He suggests that half the audience at a theatrical production did not pay for tickets and the other half paid a reduced price. Those admitted free are called Portoghesi , not because people of Portugal are given to such tactics but because hundred of years ago a performance in Rome in honor of a Portuguese mission was attended by Romans who got in by saying they were Portuguese. Always try to see your opponent's cards. Historically, good times have never lasted long in Italy, with the result that people are wary and skeptical, unwilling to trust anyone who is entirely unknown. Hence, the bureaucracy and the many jobs it provides.
Good manners count here.
As the authors of Living, Studying and Working in Italy point out, a 16th-century Italian wrote the first book on manners, which the British quickly adopted. They mention, too, that upon meeting someone new, Italians quickly assess their social class. People shake hands when arriving and leaving, women kiss on both cheeks, and men who know each other well may embrace and slap each other on the back. Don't use first names until invited to do so. Italians appreciate quality.