Why do Russians love Italy?

Every Russian loves Italy. We love Italian people, food, location, weather, style. When I listen to someone’s story about going to Italy, Russian people tell me that there is only one disadvantage of going there – that there are too many Russians in Italy. You know, Russian people have not changed that much since the times of Anton Chekhov (writer, 1860 – 1904) who once wrote in his notebook that “Every Russian in Biarritz complains of the number of Russians here”. We still do not like to bump into each other when abroad. 

Speaking about Russians’ loving Italy, here is why I am sure we love it:

• In every city we have restaurants with Italian food (well, maybe the food is not very much Italian, but for us, it is:);
• For lots of Russians Monica Bellucci is the most beautiful woman in the world;
• If a Russian has been to Europe only once and the place is not Paris or Barcelona, this is Italy;
• We think that the language is very beautiful;
• For many famous Russians like Bunin, Gogol, Tchaikovsky and others  Italy was the source of inspiration;
• Many Russians like the movie Il Bisbetico Domato (The Taming of the Scoundrel), and I think that this is because Russian men are like Adriano Celentano from that movie;
• Russians can spend the whole night trying to purchase online tickets for the exhibition of Vatican treasures in the Tretyakov Gallery (the exhibition will run until February 19).

  

  Florence

      For me Italy is associated with sun and happiness.  I know, it is not always warm and sunny there – but when you are sitting somewhere in Florence drinking your cappuccino and looking at Italian people (of course, I am speaking about the morning, because no one drinks cappuccino in Italy in the evenings) – you have no doubts that they are enjoying there lives. This is something we all need to learn. La Dolce Vita! :)

Photo by Pavel Terenin