In the 1990s, a Russian mafia and Italian mafia organization participated in a literal money-laundering scheme, washing and bleaching the ink out of US$1 bills and reprinting them as $100s, for use in the post-Soviet bloc countries, where the bills might avoid detection as counterfeits.
Italy
Italian law forbids school…
Italian law forbids school cafeterias from serving deep-fried foods such as potato chips, french fries, and even fried chicken.
Italian school lunches have to include a starchy dish (alternating rice, pasta and soup), a main course (based on meat, fish, eggs or cheese), two or more vegetable side dishes and plenty of fresh fruit. Nutritional standards regulate dish rotation: at least ten meals in the 4-week cycle must include cooked vegetables, ten meals contain pulse, starchy foods or grains and cereal, eight meals comprise fresh fruit for dessert, with portion size set according to dish and age group.
The first non-Neapolitan to win…
The first non-Neapolitan to win the World Pizza Cup in Naples had to be escorted off the stage by police for fear of being attacked by the crowd.
‘Umarells’ is a term in Italy, used to describe
‘Umarells’ is a term in Italy, used to describe old men, who watch over construction sites with their hands behind their backs, offering unwanted advice.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly…
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (starring Clint Eastwood), one of the most famous westerns of all time, was written, directed, & produced by Italians in Italy. It was part of a popular trend of low budget Italian westerns called “Spaghetti Westerns”.
150 meters below Naples, Italy…
150 meters below Naples, Italy, there is a vast multi-level underground stretching over a half kilometer, containing WWII cars, beds, conveniences, and other war relics.
In Italy and Portugal the installation…
In Italy and Portugal the installation of a bidet in a bathroom has been mandatory since 1975.
Italy has an infamous “monster park”…
Italy has an infamous “monster park” called the Gardens of Bomarzo filled with disturbing statues carved by a Renaissance-era mad genius.
Every year, half a million Italian…
Every year, half a million Italian people claim they are possessed, demanding an exorcism. Demands for exorcisms are also growing globally. In response to the rise, the Vatican even held a week-long exorcism course for 200 priests.
There is an airport in Italy…
There is an airport in Italy that will let you bring 500g of liquid on a plane, so long as it is Pesto.