The Italian lifestyle is very different in comparison to the American. Italians are more relaxed and not in a rush while Americans are constantly moving and never stopping. Urbino falls right in to the Italian lifestyle with a little more.
Cafes line the streets and the piazza with tables out on the streets. No matter the time of day there are people sitting and talking with one another. Passerby's who know people sitting will stop and talk with them.
They could sit there for hours and the owners or workers of the cafes wouldn't kick them out. As long as they bought something, drink or food, they can sit for as long as they like.
That's the same for restaurants. Nobody is in a hurry to get their food or pay the bill. The waiters and staff aren't going to rush you to eat so they can sit more people. Most of the time you have to ask for the check in order for them to bring it to you, otherwise you might sit there for a while.
During the middle of the day everything closes. Cafes, some stores and some bars are the only exception to this. It's a time for everyone to relax and enjoy each others company.
People join each other at bars to talk, sing or people watch. Urbino is a university town so many of the people there are students. They meet up in the piazza and sit on the marble steps and just talk.
Nobody is really ever alone in Urbino. You may start the day off by yourself, but on your walk up the hill to the grocery store five people might call out to you and stop you to talk or join you on your journey.
The piazza is one of the places you will definitely find someone you know. It's the center where everyone meets and many events happen there as well.
Saturdays is a social day because it's market day. The Saturday Market has been happening in Urbino for a very long time. It's filled with vendors who travel from neighboring towns and cities to sell their goods.
Urbino closes down an entire street that vendors line to sell their goods.
Yes, it's a time to buy goods, but it's mainly a time to socialize. People shop but also run into their friends or acquaintances who they might not have seen in a while.
The Saturday Market is also a time where the elderly come out and enjoy their time as well. During the early hours of the market you will mainly see older people wandering the stalls and talking with each other. Families also attend the market together.
Vendors love to share their goods and their time with anyone who comes. Many of them will sit and talk with you while you browse their goods, telling you stories or just asking how you are.
The vendors also have fun with customers. In America vendors heckle a lot. In Urbino and the Saturday Market, vendors still do heckle, but they have fun with their customers too. They'll make you smile or laugh.
Urbino is a very social city. It has an older population as well as a young population filled with students. It's a different lifestyle one that cherishes the day and what it brings instead of rushing from one place to another. It's also very social and makes time to enjoy peoples company.
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