Devil's flower mantis

[mercutio]

Most of Italy's cities are shitholes

Political graffiti everywhere, poor public services and largely the cities aren't that tourist friendly, despite catering for tourists. If you don't speak Italian, no matter how polite you are you are not good enough. That's what I've found generally.

At least you went to the birthplace of pizza

Really i found the opposite the locals were great especially if you tried the language i loved it and never had a bad experience anywhere in italy and i went all over

[Donald]

You get the odd one, I'm talking city-wise, out of the high-population areas they're quite affable if you make the effort. I think a lot of other things come into it anyway, just the same as here I'll talk to a 30-something well presented guy in a different way to a 16 year old in a tracksuit.

I'm talking largely from my experience of Florence and the surrounding areas. The city centre is a nightmare in the summer months. Even for wifey. One example, we went into a café for coffee and cakes, as you do, and she ordered in perfect Italian with the strong Florentine/Tuscan accent, as you would if you were born and lived there all your life. She then talked in English to me, after that, jobby service and the waitress would only speak in English to her and completely ignored me. Quite often as well I can order in Italian, and they just talk to her instead, despite me using correct words/grammar/dialect.

I can't speak for the south too much, I've been around northern Italy a bit though. Further north I found them to be friendlier actually, but I've only been in the country villages. Typically the north is more well off than the south too, maybe that has something to do with it. Mrs has not a lot of good to say about southerners actually.

Largely the men can be quite sleazy between 16 and death, and a lot of the women think too much of themselves. Mrs included

You do get some nice people though, there was a small bar just off the beaten track I used to go to every day for about 3 months. Same thing every lunch time, gin & tonic and a tuna sandwich, finished off with a cappuccino. Sometimes I'd get there a bit early, give the barista a hand setting out the outdoor furniture and I would get a plate of hot food for my troubles. Every time I go back I generally get a free drink and a decent conversation. Was a good two months before I realised it was a gay bar though, got teased a lot for that one. Still it was a fantastic place.

[mercutio]

i spent a lot of time in florence and the surrounding areas and although florence is a huge tourist attraction i still had no bad experiences. Everyone i spoke to was very friendly and went out of there way to help me i guess i was lucky then, but everyone no matter what age or sex was friendly even the youngsters in burger bars.
Northern italians have never liked southerners lol they think they are lazy but it is a lot hotter in the south ridiculously so so i can appreciatte it would be better to have long lunches they do it in france and thats not as far south.
Naples is a shithole though the old town is quite nice if your like me and just like walking round finding little local bars and eateries.