In Italy, major bad luck omens include the number 17 (due to Roman numeral anagrams for death), spilling olive oil or salt, placing a hat on a bed, and walking under ladders. Friday the 17th is feared, as are toasting with water, having 13 people at a table, or letting a black cat cross your path.
Salt and Spilled Oil: Spilling salt or oil is considered bad luck. If salt is accidentally spilled, Italians often toss a pinch over their left shoulder to ward off misfortune. Black Cats: While in some cultures black cats are considered symbols of good luck, in Italy, seeing a black cat is seen as a bad omen.
That's because in Italian culture, the number 17—not 13—is considered unlucky, and when it comes to Friday the 17th, some would even call it “un giorno nero" (a black day).
In Italian culture, Friday the 17th is believed to bring misfortune. The superstition dates back to Ancient Rome, where the number 17 (written as XVII) could be rearranged to spell VIXI, meaning “I have lived” — a phrase associated with death.
Italy Packing List
The "333 rule" in clothing refers to two popular minimalist fashion challenges: the viral TikTok trend of creating outfits with 3 tops, 3 bottoms, and 3 shoes (9 items total) for many combinations, and Project 333 by Courtney Carver, which challenges you to wear just 33 items (including clothes, accessories, jewelry, outerwear, but excluding underwear, sleepwear, and workout gear) for three months to reduce decision fatigue and declutter. Both methods encourage mindful consumption and creating versatile capsule wardrobes from existing items.
In Italy, it's considered rude to be loud or rushed, dress sloppily (especially in churches), touch produce at markets, ask for cheese on seafood, order cappuccinos after noon, overtip, or be disrespectful to historic sites like eating on church steps, while being overly attentive or interrupting meals is also frowned upon. You should also avoid specific hand gestures like the thumbs-up (meaning "up yours" in some areas) and treat dining as a leisurely experience rather than rushing.
A cornicello is a traditional Italian amulet resembling a twisted horn, believed to ward off the malocchio (evil eye) and bring good luck, strength, prosperity, and protection. It's a fascinating talisman, rich in history, superstition, and cultural symbolism.
The country code for calling Italy from abroad is 39. For calling foreign destinations from Italy, the international call prefix is 00, as is standard in most European countries. Italian regulations prescribe no fixed rules for grouping the digits of telephone numbers for printing or display.
In Italy, the number 17 is considered unlucky because its Roman numeral, XVII, can be rearranged to spell “VIXI,” meaning “I have lived,” a phrase associated with death.
One of the most popular superstitions in Italy is the Malocchio or evil eye. Most Italians will disregard the ancient belief in the malocchio but will own something for protection - you know just in case!
This fear stems from the fact that the number 17's Roman numeral, XVII, is an anagram of VIXI, which means “I have lived” in Latin. Some consider this a bad omen as it implies that death is just around the corner. By the same token it could mean that you are alive and are living it to the full.
Red, without a doubt: this is the colour of the holidays in Italy, especially on New Year's Eve. Whether tone on tone or combined with gold and silver, it is always the star of the table and of the outfit, even if only as an accessory: wearing red brings good luck, or at least that is what people say.
The most iconic Italian good luck charm is the Cornicello (little horn), a red, horn-shaped amulet, often a chili pepper shape, worn to ward off the evil eye (malocchio) and bring good fortune, fertility, and protection, with its power amplified by being gifted rather than bought. Other key symbols include the Mano Cornuto (horned hand gesture) and the Trinacria (Medusa head from Sicily).
This number is the general emergency number throughout the EU (similar to 911 or 999 in the US/UK), but in Italy, it will connect you to the Carabinieri. The Carabinieri are one of the police forces present in Italy, and they are mainly concerned with national defense and serious crimes.
The number 13 is considered lucky in Italy. Associated with the Great Goddess, fertility and the lunar cycles, the number is thought to bring prosperity and life — quite the opposite view than that of the western world.
Italian Superstition: 'It's Not True, but I Believe It! '
Basic Etiquette
Avoid bright colors and opt for more neutral or muted tones. Italians generally dress up a bit more than casual tourists, so bring some stylish outfits. Comfortable shoes are a must for exploring, but leave the flip-flops for the beach.
Thumbs-Up. Avoid using this gesture in: Afghanistan, Iran, parts of Italy, and Greece. The gesture of 'Thumbs-up may look cool on Facebook or USA, but in Afghanistan, Iran, parts of Italy, and Greece, it means "up yours." So, to avoid any awkwardness, next time you must reconsider what you are doing.