Smile And Don't Be Noisy: Italy's Weird Laws (2023)

FAQs

Smile And Don't Be Noisy: Italy's Weird Laws? ›

You must smile at all times in Milan if you want to avoid a fine. Unless you're at a funeral or a hospital, this smiling law was created to rid glumness from the city. But don't worry too much, this law hasn't been enforced for a few years.

Most of your neighbors are average Italian citizens with families and full-time jobs, in need of 7-8 hours of sleep every night. By law, silence is required between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. and again between 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Please respect this law by keeping noise to a minimum during these hours.

Milan, Italy

There's an old law that actually states that you're required to smile at all times whilst in public places and if you frown you could be fined! The only times you're exempt is during funerals or hospital visits.

Italy. Pedestrians are allowed to cross a street without any recognised crossing point only if there are no zebra crossings within a range of 100 m, but they should be careful anyway. If pedestrians cross a street at a crosswalk, drivers must yield.

If you are planning a family trip to il Bel Paese—especially if your teenage children or grandchildren are part of the brood—you may be wondering about the legal drinking age in Italy and local drinking customs. The legal drinking age in Italy is currently 18 years old.

The Italian 'Golden Power' regulations provide the Italian Government with the power to impose specific conditions or exercise a veto in relation to transactions, investments or corporate resolutions that could threaten or prejudice essential Italian public interests.

Omertà (/oʊˈmɛərtə/, Italian pronunciation: [omerˈta]) is a Southern Italian code of silence and code of honor and conduct that places importance on silence in the face of questioning by authorities or outsiders; non-cooperation with authorities, the government, or outsiders, especially during criminal investigations; ...

When do you need to be quiet? The commonly agreed upon quiet hours in Germany (Ruhezeit time period) are from 10pm and 6 or 7am on weekdays and the entire day on Sundays, although there can be some exceptions in different cities or if your landlord imposes other rules as well.

According to YourOverseasHome.com, flip flops are banned on the island of Capri, in Italy, as it is illegal to wear “excessively noisy” footwear because locals value their “peace and quiet”. However, tourists can carry noisy shoes and wear them in the rest of Italy.

Is it OK to kiss in public in Italy? ›

Yes, kissing in public is generally allowed in Italy, although the degree of public display of affection may vary depending on the region and the specific cultural norms of the area.

600-ter of the Italian penal code does not take into account all types of pornographic pictures of minors, but only the ones taken for child exploitation and that the spread and divulgation of such pictures is punishable only in the case that someone, who is not the minor, took the pictures.

Unusual rules from around the world including no chewing gum in Singapore and a bikini ban in Sorrento, Italy.

Wearing flip-flops.

The hilly seaside destination of Cinque Terre has had it with flip-flop-clad tourists who need to be rescued from local hiking trails. A new law will impose fines for wearing flip-flops. The charges can go from €50 ($56) up to a whopping €2,500 ($2,827).

That's why breaking pasta in Italy is definitely a no-go but rest assured that you won't go to jail for breaking pasta. You are just breaking a tradition and a rooted cultural habit in Italy, but you are free to eat the pasta the way it's more convenient for you.

Below are the speeding fines you will see in Italy: Up to 10 kmph – fine from €41. From 11-40 kmph – fine from €175. From 41-60 kmph – fine from €532 (can have licensed suspended up to 3 months)

A red light definitely means stop in Italy. (There's no equivalent of turning right on red.) A flashing amber light means you must slow down and proceed with caution.

The youngest legal drinking age in the world is 15, with both Mali and the Central African Republic allowing folks to drink at that time. Seven countries do not have a government-mandated drinking age, while 11 countries ban the consumption of booze entirely.

Sales Restrictions

The sale of tobacco products is prohibited to persons under the age of 18.

Never go out with wet hair. If you want to see an Italian seriously lose their cool, just go out with wet hair. In Italy, if you go out without drying your hair, you'll risk getting a “colpo d'aria” – or, literally, a “blast of air”. This is said to cause anything from a sore neck to indigestion.

What are the 4 food rules in Italy? ›

It is common for Italian friends and families to kiss on the cheek when they meet, irrespective of their gender. Stand up out of respect when an older person enters the room. It is important to dress neatly and respectfully. Cover your mouth when yawning or sneezing.

555 of 1912. Enacted in 1912, Italy's first ever law on citizenship provided that children born in United States to an Italian father had Italian citizenship by bloodline if the father was still an Italian citizen at the time of the child's birth (see par. 7).

The German word Ruhezeit means that making noise on Sundays is legally forbidden in Germany. If you are making noise and someone from your neighbors or surrounding makes a complaint, you will be caught up for fines and penalties for breaching the German rules.

The German Working Hours Act therefore prohibits employers from allowing their employees to work on Sundays and general public holidays. Sunday is considered the time on Sunday from 12:00 am to 12:00 am the following day.

Sundays and public holidays are quiet days. On other days, the quiet hours are from 22:00 to 6:00. You can't use certain machines between 20:00 and 7:00.

Also, apparently, some cathedrals will not let you enter wearing shorts. I am here to tell you, that this is incorrect. You can wear shorts in Italy and look perfectly normal. Here are a few examples of Italians we saw wearing shorts in Italy when it was in the mid-80s in September.

The best ones to pack are those that come with a rubber sole and cushioning for walking. If you prefer to keep your feet covered, closed-toe sandals light summer sneakers are also a good choice; however, make sure they are truly breathable as the temperatures in Italy can be scorching!

And now that Birkenstock makes their shoes in so many fun colors and textures (e.g., patent leather, fake snakeskin-patterned), you can wear them with just about everything. I pack my Birkenstocks for nearly all Italy trips between April and October, especially if I'm spending most of the time in Southern Italy.

Are sandals OK in Italy? ›

Sandals or flats might not always be a good idea when you're exploring an Italian city. Italy is one of those countries where there are a lot of cobblestones. They make uneven surfaces. On the long run, they will hurt your feet.

It is common to give air kisses on both cheeks (starting with your left) when greeting those you know well. This is called the 'il bacetto'. However, in Southern Italy, men generally only kiss family members and prefer to give a pat on the back to show affection in a greeting.

The general rule of the cheek kisses is to give one or two light kisses, one on each side. Your lips shouldn't touch the other person's cheek unless you are extremely good friends; instead, aim to lightly touch your cheek to theirs.

Italy. The age of consent in Italy is 14 years, with a close-in-age exception that allows those aged 13 to engage in sexual activity with partners who are under the age of 18, provided that the age gap between them is less than 4 years (i.e. if the partners are all under the age of 18, but at least 13).

What is the Italy Age of Consent? The Age of Consent in Italy is 14 years old. The age of consent is the minimum age at which an individual is considered legally old enough to consent to participation in sexual activity.

Overall, Sweden recorded the highest rate of sexting with 12.9% of 11 to 16-year-olds engaged in the practice - while the lowest was Bulgaria with 0.9%.

A 1967 Italian decree called the “purity law” requires that all dried pasta sold in Italy be made from durum wheat, a hard-grained, coarse strain. That varietal is considerably more difficult to use than traditional bread wheat, but it makes a pasta that holds its form during cooking without becoming soft or bland.

Manners and behaviour

Habits such as chewing gum and cleaning fingernails are not acceptable in public. It is rude to have your hands in your pockets when talking with someone in Germany. In France, picking your teeth and clipping your nails should be done in private rather than out in the open.

Are jeans appropriate to wear in Italy? While Europeans tend to dress up more than Americans, you still can wear jeans in Italy. However, avoid acid wash and extremely distressed denim and opt for medium-dark blues and blacks. Black skinny jeans always look chic in Europe!

Can you wear Crocs in Italy? ›

Prohibited footwear: Crocs, any kind of 'walking' shoe, Toms, flip-flops.

When traveling in Italy, don't ever wear short skirts. Even if you see Italian models wearing them, it is not considered the norm.

Although there is no official pineapple on pizza law in Italy, the fascinating debate over whether or not to include this topping on a traditional Italian pizza continues to intrigue foodies worldwide.

Italian resorts and islands

24. Walk around shirtless or in your swimwear in any metropolitan area. This state of dress is strictly restricted to the beach or lido. This is especially true in Sorrento, where you could be fined up to €500 for breaching the dress code.

If you don't eat bread you can try to avoid the charge, but it may be awkward as bread is an essential part of Italian meals. Refusing the charge might be seen as impolite when it comes to Italian manners.

Italy has a strict drink-drive limit of 0.5mg of blood alcohol. This means that you cannot drink more than one glass of wine without risking going over the limit. Penalties for being caught above this limit can be fines, vehicle confiscation, license bans and imprisonment.

Blood Alcohol Level

Italy has zero tolerance for new drivers. For other drivers, the maximum blood alcohol level permitted is 0.5 g/l (50 mg/ml).

No, not that, but flashing headlights in Italy means the exact opposite of a friendly 'after you Claude' UK-type flash. It means 'get out of the way' and quickly. In fairness, the UK Highway Code still states that headlight flashing should be used as a warning so in this respect the Italians are technically correct.

The Constitution forms the fundamental law of the Italian legal system. It provides the legal basis for the administration of public authorities. The Constituent Assembly, specifically appointed for the task, enacted the Constitution in 1947.

The Italian legal system is not quite different from the United States' legal system. Though the Italian system of laws uses civil law while the United States uses common law (Mondials, N.d.). This may be due to the fact that both legal systems are not solely adversarial or inquisitorial in nature.

What is the most unique thing in Italy? ›

Notable traditional patronal festivals in Italy are the Feast of Saints Francis and Catherine, the Festival of Saint Agatha, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, the Feast of San Gennaro and the Feast of Our Lady of the Hens.

The execution is not public, unless the Ministry of Justice determines otherwise. The last execution in Italy took place, on March 4, 1947. The Italian Constitution, into force since January 1948, completely abolished the death penalty for all common military and civil crimes during peacetime.

The alcohol age limit in Italy is 18 years old. That means, it is illegal to sell alcohol to minors in either shops, restaurants or bars. That's a little bit more generous than the legal age limit in the USA. In general, ID should be requested in any establishment selling alcohol if there is any doubt over your age.

The Italian civil code is based on codified Roman law with elements of the Napoleonic civil code and later statutes. The civil code of 1942 replaced the original one of 1865. The penal code ("The Rocco Code") was also written under fascism (1930).

Americans who intend to stay in Italy for less than 90 days don't need to worry about visas. However, if you plan to go for an extended period, you'll have to apply for a long-stay visa. This is a crucial step because you can't apply for an Italian residence permit without this long-stay visa.

In 1941, Italy — with the other World War II Axis powers Germany and Japan — declared war on the United States. U.S. relations with Italy were reestablished in 1944. Today, the United States and Italy enjoy warm and friendly relations.

Anyone over 18 can own a gun in Italy, as long as they meet certain criteria. They have to apply for a firearms license, take a firearms safety course at a gun range, and have no criminal record.

Italy has over 3,000 museums. The national sport of Italy is soccer (known as football outside of America). Italy's national dish is pasta. The Italian language evolved from the Latin of the Roman Empire.

Italy is famous for the Renaissance and the incredible artists it produced. Italy is famous for its tourism, its art cities and unique scenery. Italy is also known for its language, its opera, its fashion and its luxury brands. It is also known for its football team!

What do Italians eat for breakfast? ›

Italians eat predominantly sweet things for breakfast. This can be quite a shock if you are used to having toast, eggs, and bacon first thing in the morning. Instead, the traditional breakfast in Italy relies almost exclusively on baked goods like biscuits, cookies, pastries, rusks, and cakes.

While men and women have equal rights in law, society is still largely male-dominated. Within the family dynamic, the man is usually the patriarch and considered the primary income earner. Traditionally, a woman was expected to fulfil roles of matrimony and motherhood.

The common verbal greeting is “Ciao” (Hello). This is quite casual. People may also say “Buongiorno” (Good day) or “Buonasera” (Good evening) to be more formal. Address a person by their title and last name, and continue to do so until invited to move to a first-name basis.

Italian family life can be characterized by loyalty and closeness. From the immediate, nuclear family to more extended relatives, Italians tend to remain as a close unit through several generations.