Top 10 Italian anecdotes
Italy is the fifth most visited country in the world with almost 46 million visitors annually! No wonder, with cities each more sumptuous than the next, varied landscapes, and an unequalled sweetness of life! Come on, a few anecdotes to tell for your future internship in Europe!
1) Europe has only 3 active volcanoes left: and they are all 3 in Italy! Vesuvius, Etna, and Stromboli. Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, spitting lava every day since 1999.
2) The Trevi Fountain: did you know that every day 3000 euros are thrown into the fountain? The Italian coins are redistributed to an Italian charity, Caritas, while foreign coins are used to finance the maintenance of the fountain.
3) Do you want to vary the composition of your pizza? No worries 😉 There are some 140 different pizza dough recipes, which vary in name depending on the region. Not bad for a little tasting during your internship in Italy!
4) Let’s imagine you live in a village deep in a valley, and in winter you don’t see the sun for a second: what’s the solution? The inhabitants of the small village of Viganella have found it: you just have to install a mirror at the top of the valley, which reflects the sun on the main square of the village. Clever!
5) Ferrero, do you know it? Nutella, Kinder, Mon Chéri, Palm Oil galore (poor little trees), in short! This Italian multinational company keeps its recipes and manufacturing methods secret: its production machines are designed by in-house engineers, so no leaks!
And 5 more anecdotes! 🙂
6) High heels were created in Venice, in the 16th century. At the beginning, these shoes were called pints, but they were still 60 cm high. The size of the heels was then lowered and became what we know today!
7) One of the most famous Italian desserts, the Tiramisu (pull me up high!) was created in the 70s. This name was given to it in reference to its main ingredients: cocoa and coffee. A little tiramisu?
8) You want to take your little gondola through the floating streets of Venice? To do so, you have to pass the Gondolier exam. You must speak at least one foreign language, know the history of Venice, its culture, know how to handle a Gondola correctly, etc… Only 4 Gondoliers pass their exams every year, and can earn up to 10,000 euros! (per month)
9) Italy is a land of emigration: there are as many Italians living in Italy (60 million) as outside Italy. They have adapted very well to their host countries, particularly Australia, France, the USA, Canada, Brazil … and have spread Italian cuisine throughout the world.
10) The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is the oldest university in Europe. And why not take a little trip to Bologna during your internship in Italy?
So, satisfied with this Top 10 anecdotes about Italy? Don’t hesitate to comment on other anecdotes that we may not know! Otherwise, don’t hesitate to contact the Team for your internship in Europe, or your internship in Italy, just HERE !
If you want to read more, It’s there 🙂