Italian Food

Food is more than just fuel to Italians, it's a social experience. Italians tend to thoroughly enjoy their meals and the people they share them with. Breakfast in Italy typically consists of a pastry and a cappuccino. Coffee and espresso are highly favored, and are usually enjoyed throughout the day. Lunch is eaten from 12 p.m. until as late as 4 p.m. Dinner in Italy is typically a late-night affair. Most restaurants don't open until 8 p.m., and usually aren't busy until 9 or 9:30. A typical Italian dinner has several courses, even when it's eaten at home. The first course is the appetizer, called antipasti, which can be something like bruschetta or a plate of cured meats, cheese, and olives. The primo piatto, the first plate, is usually pasta or soup. The second piatto is almost always meat or fish and vegetables. This is followed by dessert, which is typically something rich like tiramisu or gelato, served in small portions. http://www.italianfoodforever.com/

Italian Art and Music

Italians have a deep appreciation for art and music that surpasses almost anywhere else in the world. A great number of the world's greatest paintings and sculptures were created in Italy, from artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Donatello. These artists shaped and defined the Renaissance period, during which some of the most beautiful works of art and history were created. One of the most famous pieces of art in Italy is the painting by Michelangelo on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. Italy is also the birthplace of opera, and composers such as Rossini, Puccini, and Verdi created their famous masterpieces there, like Puccini's Madame Butterfly. http://wwar.com/masters/movements/renaissance.html