In 1942, Enrico Fermi created the world’s first nuclear reactor. Guglielmo Marconi transmitted the first transatlantic radio signal. What do these people have in common? Their last names end in vowels, of course. And they all hail from the land of unlimited breadsticks and progressive culture.

Italy has long been a fortress of ideas, innovation and progress. From the ancient Romans to 20th century scientists, Italians are often at the forefront of Western development. But that’s not always what we see presented to us. Mobster movies have a special place in cinema history. But they’re only fun for what they are: fiction. They in no way should be a stand-in for a culture that has given us everything from pizza to the highest ideals and values of the Renaissance.