The phrase 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do' has come into the English language to encourage travellers to try out local customs and cuisines. While it is a very liberating expression that gets many tourists into the right spirit, it is one that seems to have become estranged from its roots and its Italian city of origin.
Which all leads to the question, what should - and shouldn't - someone do in Rome?
The main faux pas is to act as if you're still in your home country - there's no need to compare object, landscapes or meals to what you'd have back home, just enjoy the moment and embrace the new experiences.
One of the main places to let go of your knowledge and to dive deep in to the local culture is when you're eating out. If there's something on a menu that you haven't tried - or something you're not sure about - now is the time to experiment. You'll also find that typical Italian food - in particular pasta dishes and pizzas - are cooked to a much higher standard in Italy so even if it's something you'd ignore from a bland British menu, trying it as it's meant to be cooked may open your eyes to a new way of eating.
Other food types to look out for include suppli (fried balls of mozzarella, rice and tomato), gnocchi (savoury dumplings) and tiramisu (a cake tasting off coffee that has to be tried in Italy).
Because Italians have been cooking their food for countless years, they know how it's meant to be prepared. Although the American habit of customising menus to suit the diner - 'hold the mayo', 'can I have this without…' - is something that's becoming more common in the UK, it's something that is still frowned upon in Italy. They serve their dishes according to traditional ways and asking for their recipes to be changed will be offensive.
To accompany your meal never ask for a cappuccino, unless you're eating breakfast. For Italians, the inventors of the drink, cappuccino is purely a morning beverage and asking for it after 11am will get you funny looks and a lot of moans.
If you do decide to go ahead with an afternoon cappuccino, remember to order your drink at the bar as receiving table service can triple your bill in some establishments.
It is recommended that before travellers arrive in Italy - even if they leave it to the last minute while they're on their
flights to Rome - that they make a list of all the things they want to try, and foods they want to taste - while on holiday. Bringing a list of things not to do or say is sometimes just as worthwhile.
Isla Campbell writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
