Just got back from a driving trip to Northern Italy and Monaco. I am Asian-American. For the first time in my travels, I experienced a lot of blatant, angry resentment from locals. I have never experienced consistent behavior like this in Europe, so sad. We have been to Italy before, and didn't have this problem.

This centered around Milan, Verona and the Dolomites (Ortisei). In the larger international tourist destinations including Monte Carlo, Portofino, Bellagio and Venice, there was no problem at all, although I saw a group of Venetian children pushing and laughing at a Latino(?) boy in the Dorosduro district, but just once.

I have no idea if this is just a general trend because of current economic issues, or if something else is going on in these areas, just making an observation as a warning for others who may visit. We had a wonderful time, and of course most people are gracious and decent. However, if you are the type that is sensitive to this and it would ruin your trip, you may want to consider going elsewhere at the moment, or research this a bit further...

Scott,

Could you be more specific? Just curious?

Nothing that would cause me to feel physically endangered. Blatant hostile staring and ensuring I make eye contact with them, and then infrequent spitting.

Are you absolutely sure this behavior was of the locals, native Italians? Just got back from there... It's really hard for me to imagine...

Monte Carlo is not part of Italy, btw, it's in southern France...

Oooppss.. ...Forget about my last line about Monte Carlo, I read your original post wrong....

People who are from minorities often have a sense about hostility that they detect about people and events. Call it paranoia or call it experience. It often can be from an impression or a stare.

And it is difficult to quaintify or qualify. I am not saying Scott is correct, I am only saying do not discount what he says and how he says it.

I'm also an asian american who's looking forward to my first trip to Italy this fall. I dont mind the staring; when I first moved south of mason dixon line almost 10 years ago, I got a lot of that. and occasional lectures about how wrong inter-racial marriages are from random people including the deli guy who was slicing my husband's deli meat - obviously, not everyone in the South are like that, they are wonderful people which is why I never moved back north. but i dont know if i can handle spitting?!? (mental note- bring an umbrella -- block the spit then smack the spitter on the head with it).

mamamia2 Monte Carlo is not part of Italy, btw, it's in southern France

Monte Carlo is part of Monaco, Monaco is an indipendent country with the official name : Principauté de Monaco.
( Principality of Monaco).

In southern Portugal, there is some animosity toward 'Chinese' due to the influx of immigrants and their retail establishments driving the Portuguese shops out of business. Maybe it is the same type of thing. Regardless, sorry you had to experience that.

I wonder if it had something to do with what SloJan2 described:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/13/wo...e/13prato.html