Ah, l’Italia! Paese di Santi, navigatori e poeti! Have you ever asked yourself why, historically, the people of Italy are seen as such?

It seems to be particularly apt this time of the year, the fact that — according to legends — the first to utter this popular line was none other than Cristoforo Colombo. However history says differently, as it was the infamous Duce, Benito Mussolini, to use the expression in a speech he gave on the 2nd of October 1935 in answer to international criticism after Italy invaded Abyssinia.