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Culture in Italy – where to begin? Let’s start where Tyler does, one of our featured Returnees who studied in Livorno for a year – its pace. Stores closed in the middle of the day? Relax and have a cappuccino. Friend a few minutes late? To be expected. Time is more flexible here, particularly if you’re in a rural spot, or further south. Enjoy the luxury of being able to sit back and take it all in.
Art is another one of Italy’s cultural treasures. We’ve all heard of Michelangelo, da Vinci, Raphael, and Dolci - thousands of tourists flock to Italy to see their works. Some argue that this focus on antiquities has stymied the contemporary art scene. Others disagree, pointing to an increase in gallery spaces, in art festivals (such as Arte Fiere, which takes place annually in Bologna), and in public artistic expression (such as graffiti in Rome, depicted in this edition of Street Art magazine).
You can make your own contribution to Italy’s art scene on our Italy Summer Sculpture Program. Participants spend 5 incredible weeks attending sculpture classes in the marble capital of the world – Massa Carrara. The deadline to apply is March 15th, and no prior sculpting experience is required.
Italy’s music is not as heralded as its artwork. Due to the dominance of American popular culture, you may find that you and your Italian friends actually listen to the same bands and artists. But there are plenty of Italian performers that may not have international exposure, but are worth a listen. Get a head start by listening to Radio Luiss, a college radio station that streams live from Rome. Irene, an AFS Returnee who made the reverse trip from Italy to the States, has her own show!
For more traditional music, and a heck of a lot more, visit one of Italy’s festivals. There’s Il Palio in Siena, an enthralling world famous horse race held twice a year. Or Carnevale, celebrated in almost every city, with costumes, pageantry, fireworks, floats, and concerts. The town of Ivrea has a particularly unique Carnevale celebration. Teams reenact their town’s medieval history by throwing oranges at each other. Yes, oranges. Jocelyn, who studied with AFS in Ivrea, has some great photos of the carnage of orange in her blog.
And speaking of blogs, check them out to learn more about one aspect of Italian culture that you’ll definitely have to grapple with – the academic culture. For example, you won’t move to a different classroom when class is over – the teachers actually come to you. In addition, oral tests are quite common. This can take some getting used to, as our Returnees can attest, but if you can survive a battle of oranges, you can handle anything!
Dive into the culture of Italy, and bring your appetite!
