Italy is perhaps one of the least religiously influenced countries in the
European continent. In fact, the country adopts the republican form of government with very secular and liberal set of laws. Abortion, for instance, is legal in Italy. This is ironic considering that the center of the Roman Apostolic Catholic Church, the
Vatican City, is located in Italy. Even during the early history of Italy, the people of Italy had been the advocates of secular rationalism. For instance, it is in Italy where Galileo Galilei was born. Galileo challenged the authority of the church by supporting the Copernican heliocentric view of the solar system. Italy was also the leader of the Renaissance. Humanism was greatly influence during this period.
Thus, we can safely say that secular humanism exerts more influence on Italian lifestyle than Catholicism. Italians are generally warm and welcoming people who have the penchant for hedonistic lifestyle. Italians love to relax, celebrate, and socialize. Italians take more leisurely time than Americans. For instance, eating lunch takes about two hours with traditional
three-course gourmet meal. Business activities generally stop during this lunch period.
