The mentality of slowing down and relaxing can be seen in many aspects of life in Italy. People walk more slowly through the street, and a main activity is just sitting down and talking to your friends. There are even signs telling you to take your time! In America, there always seems to be a rush to get on to the next activity. In Italy, it is more common to slow down, relax and enjoy the scenery and people around you.
I learned about the tradition of il dolce far niente, also called vita lenta, which means "the art of doing nothing" or "slow life." This tradition is about a mentality, which describes how you think about something. People in Italy have the mentality of taking their time in life and slowing down to enjoy the little things. This traditional mentality can be seen in traditions such as riposso, when stores close down in the middle of the day, so people can go home and eat. Vita lenta can also be seen in apertivo, which is the time after school and work when friends get together to have a snack and chat together before dinner. The custom of vita lenta can also be seen in the way that people sit outside all the time with one another, go on slow walks, and take time to play. Vita lenta can be seen in the way that people take a long time to eat their food or have a drink at a cafe.
