Introduction to Italian Culture

Discover the exciting reality of Italy and its regions. Italy may be famous for the Colosseum, Renaissance and spaghetti, but there is much more to understanding the variety of its local identities and the charm of everyday life in Italy. Fancy a deep-fried pizza in Naples, an immaculate view of the Alps in the North, or just sipping a glass of wine at your local trattoria? From Carnival and prosecco to talking with your hands and enjoying the good life, learn how to get the most from every moment in this great colorful country.

Is this course for me?

This course will teach you how to embrace Spanish culture. The lessons you learn will help you grow on a personal, professional, academic, and civic level.

If any of these statements ring true for you, then we highly recommend you enroll.

I intend to move to Spain to live, work, or volunteer
I plan to study in Spain as an exchange student
I love all things Spain, from flamenco and tapas to Don Quixote, Picasso and LaLiga!
Someone I know is from Spain and I’d like to improve our relations
I’m visiting Spain for a long or short term trip
I’m curious how cultural awareness can help me to understand myself and my own culture, as well as other people and their cultures
I want to be prepared for how gender, sexual orientation, race, or ethnicity are handled in Spain

Welcome to the Course

Discover Italian Culture

Recognize the colorful diversity of Italian culture, food and history, and navigate what the country’s regions, people and places have to offer.

ENROLL

Open the door to more profound travel

Connect with the locals: learn to interact confidently with Italian people and make friendships that will last a lifetime
Avoid embarrassing faux pas: get a handle on the complex world of etiquette and find out what’s socially acceptable—and what’s not
Handle culture shock like a pro: prepare to sail through your adjustment period and have more time to enjoy your experience
See Italy from the inside:get tips and advice from locals and expats who live in Italy on fitting in easily in Italian life.
Make the most of every moment: maximise every opportunity for intercultural exchange

What’s included?

This course contains everything you need to truly immerse yourself in the fascinating culture of Italy.

Six jam-packed modules
A friendly course guide to lead the way
Interviews with over 15 locals and expats
Inspiring images and videos

Handy course summaries
Fun quizzes per module
Official completion certificate

Meet Andrea Colinucci, your Italian course guide

Andrea is originally from Cesena, a city in the region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy, where he spent his childhood and adolescence. After high school he moved to London and trained as an actor and singer. Since then he has been working both in the UK and in Italy, learning to jump from one world to the other ever more fluidly. He has a great love for storytelling and music which in turn has brought him incredible opportunities to meet people from all over the world and from different backgrounds as learning and experiencing different cultures is one of his greatest passions.

Meet Andrea Colinucci, your Italian course guide

Behind the scenes

CulturaGo’s Introduction to Italian Culture course is the combined effort of many passionate, dedicated, and talented individuals.

You’ve already met your course guide, Andrea Colinucci, who has shared some of his own insights and experiences on Italian culture and its people.

Of course none of the content would have been provided without our hard working, determined and incredibly intelligent head writer, a PhD graduate from SOAS University in London, UK.

Introduction to Italian Culture draws on the wisdom and first-hand accounts of a host of contributors. They include young working professionals and students from various areas in Italy, as well as expats from countries in North America, Europe and Africa.

All of this hard work has resulted in a course that’s the first of its kind: a complete cultural guide, purpose-designed to give you the most meaningful experience of Italy.

Course Modules

Everything you need to know about Italian culture, covered in six easily digestible modules.

Module 1: Italy at a Glance

Start to build a picture of Italy from the lessons in our first module. You will learn some of the most common conceptions among people in Italy: their work and social life, values, and communication style. Module 1 also covers perspectives of locals and expats on Italian politics, religion, plus some unique facts and no-no’s about Italian culture.

Module 2: Regions of Italy

By the end of this module, putting Italy on the map - quite literally - will not be a problem. You will learn about Italy’s key cities and larger regions within the country, and you will come to appreciate both Italy’s distinct regional identities. Finally, Module 2 will help you appreciate the differences between life in rural Italy and in metropolitan areas, so that you will be able to make the most out of your experience once you get there.

Module 3: Italian Customs and Etiquette

Module 3 will introduce you to Italy as a people. It will help you lay out the foundations of what to do, what not to do, and what to keep in mind when in public, grabbing drinks with people, or when out dining in a restaurant. You will learn how to greet others both in a professional setting and among friends, and how to best behave at university, at work and in your everyday life, so you can engage with Italian people confidently and succeed in your studies and at work.

Module 4: Adjusting to life in Italy

In this module, you'll read about the different ways in which people adapt to a new cultural environment, so that when you arrive in Italy you will be able to smoothly navigate your new start. Module 4 is filled with helpful advice from expats on different possible scenarios along your process of adjustment, and how to thrive through all of them.

Module 5: Becoming a Local

The information in this module covers the common hobbies and interests of Italian people, what to do and where to go to meet locals and make friends, as well as useful websites for foreigners looking to connect and meet new people traveling and living in the country. It covers Italian most common food and what locals and foreign visitors do for entertainment, as well as providing some advice on dating in Italy.

Module 6: Identities, Diversity and Inclusion in Italy

Here you can find useful information about what it means to be different in Italy because of your ethnicity, race, gender and sexuality. The module collects both historical information and present experiences of local and expat women, LGBTQ+ people, and BIPOC to help you better understand the workings of Italian society, and make you aware of your own position. Civil rights, gender and racial equality and safety while traveling are some of the topics covered in this module.

Learn more