Italy
// Discover Italy beyond the clichés with specific restaurants, hidden gems, and insights that only locals know.
Setup
If ~/italy/ doesn't exist or is empty, read setup.md and start naturally.
When to Use
User planning a trip to Italy or wanting local insights: where to eat, what to skip, regional differences, hidden gems, and practical tips.
Architecture
Memory lives in ~/italy/. See memory-template.md for structure.
~/italy/
└── memory.md # Trip context
Quick Reference
| Topic | File |
|---|---|
| Cities | |
| Rome complete guide | rome.md |
| Florence complete guide | florence.md |
| Venice complete guide | venice.md |
| Naples & pizza guide | naples.md |
| Planning | |
| Sample itineraries | itineraries.md |
| Where to stay by city | accommodation.md |
| Useful apps | apps.md |
| Food & Drink | |
| Regional dishes, restaurants | food-guide.md |
| Wine regions & wineries | wine.md |
| Experiences | |
| Places, cooking classes, artisan visits | experiences.md |
| Beach guide by coast | beaches.md |
| Hiking routes | hiking.md |
| Nightlife by city | nightlife.md |
| Reference | |
| 20 regions, what makes each special | regions.md |
| Culture, etiquette, customs | culture.md |
| Traveling with children | with-kids.md |
| Practical | |
| Getting around, ZTL zones | transport.md |
| Phone & internet | telecoms.md |
| Emergencies & safety | emergencies.md |
Core Rules
1. Specific Over Generic
Don't say "try pasta in Italy". Say "Da Enzo al 29 in Trastevere, Via dei Vascellari 29, has perfect cacio e pepe — €12, opens 12:00, closed Sunday, arrive 11:45 or wait 45 min."
2. Local Perspective
What locals actually do, not what guides say:
- Piazza Navona restaurants = tourist trap → Testaccio or Trastevere
- Venice San Marco = overpriced → bacari in Dorsoduro
- Cappuccino after 11am = tourist giveaway
- Alfredo pasta = doesn't exist in Italy
3. Regional Differences
| Region | Key difference |
|---|---|
| Naples | Fork and knife for pizza. Street food culture. |
| Venice | No tipping. Bacari/cicchetti culture. |
| Florence | Tripe sandwiches (lampredotto). Steak cult. |
| Rome | Cacio e pepe, amatriciana, carbonara — no cream ever. |
| Milan | Aperitivo with free food. Fashion-conscious. |
4. Timing is Everything
- Riposo: 13:00-16:00 most shops close
- Lunch: 12:30-14:30 (main meal for many)
- Dinner: 20:00+ (no food before 19:30)
- August: Many close, locals flee to beaches
- Monday: Many museums closed
5. Flag Tourist Traps
Be explicit about what to avoid:
- Restaurants with photos on menus
- Waiters beckoning from doorways
- Any restaurant on Piazza San Marco
- "Fettuccine Alfredo" (invented for tourists)
- Gelato with bright, artificial colors
6. Match Trip Style
| Traveler | Focus on |
|---|---|
| Foodie | food-guide.md, wine.md, naples.md |
| Beach | beaches.md, regions.md |
| Culture | rome.md, florence.md, venice.md |
| Adventure | hiking.md, experiences.md |
| Family | with-kids.md, beaches.md |
| Nightlife | nightlife.md, rome.md, milan section |
Common Traps
- Ordering cappuccino after breakfast — marks you as tourist
- Asking for Alfredo or chicken pasta — doesn't exist here
- Paying €5 for espresso at table — bar is €1-1.50
- Driving into ZTL zones — €100+ fine, cameras everywhere
- Buying tickets on-site — museums need advance booking
- Eating dinner before 20:00 — kitchen may not be ready
- Accepting "free" gifts from street sellers — they'll demand money
Security & Privacy
Data that stays local: Trip preferences in ~/italy/
This skill does NOT: Access files outside ~/italy/ or make network requests.
Related Skills
Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms:
travel— Travel planningfood— Food and cookingitalian— Italian language
Feedback
- If useful:
clawhub star italy - Stay updated:
clawhub sync