5 Things to Do in Florence (Italy) on a Rainy Day

5 cose da fare a Firenze quando piove Rain happens. Especially in the spring and fall seasons in Florence, Italy. But don’t let the inevitable rainfall ruin your dream vacation to Tuscany! You may not want to go on long strolls while white-knuckle gripping umbrellas, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have other Italian experiences. …

Read more

50 Italian Words that Sound like Spanish

Spanish and Italian are Romance languages which means that share the same roots and developed out of the ancient Latin language. Along with French and Portuguese, these languages share much of the same lexicon. However, in many cases, the meaning of these words can be different, so it’s important not to allow yourself to be …

Read more

How to Pronounce the Most Famous Italian Brand Names

Italian culture has made a name for itself all across the globe. We love Italian food, Italian fashion, Italian cars – the list goes on! When I want to splurge at the grocery store, I treat myself to name brand Barilla pasta, and sometimes a big jar of Nutella to top my favorite breakfast breads. …

Read more

Pros and Cons of Living in Italy (as an American)

Written by our American contributor in Florence, Lyssa Yapp, and translated into Italian by Valentina Nicastro. Title: Pro e Contro di Vivere in Italia (da Americani) Some Americans were born with souls meant to wander the Earth; we call them “expats”. Others were descended from immigrants, and now want to return to the patria (“homeland”). …

Read more

How to Say “Time” in Italian – Ora vs Volta vs Tempo

Expressing the concept of time in Italian can be a rather challenging task for non-native speakers. While English has just one word to talk about this essential element of everyday language, in Italian there are at least three different terms you can use depending on the context: ora, volta, and tempo.  These words can’t be …

Read more