Italian lifestyle and the typical Mediterranean attitude towards life are one of the major reasons why so many people appreciate the mentality and culture in Italy. But what depicts a real Italian? Clichés and prejudices range from the classic bumptious macho or the expressive silver-tongued Italian to the stylish-elegant Italian. But although in many of these clichés there is still a little truth, the Italians are mostly less uniform than one might think. A great Roman history was followed by a long time of small city-states and foreign leadership. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that the local patriotism is still strong in many regions and many Italians are constantly striving to stand out from the others. Yet, especially against foreigners the Italian national pride prevails and shows the travellers an extraordinary piece of Italy with all its advantages