Communication: Italians are extremely expressive communicators. They tend to be wordy, eloquent, emotional, and demonstrative, often using facial and hand gestures to prove their point.
Appointments: They are mandatory, must be in writing (in Italian), and be scheduled one to two weeks in advance. Reconfirm the meeting by telephone or fax in Italian.
Meetings/Time: It is common to be interrupted while speaking or for several people to speak at once. In the north, punctuality is viewed as a virtue and your business associates will most likely be on time. In the north, people are usually more direct and get down to business after only a brief period of social talk. In the south, people take a more relaxed approach to life and business. People often raise their voice to be heard over other speakers, not because they are angry. So, take it easy. 
