Pizza, pasta, Verdi, the Coliseum, runway models. We know Italy does some things incomparably well. But travelers to the elegant boot don't just want to eat spaghetti, deal with opera and gawk at old ruins. Beyond the clichés, you'll find 10 other surprising ways in which Italy shines. More on CNN: Verdi: Exploring the Italian hometown of a musical genius 1. Flattery Depending on whether or not you think the occasional catcall or butt grab is flattering, you'll find Italians are aggressively complimentary of friends and beautiful strangers alike. A historical tool for both disarming and defusing, flattery is the fulcrum on which Italian society teeters.
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Italy loves hot baths so much that it covers the cost of some therapies for citizens
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Italy boasts the most beaches in Europe, 248 of which have been awarded Blue Flag status
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Pizza's great, but Italy truly shines in its amazing array of delicious desserts
Be it in @placeholder or any other language, the accent of native Italy turns any expletive into a blunt force instrument.