Italy is one of the top European countries people visit for a holiday, particularly in summer.

It is known for its rich history, art, fashion, architecture, cuisine and iconic landmarks. A number of cities in Italy attract large crowds of tourists, such as Rome, Venice and Florence.

Italy offers bustling city life and diverse landscapes where visitors can relax and take in the beautiful scenery, from a range of beaches to the Italian Alps to rolling hills. The country also offers a number of activities to suit travellers with different tastes and interests.

However, a man who lives in Italy has given some important advice to anyone visiting this week and explained why towns and cities might seem ‘quieter’ than expected. Rob Murgatroyd moved from the US to Florence with his family in 2021 for a change of lifestyle.

He shares his Italian experiences on TikTok and in a recent video he said: “It’s summer right now and Italy has this tradition called Ferragosto. On paper, it’s an ancient Roman Catholic holiday that officially falls on August 15th but in practice, it feels like as we get closer to August, people just kind of disappear.”

Rob has noticed that during this time small businesses close and streets get quieter. He disclosed that he lives in the centre of Florence, the capital of Italy’s Tuscan region, and his go-to cafe has closed for six weeks so the staff can take a trip to the sea.

The expat added: “Most of our local spots are closed for at least a few weeks. They could be working. They could be making money.

“But they said ‘no, I’m going to go to the beach and I’m gonna have pasta with my Nonna.’ And that’s when it hit me. I spent my whole life mastering hustle.”

Rob, who had a successful chiropractor career in America, didn’t realise until he moved to Italy that he knew how to work hard and survive but real “soul on fire living” was “foreign” to him. He continued: “Simple traditions like Ferragosto, taught me that life isn’t just about what you produce, it’s about what you pause for.”

“Italians pause for joy, for family, for a moment in the sun. They showed me that the game isn’t about maximising output, it’s about maximising moments.”

Carpe Diem Tours elaborates on the ancient tradition of Ferragosto by explaining that the celebration was established by the emperor Augustus in 18 BC to give the workers of the Roman Empire a day off after months of working hard on the fields. It was originally held on August 1 but the Catholic Church pushed it back to August 15 so that it coincided with the Assumption of Mary.

Ferragosto allowed many Italian families to visit artistic cities, like Venice, Rome, Florence and Naples for the first time, and landlocked families were able to visit the coast. The tour operator, based in Rome, notes that today Ferragosto refers to the summer period surrounding August 15 and Italians typically shut up shop to head outdoors for long walks, explore the beaches or mountains and just spend time with family and friends.

In the caption of his TikTok video, Rob wrote: “In Italy, Ferragosto isn’t just a holiday. It’s a full-on summer shutdown.

“August 15 marks the peak of vacation season when cities empty, beaches fill, and shops close for weeks, sometimes even a month. Here’s what it’s like when Italy hits pause.”

The clip has racked up thousands of views and likes and more than 200 comments. An Italian resident said: “Yeah I work in a family owned plants nursery and in August I am the only one working and taking care of plants.

“My boss and all her family is on holidays. I have the keys [to] go everyday water, clean and look after plants but it's only me, even the neighbouring businesses hardly have anyone working. It's like I am in an abandoned area.”

Another user commented: “Bingo! Building wealth and focusing on protecting your family's future is important, but you need to stop, breathe and enjoy life along the way.”