Towards #TBDI2015

What do foreign travel bloggers say about Italy?

I met hundreds of bloggers last October and we had some interesting conversation about Italy.

It is really funny to listen to foreigners talking about your country, your habits, your traditions. What for you seems ‘normal’, for them seems kind of bizarre (and vice versa… of course!).

I don’t like prejudices and sterotypes. They are not good at all. They represent quite a barrier which you place between you and the rest of the world. I have always been that kind of person who likes unusual things and whatever I don’t know. I am fascinated with stories of other countries and places.

This time I asked to foreigner bloggers: “Which are the 3 things that come to your mind when you think about Italy?” and “Which is the most common stereotype about Italy and/or Italians that is false?”.

Maria Pasquale (Australia) – HeartRome

1) Food & wine, art and culture. In Australia what comes to mind the most about Italy is the beauty, above all connected with the food.

2) The most common stereotype in Australia is that Italians are either mafioso or good for nothing politicians. This is for me, that I am Italo Australian, quite shameful.

Jeff Titelius (United States) – Eurotravelogue

1) 3 things that come to mind when I think about Italy? Art, history and food. Can I have one more? The people. Most importantly the people.

2) When I think of the people of Italy, I think of warm and welcoming people who practically invite you into their home. Welcoming into their ‘famiglia’ and just willing to help you. If they don’t speak English they want to try and find someone to translate for you. They just treat people wonderfully.

Adam Groffman (Germany) – Travels of Adam

1) The food immediately, specifically pizza, pasta and gelato. Delicious!

2) After I visited Italy I can say that there is much more food than just pizza, pasta and gelato. You don’t really think about it. There is so many different kind of pasta or gelato.