1. The Bathrobe Nation
Forget towels — Italians reach for the accappatoio. After a shower, most people don’t dry themselves with a towel but simply put on a bathrobe and walk around until they air-dry. The irony? In hotels, you’ll often find plenty of towels but no robe.
2. Winter Without Heating
For many Italians, 20°C indoors feels dangerously warm. Heating is used sparingly — not out of economy alone, but from the belief that sudden changes between outdoor and indoor temperatures cause illness. If you come from northern Europe, Italian homes in winter might feel… fresh.
3. Tea? You Mean Chamomile.
Black tea is practically exotic in Italy. Chamomile (camomilla) is the true household staple — a bedtime ritual or a cure-all drink. Few homes have electric kettles; water is boiled in a pot on the stove. After meals, Italians drink espresso, not tea — and dessert rarely comes with a drink, except for festive cakes at special occasions.
4. The “Health Shirt”
That white cotton undershirt worn under everything? It’s called la maglia di salute — literally “the shirt of health.” Men, women, and children wear it all year, even in 30°C heat, convinced it protects against colds. The tradition is so strong that Italian newspapers have written about it — seriously.
5. Shoes Stay On Indoors
Unlike in many countries, Italians rarely remove their shoes at home or when visiting. Shoes are part of one’s outfit, and walking barefoot or in socks feels inappropriate. The upside: floors are always spotless — they’re cleaned right after guests leave.
6. Singing Is a Way of Life
It’s perfectly normal to hear people humming in the street, singing in the supermarket, or softly performing while waiting in line. It’s not eccentricity — it’s joy in its most natural form. You’ll find yourself joining in before you know it.
7. Bottled Water Obsession
Even though most Italian cities have excellent tap water — often mountain-spring quality — many locals buy it bottled, in 1.5-liter plastic containers from the supermarket. Large water deliveries are almost unknown. And in restaurants, ordering water before anything else is an unspoken rule.
Everyday habits reveal the country’s soul — and in Italy, even small routines tell a story of tradition, comfort, and rhythm.
What Italian customs surprised you the most?
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