Facts about Italy: Change of habits? Probably not!

Facts about Italy presents Change of habits? Probably not!
"Pasta loving Italians" are eating less spaghetti, bread and beef and drink fewer glasses of wine after the food prices have risen in to the sky this year, two surveys showed.Three out of four Italians have changed their drinking and eating habits, according to this recent survey."The survey was based on polling 1,000 Italian residents.Pasta and bread consumption dropped of for more than 7.4% and beef consumption fell for 4% in the first eight months of this year. Wine consumption dropped for 7.9% .Economists say that recent food price rises have been fuelled by a surge in cereals prices due to tight supplies.

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Facts about Italy: Italians are visiting Bulgaria for dental tourism

This time funny story in facts about Italy:
Two Bulgarian stomatologists said that their main clients are Italians. The so called ‘tourists' rent a hotel room for a few of days, go to a dentist, have their teeth done and leave after that. The dental services come out more than five time cheaper than in their homeland. In return Italians receive high quality treatment. According to off-the-record information's in Bulgaria you can get the most modern materials and the best work in whole Europe.

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Facts about Italy: Mafia is big business

Facts about Italy presents th most notorious criminal organization in the world, Mafia
Revenue from organized crime, amounts to an amazing $127 billion annually in Italy, making it the largest segment of the Italian economy,the latest report which was published yesterday said. The figure, which represents approximately 7% of the country's GDP, is made from illegal activities such as extortion, loansharking, drug trafficking, and prostitution. In recent years, business lobbies have launched campaigns to increase awareness of the extent of organized crime in Italy, which they say limits investment in the country, but they were not very successful. Organized crime is particularly developed in Sicily, Naples and the southern regions of Calabria and Puglia.


Tano Grasso, head of Italy's antirackets commission, said on the national TV, that for every 100 foreign investors who will come to Italy, only one will establish business in the southern Italy. One of the biggest problems is so called "pizzo," as extorted "protection" money is known. Many businessmen in southern Italy have long considered it as "a must" expense. A business lobby of industrialists in Sicily recently said, that it will expel any member who will pay the "pizzo."But this proposal has been met with the violent resistance. Some merchants, factory owners and industrialists who have denounced extortion attempts by mobsters, have seen their businesses torched or company vehicles damaged. A small number of businessmen have also been killed for refusing to pay protection money.

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Facts about Italy: Italian men

Facts about Italy presents Italian men
From the days of Casanova, Italian men have had a reputation for charming women and things are the same in 21st century, they are definitely God's gift to women! Most of the Italians are dark, strong, charming, sensitive, playful, emotional, smart, sexy and sometimes silly. They are probably the best flirters in the whole world and very trendy in fashion.

"Italian's have strong family values, which typically shine through in how they treat people, whether it's their family, friends, or even strangers. That's why you simply have to love them.

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Facts about Italy: Rome

Facts about Italy presents the eternal city of Rome

Rome, the Eternal City, also known as Caput mundi (capital of the world), is the capital of Italy and also Italy's largest and most crowded city, with approximately 2.7 million inhabitants. Its metropolitan area is Italy's second largest, just after fashion capital Milan. Rome is located in the central - western portion of the Italian peninsula, where the river Aniene joins the river Tiber. Rome is also identified with the Catholic religion and the holder of its Episcopal seat is the Pope. So in the heart of Rome, we can find the State of the Vatican City, the sovereign territory within Italy and smallest nation in the whole world. Rome is blessed with a warm Mediterranean climate, so the best times to visit "Eternal city" would be in spring and autumn, the summer months however can be extremely hot.
A must see attractions in Rome:

St. Peters and the Vatican Museums

Colosseum

Roman Forum

Fontana di trevi

Pantheon

Spanish Steps

Roma-Lazio, football derby

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Facts about Italy: Italian phrases

Facts about Italy part 12:
Italian is the language of some 70 Million people throughout the world today. It not only has its roots in Italy, but also in Switzerland and naturally in the USA.
Learn some useful Italian phrases:




si - yes no - no
per favore - please (when asking for something)
per piacere - please (when asking for something)
prego - please (when asking someone to do something or giving them something)
grazie - thanks
buongiorno - good morning, good afternoon (until 3pm)
buonasera - good afternoon (from 3pm), good evening
buonanotte - good night
benvenuti - welcome
ciao - goodbye
arrivederci - goodbye
ci vediamo! - see you
buona giornata! - have a nice day!
buona serata! - have a nice evening!
scusi - excuse me; sorry
parli inglese? - do you speak English?
non parlo italiano - I don't speak Italian
non ho capito - I don't understand
mi scusi, dov'è il bagno? - excuse me, where is the toilet?
destra - right
sinistra - left


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Facts about Italy: Sophia Loren

Facts about Italy presents Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren, who was born on September 20, 1934 in Rome is considered to be the most famous Italian actress of all times.
She's an Academy Award winning actress (Two Women, 1961) and in 1991 she also received an honorary Academy Award for her contribution to world cinema.

One of her most famous quotes was definitely: “Everything you see I owe to spaghetti.”

In "facts about Italy" part 12, you'll speak some Italian language, so don't miss next part of Facts about Italy!

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Facts about Italy: Vesuvius Volcano

Here is another part of facts about Italy
Vesuvius is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. Located in southern Italy, near Naples it presents a constant threat to more then 1 million people.Vesuvius has an eruption cycle of about 20 years, but since the last eruption was in 1944, lot's of people live in fear.

In 79 AD an eruption devastated ancient city of Pompeii and its remains are still one of the most popular tourist attraction in southern Italy.

In next part of "facts about Italy" I'll present you the biggest Italian moviestar of all times.You know who she is? Facts about Italy will be back soon!

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Facts about Italy: Ferrari

Facts about Italy presents, the pride of Italia, Ferrari
Ferrari, one word is enough! Definitely the most recognized brand in world of cars and motosport. And it belongs to Italy.
Ferrari was founded in 1929 by Enzo Ferrari in Maranello, Modena, Italy.
From it's beginnings Ferrari always concentrated on racing cars and the legend is still alive. Today Ferrari represents prestige and status symbol and only the richest can afford a piece of "mean red machine"!

Why is Ferrari red?
We have to go back to history to find the reason why. At the beginning of motosport competitions, every country competedagainst all the others and every country had it's own color.Green colour belonged to England, Blue to France and Italy got red.

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Facts about Italy: AZZURI

In this part of facts about Italy we're gonna talk about soccer.

The Italian national football team represents Italy in international football (soccer) competitions. Italians are very proud of their team, specially after they won World cup 2006 witch was held in Germany.

Italy is one of the biggest football powers in the world. They won 4 World cups, 1 European cup and one Olympic gold. The traditional colour of Italian national team is "light blue", that's way they are better known as "AZZURRI". Nowadays the most popular Italian football players are: Francesco Totti (AS Roma) and Fabio Cannvaro (Real Madrid).

Part 9 of "facts about Italy" will talk about "squderia Maranello".

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Pizza

Facts about Italy wouldn't be real, if facts about Italy wouldn't present, the world's most famous
dish, Italian pizza.
Only few countries in the world can say their national dish has become world famous. One of those is definitely Italian pizza. Pizza is well known around the globe and Italians are very proud of it. Today pizza is consumed all over the world.

Do you know what AZZURRI means? You'll find out tomorrow in part 8 "facts about Italy".

Facts about Italy rules!

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Facts about Italy: Italian Pasta

Today you'll get more facts about Italy. Today facts about Italy presents Italian pasta

Every region in Italy has it's own story, better said a myth about pasta.




Inhabitants of Liguria presume that Genovese traders acquired the recipe from nomadic tribes.
In Venice, they believe that Marco Polo brought the first pasta from China.
Romans claim that ancient emperors and senators ate pasta already in years Before Christ.
Sicilians tell the story, that old Greeks and Arabs brought the pasta to Italy.

But one thing is certain, today we know more than 300 types of pasta and pasta is the most popular food in Italy!

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