Types of Leisure Programmes

Italy has a large range of outdoor leisure activities to do. There is golfing in the mountains and beach resorts for relaxation. Fishing, horse riding, sailing, skiing and cycling are also the many types of activities available. Cycling is very popular and it has become a national pastime. Italy offers a quality variety of terrain for cycling from flat land and gentle hills to steep climbs. It is common to have cycling tours organized, which gives peple the rich landscape, history and culture of each region.

Next would be traditional festivals held in Italy to celebrate historical or religious events. They are taken place in all Italian towns and villages. One of the most prominent festival is the Venice Carnival held during February to March every year. People will dress up in the 19^th century costumes and hand-made painted masks for the festivals. There will be street theatres, music and amazing fireworks displays. 

Another festival celebrated  is the Feast of the Redeemer where there is competition between two-oar racing gondolas continued by a procession of decorated boats. Italy is the birthplace of opera and offers a wide choice of operatic performances each year. Italians would go to renowned opera houses like Teatro all Scala of Milan to enjoy skilful performances and imaginative stage sets.

A favourite leisure of Italians is football and they have strong love for the sport. There are also other sports such as the traditional game called brocce which is super popular and the top past time for locals. There are also a variation of cue sports played a on traditional billiard table. Italians usually play five pins, nine pins, boccete and goriziana, the more notable versions of the sport. There is also a famous athletic event, palio di Siena, that is held annually. Auto racing is a sport that have been strongly incorporated in the Italian culture. Cycling, basketball, rugby, volleyball and other winter and sports events are part of Italy’s sporting tradition history.

 

 Team Italy Winning the World Cup in 2006

Uniquely Italy

Italy is an art lover’s paradise, the country has the richest heritage of artistic creativity. According to UNESCO studies, 40% of art in the world is in Italy. Italian art caused continuously increasing public interest and involvement which resulted in the continuous production of monumental and fascinating works. Additionally, the country’s art has almost always been closely allied with the intellectual and/or religious currents of its day while keeping its own spectacular past as a consistent source of inspiration.

 A Italian Sculpture piece of Art

 An Italian Painting of Queen Elizebeth II

Italy is also very well known for their food. The culinary history of Italy got its reputation more than 2,00 years ago. Food preparation were important to the Italians as it signifies their “heart” for the food. Each region in Italy has its own unique way of cooking, producing different characteristics of food such as cheeses, wine and meatballs. Italian food is rich in a lot o different fabulous and tasty dishes. The cuisine is known for its popular dishes are pastas, pizzas, meats and their deserts. Their wine are also very renowned for their top quality.

 A table spread of Italian Food

Types of Pasta

The country is known as the Beautiful Country or also as Belpaese. Italy has beautiful landscapes and heritage buildings and sites. In Rome, famous places are Piazza Navona and the Colosseum, both which hold much culture and history value in them. Milan showcases its grand Cathedral. Amalfi Coast is a famous place in Italy for it being photogenic. Credits are given to its landscapes, sparkling seas, lemon groves and breathtaking cliffs. Venice is known for its Grand Canal Palaces, marble churches and bohemian fashion market.

Almafi Coast

 Piazza Navona

"Disneyization" in Italy

In Italy, the arts and history and pasta speaks to the whole world about the country.

Almost everywhere in Italy is artistically designed with a classy vintage look. Many restaurants have their unique classy artistic design that expresses the country’s love for art. The lighting of the restaurants gives the classy atmosphere. There are also restaurants that have themed heritage sites. Italian art has influence many other places not of Italy. Architects from other countries have been influence by their spectacular creativity and design.

For an example would be the picture of the Colosseum in Rome and the restaurant below it.

 

An Italian Restaurant

   The Colosseum

There are merchandises such as keychain featuring historic sites, historic people, historic items.

 Spaghetti Key Chain, Influence of Pasta

 Keychain of Colosseum, Influence of Historic Site

Keychain of Gladiator, Influence on historic warriors

Pasta is Italy top food. You will always find pasta all around Italy, be it cafeterias or restaurants. Italians live, eat and breathe on pasta and to them, pasta is love. Art has also been fused into pasta, creating many different kind of outlook of the food. Each and every region of Italy has a different style of serving pasta and the unique taste in each of them. Pasta is so famous that many countries serve them as well. Hiring chefs over from Italy to work in restaurants that serve Italian Cuisines. Examples are other European countries where they even serve a fusion of their own cuisines with pasta.

 Pasta in Art

 Pasta used for work of Art

 Art infused in Pasta

Fashion influence in Italy is very strong. Many label brands such as Armani Exchange, Gucci and Ferragamo are Italian brands have they have stores worldwide. These brands are also widely known by many and their products such as clothing, handbags, wallets and pants are of top fashion. Majority of Italians are serious about dressing and they always make effort to keep in fashion every season when trends change.

 Famous Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo Advertising Armani Exchange Undergarments

Gucci Products

Effect of Italy from Growth of Tourism

Changes in environment are due to the growth of tourism, shopping streets of Italy are becoming more congest, so as for heritage sites. With an increasing amount of tourist, places visited are slowly being damaged without notice. 

An example would be the mountain landscape of Apennines in central Italy. It has been severly affected by tourism for years. Vegetation of multiple places under ski-lifts had a strong reduction in floristic diversity. Only species that could withstand trampling continued to expand and spread. High diversity was only possible if there were lesser human impact coming from tourism according to studies. Shorelines of Italy are being destroyed by increase in tourism according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). 

 Appennines Ski Resort

Increase in tourism also pushes wildlife out of their home ground, an example would be the Mediterranean Monk, a species of seal, is now extinct in Italy.

 Mediterranian Monk - Seal

Tourism a Culprit in Commodifying Italian Cultures and Traditions

Cultural effects from tourism are that Tourist from other countries would bring along their culture and it may cause clash with the Italians. These clashes may create friction between locals and tourist. An example would be the way Italians greet with Japanese people. Italians would give handshakes and smile vibrant whereas Japanese greets with a bow. In addition, more Italians are picking up English as their second language instead of their own dialects. This is due to the increase in tourism whereby the general language that is usually spoken would be English.

Festivals and events so far have not been affected by tourism. The events are held traditionally without the need to commodify. As for food served in Italy, pasta is still being the most popular however there are food fusions happening in Italian restaurants whereby Italian recipes are being combined with other countries cuisines and served.