La Dolce Vita: What Italian Summer Teaches Us About Slowing Down

The concept of La Dolce Vita —literally, the sweet life— is as fleeting as charming. It is certainly easy to trace its origin: the phrase La Dolce Vita was first popularised and immortalised by Federico Fellini‘s 1960 film of the same name. The movie was all about the glamorous, carefree, and high-society life in Rome. From there, the concept of La Dolce Vita has come to denote a life philosophy emphasizing the little yet precious pleasures, a laid-back attitude, and cherishing the present “immaterial” moment rather than material comfort. How accurate is this as a synonym for “Italian way of life” . . . well, every Italian would probably have a different opinion. Yet, it is unquestionably charming, and when it comes to Summer, it is a fact that Italians tend to slow down, if only because it is incredibly hot in most of the country. Let’s see how the Italian summer unfolds and what this can teach us.

The Italian Summer

As said, Italy is mostly very warm in the Summer, which affects many people’s lifestyle. It is common to push activities and social gatherings as late as possible in the day; for instance, you’ll meet for aperitivo at 7 or 8 pm, and not before 9— 10 pm for dinner, even on workdays, especially if you’d like to stay outside. Summers in scorching-hot houses with plenty of fans placed one foot away from your face are mostly gone: many places have air conditioning . . . except schools! That’s one of the reasons schools close at the beginning of June and reopen mid-September, leaving kids with long summers to enjoy (and parents with almost endless weeks to fill with activities and such). Aside from practical reasons, Summer is generally the season when many people slow down. Days are long, weeks lazily unfold, and many people indulge in memories of long, school-less, and at times boring summers with impromptu best friends, fleeting loves, and small to epic adventures. Slowing down reduces stress, helps appreciate small pleasures (a ghiacciolo[popsicle] with your feet in the sand, or a caffè in ghiaccio [iced coffee] in your local piazza) and generally, prioritizes quality over quantity, if only for a few weeks over the year. Summer also means, for many, vacations, whose anticipation can bring pleasure as much as the vacation itself.

Ideas For Your Summer, Dolce-Vita Style

Want to slow down and enjoy a laid-back Summer? Here’s some inspiration to help you out. (No presence in the Italian territory required!)

One of the staples of the Italian Summer is undoubtedly il gelato! Savouring your gelato while having an evening stroll (la passeggiata serale), sitting in the been-there-forever plastic white chairs in front of your local gelato place is one of the most common, crowd-pleaser, summerly activities. During the day, gelato can be substituted with the above-mentioned caffè con ghiaccio. Warning: caffè con ghiaccio is one of those things that can make Italians from different areas argue for a long time concerning what it takes and how it is made down to the tiniest details. Aware that we are walking on eggshells, it seems that the original caffè con ghiaccio recipe is from Salento (an area in Puglia). It is made with espresso and ice. What’s to argue about, you might wonder. Well, the coffee (a single, or even better, a double espresso) should be poured into a glass (glass, not ceramic!) filled with ice cubes. There’s more: the “leccese variant” (from Lecce a city in Salento) calls for adding almond milk in place of sugar. The barista’s artistry is a key factor. The most important thing, however, is not to call it a caffè shakerato (“shaken” coffee). Arguing apart, savouring a coffee with someone, be they a longtime friend or an acquaintance you randomly run into down the street, is quintessential Italian and highly recommended in any season (bonus point, a piazza, or even a sidewalk, maybe with a view . . . and no looking at the phone/watch). Or why don’t you read a book, maybe that mattone (literally, brick, meaning a long, brick-like, indeed, book) you have been postponing for a while? You could even consider an Italian novel about summer adventures: just look up coming-of-age Italian books, and you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. Regardless of your tastes, Summer is all about taking your time, so reading —or learning— at a different pace can easily fit in. All these activities are neither exclusive nor distinctive of Italy. There are many places in the world where summers are hot, schools are closed, and people indulge a little more than usual. What is perhaps typical of Italy—and surely associated with Italian culture—is the Dolce Vita Approach to all the above. So, give it a try, and you might find your personal adaptation to the Fellini vision!