Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In 2013, Italy swore in its first black Cabinet minister, Congo-born Cecile Kyenge. Appointed
Minister of Integration, the surgeon's appointment reflects the country's increasingly multicul-
tural make up. Kyenge is one of two naturalised Italians in the government, the other being
German-born former international canoeist, Josefa Idem.
Religion, Loosely Speaking
While almost 80% of Italians identify as Catholics, only around 15% of Italy's population
regularly attends Sunday Mass. Recent church scandals have Italians feeling increasingly
cynical of the Vatican's moral authority, while shifting attitudes on issues such as gay
marriage and abortion see many at odds with official church doctrine. That said,
La
Famiglia Cristiana
(The Christian Family) remains Italy's most popular weekly magazine
and crucifixes continue to adorn state buildings and classrooms, even if they're justified
as 'cultural', not religious, artefacts.
Indeed, the Church continues to exert considerable influence on public policy and polit-
ical parties, especially those of the center- and far-right. But in the land of the double park,
even God's rules are up for interpretation. Sure,
mamma
still serves fish on Good Friday,
but while she might consult
la Madonna
for guidance, chances are she'll get a second
opinion from the
maga
(fortune-teller) on channel 32. The European Consumer Associ-
ation estimates that Italians spend a whopping €5 billion annually on fortune-tellers and
astrologers. While the current climate of economic uncertainty has seen a rise in the use of
esoteric services, the trend is not surprising. Italians are a highly superstitious bunch.
From not toasting with water to not opening umbrellas inside the home, the country offers
a long list of tips to keep bad luck at bay.
Italy's culture of corruption and
calcio
(football) is captured in
The Dark Heart of Italy,
in which
English expat author Tobias Jones wryly observes, 'Footballers or referees are forgiven noth-
ing; politicians are forgiven everything.'
Superstitious beliefs are especially strong in Italy's south. Here
corni
(horn-shaped
charms) adorn everything from necklines to rear-view mirrors to ward off the
malocchio
(evil eye) and devotion to local saints takes on an almost cultish edge. Every year in
Naples, thousands cram into the Duomo to witness the blood of San Gennaro miracu-
lously liquefy in the phial that contains it. When the blood liquefies, the city breathes a
sigh of relief - it symbolises another year safe from disaster. When it didn't in 1944, Mt
