safe."
But how does reality in Italy compare to what you see online? Do regular visitors or residents actually face problems with rip-offs?
As I wrote in the article below, in my nine years in central Rome I've never encountered a true scam – at a restaurant or anywhere else. But we'd love to hear your thoughts on this in the comments.
Are scams really a big problem in Italy?
There are thought to be more than 10,000 Catholic saints, and yet two of the biggest Italian cities both claim one: John the Baptist.
Next week, Florence and Turin celebrate the birth date of their shared santo patrono with the Festa di San Giovanni. These citywide birthday parties encompass all the essentials – eating, drinking, parades, games and a firework finish.
Rome’s patron saint day is just a few days later, though you probably won’t see any street parties.
The capital has two patron saints, Peter and Paul, and their conjoined saint day marks not their births but their deaths. The somber date calls for muted commemorations, such as masses and pilgrimages. (But there will still be fireworks – that’s basically a saint day non-negotiable.)
Perhaps the most exciting thing of all about these saints' days is that they're public holidays in their respective cities. So you might stick around for the celebrations or use the day off to get out of town.
Festa dei santi: When people get an extra holiday in Florence, Rome and Turin
Italy’s Pride calendar is heating up as International Pride Day, June 28th, draws near.
The largest Pride parade in Italy is happening tomorrow (Saturday) in Rome, with a massive, colourful parade that last year counted one million marchers. You can join them at 3pm tomorrow, or get the party started tonight at one of the Pride concerts happening across the city.
Saturday is also Pride parade day in various other Italian cities, such as Palermo and Treviso.
Milan and several others will host Pride parades next weekend.
Peak Pride season: Two weekends of parades and parties in Italy
Remember, if you’d like to have this weekly newsletter sent straight to your inbox, you can sign up for it via Newsletter preferences in “My Account”.
Is there an aspect of the Italian way of life you’d like to read more about? Please email us at news@thelocal.it.
Comments