If you are planning a trip to Italy for the first time or a second time (or third or fourth…) you are no doubt ready to see the sights and immerse yourself in the culture and language that make this country so rich in romance and beauty. As with traveling to any foreign country, you should be ready to look beyond the stereotypical preconceived ideas and learn a little about the true daily local life, so you are prepared to have a smooth,comfortable, and thoroughly enjoyable stay. LimogesCollector.com invites you to key in on a few little pointers as you prepare for your journey, and for those of you who prefer to remain on common soil, you can still enjoy a travel experience vicariously through this display of our beautiful collection of Italian inspired porcelain collectible Travel Limoges boxes.
This exquisite and highly-detailed Limoges box is hand-painted with the Coliseum in Rome and has a porcelain Tower of Pisa inside. Makes a perfect keepsake for your travel to Italy.
Before you depart, take some time to learn a little Italian. Even being able to say "Hello", "Goodbye", "Please" and "Thank you" will put you up one place in respectability. Italian grammar is not easy, but learning a few key words and making a genuine effort to use them is fairly easy. If you are a native English speaker and want to get by with English alone, consider asking if they speak English first ("Parla inglese?"), instead of assuming, then use basic words and expressions and articulate well.
During your stay be sure to benefit from the Italian passion for food. Each region has its own special recipes, but pasta, pizza, and ice cream are just some of the delights Italy is famous for. Be sure to carry small bills with you for small purchases, never to assume that a business or restaurant accepts credit cards. Always ask first, and expect they may say "No".
Pizza and pasta, timeless Italian cuisine! Perfect Limoges box keepsakes for the taste of Italy!
Italy’s exports include food products such as olive oil, tomatoes, and wine. If you would like to obtain such groceries from the source, food markets are common, as the food is generally fresher and cheaper than in a supermarket. Before you make a purchase, tell the shopkeeper what you want – do not handle the merchandise. The shop attendants will hand you what you want in favor of keeping their display neat and tidy.
Olive Oil is among Italy’s major exports ~ A Box of Olive Oil with 3 Bottles Limoges Box for your culinary Limoges collection.
If you are a lover of coffee, make sure to stop in at the plethora of café s in major cities. If you are making an effort to fit in like a local, be forewarned that Italians know that someone is a tourist if they order milky coffee, such as cappuccino, late in the day. In Italy, milky coffee is only drunk in the morning. Many Italians drink their morning coffee and eat their breakfast pastries standing up at the counter in a café.
Must-Have collectibles for any coffee lover! Limoges boxes made for coffee enthusiasts by artisans in Limoges, France
Probably one of the most romanticized and cinematically highlighted cities in Italy is Venice. A gondola ride is the perfect way to relax and take in the local scenery with an experienced guide. This city may be small, but it is big with personality, and one charmingly simple way to spend the day would be to just wander in out of the maze-like streets adjacent to the water. Keep in mind though that while these narrow streets and ancient buildings are delightfully quaint, they are in fact lived in and worked in, so pay attention not to be in the way looking around or taking pictures.
Explore the waterways of Venice on a gondola ride with this adorable keepsake Limoges Box
As you make your way wandering about, taking in the sights, you may notice that Italy is very smoker-friendly; more than 20% of the population smokes. It is forbidden to smoke in public spaces such as restaurants, but outside there are no smoke-free areas. If you are a non-smoker, standing by a smoker at the bus stop or in line at a museum can be very irritating, so just be prepared to keep some distance from them and do not take offense. On the flip side, if you do smoke, because it is often considered rude to light a cigarette and not offer one to someone next to you, a local may even charmingly offer to give you one as well.
A stop along your way may be the Vatican, home of the Pope. Since 1984 Italy has had no official religion, but most Italians are Roman Catholic Christians. However, only about a third go to church regularly. If you want to see an impressive church turnout, visit the Vatican in Rome on Easter Sunday – the plaza will be full of onlookers waiting to catch sight of the Pope.
The Vatican in Rome is the home of the pope, leader of the Roman Catholic Church
Nearly every city, town, and village has an annual festival, many of which last for several days. They are often based on history or religion. One festival in Cocullo celebrates the local patron saint, Domenico. A statue of St. Domenico is carried along the streets covered in live snakes. And every year in February, a ten day carnival takes place in Venice. People dress up in elaborate, colorful clothes and wear masks. Italians have a joyous love for life, love, and art, so research local event calendars ahead of time so you can take part in some of these entertainingly vibrant and memorable celebrations.
This Harlequin Jester Limoges box is a great memorabilia of the carnival in Venice, Italy
If you plan to visit Rome, the Coliseum is a must see, where you can learn about the ancient days of 2000 years ago when people would go to watch gladiator fights, where men would fight each other as well as animals; in some cases these events were held for 100 days and nights. It is advisable to book tour tickets at least one week in advance (most major travel sights offer this) which allows you to skip ahead in the line. Advance ticket purchase is also beneficial when visiting the Tower of Pisa, the precarious looking structure with a quirky off-kilter alignment of 5 degrees. If you are visiting in the summertime, take advantage of the night tour which takes place between 8pm and 10:30pm, which offers an opportunity to climb and see Pisa awash in the moonlight.
Roman Coliseum and the Tower of Pisa Limoges boxes, two Must-Have Italy keepsakes
LimogesCollector.com wishes you safe and happy travels. Enjoy your Italian adventure and add a collectible Italian-themed Limoges box to memorialize your travels. “Buon Viaggio” (Bon Voyage)!
