Are central Italians closer to Northern or Southern Italians?
 

Genetically, culturally, looks-wise, are people from regional central Italy generally closer to Northern or Southern Italians?

http://wikitravel.org/upload/shared/...ly_regions.png

Both, I think.

You should ask that question in Anthrocivitas. The place has lots of italian posters now dwelling on the regional questions.

Genetically they are in between from what I have seen at genetic maps. Culturally, they are mostly a group of their own I would guess, a very important one, from which the Renaissance and modern Italian language came from. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante Alighieri, Giotto, and many other major Renaissance figures, were all Tuscans.

It is difficult to say. We can further separate the central portion in two parts where Tuscany, North Marche and Perugia approach more to the North while going down the southern Umbria more connections with the South are found.
Tuscany was a kind of emblem of Italianity in modern history, its culture has influenced the entire country and contributed much to the national identity. From a linguistic standpoint, The Tuscan is the northernmost of the 'Italic' dialects: in particular the Florentine vernacular has had a rich literary tradition; it has been subjected to northern influences, and in turn it has influenced some areas of the north (Emilia Romagna, Veneto) even in the high Middle Ages. All this no doubt made ​​it the most appropriate language for the entire nation.
Abbruzzo, lower Latium and southernmost Marche are linguistically and culturally considered South Italy, whilst northern speech interests the upper part of Marche, so the Centre from this point of view is very narrow on the Adriatic side.
As it regards the look I've noticed that people from Tuscany show more nordish traits than in Romagna; this is confirmed from Biasutti's pigmentation map of Italy. Probably there has been a significant Lombard (Germanic) imprint in many areas of that region, and possibly also a good spread of proto-Celtic and early Italic genes in pre-historic times. Darkish or intermediate individuals are found as well of course, and Mediterranean types are also more numerous than the rest of the North (with the exception of Liguria).
Many people from Rome could pass everywhere, some are more northern looking others more distinctly southern. Anyway pan-Italic types are found throughout the country.

look-wise Tuscany, Umbria and Marche are basically like the North, genetically I don't know because the gothic line is apparently a genetic divide.

Genetically They are halfway.

Without question the North...about 70-30. The Mezzogiorno forms it's own genetic cluster with Greece before Tuscany.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5312/...896d2cf4_b.jpg

Tuscans aren't the only Central Italians.

Central Italy.

http://www.sopra-acqua.net/Mid_ITALY_map.png

So I'm still new. But I know that central italians look more like their from northern Italy than southern.

Southern Lazio and Abruzzo are closest to the center-south (Molise and Campania). Northern Tuscany at least is closest to the north. Central Italy is pretty distinct from the far south (Sicily/Calabria/Salento).

Yes, I agree. Tuscans genetically are 35% South and 65% North. Abruzzo and Latium people are 35% North and 65% South. Genetically C.Italians fill the void between Northerners and Southerners.

I was on the tube in London and I saw this uncouth Arab looking Southern Italian being loud mouthed with his friends making crude comments about the ladies in the carriage in Italian thinking no one would understand, on the other hand I met this civilized polite, well mannered Northern Italian man who I was surprised he was Italian, I thought was rather Northern French looking, even Belgian.

---------- Post added 2012-05-31 at 12:52 ----------

Some Central Italians are of Anatolian Middle Eastern Etruscan origin.

Cool story bro. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/wink.gif

PS Not all S.Italians look like Arabs and not all N.Italians look like French. But you already knew that.

I didn't make it up.

Yes yes sure sure... That said I am not a white wannabe, so your comments don't really bother me, sudaca.

Of course you didn't.http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/grin.gif