According to Italian etiquette, you should leave a very tiny amount of food (or no food) on your plate. Leaving food on the plate is considered rude in Italy. Italy has, in fact, developed a culture that places a high value on food and eating.
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It is improper to put one's hands on one's lap, or to stretch one's arms while at the table. Resting one's elbows on the table is also considered to be poor manners. Do not leave the table until everyone has finished eating. Drinking beverages other than water or wine with a meal is quite uncommon.
In Italy, it is customary to serve leftovers the next day rather than throwing them away. You can ask your Italian host if you can box them up and take them home with you. In Italy, it is customary to pack your leftovers for the next day in a container or bag.
Don't ask for cheeseWhen you're in Italy, it's normal to want to put parmesan cheese on everything, but don't. Many chefs will serve up your food exactly how they believe it should be eaten, and will likely take offence if you think it needs something extra.
You can wear shorts in Italy and look perfectly normal.I went ahead and packed three pairs of pants and three pairs of shorts. I am so glad I decided to pack some shorts! On the first day, I wore some light khakis. We went to the Vatican and found that there were plenty of men wearing shorts.
If you ask locals “Do you tip in Italy?”, they'll explain that while they sometimes leave a small tip, it's generally not necessary. In Italy, gratuity (or una mancia, pronounced oo-nah MAN-chah) is considered a bonus for exceptional service. And it's not often that you'll find a tip jar at a register.