Archive by Author
Come Dio Comanda Posted by Geoff on Sep 11, 2017
I’ve always loved to read, and feel lost without a good book around. In fact I’m reading a great one right now! For the last few years I’ve committed myself to reading in Italian, but it can be tough finding just the right books in your second language. Written Italian tends to be a very…
Che Il Mediterraneo Sia Posted by Geoff on Sep 8, 2017
The Mediterranean has always been a melting pot of diverse cultures, a meeting of minds and traditions, a conduit between the continents of Africa and Europe. Eugenio Bennato’s Che il Mediterraneo Sia is a wonderful uplifting song that reminds us of our mixed roots and that tutto il mondo è paese (human beings are the…
Il Mondo Corre Posted by Geoff on Sep 4, 2017
Dear readers, do you ever have the feeling that you’re out of synchronisation with contemporary society? It’s tempting to assign this sentiment to advanced age … but I’ve felt out of sync da che mondo è mondo (for ever). It doesn’t bother me any more as I no longer have any desire to be ‘in…
Italian Language and Culture Quiz Posted by Geoff on Aug 28, 2017
Here’s a quiz that covers various aspects of Italian language and culture. You’ll be able to find all the answers in our articles or on the internet. If you can’t manage the whole quiz then choose the sections that you find easiest. Come on, don’t be shy, leave your answers in the comments section! Names…
Pensarci Posted by Geoff on Aug 23, 2017
Pensarci can be confusing. If you look in the dictionary you’ll find the explanation that it is a combination of the verb pensare (to think) and ci (which in this case means ‘about it/of it’). But there’s another meaning to pensarci that’s not so easy to decipher … Let’s begin with the easy meaning: pensarci…
Aiuto! Posted by Geoff on Aug 15, 2017
You never know what problems you may encounter when travelling in Italy, so it’s best to carry a ‘tool kit’ of essential vocabulary that’ll help you get out of tricky situations. Aiuto! (help!) is a word that you’ll definitely need to know, although hopefully you’ll never find yourself in an emergency situation. Perhaps more useful…
Robots Are About To Invade Pisa! Posted by Geoff on Aug 11, 2017
Every year, millions of visitors flock to Italy to immerse themselves in its epic history, art, architecture, culture and traditions … … and it’s quite likely that the average tourist goes home from Italy with the impression that they’ve just visited a huge open air museum, never considering that it is, in fact, a modern…