What and how do you know about Italians' forebears? If some of them could paint, carve, build, decorate, project and study with immense genius, it does not mean that their contemporaries and even those geniuses themselves could queue in an orderly fashion! If this is journalism, then I could be one!

Roberto, Bristol, UK

A few of my Italian experiences. I am lying on the beach and people step over and on me and don’t apologies. Whilst ordering food and drinks in a bar, the man answering the phone that starts to ring and tell me to shut up. I have never experience such bad behavior anywhere else.

Dan , Stockholm, Sweden

My inlaws, Italo-Americans said much the same when they came back from a trip to Italy, they were shocked by the course behavior. Friends in Seattle report that the latest influx of Indians are rude, and will push right past you as if you weren't there.

Jenny, Grand Rapids, MI US

If you think Italians are bad, try living in South Korea. Never in my life have I been bumped into so often as by people from Korea. It's as if they don't have any spatial awareness at all! I've tried to explain it to my Korean friends but they just don't get it. I've lived in italy too- not as bad!

Anna, london, uk

Parris hates Italians and Berlusconi because "Britannia can no more rule the waves". Do you remember Mr. Parris the yacht Britannia in 1992 and Soros's attack to the lira? Do you remember British golpe in Italy? But Italy isn't a british colony and Italian people Berlusconi.Bye bye Britannia!

angelina, genova,

Italians are charming people, I have no compliant against them. We should learn to live in piece.

Paul Lowe, Slough, UK

As a provider of language courses, I have met many Italians. Sometimes they push me, sometimes I push them. But we always friends. Is good.

Ashley Arnold, Windsor, UK

I'm sorry but ...
from a statistical point of view ...
You are right.

silvio, Terni - Umbria, Italia

I think we are fairly polite and enjoy the company of other people. But I believe we aren’t able to queue (we are too emotional to queue) sorry.

Antonio, Verona, Italy

The propensity of people to queue politely is inversely proportionate to the quality of the food in their home country. Where there is good Italian food on offer then no person, Roman or Londoner can patiently bide his time. Where there is British food on offer, dallying seems far more acceptable.

Jay, Tokyo, Japan

You are in the privileged position of having the opportunity to voice your thoughts in a national newspaper. And what do you use that opportunity for? Making generalisations about Italians. I am sure you are aware that street etiquette and personal space varies from country to country.

Claire, London, England

Unfortunately, every nation has its' fair share of ignorant, selfish and inconsiderate people.

Wen, Oxfordshire,

try Beijing tube/bus/everything that should involve queuing up.
Last May I thought I was gonna die smashed by the crowd in the new 5th line tube...terrible experience.

Noemi, salerno , Italy

I agree with Edward at the bottom of the page. Italian tourists are absolute delights compared to the average Israeli tourists. I double-dare any nation to challenge the title of the most arrogant and pushy tourist in the world. However, as they're both rather hot, I'd take either over the English.

Anna, Runcorn,

to the ligurian, venetian and whatever other italian region "seperatists" that have tried to explain their plight here -
Get over yourselves and your ridiculous claims for independence -no-one else cares-
Its almost as irritating as italian tourists on the tube...

Marco, Geneva,

Unfortunately, Alberto, you haven't understood the sense of this discussion(even if it looks clear):the subject is the behaviour of Italian people overseas not a comparison between Blair and Berlusconi.I hope this wasn't an ham-handed attempt to promote Italian left wing party, it would be a pity.

Aldo, Torino, Italy

If you think the Italian's are pushy getting onto the Tube, you should try Madrid!

Julian Tong, Madrid, Spain

Berlusconi compared to Tony Blair? I don't remember Blair ever having to admit his friendship with a Mafia Boss. I don't remember Blair ever changing the laws in order to avoid a trial. I don't remember Blair ever screaming to European Parliament "You're tourist of democracy". Do you?

Alberto Capella, San Mauro Torinese, Italy

The real problem is that we swan around expecting everyone to speak English when abroad and are frequently greeted by dual language signs, but provide none for our guests.
'Let the passengers off the train first' is easily translated I'm sure.

Lisa, London,

I have been to Italy and have encountered Italian tourists at home, also. With very few exceptions, they were polite, warm, generous people. As for seeing through Berlusconi, pot meet kettle, I seem to remember a man named Tony Blair. Stereo-types and over-generalizations aren't useful.

Aurora, Portland, OR, USA

And as everyone knows, the brits abraod are, or course, a paragon of good behevior...
& I don't think that a nation of people you couldn't see through Blair have anything to say to a nation who accepted Berlusconi. They are in the same boat, or perhaps even a faster sinking boat, with Brown aboard.

Julien Du Lac, Toulouse, France

Why don't you write an article about Brits abroad,? why don't you try to compare british teenagers with Italian ones?
Say what you want but Italy and Italians still have many things that have long disappeared from the average briton, such as respect for the elderly, manners and moral.

David, London, Uk

I get shoved back and blocked when trying to alight or disembark from the Tube EVERY SINGLE DAY (mostly by the natives but everyone joins in, though they are rarely stylishly dressed). Mr Parris has only been obstructed three times this year. I'm starting to feel victimised!

Angela, London,

The easy answer is that you only ever hear the pushy and rude element of any race ... the 99% who are not pushy and rude are the quiet majority.

McDaddy, Stockport, England

We should be discussing the antics of the English abroad - and not just the package holiday brigade. If their worst crime was to display an occasional lack of manners, what a relief that would be to their hosts from Melbourne to Malaga. Italy may have its oiks but no one breeds them like us

Sam E, London,

I have been living in Milan for more than a year and i've used tube to go to work: i've never seen something like this, and i think that there are some italians in Milan's tube.
I hope you are not talking moved by envy for these "stylishly dressed people".

MarcoT, San Miniato basso (PI), Italy

Gianluca,

I think he was speaking of Italians in London, whose behaviour is often lamentable. Should he choose not to visit his hometown of London?

Petr, Brno, Czech Republic

Having had ski & snowboard tuition over the years in France, Austria, Switzerland, Andorra & Italy I can definitely say that the best was in Livigno, Italy where my instructor was kind, polite, funny, friendly & very patient but funnily enough he told me he preferred not to teach other Italians :-)

Sarah, Manchester, UK

I am Italian. I let people get off the Tube before I get on myself. I don't need to yell when I speak. I say "good morning" and "please" and "thank you". My parents brought me up that way. Am I the exception? Let's say Italians can be very polite, when they are polite. The same goes for British, btw

Andreina, Rome, Italy

If you don't like Italy or italians, you could easily stay at home or even trip elsewhere. I can assure that we won't miss you.

Gianluca Zaffino, Milano, Italia

I find the English pretty rude in a different way (but of course not all) - some might say beer/champagne swilling, swearing, hooligan, sarcastic, self professed superior, middle England, Upper class England , chips n egg brigade who throw up, expose themselves n fight.of a saturday night! Allegedly

RK, London,

What means Italians ?
Please Mr Parris be correct: Italy isn't a nation of one people, it's ONLY a State who oblige many DIFFERENT people to live togheter.
I was born in the state called Italy, I have italian passport, but never I have considered me as "italian".
I consider this as a forced and unwanted imposition.
Italy is the state that illegally occupy my real homeland.

Aurora, Dunedin , New Zealand

Hello,
I lived in UK and I have to say Italy is much much better. In UK people don´t have manners ( especialy young generation who kills each other in the streets),english people have no knowledges about countries outside UK, can´t speak forin languages, disgusting food, horible weather .....

Koala, Prague, Czech Republic

older italians in australia tend to act like everything they do is quite incredible....also, they are too proud of their food.... ( which, to most asians.... is very average ) But yeah, British yobs and knifers are bad news, too.

Dev, perth, australia

Dear Sir, this could be the same as "The British are all narrow minded", just because of your three unlucky lines of ink in a major newspaper,but I would not say it nor I would write it on newspaper. Only three cases are just not enough to put such a lable on 60M people! Pls DO think then write!

Giulio, Milan, Italy

Ironic that marriage between our nations seems popular at the moment - we can't be that different. However, I live in Rome and speaking from experience - yes Italians are largely rude, noisy and very selfish. My Italian husband would also love to know why they are like this. He is a true gentleman!

Emma, Rome, Italy

I live in Rome and I have the same unpleasant experience every day in the roman Tube. So - let's be honest! - there is truth in the article. The problem is that the author is from England, and english are the last to teach lessons on how to behave abroad. Mass tourism makes people rude.

Antonio, Rome, Italy

Dear Matthew, you should have a look at the answer to your article on "La Stampa" of friday the 1st of august, by the director Carlo Rossella.

Chiara, London,

I've travelled enough to admit there are people which muck up our flag.I suspect Mr. Parris has never met one of the majority of Italians.It’s silly considering all the Italians in such bad and simplistic way as it would be absolutely idiot considering British people as a herd of rowdy boozers.

Aldo, Torino,

Why are Italian tourists so pushy and rude ?
No way to follow simple rules and share easily a town.

Can Italian manage any public area safely ?
Look at the underground entrance in Rome plenty
of more or less authorized sellers.

Antonio, Roma, italy

I agree with Andrea. Note that, for Liguria, the illegitimate loos of independency was the loss of a great civilization. Liguria has the right of returning independent because the annexation to Italy was never ratified by a popular vote, thus remaining an illegal and illegitimate act.

Franco, Genova, Liguria Independent

Mathew , well said I totally agree, as an Italian who was brought up in Australia , I often would come across this arrogance and the way they are so judgemental on my Italian accent which is an old dialect, I am sorry but my father couldnt find work in Rome so we now do quite nicely in Australia.

Peter T , Sydney , Australia

Don't complain, Mr. Parris, my advice is to sing "Always Look On the Bright Side of Life " & smile.
Did you have an unpleasant experience with italian people only three times this year?
Think to my hard fate: this year I have to bear even 366 days of experiences like yours, if I'll survive enaugh

Giovanni, Florence, Italy

Mr.Parris, I'm italian and I'm sure you have personal problems such as poor italians who also give you reason. Devote more time to think what people in the world think about english. It's better!

Riccardo, genova, italy

Dear Mathhew, what do you know about Italy and Italians? "Spaghetti and mandolino"? Who are Italians? Italy's the Country of the 100 Towns. After Imperial Rome, we are dominated by foreign peoples for a lot of centuries. If we are "pushy and rude", you have been our teachers... Your sincerely .

corrado, reggio emilia, Italy

Italy, like every other nation, has kind, polite people and rude, unpolite people. Making generalisations about other nations is typical of the English mindset: it can be a funny game, but if you start taking this too seriously you end up being full of stereotypes about others, which is never good.

Andrea, Milan, Italy

All that is right, sir Parris.
Also, your understatement can be appreciated.
Unfortunately, my nationality is Italian, but I DO NOT deem myself Italian at all. I feel the same kind of discomfort with Italian people.
Since there exists no "Italy", people haven't common roots or rules.

Claudi Meneghin, Milan,

Yes< Before Berlusconi we were so so polite people but, after we elected him, we became the most rude people on earth! What a silly article.. What about English gangs and your Gordon.
Ps. According to a research made by Expedia among hotel owners, the most rude tourists are the English!

ale , Birmingham, England

I pray all the Italian tourists in London not to push Mr. Matthew on the subway, thank you.

Il Taca, Milano,

What am i asking is if the italians are so rude why we are getting over 3000 imigrants a day ?
Zapatero use different metods than we are no talking about Greece, Australia etc.

Francesca , Chertsey, uk

Veneto ti's not Italy. The Veneti are not Italians....
i feel sorry for you but you journalists should understand that does'nt exist simply "Italian people"
but many different People with enourmous differences.
Italy's a State but not a Nation.
The culture,costumes,and traditions of the people with roots in Veneto are far different from the Romans.

cimbro_veneto, Vicensa, Veneto

to the world's citizens: PLEASE, do not think Italians are ALL like that. Many of us (me proudly included) hate Berlusconi, have no religious belief (or should I say illusion) just because Vatican City's here.not every Italian watches Big Brother on the telly and is always loud.so don't hate us all!

Simona, Como, Italy

Another person that feels the need to teach us Italian,how to behave,what TV programs to watch & who to vote.I perfectly know the faults of some “Italian behaviours” but I do not intend to take any lessons by others who are as imperfect as us.People who leaves in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

Manu, London,

A couple of months ago the rough guide published a report that defined English people as being: 'Insular, Arrogant and Self-Important' - I thought it was harsh at the time until I read Mr Parris' commentary on Italian tourists...! enough said..

Sere, New Castle,

Dear Mr Parris,
have you forgotten the 13 women arrested in Greece for a sex competition, the girl arrested in Dubai for having sex in the beach ?
P.S. English would have seen through Berlusconi in an instant but they have seen through Gordon Brown only after 12 years!

ale, Birmingham , UK

Very good article Mr Parris,so don't forgot that now you have a italian coach at England footbol team,Fabio Capello.I'm very sorry for this and for you.Ciao

Francesco, Hatfield, UK

Dear Mr Parris,
Probably Italians are not good enough in queuing and talking quietly as English do, however we do not have angry teenagers going around and killing an avarage of 3 peolpe per month. We seem only interested in fashion..as we don't want to be like cave men with a beer as only friend!!

concetta, woking, UK

I think we should just agree with Parris because is enough to see how italians drive. Nowadays if you don't pay attention to the cars, you can leave your life. Drive is education. You can see our behaviour and understand the level of "respect" of the others. There's no respect, no HOPE. Poor Italy.

Sara, Porto San Giorgio, Italy

It's not surprising that in the comments below you can find a lot of prejudices: see the leaderboard of rudest and most polite people. Mr Parris is not new to that! The roller coaster between da Vinci, Verdi,beer-swilling and Berlusconi is fantastic! Nice comment from Wofgang, Boulder, CO, USA

Giorgio, Bolzano,

I think Parris must write also about the damages caused by the english hooligans when they are abroad. Don't you think?

Andrea , Firenze, Italy

I'm italian and I agrre with Parris about the average modern life style...
We are not a nation. We have leaders that we deserve, we are a nation of furbe sheep. We have no dignity. I hope soon to find my work abroad. Italy only for holidays

Alessandro, Trieste, Italy

I think this claim could be as superficial as the carachters you have criticised. Nonetheless, generally speaking, what you say on the Italian behaviour is true, in our homeland is even worse. But since there's good and bad in everyone it's not fair to take it as a general assumption.

alex alberghini, Como, italy

That was great!
Thank you! They're not only rude and pushy but they also dare flirting with your wife even if you are a "so called mio amico" ... That's what happened to me (well... to us: my wife, me, ... and that pushy lovely Casanova!!!)

Stuart, Stockholm, Sweden

I'm Italian and I have lived in London for 2 yrs.
Before moving here, I've travelled a lot and if there is something I've learned is this: the perfect nation does not exist, everywhere you can find rude people and kind people. Stop labeling people in this way, it's silly and unfair.

Margherita, London,

This is so ridiculous.We re on this earth for our three score years and ten,arguing about nothing.As a Brit,I admire the Italians spirit as well as they admire our independence of mind.Our biggest enemy is the behaviour of the "emerging countries".
Mr.Parris-get out of your cosy fortress London!

seb, Berne, Switzerland

Have you ever seen English people abroad? Drunk brutal hooligans with no respect for the place they visit, always prone to fight for no reason, vomiting on sidewalks, littlering the streets with broken bottle. And you call a person "rude" for not staying in line?

Bisquitforsmut, Salerno, Italy

I am italian, and I lived in many cities like London, NY, Sidney, Kathmandu, New Dheli, Bangkok etc etc, now I live in Ko PHi PHI the island of the movie THE BEACH, here is like a paradise, please MATTHEW come to see your citizens, it's difficult to define human being.and same in Spain, Greece etc

Denis, Ko PHI PHI, Thailand

It hurts to have to admit it, but what Matthew Parris writes about the average modern italians is absolutely true.
I am Italian - altough I tend to consider me not loud, not brand-addicted, not rude. But I totally agree with his criticism.
Thanks a lot, mr. B, for your 20 years of tv "education".

emiliano, rome, italy

I think that the prejudice of the annoying stranger turist who is rude and noisy is common all over the world, you should see the "polite" english when they are in our country! And PLEASE respect our democratily elected premier, thanks!

Marco, Turin, Italy

I would say that Italians are rude both in italy and abroad, but not all Italians, let's not paint them all with the same brush. I also notice that the rudest italians are from the Northern Regions where they think they are better than everyone else anyway

Maria, Salerno, Italy

In Italy you push out of the train past those getting on, you push to the the counter and get attention, you change lanes without indicating into any available space. If you get there first, good. It's not rude, it's the Italian way. And you don't complain afterwards; which would be rude.

Iain Thorpe, Wellington, New Zealand

I agree with kathleen. Sneering was a good choice of words too. They do it in this paper about Americans, Australians, the French, the Germans, etc. It's the tone more than the content. Somewhere in the English psyche they still think they are special and can pass judgement from a higher plane.

david, melbourne, Australia

You told the truth Mr Parris, but not something new as lots of people told about other non-italians citizens' bad manners..generalizing on a single event it doesn't means nothing
i've been in France, Uk, etc. i could say good and bad habits but for sure i would not on a important newspaper

paolo, Palermo, Italy

Public transport in Italy (be it buses, trams, and even the Venetian vaporetto) have separate entrance and designated exit doors. This enables immediate boarding and simultaneous alighting.

Hence why Italian turists go on board the tube unaware of protocol 'alight first board later'.

Federico C, Cives Georgii,

Nice to read that english people would be so smart to understan who berlusconi really is; since only 50% votes for him this could mean, maybe, that 50% of italian are quite different from the perfect icon you described in such a few words. Anyway i wouldn't talk about junk tv if i was english..

Biagio, Milano, Italy

Typical English comment...english people always pretend to give advices to the all world. I have been living in London for 8 years, I am Italian, and my friends (not english) have been attacked and stabbed always by english gang. Maybe the writer should add a couple of lines about this!!!!!!!!!

Antonio, Londra, UK

Dear Mr. Parris,
I'm Italian and I think you're right. Everytime I'm in a foreign country and I watch to italians' behaviour I feel shame.
But I hope you'll can sometimes see we are not all in that way.
And don't vote for pitchmen like Berlusconi. ;-)

Andrea, Modena, Italy

Dear Mr Parris, I 've not visited all the wolrd for this reason I cannot compare and say that Italians are "the rudest people on the planet " But for sure most of them are rude , crude, and presumptuos . These widespread behaviours started since 1980 and overlap with the berlusconi age

IVAN , milan, Italy

It is true that big crowds of young Italians (and Spanish) are usually noisy and boisterous in London, but I would far rather them than large crowds of English. I never feel fearful of being stabbed by young Italians (or Spaniards) - though I often get pumped by their Invicta rucksacks!

Richard, London, UK

Dear Mr. Parris,

it really seems from your words that you are talking about Italians but thinking of Brits instead. Also, ask whoever has been (like me) to Greece and Spain during summer (Corfu, Costa Brava) to tell you how rude, noisy, abusive your people can be. You must be very envious...

Gabriele, Bari, Italy

I am very impressed that Italian youngsters can handle mixed sex groups without the need to be teenaged parents. Compared to English teens, Italian teens are much better balanced and normal (albeit rather loud and brash in public places). Brits love to say please and thank you - which is important

RNS, London, England

That's always like this..Italians are rude, unpolite, messy ecc...but I think that we can't be judge by the behaveour of some Italian Tourists on a train...I mean, how much were they? three four?eighteen? I'ts not enough to judge anyway...well for example, three weeks ago I saw in a restaurant ...

Alessandra, Vicenza, Italy

Kind Mr Parris, I'm Italian and deeply touched from your words.
I think that people who speak as you did, just contribute to give an image of English folk of excessive snobbishnes...
I even think that describeing a nation just looking at a few examples, is not so safe...stathistics teach!

Andrea, Turin, Italy

hi i'm italian and i think that it's all true....

luca, Rome,

Italians rude? Well yes on Italian trains I have been kicked out of my seat rather unceremoniously by people who had pre booked theirs, but on the whole I've found them pretty nice people.English so much better? Compare Rome and London on a Friday night...then tell me which nation is more polite!

John, Bristol, England

this article embodies typical crass british pomposity. Take the time to think that the very people you judge as pushy and invasive are the very same that bring in plenty of money that your sorry government isn't able to manage at its most elementary level.

Maria Cristina, London,

Why in the world do a couple of obnoxious Italians who were too impatient to wait, speak or act for all Italians? Same goes for English and drunken fighting. I dont deny stereotypes but I dont expect 100% of the nation to strictly adhere to them.

dan, Worcester,

Gelous. A lot of people in Europe say bad things about italians,the same people who come in holiday in Italy, wanna have our style, eat our food, wanna dress like us, always speak about us....you are ridicolous,In Italy we don't need to speek about other countries. :-) Believe me.

Erica Alfare', Belluno, Italy

What's rude in London is normal in Rome. Russians are incredibly rude, by British standards, but they just have a more robust public manner. That doesn't mean we Brits are more polite, we're different. It would be nice if Italian tourists behaved like us, as I'm sure they'd like us to act like them.

Malcolm Hawkes, London,

Christian in Pimlico: how did you know the seven people who walked past the woman with the baby were British?

They could have been from anywhere.

John F, London,

Chill people. Fingers have been pointed to everyone: the Americans (oh my god!), the Chinese (so loud!), the French (arrogant!!), and ect. There are rude and polite people everywhere and sometimes it might just be the bad luck of a polite Brit. bumping into a rude Italian..or the other way around.

Beth, NY ,

If you started the article with -

"consumerism, junk television, brand addiction and mindless celebrity worship"

I would have thought you were talking of UK nationals.


And Thatcher - she didn't deserve it then, has she done anything further to change things ?

P Smith, Rugeley, UK

As an Italian living in London, I do have to admit that's mostly true! But I have a tale too! Once I was at Pimlico station and a mother holding a baby was trying and take her umbrella fallen on the ground! Seven Britons passed ignoring her! I helped her!
Isn't ignoring other people rude for you??

Christian, London,

Hi,
WE ARE ALL ONE; we're on the same planet.
Focus on this and not on any little or big cultural or genetic differences.

Massimo, world's citizen (now in Italy) :-)

Massimo, Parma,

Mr parris, I'm italian and can you tell me why english turists are always drunk and annoying?
In every country i visited english turists was hateful.
I have a question for you: in italy nobody speaks never about english people because we are not interested in you, why you always speak about us?

riccardo , sanremo, italy

Well, I'm really sorry we are not able to form lines, say "sorry" every time we accidentally touch on the Tube or act politely every time! If you think we are rude, we think you are hypocrites! And as many others said, a people of drunk teenagers and hooligans is the last one who has to judge us!

Leo, London,

I don't think it'S the Italians in particular. All tourists do the same thing, they just haven' quite grasped the logic of letting people off before you get on - gets everyone to their destination faster and more pleasantly. It is extremely irritating.

Freya, london,

Hi Matthew,i'm happy that some foreign people talk about italian problems.Because we have a lot of them and one mainly is the rudeness.But nobody in Italy take care about our showing and you have seen the result.Also the bad manners cause a lot of troubles between us.Thanks to mind Italia.Ciao

Davide, Mantova,

If people try to barge you back on to a tube while exiting), you have to be assertive.

Put your hand out flat, in the middle of their chest, and (not too hard) push them back.

Simon , london,

I'm born in Italy, but somehow feel like being a foreigner in my own country. A country inhabited by people who don't read, who vote for Berlusconi and would sell their mother for money. That's it. Not to speak about the media.I work in the field and there's plenty of corrupted people all over..

daniela tordi, Rome, Italy

I'm italian and I'm not rude, I respect because I like that people respect me so I can say tjat Not all Italians are rude, there are many Italians who respect people, environment etc...
What about tourists who come to Italy and leave their bottles of bear in Piazza Duomo or other important places?

J, Milan, italy

When I was in Norway, they were very rude to the
Italian tourists. So, thats how it goes.

Barney Larson, Spokane, USA

You may be right about italians being "pushy" on the tube, but not all of us , and a smart person should never generalize... And then,to tell the truth it occurred SOMETIME to me to be "pushed" by english people who just went on their way without saying sorry, so now who is the rudest???

c, london,

I've been to Rome underground and yes its an absolute disaster. i live in Paris and thought that their metro etiquette left a lot to be disired when they push u in like sardines - e.g. you reach the next stop thinking there is no way anymore persons can get on the car - when wallop - another 10!

Mearns, paris, france

There's an associate professor in Pavia University who is a beast towards students, shafts and insults them and is often drunk ...
Have I to think that English professor are all like him?

John, Florence,

I have no interest in going to Italy. It is a third world country which is 100 years behind the rest of the western world. The only thing about Italy i like is the food and reading about the Mafia. Apart from that, Italy is boring and has nothing exciting to do or see.

Martin, London,

you're definetively right. I'm italian but I have lived in belgium for three years. i was ashamed to be italian. they are rude, they don't respect any law and Mister B represents the country perfectly. I'm so glad I left Italy and don't miss it at all. Italy would be a great place. Without italians.

Sarah, bruxelles, Belgium

I think that in every country there are rude people and I can assure you that also english-men are not so polite.In Milan each time that there is a football match in which is involved an english team Dome Square is full of people that shout,drink and leave beer bottles everywhere.

Gill Tomasini, Milan, Italy

Samuel , London, I fully agree (20 years of travel, lived 5 years in Italy) only its far more pronounced in the northern Italy, and then in the wealthier classes.

t. Andre, London,

sonia, I sympathise with your tradgedy of holidaying with Brits, but I think you'll find that their behaviour is born of ignorance rather than rudeness. Britain seems to pride itself on being the most ignorant country in western Europe, but is not intentionally rude. For the Latins, it's cultural!

matt, Antibes, france

Well, the rudest people in the world are undoubtedly the French- I will never forget how impolite, unhelpful and arrogant people were during my recent trip in France. Italians are not rude, we're just not champions in good manners, but this happens everywhere in Southern Europe, not only in Italy.

Max, Enna, Italy

Dear Mr. Parris,
as an Italian, am sorry that someof us did not let you out of yout Tube train.
apologies.

Paolo, Naples, Italy

"Stylishly dressed" Italians push in undergrounds , slovenly attired Englishmen slice children in orphanages (Jersey). Each one has its own way to be "inpolite".

Andrea, Vicenza, Italy

Do you really prefer you English mob? I can't believe it.

Margarita, Barcelona,

Check the languages of those "Shoplifters will be prosecuted" notices in the tourists shops: French, English and Italian.

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Japan

You should come here in italy and seen how polite are british tourists...

Pierfrancesco, Rome, Italy

Having travelled on tube systems around the world it still amazes me how London proudly boasts no aircon. You can see people on the verge of passing out. well its only hot for 2 weeks of the year so whats the point. I do take pleasure in watching ppl rush for tubes. Look up!! theres another in 1min

bri, london,

Im Italian but I always lived in an English environment, my boyfriend is English and I feel I belong to both countries.and neither people are better or worse when it comes to being rude. I have some bad experiences in both countries. Different contexts but in both cases rather unpleasant.

Sara, Lecco, Italy

Albeit contrary to received wisdom, the same uncouth behaviour is manifest in Japan, hortatory notices about observance of manners notwithstanding; in this, most group-oriented of societies. To be fair, we might blame the automatism of a regulated populace. Or, as s/one said: rules, but no manners.

Michael Mitchell, Tokyo,

why don't write an article on summer holiday places like Magalluf (Maiorca, Spain). All the tourist guides say something like that 'Pay attention to english, they are drunk already in the morning, annoying all the other tourists'. Dont stay too much in London, world is greater.

Like, Milan, Italy

Same for us italians when we see dozens of english drunk holidaymakers in the street or at the beach, singing loud everywhere and being very annoying and aggressive...we cannot reconcile that with the "british fair play", how could we? :-)

Marcello, Italy,

Slightly harsh on Italians: what you have to understand that Italians have no grasp of the British concept of the queue. They simply do not form a line at any given opportunity like we do, reserving their collective national reverence for things that we do not. Noisy and rude perhaps, but always fun

Laura, Milan, Italy

Very sorry for the stupid you met; very angry they spread this bad image of Italy ( I'm Italian = I'm ill-mannered. Not really!). I love your country and lived there. But what's this article got to do with us? Sounds like: I have st. to complain about and... Ok let's put Italians in. A little unfair

Loredana, MC, Italy

We lived in Kew for 15 mos. and I must say the Brits were not very friendly. They seemed to take a special dislike to small children (our son was 3 at the time). We traveled all over Europe and we have always told our friends about how much the Italians loved children. We were treated very kindly.

Jan, Madison,Alabama, USA

Mr. Parris.
Try reading "The Dark Heart of Italy" by Tobias Jones. All will be revealed.
Ciao !

Dr. Jimmy, Nottingham, England

Italians are said to be addicted to mindless celebrity worship? Aren't we talking about the UK here?
Junk television??? So feeding people on trashy soap operas or reality nonsense makes Britain superior???
The UK would have seen through Berlusconi? Well they didnt see thru Blair did they?

Matt, Naples, Italy

I totally agree with you.
And most of italians like Berlusconi.
No words.....

Luigi, Pisa, ITALY

I had a similar experience at Russell Square in rush hour. A large group jumped on and were quite surprised that I may have wanted to have got off first. Only by pushing quite hard, did I get off before the doors closed.

The tube's current courtesy poster campaign should be multi-lingual

Mat, London, UK

Whilst serving in the Royal Navy, 2 colleagues and I were invited to dine with a dozen or so Italian Navy officers who were already in a restaurant we had chosen - only for the whole contingent to do a runner after their meal. My two colleagues and I paid up on behalf of the Italians.

Weedenbroon, Dartmouth, England

Don't generalise all Italians...maybe they were Milanese!!
As Francesco di Mosto said...the milanese are not like other Italians..

Deco, Varese,

Well... I'm Italian... I'm certanly not rude.
However English-men are not so polite as they think they are!! Many of them (or maybe I have to say YOU) have that I-am-Brit-and-so-I-am-better-than-everyone-else-in-the-world look!!
Obliously not all Brits are so (as not all Italians are rude and pushy)

Fabius, San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy

Generally find many Europeans rude eg once when in Croatia just about to get on a bus when a gaggle of various European nationalities pushed me & my obviously pregnant wife aside to get on the bus whilst a bemused Australian sympathised with us remarking it how often she seen such behaviour

Graham, Bristol, UK

Rude Italians? Must be a European thing. Those of Italian background in Canada generally say "sorry" or apologize when some steps on THEIR foot (a Canadian thing). You will find lots of "polite" Italians in Toronto (500,000 or so share this background), AND our tube/subway is air conditioned!

Patrick, Toronto, Canada

If Italians are rude in the tube is because in Italy we have the lousiest transport system ever where if you don't hurry to get on the train, the next one will probably arrive after 5/8 minutes... regarding british tourist, I live in Rome and most of the times they get drunk, vomit and start fights.

Emanuela, Rome, Italy

Maybe they were drunk or in a hurry! Did you even spend some time in Italy to be able to make such an accusation?My roots do lie in Italy but I spent several years in Ireland, Scotland and England and got to say that the things which happened to you on the tube did regularly happen to me on the tram

Giulio, Rome, Italy

My roots do lie in Italy but I spent several years in Ireland, Scotland and England and got to say that the things which happened to you on the tube did regularly happen to me on the tram in Manchester as well – with younger and older people than myself;

Giulio, Rome, Italy

Dear Matthew I am a "modern Italian" from Milan but I live and study in London since 4 years, well... you are right to criticise the unpolite behaviour of many Italians but as you write about Berlusconi and Venice and Da Vinci should I remember you Shakespeare and "Lady" Jade Goody ...

Sebastiano, Milan/London, Italy/UK

Ahhh, a tennis match of patriotic animosity. Love it.

Howard, Manchester,

So, i'm italian and i'm not so good in speaking english, but i try to write what i think. A very nice form of ignorance is generalising. Many of us, maybe, are rude, but there is another great part of italians that isn't.I don't think that all englishman like drink beer from day to night and so on..

Gianni, Matera, ITALY

Rudest people in the world? From extensive travel of over 25 years.....

1. Israelis
2. Italians
3. Saudi Arabians & Kuwaitis.

Most polite and friendly people in the world.....
1. Lebanese & Palestinians
2. Americans
3. Morrocans

Samuel , London,

I don't believe you can't aircondition the carriages because the tunnels get hot.

The aircon in my car no matter how hot it gets outside. Substitute carriage for car and tunnel for outside - what's the difference?

But if hot tunnels are a problem, how about adding some vents?

Redcliffe, London,

Just come back from an holiday where the 90% of the hotel guests were british ,I swear I will never go on holiday in another hotel with so many english people : pissed all the time, shouting,fighting ,pushing and behaving as they were the owner of the world:English and Italians have a lot in common

Sonia, Stroud,

Perhaps Oxford remembers Baroness Thatcher thanking General Pinochet for "bringing democracy to Chile." That comment, which was by no means isolated, is a disqualification for a honorary degree from a decent university.

Steve, NYC, USA

I am english living in Milan for almost 2 years. Till now i havent noticed any manner from any of the italians. They are rude, and spoilt by choice. Apart from the metro manners, they are also rude to the foreigners. They believe that the world bows to their italian blabber.

Norbet, Milan, Italy

I live in the dark heart of Nothern Italy, it is difficult not to generalise as the majority of the people are extremely obnoxious (a cultural thing). Amazingly its the wealthier types that demonstrate the poorest behaviour. If I lived with my parents until I was 40 i wouldn't know how to behave too

Sinjin, Veneto, Italy

Has Mr Parris ever been to Spain and witnessed the behaviour of English tourists in places like Lloret del mar and Ibiza?? This is so ridiculous..Italian people ARE rude but I simply cannot accept a comment like this from an Englishman. Has he ever been out on a Friday night in Nottingham or Leeds?

Igor, Milan, Italy

You can not generalize some people react to appearances. Maybe those complaining were ugly.

joe albert gonzales, san antonio , u.s.a.

Has Mr Parris ever been to Spain and witnessed the behaviour of his fellow countrymen?? Has he ever been out on a Friday night in Nottingham or Leeds?? I'm Croatian so my view is unbiased but Mr Parris please think twice before saying certain things. I cannot accept such comments from an Englishman.

Igor, Milan, Italy

You can't turn around and say that one particular nationality are 'rude'. All have their own merits and faults, actually I quite the Italians.

colette, Dublin,

Once in my town, Palermo, we played a football match against West Ham, I think.My own town turned to be plenty of drunken people who destroyed windows shops, outside spaces, public garden, using streets and pavements as public toilets, engaging fights everywhere. We can be loud but not thugs!

Valeria, London, UK

And all these brutal murders in London? Or the way your children behave at school? maybe SOME of us are noisy and unpolite but what about the always drunk british guys at pubs? They do the same when they come to Italy so should we say "why are british tourists so drunk?" I don't this so.

gio, varese, italy

i am italian, i know that usually italians abroad are a mess, but i'll tell u that some of us are different and it's not fair to put a wron label on a whole coutry

Alice, venice,

Having just spent a few days in the incredibly stunning, sublime, Tuscany countryside, I sadly cannot but agree with your findings on Italians.
I had thought they would be welcoming and friendly but found them to be the rudest people I have ever met in
Europe.
I will not be going back.

MTB

Molly Thackray Bagley, Trouville La Haule, France

Yes, Italians are clearly evil, although still rather stylish.
Perhaps the Germans would help us to exterminate them all, surely it's time for them to have another attempt at world domination soon?
Tee hee, I'm joooooking!

Brisco, Sydney,

Mr Parris, "rowdy, beer-swilling English mob but, tattoos and all" for too long hasn't seen through the fascist British National Party- Also, knowing English people's average language skills, I suspect you wouldn't be able to distinguish Italian language from Japanese if you heard it. Cheers, Massim

Massimo, Milan, Italy

Racial generalisations are always less valuable than those of political affiliation.

The reasons for not conferring an hon degree on that blighted woman have become more clear with hindsight. The offspring of the Thatcher generation are now prowling the streets wearing face masks.

Clive Mahoney, Watford, England

We have been to many,many places in Italy and have found the people extremely polite helpful & friendly. Probably these are the ones who have never travelled to the UK and experienced the British way of life.
Funnily Germans at home are also wonderful, but abroad they behave like Brits !

Slobodan Smith, Halifax,

Italians the rudest people? interesting point, Matthew may I remind you the the typical British holiday in southern Europe: drinking till stupidity, singing out loud till late night, and finally puking on the street. Are you sure that other people do not see Britons as the rudest people?

Fred, Leeds,

If some of the most intelligent people in the country could 'see through' Thatcher, then who are we to argue. You know the reason why they didn't confer it Mr Parrish although you neglect to say why here.
Plus the Italians you speak of sound very like the British, consumerism, celebrity worship!!

glyn, telford,

How many times do you catch the tube? Waiting to let people off is so so old school now.

You should try Spain, excuse me doesn't exist. They use a little push in the back instead.

terry, london,

Your comments about Italians are shallow, and if you made them about black people or Muslims, you would be called a racist.

How often am I saddened and ashamed of the English on holiday: yet I have never seen an Italian drunk, or shouting because the locals don't speak English.

Peter GODDARD, Le Rouret, France, EU

I wish that the English had the culture, the style, family values and good humour of the Italians, not to mention their cuisine and appreciation of good food and wine.

I think that you need to reassess Matthew.

Peter GODDARD, Le Rouret, France, EU

I resent the comment around "mindless celebrity worship" from the Country that gave the world Jade Goody and Jordan, but I congratulate the author on getting shoved only three times while alighting from a tube train - it's happened to me pretty much every time I tried.

Ivan Marziano, Canterbury,

I am an employee of a Gentlemen's Club (though, they would not describe themselves so) with a Pall Mall address. I deal with men of a certain age, a certain class and a certain 'Do you know who I am?' attitude. I get patronised on a daily basis. Why are English Gentleman so rude and condescending?

Gill, London, UK

Hello,

i'm an Italian that have been working in London for 3 years now.
I think this article is too harsh.
Every people have good and bad side but speaking about 60 millions people in this way indicates alack of style.
I think you like to buy our griffes and our properties in Italy.

Thanks

stefano, london, uk

Matthew Parris - before you start criticising the generally well-behaved younger Italian generation, please go and read what UK youngsters are up to in Hyde Park right now - the brandishing of knives and boys violently punching girls. Compared with that, a few jabs on the tube is small potatoes.

John Buckeridge, Harrow, EU

Italian tourists are second only to Israelis when it comes to rudeness. Put them together and it's quite a cocktail. I shared a departure lounge with passengers for two flights to Tel Aviv when I was returning to London from Verona last week . By comparison the Italians seemed courteous!

Edward, London, UK

I'm an Italian living in UK ,my husband is English and he lived both in Uk and Italy and he can see good and bad things in both the countries. I'm a bit upset that Mr Parris could generalize so much.Living here I've seen very rude behaviours in english people too.

Sonia, Cheltenham,

Seems that all evil coming from Italy has to be seen as Berlusconi imprinting. It is not.
Some 40 years ago, when Berlusconi was nothing but a name, taking the tube in London I was asking myself why getting in or out the train in Milano had always to be a fight.
No answers yet.

Gino Raule, Milano, Italy

I agree on Italians being the most rude. Being rude doesn't necessarily mean to be a barbarian. I don't know if you've ever been to Italy or Spain and observe what the Britts are doing on their holidays. Probably that will teach you the difference between rude and barbarian, sir...

andrea, Luxembourg,

italians are lost and overwelmed, they are frustrated, angry and in psicological disconfort still they can't see what they are getting wrong. They blame evrybody but themself
the church has tought them that everything is in the hands of God
so they wait for him to sort it all out

vince campbell, Brighton,

..I'm an ashemed italian. I agree with you, a good 50% of italians are ignorant, pushy and rude: they are the 'little man's' people, they are simply following their leader example.
... but please do not generalize...

Luca.

luca, mantova, italy

Italians aren't necessarily more rude but they are more pre-occupied, mainly with themselves and their appearance. Those pushing on to Tube were probably too busy checking their reflections in the door windows. They prefer chaos to a boring queue because chaos has more dramatic possibilites.

Janet, London ,

The Italians HAVE seen through Berlusconi - it's just the alternatives are worse. We Brits have seen through Cameron - but look at Brown, Harperson, Milliband etc. and we just vomit.
Now, who said that the British had gone from being Romans to Italians in a generation?

Dave, Slough,

Maybe Oxford University has an ounce of decency and doesn't want to honour a woman who, for all her positive features, was an open friend and supporter to, among others, apartheid South Africa and to murdering Chilean despot General Pinochet. Cameron has apologised for that. If she has, I missed it.

Chris, Worthing, England

I think a few Italians on the Tube are nothing compared to the thousands of British tourists who vomit, collapse, fight, have open-air sex and swear their way around the world's holiday spots. There's no country with more of a contrast between a glorious past and dumbed-down, ignorant present.

Joel, London,

Just your bad luck i'm afraid. The Italians I have met have all been very courteous, friendly, smiling and happy to interact with anybody they meet when they're abroad. Very different to the vast majority of Brits that no-one seems to want or like.

Gemma Vickers-Seth, London, UK

I am 100% Italian. What your describe it is sadly true. It is something I can not cope with and makes me feel ashamed. Values and ethical behaviour have gone, we are living in the waste land of a declining country. Are we the only ones?

elena, rome, italy

english noisy girls spitting on the street and drunk tattooed fighting hooligans are surely better...

David, Rome, Italy

An Italian cruise ship, lovely staff, 9 single Brits who all bonded together, the passengers?From all over Europe polite but the sun beds!!!I found a free one.An italian said it was her husbands who had gone to the toilet. After 1 hour with an 84 yr old I suggested she had a look to see he was ok

ged, manchester,

Matthew, this is beneath you. All nations make bad tourists: Brits in Spain, loud and drunk: Milton and Wordsworth? Americans in Munich, the women screaming: Jefferson and Thoreau? Germans in New York, no elevator etiquette: Goethe and Schiller? If you don't want to be bothered, close your country!

Wolfgang, Boulder, CO, USA