Una Colpa d’Aria!

Italy has a distinctive cultural concept known as colpo d’aria—literally, a “hit of air.” Traditional Italian belief holds that sitting in a draft, particularly the artificial chill of an air conditioner, is a direct path to neck pain, digestive woes, or a sudden chill. It’s the reason you’ll so often see Italians—especially women—artfully wrapping lightweight silk or linen scarves around their necks in the middle of a July heatwave.

When my friends from Florence visit me in the States, their single biggest culture shock isn't the food or the scale of the highways; it’s our obsession with indoor climate control. American restaurants, shops, and movie theaters are routinely kept at near-arctic temperatures. As a result, my guests prep for a summer trip to America as if they’re heading into alpine territory. They pack wool, cashmere, and heavy layers, fully aware they may swelter outside in non-linen outfits just to survive the indoor draft.

When they stay with me, I always attempt to be a gracious host: "Do you mind if I switch on the air conditioning?"

The reaction is almost always a polite, yet subtly panicked, "Per carità, please don't!"

Watching an Italian guest step into a heavily air-conditioned room is a sight to behold—hands instantly go to protect the neck, eyes widen, and out comes the emergency scarf.

Over the years, I’ve refined my hosting strategy accordingly. I now prefer to invite my Florentine friends during the autumn and winter. That way, we can enjoy each other’s company, share warm meals, and keep our transatlantic friendships thriving—all without risking an international incident over the thermostat.