Modern celebrities from Italy are a bit different from these historical figures, and most world citizens are far less likely to name a current-day philosopher or artist than they are to know the names Salvatore Ferragamo, Giorgio Armani, Gianni Versace, Enzo Ferrari, and Mario Andretti. These names are practically synonymous with what many tourists visit Italy to enjoy: high fashion and high speed.

Sensuous Style

Milan, a city in northern Italy, is widely renowned as one of the world capitals of fashion and design. Its Via Montenapoleone street in the Fashion District is home to the boutiques of some of the planet's most prominent clothing and jewelry designers, and other fashion districts in cities including Rome typically highlight styles that go on to sweep the world consciousness (and its citizens' pocketbooks).

Gucci, Ferragamo, Armani, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, Valentino, Fendi — all of these top-end brands are Italian. Many of these brands have been established worldwide for decades (Ferragamo has been selling shoes in the United States since the 1920s), while others started out in Italy and took longer to capture the world fashion market (Fendi bags didn't make it into Bloomingdale's until the 1960s).

You will notice as a tourist in Italy — especially in the cities — that the locals dress up more than Americans typically do for simply walking around town or enjoying dinner at a restaurant. If you want to fit in, try to take your wardrobe up a notch. Baseball caps are frowned upon, for instance, and jeans are cut more like slacks than regular ol' Wranglers.

Go-Fast Thrills

Looking good in Italy doesn't stop with clothing, handbags, and shoes. You want to turn heads on the road, too, a philosophy embodied by Italian sports car manufacturers including Lamborghini, Maserati, Ferrari, and Alfa Romeo. The street-legal vehicles that these companies produce shatter speed limits in the United States and often look more like Batmobiles than cars.

And Italy's infatuation with speed doesn't end there. If you're at all a fan of racing, then you know the name Mario Andretti. Born in Italy and later naturalized as an American citizen, Andretti is one of the most successful drivers in automobile racing history. He is the only driver ever to win the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500, and Formula One World Championship, which are among his more than 100 career wins on major circuits.

In general, the love of fast driving permeates Italian culture. If you rent a car in Italy, expect to experience a very different style of driving than you're used to in the United States. Everything moves much faster on Italian roads, and you have to pay close attention lest you get run over between the time you spot an oncoming car and the time you get over into the slow lane. Even on narrow city streets, slowpokes receive honks and yells. You'll also get some odd looks if you fail to drive with your headlights on, even during the day, because many parts of Italy include highways replete with dark tunnels.