What Do You Not Like About Italy?

I think that only happens if you're going to a small city right leahcim? Because if we are in a big city like Rome or Milan they could not care less if we are tourists or not, they just carry on with their lives.
 
As a tourist from our trip last year, I think the only thing I don't like about Italy is the overpriced souvenir items that are being sold everywhere. I know that this is true for almost vacation and/or travel spots all over the world, but not all tourists are able to afford these things at such high prices. We save up to be able to spend enough for the trip, the miscellaneous expenses, and then back. That's it, so buying gifts for friends and family back home is sometimes not possible because of this.
 
Wow, so many replies to this thread! I wasn't expecting this, really, I was expecting the opposite :D lol!

By the way, pralinelemons, you mentioned something really interesting! Souvenirs are great at all, but some sellers ask for impossible prices! Take magnets for example. You can find them at cheap prices, €1, €1,50... that's affordable, you just have to look for them. But I have seen small magnets sold at €5 or even €10! What's up with that? It's a fridge magnet, not a piece of gold :) :)

The most interesting thing happened in Venice, by the way, I was looking at the souvenir shops while walking towards the San Marco Piazza. Close to the train station, prices were so high I almost fainted! :D As you go further though, prices go down... the further away you are from the train station, the lower the prices.
 
I am currently studying abroad in Milan. While I love Italy, there are a few things about Milan that I do not really care for. I have ran into a lot of rude people in Milan and I guest it is because Milan is a bigger city. The people here stare and stare without smiling and some rarely say "Scusi" but instead bum rush by you. I prefer the more tradition Italian cities like Florence, Venice, Monza, Modena, and Rome over modernized Milan.
 
Interesting comments about Milan, I am friends with a couple of people from Milan who are both really nice, but I have heard before that it is not a friendly city. I only once spent about 3 hours there so can't really comment, but my brother stayed a few years ago and said it was the least friendly place he found in Italy (he also stayed in Florence, Venice and Genoa) Turin, on the other hand, also a big Northern city, I found to be mostly very friendly.
 
Actually, while the comments about Milan are true (I'm not a big fan of the city either), they are quite powerful if you think about it.
A relative of mine has many friends living in foreign countries (a few years ago, as soon as the borders opened, many, many people chose to leave and start a new life in Western Europe). While almost all of them are happy and have a better life now, the ones living in Milan have told the truth to the people back home: that the Milanese are not really friendly, that Milan is not your typical safe city, you have to watch your back, that life there is so very busy and tiring at times....ecc., ecc.

The truth it, yes Milan is not perfect, and @Adam your brother is right, but you know, if the city is so awful, why stay there? There are so many other cities to choose from. I agree there's the finding a new job situation, it's not easy to just leave your life behind and start over (twice, in the case of some people), but you can always choose to move outside the city, there are plenty of Italians who don't live in Milan, they just work there, and they use their cars or the train to commute.

In the end, it's a real shame that the image of Milan is misinterpreted. For this very reason, my brother in law thought Italy was an awful country, full of rude and unfriendly people. And it took him 2 long visits to realize true Italians are exactly the opposite! :)
 
The drivers. Enough said. In some parts, some are nice and considerate, but some really do seem to have an agenda against tourists!
 
I don't think there is much not to like about Italy. Even Milan, is worth a stop to get the feel of the city. I think all of Italy has much to offer, even if some parts are not as breath taking as others. If I had to choose, I suppose I don't like that it is so far away from the states and not more convenient to travel to. In terms of being stared at, I have been to many other countries where they stare at you because they can spot that you are not from around there, so I won't attribute that to Italy.
 
The only thing I really don't like in Italy is how unreliable the trains are in the southern part. I remember many years back waiting for hours. They train never showed up and we were never told it was delayed or when we could expect it.
 
The things I didn't like I got used to such as church bells ringing all the time. What I did find there was a lack of bookstores to go in and browse. Maybe it depends on the location and whether a town or city has some?
 
Is there really anything not to like about Italy? I think if I had to pick something, it would be how forward Italian men can be on the streets. The way they flirt or whistle, etc. It can be a bit intimidating and feel aggressive for a woman at times.
 
Juno said:
Is there really anything not to like about Italy? I think if I had to pick something, it would be how forward Italian men can be on the streets. The way they flirt or whistle, etc. It can be a bit intimidating and feel aggressive for a woman at times.
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Oh yes, this... makes me feel so uncomfortable.

I also dislike the amount of people there are. Crowds everywhere, it makes it hard for me to snap photos or just relax for a bit. Not that it's Italy's fault but still, it's a fault.
 
I have nothing but praise for this lovely country. The only complaint I may have is that I cannot appreciate its beauty AND see the Northern Lights that I have always dreamed about. You can usually see it in the northernmost areas, so it's not a very big deal of a complaint.
 
The only thing I hate about Italy which I don't mind that much is the fact that most Italians would rather not speak English. And that's the reason why most English speaking people often think that Italians are rude. I know lots of friendly, courteous Italians I just wish more would be willing to speak English.
 
I don't like the way the public transport is being paid. In my country I pay a fixed amount of money for a card with the help of which I can take a ride 70 times per month. That's freaking awesome. However, the Italian system of paying is pretty much complicated to me.
 
The only real thing I could think of that could be seen as a frustration is when places operate on what I call "Italian time" - long lunch breaks and so forth. In saying that though, there's something charming and lovely about it too - I feel like more importance is put on the family and on gathering, rather than work - and I think there's something to be said about how nice that is! :)
 
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