Italy and Depression?

Question

I travel a lot. Every time I arrive in Italy, I get depressed, every where one goes it seems their trying to rip you off, even in simple purchases, taxi, hotels, clothes, restaurants,, etc.

Am I alone in getting depressed only when I am in Italy? It is full of chaos, confusion, people seem always mad gesturing such madness with their hands, etc.. Yet it is the land of the popes, Leonardo, Sofia Loren, etc..Gee, maybe a tranquilizer would help eh!

Answer 1

Seeing that you put this in the Rome section it is to be a more well known fact that Rome over charges and rips tourists off in things. It's like going to New York, you expect some ones going to get mugged there.

Research travel destinations in Italy, avoide the big city areas and tourist traps. Do you know any Italian language? Trying to be less of a toursit as possible can really help and tends to make you less of a target.

While this site is made more for people looking to live there it should help give you info on life over there that may explain some of why they do what they do- http://www.expatsinitaly.com/

Answer 2

When I was there I loved it! Italy seemed very cheap to me because you can always bargain and lower the prices to your convenience. It was a little chaotic on the roads (wait, did I say a little?...them crazy Italian drivers) but every where else seemed quite calm to me. What city did you visit? If you visited one of the bigger cities like Rome or Florence then it will be much more chaotic and expensive. Next time try a smaller town like Assisi, it was absolutely beautiful and NO chaos! You'll love it there and everything was even more cheap! I hope you get to go again :)

Answer 3

I would say don't go!

Answer 4

I live in Italy and I'm not depressed! My advice: when you see chaos and confusion just smile...

Answer 5

i think you are depressed, is not the place...maybe when you came in Italy goes to seaside, in some quiet place (Sardinia, Puglia, Sicilia...), swimming  and sun help...

i don't think that anyone is going to rip you(in clothes???hotel???there is always a price list !!!), maybe is just in your mind...

but where do you live? i never find a place without chaos, confusion... these are big cities,in small villas is different...

about "mad gesturing"...well...is the popular culture, but aren't so much these people that gesture this way... you can find someone that do it... where are you been?

Answer 6

I assure you, you are not crazy.

I am Italian but have always lived abroad. I moved back to Italy twice in my life. Once for my year abroad at university and once for work. I find Italy to be very depressing.

Italy itself is beautiful. It has art, culture and natural beauty. You can go from the mountains to the coast in no time. Some of Italy's cities are the most breathtakingly beautiful in the world. And...there are many very well educated, traveled, cosmopolitan, well mannered Italians out there who are interesting and wonderful people.

Unfortunately, the ignorance of the masses almost outweighs all the positives that my home country has. I have met some of the rudest, most uneducated, narrow-minded people in the world in Italy. I am almost embarrassed for them. It is not that Italians are any worse than people in other countries; it is just that they go about their ignorance with such conviction and arrogance that they are really infuriating.

Yes, Italy is great. Unfortunately, except for vacations, it is really not my cup of tea.

I am sorry if some of my fellow country-men are offended by this. Hey, we probably wouldn't get along anyway.