“Talk to people, constantly, everywhere,” says Laura Rysman, the central correspondent for Monocle, who lives in Florence. “Getting in an elevator? Say hello. A hospital waiting room? Greet your fellow patients. In Italy, conversations are struck up in places that might be considered non-social zones in other places, but as far as I can tell, non-social zones don’t exist in this country, which has the effect of rendering the bothersome chores of everyday life a good deal more tolerable.”

“I really enjoy the aperitivo time as a way to introduce the evening,” says Mirella Aponte, a Dutch-Italian creative director. “It’s a similar sentiment to the after-work drink, but what makes the aperitivo better in my opinion is the fact that there is absolutely no cultural issue with having a non-alcoholic drink to go along with it. Personally, I love Crodino, which seems to have started making an appearance in London bars.”

“My mum has never overcooked her pasta in her life,” says Emma Pradella, MR PORTER’s Brand Partnerships & Marketing Editor, who grew up in Rome. “For perfectly al dente pasta, I tend to take three or four minutes off the cooking time. And you have to mantecare the pasta. Save a ladleful of pasta water, drain the rest and then finish cooking the pasta in the sauce with the starchy water to make it extra silky.”

“Food isn’t just about the food,” Aponte says. “It’s about the art of eating. Take your time. Eat slowly. Enjoy the conversation as much as you savour the food and drinks. And do have a little digestif at the end as a treat.”

“A good friend of mine once told me: ‘The wonderful thing about Italian households is the ability the owners have to decorate them with both contemporary art as well as antiques, some of which might have been handed down from generation to generation,” hotelier Antonio Sersale of Le Sirenuse says of decorating your home all’italiana.

“We love our walks – even when aimless,” says Marina Cacciapuoti, founder of the cult Instagram account and lifestyle brand Italy Segreta. “Ci piace passegiare!” It’s customary to take a leisurely stroll (la passegiata) in the evening, and even Loro Piana has named its iconic line of suede loafers after this national pastime.

Order an oat-milk flat white in a traditional Italian café and you’ll be met with a mix of judgement and utter bafflement. “In Italy, you only really have cappuccino, espresso and espresso macchiato,” Pradella says.

Cappuccino is your morning coffee. “You don’t drink it after 10.00am and never after a meal,” says Emily FitzRoy, the founder of luxury Italian travel consultancy Bellini Travel.

Espresso is usually taken at the bar. “You can order your coffee al vetro, in a glass cup,” Pradella says. “To me, it tastes nicer.”

“Italians never underdress,” Aponte says. “There is no way someone would casually show up to an event in some old jeans and sneakers, unless they’re a calculated statement piece, of course.” Cacciapuoti agrees. “Regardless of our age, or where we are going, for a walk, a coffee, or to the office, looking ‘decent’ for us Italians is a priority.”

“Italians dress for themselves,” says fashion designer Massimo Alba. “They strive to be unique. What sets them apart is their desire to develop a style of their own that makes them stand out and feel like they look good.”

By far the most famous trope about Italians is that they talk with their hands. “You don’t even need to learn Italian, really,” Pradella says. “If you master the important gestures, then you’ll get your point across.”

The Italian way of life is “more spontaneous” and “less structured”, Cacciapuoti says. “Unlike some other cultures, we don’t always require extensive planning or advance booking to have a good time. Flexibility is key, and we prefer to keep our options open until the last minute to fully embrace the joys of the present.”

“La dolce vita is all about taking time to enjoy the little details of life, and enjoying it to its fullest,” adds Carla Sersale of Le Sirenuse. “An aperitivo before lunch is a great way to start on days off or holidays. I have in mind a wonderful white tablecloth with a Campari soda in the centre of a lovely piazza.”

It’s no coincidence that the great fashion houses around the world turn to Italian mills and factories for the most luxurious fabrics – or that the brands known for the best wools and cashmeres (think Loro Piana and Brunello Cucinelli) all hail from Italy. “There is a mutual appreciation for fine garments in Italy,” Aponte says. “When you compliment a friend on their outfit, they’ll often invite you to touch the material to confirm the good quality.”

“Less is more” is the essence of Italian style, Cacciapuoti says. “A white shirt is the simplest solution. It’s been an undergarment since Roman times, when it used to symbolise wealth and power, and it’s always a fixture in our closets.”

“If there were an Italian 10 commandments, after injunctions about food, family and style, the stone tablets would decree a month-long sabbath known as August vacation,” Rysman says. “It’s the only effective way to get people to take a real break these days.”

“One of my all-time favourite quotes is by [American writer] Erica Jong and it perfectly encapsulates the essence of what sets Italy apart from other countries,” Cacciapuoti says. “‘What is the fatal charm of Italy? What do we find there that can be found nowhere else? I believe it is a certain permission to be human, which other places, other countries, lost long ago.’”