Language

The Italians love to talk and socialize at cafes and restaurants year-round. They are verbal with ample body language and gesticulation. They are also frank and direct but always polite. Food and wine are a very important ingredients in daily life. Northern Italians are more liberal and time-oriented, while the more conservative southern Italians is more relaxed and less time-conscious.

Relationships

Personal relationships are important and contacts are used often. Knowing the right people can save precious time. Make sure that you also maintain your Italian contacts. Personal space is limited and the Italians can be very touchy-feely.

Business Climate

Be patient, flexible, and expect the Italians to show their emotions, personal feelings and, of course, their charm as part of the negotiation.

The Pew Global Attitudes Project is an interactive database that allows users to explore public opinion trends in 55 countries on topics ranging from attitudes towards the U.S. to peoples assessments of their own lives to views about globalization, democratization and extremism and other important issues.

Italy ranks as no. 55 (of 180 countries) on Transparency International’s 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index.