Episode #336: How to Embrace Italian Culture as You Land in Italy

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Ready to soak up a bit of the Italian way of life? From greeting locals with the perfect phrase to navigating everyday etiquette, this episode explores the vibe of Italy – embracing food, fashion, and culture like a local.

Contents

Summary

In this episode, host Katy Clarke is joined by the ever-popular Nesim Bekalti, local Roman and founder of Full Belly Tours, to explore what it really means to “get into the vibe” when you arrive in Italy. Together, they dive into the lesser-known essentials of navigating Italian culture – from language etiquette and the art of dressing well, to mastering the chaos of crossing Roman streets and knowing when and how to enjoy an authentic aperitivo.

What you'll learn in this episode

Mastering the everyday phrases and etiquette that open doors – from choosing salve over ciao with strangers, to the gradual shift from formal to informal greetings as familiarity builds, plus practical phrases for gratitude (grazie), apology (scusi), and asking to pass (permesso) that smooth over daily interactions
Getting comfortable with Rome's sensory overload and everyday chaos. How to read and navigate street crossings with eye contact and confidence, why Rome's scale can overwhelm first-time visitors, and the contrast between the city's traffic-driven chaos and its underlying slower, more deliberate pace of life
Understanding Italy's food and dining culture beyond the plate – covering the real purpose and timing of aperitivo, why restaurants open between 3:30 and 7 pm are a potential red flag, how to secure a table without rushing your meal, and the vocabulary needed to order coffee properly at the bar
Avoiding common tourist faux pas that locals notice – from touching market produce without asking, to appropriate dress in churches, giving way to cars while walking, and the importance of always asking permission before photographing people, especially nonnas, nuns, or food vendors going about their day
Embracing fare bella figura and Italy's approach to appearance – understanding why Italians dress with intention for almost any occasion, how this contrasts with more casual dress norms elsewhere, and the small fashion signatures (like hats) that reflect this cultural attention to presentation

Timeline Overview

06:13 Learning the everyday manners and customs that help you blend in rather than stand out as a tourist
14:14 Using “ciao” vs. “salve” – when to use each greeting depending on familiarity, and how getting it right signals respect to locals
29:03 Navigating street crossings: the confidence and eye contact needed to cross Italian streets like a local rather than hesitating at the curb
34:41 Italian dining customs and reservations – how meal timing, table etiquette, and booking expectations differ from what many travelers are used to
44:21 Behaviour should reflect respect for sacred places, such as appropriate dress and conduct when visiting churches and other places of worship

About our guest – Nesim Bekalti from Full Belly Tours, Rome

Nesim of Fully Belly Tours, was born in Washington DC to a French-American mother and Tunisian father. At the age of 9 months, his parents went back to Rome, where they'd previously been living for 4 years as conference interpreters for the UN.

He grew up (and currently lives) in Testaccio, the neighborhood that gave birth to traditional Roman cuisine. It is known as the culinary heart of Rome, and it’s where Romans from all around the city come to eat.

After graduating high school he realized his passions in life were cooking and traveling. To him, this meant that if he became a cook it would pay him to travel the world, and he ended up spending over fifteen years working in restaurants around the globe.

He has a degree in Hotel and Tourism Management from New York University and has lived in Brussels, Madrid, Barcelona, Oaxaca, San Francisco, and New York City. He is fluent in French, Spanish, Italian, and English. He also obtained a sommelier certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers while living in California.

His passion for cooking came from being raised in Italy, where absolutely everything revolves around eating. He moved back here 7 years ago, where he's been working ever since as a food tour guide.

Being raised in Italy by multicultural parents makes him both a foreigner and true Roman simultaneously. His background and travel experience allow him to entertainingly bridge the gap between guests and locals, easily explaining their cultural quirks and intricacies to you, and yours to them!

Ultimately, his passion lies in taking care of people (especially in relation to food), and ensuring their experiences are truly memorable and lots of fun!

Follow Nesim here

Italian places, foods and concepts mentioned

Places

Rome – Italy’s capital city, renowned for its rich cultural heritage, ancient ruins, vibrant street life, and exceptional food scene
Testaccio – local Roman neighborhood noted for its authentic food scene, away from tourist crowds; described as a “tiny little village” within Rome
Florence – Renaissance city famous for its art, architecture, and compact historic center, popular destination for visitors seeking Italian culture
Bologna – Northern Italian city recognized for its medieval towers, culinary traditions, and vibrant university atmosphere
Milan – cosmopolitan city, heart of Italy’s fashion industry and the birthplace of the aperitivo tradition

Food / Drink

spritz – popular Italian aperitivo drink, made with Aperol or Campari, prosecco, and soda water; often enjoyed before dinner
Aperol – bright orange, slightly bitter Italian liqueur used in Aperol spritz, known for its digestive properties
Campari – bitter red Italian liqueur, also used in spritzes and other cocktails, aids digestion
espresso – strong Italian coffee served in a small cup, called “un caffè” in bars
caffè macchiato – espresso “stained” with a little milk or foam
schiumato – refers to coffee with foam, from “schiuma” meaning foam
cappuccino – coffee drink with espresso and steamed milk foam, typically enjoyed at breakfast
caffè latte – coffee with more milk, different from the American-style “latte”
amaro – Italian herbal liqueur, meaning “bitter,” served after meals to aid digestion
caffè e ammazzacaffè – traditional Roman meal ending, with espresso followed by a digestive liquor (“coffee killer”)

Words / Concepts

Full Belly Tours – the Rome-based food tour company run by Nesim Bekalti
Fare bella figura – an Italian concept meaning to make a good impression or present oneself well, not just in looks but also in behavior and manner
Salve – a polite, semi-formal way to say hello in Italian that shows respect, especially when you don’t know someone well
Buona giornata – “Have a good day,” a friendly Italian farewell that locals appreciate
Ciao – a casual, direct greeting for both hello and goodbye, best reserved for familiar situations and not for strangers or formal interactions
Buongiorno / Buonasera – Italian greetings meaning “good day” and “good evening,” used according to time of day
Buon pomeriggio – means good afternoon but is very rarely used in everyday life
Permesso – Italian for “excuse me,” especially used when trying to get past someone
Prego – a versatile Italian word meaning “you’re welcome,” but also used to let someone go ahead (e.g., “after you”)
Scusi – polite Italian for “excuse me,” essential for getting someone’s attention or apologizing in a formal way
Spettacolare / Spettacolo – Italian way to exclaim something is spectacular, especially with food; a compliment that locals love to hear from visitors
Bella figura – literally “beautiful figure,” it refers to presenting oneself with style and grace in all situations
scopoletta – the traditional Sicilian beret, similar to Kangol caps
Lonely Planet – one of the most famous global travel guidebook publishers, originally started in Melbourne, Australia
Intrepid Travel – a global adventure travel company known for small group tours, also founded in Melbourne
Chef's kiss emoji misconception – the common hand gesture associated with delicious food, which in Italy actually means “what are you talking about?”
Piano piano – an Italian phrase meaning “slowly, slowly,” reflecting the slower, more leisurely pace Italians often adopt

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