Although Italians do not eat their evening meal as late as Spaniards, it is common for restaurants to operate a little later than people are accustomed to in their country. Many restaurants don't open until six or seven o'clock (particularly outside of tourist traps). Restaurants frequently operate on a flexible schedule, opening and shutting whenever they want. It's not uncommon for a restaurant to close for three days while the owner travels to Naples to see relatives.

One of the top Things about Italy You Should Know is that most restaurants have set hours of operation and close in the afternoon. At 6:00 p.m., pressing your hungry face against the restaurant glass will not change that. Instead, eat when the Italians do – lunch is normally between 1-2 p.m., and most people are finished by 2.30 p.m. Dinner is a little different, because some people usually eat around 8 p.m., but the further south you go, the later you'll eat. A reservation for 8.30pm is a good rule of thumb.

Of course, there is fantastic pizza in Florence. Italian food (spaghetti with meatballs, pizza, risotto, etc.) is often thought of as a single cuisine in the United States. However, Italy is divided into 20 regions, each of which specializes in a delectable dish made using unique skills and ingredients.

People in this country have strong feelings about which pasta shape goes best with which spaghetti sauce. You must travel to Naples, where the Margherita pie was invented, for the most authentic pizza experience. The best Parmigiano Reggiano cheese is found in Bologna, Sicily is recognized for cannoli, the Amalfi Coast is famed for Limoncello, and Rome is known for carbonara. One of Italy's biggest draws is its cuisine culture, which is designed to be both enjoyed and taken seriously.

It's easy to get distracted by the old sites, shopping, and restaurants when visiting Italy. However, ignoring the art scene, both from the Renaissance and today, would be a huge error. There are around 100 art galleries in the Vatican (not to mention The Sistine Chapel ceiling, painted by Michelangelo).

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice houses a large number of modern artwork by Picasso and Magritte. Botticelli's Birth of Venus, much imitated but never copied, hangs in Florence's Uffizi Gallery. You should remember that enjoying the art in Italy is one of the top Things about Italy You Should Know.

Whether or not you agree with the Catholic Church's views, visiting the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Vatican Gardens requires respect. A rigorous dress code prohibits visitors from wearing low-cut or sleeveless apparel, shorts, miniskirts, or headgear. Basically, you should cover your shoulders and knees. Also forbidden? Selfies are irreversible.

Tipping is seldom anticipated in restaurants because servers are normally given a decent wage and are often members of the restaurant's family. However, your bill will almost always include a few strange costs. The "coperto," which is essentially a per-person fee for sitting at the table, is typically the most perplexing to American diners.

The cost must be specified on the menu or in the restaurant, and it can add up quickly for larger groups. A "servizio" tax is common in Italy's most popular places, and it must be legally mentioned somewhere visible, such as on the menu.

The "servizio" does not always go to the staff, and it might range from 10% to 20% of the total price. This can range from one to five euros, and it is not just because you are a visitor. The payment to sit at the table applies to both Italians and foreigners. At the start of the meal, you will usually be served bread, oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper, all of which are covered by the coperto. This fee is frequently not disclosed in advance.

Italy has a variety of different customs and thoughts around food. Cappuccinos and espressos are ubiquitous in Italy, and they're delicious. Our day in Italy would not have been complete without three cups of foamy delight. Although Italy is not recognized for being a cheap country, espressos are designed for everyone and are hence quite reasonable.

However, it is assumed that cappuccino (or any coffee drink with milk) should be drunk only for the morning and never to be consumed after a meal. Italians don’t fancy the combination of hot milk and a full stomach.

Italians think that drinking milk after a meal will ruin your digestion. They avoid ingesting milk because it is not something they are accustomed to. Breakfast does not qualify because a traditional Italian breakfast consists of a coffee drink and a pastry. If your preferred coffee drink is a cappuccino, the milk is considered part of the meal. But after lunch or dinner, ordering a cappuccino or other milk-based beverage? Never would an Italian.

Some may consider spending just one day in one of the world's reputedly most romantic cities' blasphemy, but hear us out. You miss Venice totally, but one or two days should be plenty to take in the atmosphere and have some gelato in the lovely St. Mark's Square. Summer brings high prices and large crowds, while winter brings frigid temperatures and closed-for-the-season hotels and eateries, making visiting a struggle.

And don't forget to give yourself an extra day in Italy if you plan on cruising down the Amalfi Coast, exploring cathedrals in Rome, visiting wineries in Florence, shopping for high fashion in Milan, swimming off the coasts of Sicily, or spotting celebrities in Lake Como. Trust us, there will be much to see and do in the extra 24 hours in one of Europe's most entertaining countries.

Since the 1950s, Rome has had a metro system, with three lines serving 73 stations. Many travelers save a lot of money by staying in a less expensive hotel on the outskirts of town and taking the train into town to view the sights.

There are currently plans in place to build a fourth line. The metro system is so limited because every time a new tunnel is created, more archaeological relics are discovered, which happens in Athens as well. Before boarding a train, though, there are a few things to consider.

First, labor strikes frequently occur in Rome, causing the metro to be temporarily shut down. Keep your eyes peeled for breaking news. Second, purchasing a ticket is insufficient. Before boarding the train, you must validate it in a machine. Third, children under the age of ten ride the metro for free and do not require a ticket when accompanied by an adult.

Traveling by train within Italy is simple (skip the domestic flights), and trains are usually on time. The official websites for TrenItalia and Italo can be found here. Trenitalia is a state-owned company, while Italo is privately owned. Both companies run high-speed trains across Italy, and between them, you can travel between most of the country's regions, with a few outliers where driving makes more sense.

Purchasing your ticket: Trains aren't always completely sold out, especially if you're paying for a premium cabin seat, so arrive early or purchase your ticket online ahead of time if you're concerned about missing a train. At the station, tickets can be purchased at the counter or through a self-service machine. Train schedules for Trenitalia and Italo can be found here.

Validate your ticket: Make sure you confirm your ticket before boarding the train! This is one of the most important things to know about traveling to Italy and one of my top travel recommendations for Italy. Insert the ticket into one of the validation machines strewn throughout the train station to accomplish this. In general, if a seat is not assigned, you must validate it, but if you want to be cautious, validate every single ticket. Italy railway tickets, on the other hand, do not require validation; simply give the conductor your booking code.

Italy isn't just about Rome, Venice, Milan, and Florence! I've visited Italy several times but have yet to visit the Dolomites, Sardinia, Sicily, Turin, or Calabria, the "tip of the boot." Every journey to Italy teaches you something new about a different city, exposes you to regional cultural variations, traditions, and specialties, and introduces you to new neighborhoods to discover.

There are hundreds of small towns in Italy that you may not be familiar with, such as Orvieto in Umbria, Portovenere in Liguria, and Ischia or Procida in Campania. One of the finest ways to visit Italy is to venture beyond the classic spots; Italy isn't one of those places where you can plan a month-long trip and see and experience everything it has to offer.

Cannolis are only famous in Sicily, while spaghetti bolognese is not available worldwide. You will also never see pepperoni. Instead of fettucini alfredo, you'll find authentic Italian mainstays like bruschetta al pomodoro, exquisite prosciutto layered on a pizza, and spaghetti alla carbonara. What about the other options?

There are hundreds of small towns in Italy that you may not be familiar with, such as Orvieto in Umbria, Portovenere in Liguria, and Ischia or Procida in Campania. One of the finest ways to visit Italy is to venture beyond the classic spots; Presumably, Italy isn't one of those places where you can plan a month-long trip and see and experience everything it has to offer.

Antipasti (salads, bruschetta, cured meats, and so on) are usually served first, followed by a first course (primi piatti) of pasta, gnocci, or risotto. The protein comes after the starch! The secondi piatti is the main meal of meat or fish and is usually served next.

Last but not least, the meal's dolce (sweet) component: dessert! Another of my tried-and-true recommendations for visiting Italy is to order an authentic tiramisu or gelati and conclude with a refreshing shot of homemade limoncello.