Italy is renowned for excelling in practically every field, evoking admiration from people worldwide.

But what do Italians do better besides pizza and coffee compared to the rest of the continent?

“Practically everything,” any English or Northern European citizen with at least a basic level of culture would answer.

“A man who has not been in Italy is always conscious of an inferiority, from his not having seen what it is expected a man should see,” as famously stated by the writer, poet, and playwright SAMUEL JOHNSON (1709-1784).

Art, cuisine, picturesque villages, sea, and a captivating climate exert an irresistible charm on those living in places characterized by hectic rhythms and monotonous landscapes. Italians, with their afternoon naps, aperitivo culture, Sunday family lunches, and other stereotypes, enjoy a lifestyle envied by many. It’s a lifestyle that, ironically, finds its biggest detractors among Italians themselves. Some dream of having a Starbucks in every town and try to emulate the work rhythms and lifestyles of other European cities, both bustling and cold. They do this in Milan as well as in much smaller towns. They are mistaken.

According to the American writer Erica Jong, “Italy offers a unique permission to be human, a privilege lost elsewhere long ago.” One of the most widespread clichés concerns Italians being late to leave their parents’ home, confirmed at 29 years and 9 months, a fact that may raise questions about the advantages of leaving home at a young age, as often happens in Northern Europe.

The reflection extends to the quality of life in various European capitals, where access to one’s apartment can be unthinkable without a high income. The key question is whether living as an adult at twenty, with the associated challenges and sacrifices, is truly progress, or if it is preferable to wait for greater economic and emotional stability.

I am among those who once thought it was a negative thing to leave home so late in our lives. Now I think it was a great advantage to move out exactly at 29 years and 9 months, practically in the national average.

Many people view Italy as the ideal summer destination, and an increasing number choose to move to the “Beautiful Country” to improve the quality of their lives. As I mentioned earlier, after a period of being fond of foreign cultures, I have rediscovered the virtues of Italy, emphasizing aspects such as bureaucracy, the healthcare system, and the political class, which are, in reality, on par with, if not superior to, those of other European countries.

The Italian political class, with examples like the recent Draghi government, has proven competitive at the European level, while the healthcare system and bureaucracy hold their own compared to those in Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden. The same challenge can also be made regarding perceptions of the Italian tax system, where the real differences from others are not so pronounced.

In conclusion, beyond culinary, artistic, and cultural attractions, and a climate that remains unchanged and even improved, I like to highlight a change in other sectors as well, such as sports, no longer solely dependent on football but embracing any discipline, both for results and interest.

In conclusion, Italy is not just pizza and coffee; it is a fascinating mix of fantastic food, infinite culture, history, wonderful landscapes, and surprising attitudes, as emphasized by Elton John during his performance at the Colosseum in 2005. “I LOVE PLACES THAT HAVE AN INCREDIBLE HISTORY. I LOVE THE ITALIAN WAY OF LIFE. I LOVE THE FOOD. I LOVE THE PEOPLE. I LOVE THE ATTITUDES OF ITALIANS,” declared the renowned British musician, a statement less superficial than one might think. In many encounters abroad, I recognized this genuine jealousy when someone noticed the passport I presented at the airport. A sort of “let it pass,” a “green card” earned over the centuries, and perhaps (like me), one had forgotten having it somewhere in a drawer that hadn’t been opened for years.