Topic “Visiting Rome. Italian traditions can be shared A letter in English about traveling to Italy

Italy is an incredibly interesting and diverse country. This territory was inhabited several thousand years ago and has retained its unique way of life to this day.

Italy had a huge influence on the development of mankind and was once the center of the mighty Roman Empire. Now this country is the cultural and historical center of Europe and a highly developed state.

This collection contains 50 facts about Italy that will help you get to know this amazing country even better!

The origin of the word Italia has not yet been precisely determined. According to popular belief, the Greeks gave this name to this area, and the word means “country of calves.” What does this have to do with calves? Just a symbol of the Italian tribes from the southern part of the country, to which the word Italia previously referred, was the bull!
Italy is washed by seas on three sides at once - in the west the Tyrrhenian and Ligurian, on the east - the Adriatic, and on the south - the Ionian and Mediterranean.
On the territory of Italy there are two mini-states - San Marino and the Vatican.
Italy has the largest number of volcanoes among European countries. What is Vesuvius alone worth!
Italy is recognized as the country where the strongest marriages take place. Of course, the divorce process in this country takes three years or more!
This country has 20 regions, each with its own dialect and traditions. The regions are divided into communes, the total number of which is more than 8,000.
Life expectancy in Italy is a record among European countries - 83 years.
The official Italian language is derived from the Tuscan (Florentine) dialect, which Dante Alighieri used in his works instead of Latin. Now in Italy there are many different dialects, which are divided into three groups - North, South and Center.
The University of Bologna in Italy is the oldest in Europe. It was founded in 1088 and has never stopped working.
Italy has more than 50 UNESCO heritage sites, more than any other country.

The most popular dishes in the world, pasta and pizza, belong to Italian cuisine. Moreover, each region has its own traditional dishes, which are prepared according to special recipes.
Italy is a global trendsetter in fashion, design and home appliances.
Italy contains 2/3 of Europe's entire cultural heritage.
In Italy, as in all European countries, there are strong laws protecting animal rights. Inadequate care, and even more so cruel treatment, is punishable by fines and imprisonment.
Italians use more than 250 hand gestures in their speech. Active gesticulation is associated with differences in dialects and emotionality of the inhabitants of this country.
The fact about large Italian families has long become a myth - as of 2015, there is a clear demographic crisis in the country. In 2015, a record low number of babies were born in Italy.
Italy is considered one of the most religious countries in Europe. When submitting a tax return for the year, an Italian must make a donation to the church.
In Italy it is customary to send two invitations to a wedding. One invites you to church, and the other to a celebration after marriage. You can go to one event and refuse another.

The best restaurants in Italy - without signs. You can get there only by recommendation. And in general, recommendations are an Italian tradition; it is strange for residents of the country to go somewhere just like that.
From one in the morning to five in the morning in Italy it is strictly forbidden to visit the beach. Fine - 150 euros.
In August, all Italians go on vacation - even large enterprises. This month usually marks a very hot time in the country.
Northern and southern Italians do not like each other. In the north it is common to think of southerners as lazy, while in the south northerners are called boring.
Italians don't really like to work, so the term Italian strike is not a myth.
It is normal for Italians to live with their parents until they are 30. Rarely does anyone get married or have children before this age.
Italy produces more than 3,500 types of wine and more than 400 varieties of cheese. This country leads the world in wine exports.
There are absolutely no orphanages in Italy. In general, this country loves children very much, and families even stand in line to adopt a child.
Despite its ancient history, Italy emerged as a single state only in 1861.
All windows in Italy have shutters, and you cannot make them according to your own design. They must match those of the neighbor, so as not to violate the architectural style.
If you place an order in an Italian cafe in English, the price may double. Prices differ for local residents and tourists.
There are more than 2000 types of pizza in Italy! Traditional - Pizza Margherita with tomatoes, basil and mozzarella. Real pizza is baked in a wood-fired oven and only in Italy! The dish has a round shape and can contain any filling (but mozzarella is a must!).

Italians have a real cult of their national cuisine. In 1986, when the first McDonald's opened nearby, they gave away free portions of spaghetti to remind customers of Italy's rich culinary heritage.
The worst insult to an Italian is pouring ketchup on pasta. They have a special reverent attitude towards this dish of national cuisine.
Most Italians travel very rarely and never go further than Rome. They passionately love their native country, which, however, does not prevent them from grumbling about it sometimes.
Each region in Italy has a specific list of characteristic names. Italians themselves can almost always understand by name and dialect which city a person is from.
Italians absolutely cannot stand the cold, so traveling to the northern countries is like death for them. The same goes for bad weather - when it rains, most Italians feel melancholy.
Italians have lateness in their blood; it is absolutely normal for them to arrive a couple of hours late. The bureaucracy in Italy also works slowly. People wait for some documents for years; for example, a university diploma can be obtained even after 4 years.
Shops in Italy are open until 19-20 pm, and most have lunch from 12 to 16 pm. Sunday is a mandatory day off.
In Italian cinemas there is a five-minute break in the middle of the film to go to a cafe or toilet.
In Italy, girls dream of working as assistants on television. They are called velins, and this profession is very popular.
Unlike other countries, in Italy the unlucky number is 17. Especially if it falls on a Friday! This superstition comes from the past. The fact is that if you represent this number in Roman numerals, you get XVII. Having swapped these numbers, we see the letters that form the word VIXI, which from Latin translates roughly as “life is over.”
The unofficial symbol of Italy is the wolf (everyone remembers the legend of Romulus and Remus and the founding of Rome), the national flower is the lily, and the blueneck is the bird.

The colors of the Italian flag can be deciphered as follows: faith (green), love (red) and hope (white). The Italians themselves joke that red is tomatoes, white is mozzarella, and green is basil. Popular ingredients of Italian national dishes, in particular Margherita pizza!
Rome, the capital of this country, is considered one of the oldest cities in the world. It was founded in 753 BC.
Only one thing unites disparate Italians - the love of football.
The first bank in Europe appeared in Italy. Experts believe that the prototype of this establishment was an association of money changers in Venice in the 12th century.
The famous Trevi Fountain, into which you must throw a coin, brings Rome about 1.4 million euros annually. This is the condition tourists leave here for good luck!
Italians have a very clear distribution of food intake and acceptable drinks. For example, cappuccino-espresso is drunk only in the morning before 10.30. So, if you order this coffee later, the waiter will immediately understand that you are not local.
Italians usually wear shoes around the house, and not because the streets are clean - that’s the custom.
For Italians, with their love of theater and music, it is normal to buy an annual subscription to such establishments. It is simply impossible to get into some theaters without a subscription.
In Italy, women are highly respected - for many men it is normal to do household chores, live with their mother and help her cook and wash. And it’s mostly dads who walk on the playgrounds with their children. You could even say that matriarchy reigns in Italy!

These fascinating facts about Italy will help you understand this country even better and be prepared for its traditions and quirks before your trip.

Gordeeva Maria. School No. 56, Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk region, Russia
Essay in English with translation. Nomination Our world.

My Venice

I am keen on traveling. I have visited a lot of countries. But mostly I am fond of Italy! This country is a historical center of world culture. Italy impressed me.

I was in Italy with my mother. We decided to visit Venice. I think it was really exciting, because Venice is like another world. I couldn’t wait to see this wonderful place, and I dreamed to visit it. I had been looking forward to that day.

In the morning I and my mom were waiting for the bus, which would bring us to the port. It was early morning, so I was very sleepy, but I was dreaming about Venice. Then, other tourists came to the bus stop. We hadn’t been waiting very long, the bus came on time. The way to the port wasn’t long. I looked through the window and saw a lot of shops, one or two churches. While we were sitting in the bus, our guide was telling some information about Venice. In the port we went on board ship. The sea voyage was perfect and unforgettable. The sea and sky were marine and sun was shining. It was sea breeze and I like it very much. When we arrived in Venice first I saw many little souvenir shops, a lot of tourists from different countries. Mother and I decided to take a gondola and float along narrow channels. We saw Marco Polo’s house, Casanova’s house and other houses of Italian famous people. Then we walked along the little crowded streets buying gifts and presents for father, grannies and friends. We also were at the famous square, where there are many pigeons. They were flying around us. It was one of the best in my life. I liked Venice very much.

I also visited Rome last year. This picturesque and beautiful city amazed me! First I saw the world famous Coliseum. It was so huge, but graceful and elegant. In the evening it was illuminated with lots of lights and looked perfect. In Rome I visited a lot of different ancient places, for example: National Monument of Victor Emmanuel II, Saint Peter`s Square, Trevi Fountain and etc.

I want to tell more about these sights. National Monument of Victor Emmanuel II is a beautiful building, which includes many columns and statues. It stands out for its white color and looks like a beautiful palace or some people called it “fiancee’s cake”.

Another sight is Saint Peter`s Square. This square is very big and there are always many people. There is an Egyptian obelisk in the middle of the square. There situated Saint Peter`s Cathedral. I have never seen so huge and magnificent basilica! There were statues and monuments of Saint Helena, Saint Andrew, Saint Peter etc. I saw Michelangelo’s Pieta and a lot of gravestones of Roman papas.

What a splendid place is Trevi Fountain! I was here only at night, so I don’t how it looks like during the noon. But at night there was a lot of lights and it seemed like water was shining. In the middle there was Neptune sitting on the sea shell and near were tritons and sea horses. My mum and I threw two coins into the fountain so that we will come to Rome again.

In conclusion, I would like to say that Italy combines history and beauty of the world. I am fond of this country and I want to visit it more and more times.

I'm interested in traveling. I have visited many countries. But mostly I'm passionate about Italy! This country is the historical center of world culture. Italy made an impression on me.

I was in Italy with my mother. We decided to visit Venice. I think it was really exciting because Venice is like another world. I couldn't wait to see this wonderful place and I dreamed of visiting it. I was looking forward to this day that day.

In the morning, my mother and I were waiting for the bus that would take us to the port. It was early in the morning, that's why I was very sleepy, but I dreamed of Venice. Later, other tourists stopped at the bus stop. We didn't wait very long, the bus arrived on time. The path to the port was not long. I looked out the window and saw many shops, one or two churches. While we were sitting on the bus, our guide was talking about Venice. At the port we boarded the ship. The sea voyage was wonderful and unforgettable. The sea and sky were blue and the sun was shining. It was a sea breeze and I really like it. When we first arrived in Venice, I saw many small souvenir shops, many tourists from different countries. Mom and I decided to take a gondola and float along the narrow canals. We saw Marco Polo's house, Casanova's house and other houses of Italian famous people. Then we walked through small crowded streets, buying gifts for dad, grandmothers and friends. We also went to a famous square where there are a lot of pigeons. They flew around us. It was one of the best moments of my life. I really liked Venice.

Last year I also visited Rome. This picturesque and beautiful city amazed me! First I saw the world famous Colosseum. It was so huge, but graceful and elegant. In the evening it was lit with lots of lights and looked beautiful. In Rome I visited many different ancient places, for example: National Monument of Victor Emmanuel II, St. Peter's Square, Trevi Fountain, etc.

I want to tell you more about these attractions. The National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II is a beautiful building that includes many columns and statues. It stands out with its white color and looks like a beautiful palace, or some people call it “bride's cake”.

Another attraction is St. Peter's Square. This area is very large and there are always crowds of people there. In the center of the square stands an Egyptian obelisk. St. Peter's Basilica is located there. I have never seen such a huge and magnificent basilica! There were statues and monuments of St. Helena, St. Andrew, St. Peter, etc. I saw Michelangelo's tomb and many tombstones of popes.

What a magnificent place - the Trevi Fountain! I was only here at night, that's why I don't know what it looks like at noon. But at night there were many lights and the water seemed to shine. In the middle was Neptune sitting on a sea shell, and nearby were newts and seahorses. My mom and I threw two coins into the fountain so that we would come to Rome again.

In conclusion, I would like to say that Italy brings together the history and beauty of the world. I love this country and I want to visit it again.

Interesting facts about Italy in English with translation will help you learn a lot of new things and prepare for the lesson.

Interesting facts about Italy in English

Italy is officially known as the Italian Republic.

Vatican City and San Marino are very small independent states located inside Italy.

Italy belongs to the continent of Europe. Countries that border Italy are Austria, France, Vatican City, San Marino, and Switzerland.

Rome is the capital city of Italy. Other major cities include Milan, Naples, Turin, and Palermo.

Rome was the home to the Ancient Romans, a civilization that grew into a huge empire. Western civilization as we know today is based on many Ancient Roman principles.

Italy has many earthquakes and volcanoes due to the conflict between the Eurasian and the African tectonic plates. The volcanoes Etna and Vesuvius are a constant danger to humans due to their closeness to big cities.

Italy was the birthplace of the Renaissance, which was a period of great cultural achievements in poetry, painting and architecture. Famous artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael, Donatello, and Leonardo Da Vinci were part of the Renaissance.

Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo and Maserati are well known Italian car manufacturers.

The most popular sport in Italy is football (soccer). Italy has won four world cups, the last one being in 2006.

Italian cuisine is popular around the world. Dishes such as pizza, spaghetti bolognese, lasagne and risotto all come from Italy.

Many famous scientists and mathematicians were born and raised in Italy. Leonardo Da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, Alessandro Volta, and Fibonacci to name just a few.

Italy has played a large role in the history of architecture, discovering important building techniques such as the arch and the dome. Buildings such as the Colosseum, Pantheon and the Leaning Tower of Pisa are examples of such architecture.

The piano is an Italian invention. Bartolomeo Cristofori invented it in 1698.

Italy has made a substantial contribution to science. The electric battery, the barometer, wireless telegraphy and nitroglycerine are all Italian inventions.

The nuclear reactor was invented by an Italian named Enrico Fermi.

interesting facts about Italy with translation

Italy is officially known as the Italian Republic.

Vatican City and San Marino are very small independent states located in Italy.

Italy belongs to the continent of Europe. Countries bordering Italy are Austria, France, Vatican City, San Marino and Switzerland.

Rome is the capital of Italy. Other major cities are Milan, Naples, Turin and Palermo.

Rome was home to the ancient Romans, a civilization that grew into a huge empire. Western civilization as we know it today is based on many ancient Roman principles.

Italy has many earthquakes and volcanoes due to the conflict between the Eurasian and African tectonic plates. Volcanoes Etna and Vesuvius are a constant danger to people due to their proximity to major cities.

Italy is the birthplace of the Renaissance, a period of great cultural achievements in poetry, painting and architecture. Famous artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael, Donatello and Leonardo da Vinci were part of the Renaissance.

Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo and Maserati are well-known Italian car manufacturers.

The most popular sport in Italy is football. Italy has won four World Cups, most recently in 2006.

Italian cuisine is popular all over the world. Dishes such as pizza, spaghetti bolognese, lasagna and risotto all originate from Italy.

Many famous scientists and mathematicians were born and raised in Italy. Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, Alessandro Volta and Fibonacci, just to name a few.

Italy played a large role in the history of architecture, pioneering important building techniques such as arches and domes. Structures such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Leaning Tower of Pisa are examples of such architecture.

The piano is an Italian invention. Bartolomeo Cristofori invented it in 1698.

Italy has made significant contributions to science. The electric battery, barometer, wireless telegraphy and nitroglycerin are Italian inventions.

The nuclear reactor was invented by the Italian Enrico Fermi.

Rome is not only an ancient city or a capital of Italy. It is a special place where everyone can feel himself at home. You will never be alone in Rome, because it seems that all people know each other and even tourists don’t feel uncomfortable there.

Rome is obviously an amazing city where you can see and visit such famous monuments as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and Vatican City. All these and many other tourist attractions amaze and make such a great impression that you will never be able to forget them.

Apart from sightseeing, you can also explore Italian culture in Rome. You can feel yourself a part of a mysterious rite entering any patisserie or bar in the morning. Once you share your breakfast consisting of a cup of creamy cappuccino and filled croissant with those Italians who come to that place, you will become more relaxed and even “Italian”.

And finally, you can enjoy yourself in a big park area in Rome. It is called “Villa Borghese” and it is a perfect place to spend a hot and sunny day under its trees or to walk its wide paths in. In addition, Villa Borghese can offer you different other activities. You can visit the famous “Borghese Gallery” and also a zoo placed in the park.

Consequently, Rome is a city where everyone can find his place. You can walk, visit museums, do shopping, go to opera and do many other things there. But there’s one thing that you will certainly do in Rome – you will enjoy yourself.

Translation:

Rome is not just an ancient city or the capital of Italy. Rome is a special place where everyone can feel at home. You will never be alone in Rome because everyone seems to know each other and even tourists don't feel awkward.

Rome is undoubtedly an amazing city where you can see and visit famous monuments such as the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and the Vatican. All these and many other attractions surprise and make such a deep impression that you will never be able to forget them.

Besides sightseeing, you can also explore Italian culture in Rome. You can feel like you are part of some mysterious ritual if you go to any pastry shop or one of the bars in the morning. Once you share your breakfast of a soft cappuccino and a croissant with those Italians who come to that place, you will feel more relaxed and even “become” Italian.

Finally, you can enjoy the large park area of this city. It is called Villa Borghese and is the ideal place to spend a hot sunny day in the shade of its trees or to stroll along its wide alleys. Moreover, Villa Borghese can offer you other activities. There you can visit the famous Galleria Borghese, as well as the zoo located in the park.

Thus, Rome is a city in which everyone can find their place. You can walk, visit museums, go shopping, go to the opera and do many other things. But there's one thing you can't avoid in Rome - you'll have a great time there.

Expressions:

Ancient - ancient

To make an impression - to make an impression

Sightseeing - sightseeing

Rite - ritual

patisserie - pastry shop

Park area - park area

To do shopping – go shopping/shopping

To enjoy oneself - enjoy, have a good time

Letter in English about traveling to Italy

Dear Kaitlyn,
Sorry that I haven’t written you for so long but I was busy all this time.

I have a great news! My parents allowed me to go to Italy for two weeks! It was a great time. Let me tell you how I spent that amazing journey.

My sister and I stayed in a nice hotel in the center of Rome. The room was convenient and there was a great view from the windows. Every day we enjoyed tasty cuisine, had fun at discos and swam in the large pool. During ten days we visited a lot of wonderful places such as Colosseum, Pantheon, Triton Fountain. You can’t even imagine how many photos I took! We really appreciated being there because of all the amazing sights and experiences we had.

I could write more but I really need to go. Hope we will meet soon.
Lots of love,
Samantha

[ translation ]

Dear Caitlin,
Sorry that I haven't written to you for so long, but I've been busy all this time.

I have great news! My parents helped me go to Italy for two weeks! It was a great time. Let me tell you how I spent this amazing journey.

My sister and I stayed in a nice hotel in the center of Rome. The room was comfortable and had a great view from the windows. Every day we enjoyed delicious cuisine, had fun at discos and swam in the large pool. In ten days we visited many wonderful places, such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Triton Fountain. You can't even imagine how many photos I took! We really appreciated our time there because we saw all the sights and had a great experience.