Decoding Cultures- ITALY
Italian Symbols & Artifacts
National symbols represent the visible part of any culture, the one that can be perceived with our 5 senses.
Symbols have a strong correlation with the image of the country and are the basic element of national identification and communication.
National symbols intend to unite people by creating visual and iconic representations of the national people, values, goals, or history.
National Flag
The flag of Switzerland, with its unusual square shape and bold red and white cross is recognised across the world for its iconic design. The Swiss Flag
Lidos
In the collective imagination Switzerland is associated with skiing and mountains, and more particularly with the mythic Matterhorn. The Matterhorn-Symbol of Switzerland
Mountains have impact on Switzerland’s image abroad
Switzerland- a Hiking Paradise
DID YOU KNOW?… that Alpinism has been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the UNESCO: Living Traditions- Swiss Alpinism
Vespas
Switzerland is recognized as one of the world’s most important and renown major financial centers. Almost a quarter of the world’s foreign assets are managed in Switzerland. Swiss Financial Center
Piazzas
The Swiss Guard was established by Pope Julius II in 1506, and is serving the popes for more than 500 years now. The Swiss Guard
Design
The chalet is a Swiss symbol par excellence. During the Romantic movement, when the European elite began to take an interest in Switzerland, the chalet came to symbolise a natural, simple, free, and democratic way of life. How the Chalet became a Symbol of Switzerland
Fashion & Shoes
With the growing popularity of alpinism in the 19th Century, the flower became a national symbol of Switzerland. The Mystical and Mythical Edelweiss
Patron Saints
Swiss knives have become a symbol of Switzerland for many reasons: it’s on many tourists’ shopping list, it stands for Swiss precision and quality and it’s well known all over the world, almost everyone owns one of these pocket knives. Swiss Army Knives- History & Facts
Coffee
Swiss watches enjoy a worldwide reputation of excellence. It’s the country’s third largest export industry and a symbol of Swiss know-how. Watchmaking Industry
Gelati
(in Sicily, where they first invented it using the snow from Mount Etna.
Pizza
Like Swiss watches, cheeses from Switzerland embodies proven Swiss precision and reliability. 11 Facts about Swiss Cheese
Fiat 500 & Ferrari
the Italian car made for the masses, was introduced in 1936, followed by the Nuova Fiat 500 in 1957. Discontinued for a while, it reappeared in 2007 in time for its 50th anniversary.
Cinema
All over the world people associate cows with Switzerland. There’s something quintessentially Swiss about a herd of cows chewing the cud in an Alpine meadow: Switzerland’s Iconic Cow.
The Swiss have also invented pocket-sized wooden cows – a miniature piece of Swiss heritage: the sStory Behind Switzerland’s Iconic Wooden Toy Cow
Opera
The alphorn is considered the Swiss national instrument and – based on his origins as a herders horn – also a symbol of the dairy industry in the Alps. Its shape is derived from the curved trunks of hillside fir trees. The alphorn-the-sound-of-natural-tones
Gondolas
The Swiss are a nation of tunnel constructors. The political will to connect regions separated by mountains has resulted in the creation of more than 1,300 tunnels and galleries over the years, with a total length of about 2,000 km. The Legend of the Gotthard Pass
Pasta
Dr. Maximilian Bircher-Benner,a Swiss physician and nutritional pioneer developed muesli around 1900 to help treat his ill patients. Ever since, it became a Swiss breakfast classic all over the world and stands for healthy food. Müsli- the story behind the Swiss Breakfast Classic
Mezzalune
Chillon Castle is the most visited monument in Switzerland and a symbol of the country. Other national monuments are the wooden bridge in Lucerne, the old town of Bern and the St Gall abbey (UNESCO World Heritage sites). Switzerland’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Italian Brands
Among the most famous and recognizable Swiss brands are Migros, Rolex, Swatch, Nestlé, Ricola, Victorinox, Mövenpick, Nespresso, Toblerone, Ovomaltine, Rivella, Swiss Brands you should Recognize
Ex-Votos
The legendary four-legged hero is famous worldwide. The most renowned of these dogs, Barry, is supposed to have saved the lives of over 40 people. The St Bernard- The Making of a Swiss Alpine Legend
Wine
Chillon Castle is the most visited monument in Switzerland and a symbol of the country. Other national monuments are the wooden bridge in Lucerne, the old town of Bern and the St Gall abbey (UNESCO World Heritage sites). Switzerland’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites
La Mamma
Among the most famous and recognizable Swiss brands are Migros, Rolex, Swatch, Nestlé, Ricola, Victorinox, Mövenpick, Nespresso, Toblerone, Ovomaltine, Rivella, Swiss Brands you should Recognize
Soccer
The legendary four-legged hero is famous worldwide. The most renowned of these dogs, Barry, is supposed to have saved the lives of over 40 people. The St Bernard- The Making of a Swiss Alpine Legend