Do northern italians hate their southern brothers?

Question

Do northern italians hate their southern brothers?

Answer 1

Italy has been for centuries a patchwork of small and very proud city or regional states. Even now, every small city has its local culture, holidays, food, dialect etc...

These differences are even more evident between south and north, with the northern part reacher and closer to central European culture, while the Southern part is more typically Mediterranean.

However I see a stronger animosity between, for example, Scots and Britons than between northern and southern italians (not to speak about catalugna and castiglia in Spain, or Corsica in France)

Answer 2

I rather say they dislike each other. Northern Italy is far better off economic/education wise. Also their temperament/work attitude is quite different not to talk about the language/food etc. Southern italians call the northern ones foreigners and that is still a nice expression...

Answer 3

I think Ale reply is the closer to how we deal each other today. Compared to even other European Countries this issue is indeed a mild one, it's more just a reason for arguing in a cafe.

During the past decades it was a way more serious problem, when people form South where emigrating to North in order to find a job, but now it's over everywhere, apart some extremist minds.

Today foreigners (from outside Italy or at least outside EU) are in that phase as well.

Answer 4

unfortunately yes.....

Answer 5

Hate is a strong word. The Sicilians do not like any outsiders accept for tourism. The mid region's Rome, Naples and southern areas are disliked by the Northern areas each consider themselves better educated and better mannerisms.  I lived in the Napoli region for 6 years and they are very warm people (so are the Sicilians).

Answer 6

they still mistrust each other, even 140 years after the civil war. No, wait, that's america, About Italy, I have no idea.

Answer 7

No, absolutely no also because my father come from south Italy. now the north is full of southern Italian and for me we are an only united people, but unfortunately there are some exception

Answer 8

I've lived in the south and have lived and worked in the North of Italy on and off for the past 27 years.

First let's get one thing clear - people in the south are better educated (have more schooling) than those in the north. The reason why is that there are fewer jobs in the south and therefore more or a reason to go to school and get a university degree. The Southerners have better manners than prople in the north. You hear it in the use of the language and also because they are more, let's say - laid back. The south has more culture than the north: Naples and Sicily have by far a richer history (even recent) than that of the north.

The Northerners have for years called the Southerners "terroni" or people from the land/dirt/farmers and those from the south call the Northerners "polentoni" or corn eaters/eaters of polenta. The Northerners use the term in a hateful and spiteful way whereas you rarely hear the word “polentoni” used in the south. Some 25 years ago - during the decline of Italy’s ability to compete as an industrial power a small group of Northerners begin to want the Southerners to return to the south (after they were actively recruited to help build war torn northern Italy’s cities & factories). A group of “native” Northerners, that have even created a political party based on xenophobic rhetoric, have blamed for years all of the north’s woes on the “terroni”... and now more recently on the new comers: Albanians, Romanians, ex-East-block nationals in general.

But I’m leaving the crux of your question.... No the Northerners do not hate the Southerners. They are basically envious for when the Southerner arrives up north s/he’s usually better schooled and eager to make a stake.

Answer 9

I don't think hate is the proper term possibly weariness of each other.  For years the resources of the South have been exploited by various interests in the North to the point that many of the small southern villages and towns are basically ghost towns.  Many have emigrated to the North for better opportunities.  Many northern Italians feel that the government gives too many subsidies to the South.  It does not help that there is a political faction that wants the north to secede. The capital city of Palermo still has buildings that were bombed during WWII standing.  There are people who live in government provided housing from an earthquake that happened decades ago.  Promises were made to rebuild but nothing has been done. While investments have been made in the South there is a certain animosity that still exists. Some blame the mafia for the lack of progress.  Others blame the government.  I think that most southern Italians are complacent about their lot in life and tend not to stir the pot as it were.

I went back to Sicily after a 13 year absence and was shocked by what I found.  I come from a small town outside of Palermo and to me it is a magical place full of culture and beauty.  What I found on this visit was many houses that were shuddered, abandoned farm land and a town a former shell of itself.  I wept because I had lost a big part of myself and was angry that these people could no longer sustain a quality of life that they have known for years.

Answer 10

oh, My roots are from Palermo, from what I heard, some areas in sicily people are giving up and moving to other areas,, its not the same they say.. but as far as hate, dont see it as a hate thing, just like here in usa north an south have the same odd ways, but yet i meet many and they all seem to welcome and get along fine, are the few who think they are rebels yet lol which is plain silly,,if i had a free place in sicily i would go, and move place to place every so many years.....

Answer 11

i don't hate southern people...they are just different

Answer 12

The same phenomenon exists in Italy as exists here in the U.S.  The northerners (not all) see themselves as being more cultured, more intelligent, etc.  The southerners (not all) see themselves as being more hospitable, more fun, etc.   It's the same thing in Italy.  It stems from the North being industrial and the South being agricultural.  The lifestyles -- in some ways -- are different because of that.  In Sorrento, Italy, after a soccer game between North and South Italy, the South won and were actually flying a confederate flag -- yep, the U.S. confederate flag -- with the words "The South Will Rise Again."  I was dumbfounded.  I have no idea if they realized what that flag meant to the tourists standing about watching them cheer their (the southern) flag.