I lived and studied abroad in Florence for a year while in college 2000-2001.
I have since returned in 2004, 2007, 2010, 2012, and 2017, taking friends, family, my students, and a solo trip!
I have given these tips in emails to friends and friends of friends for years, so I am posting this for easy access for all, including me!
The most popular sites to see are in the north, central and south parts of the country.
It is possible to visit cities in each of these main regions, or just focus on the north, the center, or the south.
These are some places not to be missed in Italy:
THE NORTH: Venice (3.5 hour train ride north of Florence)
CENTRAL ITALIA: Florence (3 hr train ride south of Venice).
SOUTH: Roma (2 hour train ride south of Florence, 2 hour train ride north of Naples area).
The Naples area: Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, Capri island.
If you are interested in all, I recommend selecting a multi-city flight flying into Milan and out of Rome, or vice versa. Find flights on kayak.com, hotels.com. google, etc.
Sample recommended itinerary:
-Fly into Milan (Milan airport has bus shuttles and taxis to the center of town/Milano Centrale train station)
-Train to Venice (stay in Venice for one night)
-Train to Florence (Have Florence be your home base and do day trips to hill towns)
-Train to Rome (stay in Rome at least 2 days or as long as you like)
-Fly out of Rome. (Rome has Leonardo Express Train from Main train terminal to the Airport)
(optional SOUTH extension of exploring the south Naples area for a few days, then head up to Rome to fly out)
GETTING THERE:
-I book my hotel rooms ahead of time on hotels.com which has a great and helpful app. hotels.com
-Book trains ahead using the website goeuro.com or trainline.com then you have a digital ticket to show, no waiting in line alike the 90's! You can even install the app on your phone. Take a screen capture of your digital ticket in case you don't have wifi or service to pull it up on your phone at the station.
There are non-stop flights via Alitalia LAX-Milan, and LAX-Roma.
AIRPORT-TRAIN:
Roma Fiumicino Airport (which is 30 outside of Rome), the easiest way to get into the center city of Rome is to take the Leonardo Da Vinci Express Train which takes you from the airport and to Roma Termini (Rome's main Train Station) The train comes every 30 minutes and is about 11 euros each way. This is how you will want to get back to the airport on your way home!
If you are going in and out of Milan, same thing, they have a bus/tram
from the airport to the main train station (its like 45 minutes away).
LEAVING ITALY:
FYI depending on what time your flight is home to the US, you may want
to stay your final night in Rome at the Rome Airport hotel. That is
what we did so we were there on time, not having to worry about
catching buses, metro, express trains the travel day, but doing that
the evening before and having a relaxing night at an airport hotel
that is right at the airport- piece of mind in Italia! We stayed at
the Rome Airport Hilton.
Same idea if you leave out of Milan or any airport in Europe, always less stressful to stay at a hotel near the airport, less things can go wrong and you can relax since you are already there!
GENERAL TIPS:
Farmacias (pharmacies) are on almost every corner where they will give you prescription drugs over the counter, and they always speak English very well- just tell them what hurts.
-Tobacchi: These tobacco stores sell everything you will need, phone cards, bus
tickets, cigarettes, gum etc.You will know it is a Tobacchi whenever you see a T on the outside of the store.
-Wherever you are, do not eat at any pizza by the slice places or and restaurants where waiters are begging you to come in, or where there are photos of food or menus is multi languages, or anywhere in the main busy tourist areas. These are tourist traps and have garbage food. Instead walk even a block off the main street to find more authentic and delicious restaurants and where Italians eat. If you see a place that has a hand written menu, even better!
-Restaurants are open from about 12:30-3:30 for lunch, then for dinner 7:30-11pm usually.
Stores have similar hours, most things are closed in the middle of the day for siesta 3-7ish. But so many tourist places are open all day. Many stores are closed Sundays, and Monday mornings.
-In restaurant menus you will see Appetizers Appertivi, Primo Piatto (first course that is a pasta or rice dish) secondo piatto (which is a main course) and salad is usually eaten after as a digestive and then dolce (dessert). It is perfectly acceptable to only have a primo piatto pasta dish or a pizza.
Tipping: there is usually an included coperto fee included and should be stated on your bill (il conto) but you can leave about 10%more on the table for a tip.
To ask for your check: "il conto, per favore"
After eating dinner, Italians and everyone else partake in a passeggiata which means a stroll and walk around with a gelato, look at street musicians, window shop, etc.
THE NORTH
VENEZIA (Venice):
TRAIN STATION: VENEZIA-SANTA LUCIA (wait for this stop, it is after the Venezia Mestre Station).Venice is just too unique and awesome- a must see, but really a day trip is all that is needed. Canals everywhere, no cars, many tourists, but there is nothing like it. I would arrive there in afternoon, walk around, stay the night and have dinner and leave the next late morning/afternoon.
To do:
-Walk from the train station to San Marco square, follow the signs to San Marco.
-SAN MARCO (St, Marks Square) Many movies have been filmed at this square- and you can chill there and have a pizza or espresso or birra on the outside dining areas.
There is a giant wonderful church San Marco (St. Mark) and bell tower in this square, which you can go inside.
-Be sure to see the "Bridge of Sighs", and take a passenger ferry vaporetto (used like public buses there) down the Grand Canal (the main canal though Venice).
-Gondola ride. There are lots of gondeliers that want your business! Agree on a price before you start, I think a typical price is about 75 euro for about a half hour. The rate climbs up to about $100 euro after dark. Make sure you agree on a price before you start! You can even ask the concierge at your hotel for advice or help with this. There are a bunch of gondaliers' gondolas right across from Hotel Serenissima.
Hotel:
I recommend the Hotel Serenissima. It is a cute hotel right on the path to St. Marks Square. It is small and intimate and affordable! I have stayed there every visit.
Eat: there is a great restaurant Trattoria Povoledo near the train station- right on the
grand canal- you can eat on the terrace overlooking the gondolas etc!
CENTRAL ITALIA
FIRENZE (Florence):
My home town and the birth of the Renaissance. It's small enough that there is no metro and everything is about a 15 minute walk to each other.TRAIN STATION: FIRENZE S.M.N. (Santa Maria Novella)
Places to see (reserve tickets ahead for these two, or go an hour before the museum closes to avoid waiting in any lines):
-Ufizzi gallery (Botticelli paintings are the best here)
-Galleria d'Accademia (Michelangelo's David is here!)
-Bardini gardens (also great views of Firenze)
-Boboli Gardens (great to have a picninc lunch and look at Firenze, get food at local grocery store)
-Palazzo Pitti
-Piazzale Michelangelo (excellent lookout spot of florence)
-San Miniato al Monte (church about a 10 minute walk up in the hill from Piazzale Michelangelo that has an amazing view of Florence and during week days, Monks' Gregorian chant takes place at 17.30 in summer. This time might change to 16.30 in winter.
-Ponte Vecchio (famous old bridge), must see at sunset.
-Piazza Signoria/Palazzo Vecchio: the famous monk extremist Savanarola was burned at the stake in this Piazza by the Medici family! There's a plaque explaining it.
-Santa Croce Piazza and church (this is my old neighborhood and where Michelangelo grew up. He is buried inside Santa Croce church) Great neighborhood piazza.
-of course the MAIN PIAZZA: the Duomo and baptistery. You can't miss the amazing duomo (dome) which was built by Brunelleschi and was the biggest dome in the world until St Peters was built in Vatican City.
-I highly recommend a guided walking tour in Florence if you are into the history.
-Piazza Reuppublica is great at night with a gelato and street musicians.
Eat:
Osteria El Gatto e la Volpe (right next to the Bargello museum on Via Ghibellina) open from 11am-midnight all day with no closing time in the middle of the day!
Tell them your friend anna recommended you, (say I was there everyday last week and used to study and live in Florence) they should remember me. Al of their food is EXCELLENT and typical Tuscan cuisine. I recommend their bruschetta, their cap tears burrata salad, their lasagna, their gnocchi Quattro formaggio, their tagliatelle alfredo, their pizzas are also good! Also their tiramisu!
Trattoria Anita (a few blocks away from Gatto e Volpe) this is a great little authentic restaurant that has a fix price menu that includes an appetizer, first course and second course. They have amazing wine selections. For dessert their pannacotta is out of this world.
Mercato Centrale. This is the main indoor daily farmers market. Worth a look, and buy something for a picnic! Its right near San Lorenzo market.
Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio smaller farmers market, mostly locals and no tourists! This is where I would shop for food daily, there is an indoor market, and outdoor flea market items.
Trattoria Zsa Zsa is pretty good for being touristy. I really love their ravioli in walnut cream sauce! They are right near the
Gelato:
Perché No and Vivioli are the best. My favorite combo is chocolate and pistachio Perché No has THE BEST pistachio (pronounced pee-stawk-ee-o in italian) flavor!
Gelato is good everywhere, just avoid any in the duomo main Piazza.
Rooftop terrace:
Fantastic view from on top of Grand Hotel Cavour (on Via Proconsolo)
Hotels:
Shopping:
Florence is the hub of leather making in Italy, tons of shops around.
-The San Lorenzo market near the church of San Lorenzo and near the large Central Market (Mercato Centrale). (closed Sundays)
-Also amazing designer shopping on Via Roma near the Duomo.
Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio smaller farmers market, mostly locals and no tourists! This is where I would shop for food daily, there is an indoor market, and outdoor flea market items.
Shopping day trip: "The Mall" is an outlet area with Italian high end designers: Gucci, Prada, Ferragamo, Dolce and Gabbana etc) you can take the luxury bus there and it leaves every half hour from the Sita bus station across the street from the train station.
Day Trips:
Nearby Fiesole- 25-minute mini bus #7 from Piazza San Marco- heads up to the tiny nearby town of Fiesole. Eat at La Reggia Degli Etrischi for amazing views, make reservations.
There are great packages for day trips through multiple companies and your hotel will know about them, like wine tasting, cooking classes, Vespa-riding in Chianti, etc. Some hill towns are easier to get to via a tour (MyFlorenceTours.com are a great investment) or blue SITA bus (buses that go out to the country), or by car:
-Pienza (tiny hill town with amazing lookout, known for their pecorino sheeps milk cheese). -Cortona (where Under the Tuscan Sun is set and filmed), Montalcinco (known for wine). -Montepulciano (known for wine) there is a day trip that runs with the tour companies that does Pienza/Montalcino/
-Cinqueterre (easy via train):
THE best and most picturesque of the 5 hilltowns is Vernazza, and the one just north of it, Monterosso is a great swimming beach. You don't need some package tour to go there.
-Just take a roundtrip the train from Florence to Monterosso al Mare (the most northern of the 5 towns.
-You will switch trains in Pisa, easy. Once you arrive in Monterosso, you can buy a day train pass ticket or individual train ticket to visit the other tiny towns of the Cinqueterre.
Vernazza is the best one.
-Siena (easy via train):
As much as I love Tuscany, the Chianti region is more forestry than the epic sweeping vistas you think of and so the more south of Tuscany and bordering with Umbria region are the sweeping rolling vineyards lines with cypress trees (think Stealing Beauty which was filmed in the outskirts of Siena, so was Gladiator. This is why Siena is a must see. The hilltown of Perugia is more in Umbria region than in Tuscany (Toscana region) and is pretty awesome ( where Baci chocolates are from).
Other amazing little towns easily accessed via train or by hire (like an hour away):
-San Gigmingnano
-Lucca
THE SOUTH
ROMA (Rome):
TRAIN STATION: ROMA TERMINIRome is grand and needs to be seen. The historic center of the city is quite walkable. Must see sights:
-Coliseum
-Roman Forum and Constantine's arch (right next to Coliseum)
-Trevi Fountain
-Pantheon
-Piazza Navona (three amazing fountains by Sculptor Bernini, an excellent place to walk at night as there are street performers, musicians etc while you walk and enjoy a gelato)
There's an easy walk between Trevi fountain/ Pantheon/ and Piazza Navona and there are cute and touristy but good restaurants along this walkway.
Near the Pantheon here is a great rooftop restaurant and bar lounge on top of Hotel Minerva!
-COLOSEUM (this is always my first stop and the best way I always get
here is take the metro from the main train station (Termini) to the Coloseo stop (on the
metro blue line)- you get out and there it is right across the street
-home of the gladiator games- you can go inside for about $10? Really amazing. But can be appreciated from just walking around it too. Walk by the Arch of Constantine and make your way to the Roman forum...
-ROMAN FORUM. you can walk here from the Colosseum. This is where the old forum was with senators etc. Amazing ruins.
-VITTORIO EMMANUEL MONUMENT. This is Italy's tomb of the unknown soldier and you can walk up its MASSIVE stairs and get an incredible view of Rome. Across the street is where Mussilini used to give speeches during WW2!
-PANTHEON. This is one of the oldest buildings in Rome- you can walk in and see a giant 30foot wide opening in the dome. the famous painter, Rafael is buried here (I don't like him because he was Michelangelo's rival, and I am totally team Michelangelo- I AM talking about the renaissance painters, not the ninja turtles). Really worth seeing, very simple, unlike most of italian buildings it is not a catholic, but a pagen building.
-PIAZZA NAVONA. This is a great outdoor plaza that has some fountains.
There are usually artists selling work etc. It is really nice to also walk around at night, get some gelato and watch street performers etc. quick art history fact: The center fountain (fontana) is great, It is thought that one of the statues in Bernini's fontana dei fiumi is covering his face so as not to look at the church. This was thought to be the case because of an intense rivalry between the two artists, Bernini and Borromini who did the dome of the church the fountain is facing.
-TREVI FOUNTAIN. Here is the famous fountain where there are fantastic sculptures, and where it is tradition to throw two coins in the fountain. If you throw one coin- it means you will someday return to Italy, if you throw two coins, you will return with someone to italy. tradition is to face your back to the fountain and throw the coins over your shoulder into the fountain. I really think this works, because every time i throw my coins in this fountain , I always return to Italy with someone!
Vatican City
If you are interested in Vatican City, it really needs its own day or dedicated time. Vatican City is on the other side of the river Tevere. It has the huge and famous St. Peter's church (catholic Mecca and the biggest Catholic Church in the world) doesn't matter your religion it impresses everyone.
-Next to St. Peter's is the Vatican museums which have a very long line (like 2 hours) so it is worth it to book an advanced ticket online or books tour online to avoid the que.
=Inside the Vatican museum and not to be missed are the Rafaello rooms (the famous fresco painting School of Athens is there and MUST BE SEEN) and at the the end of that is the Sistine Chapel whose famous ceilings by Michelangelo MUST BE SEEN. No photos are allowed but it's easy to sneak one!
THE VATICAN. (metro stop Ottaviano-San Pietro, or just walk across
the bridge over the river to the Vatican). The Vatican is it's own state, and it is across the Tevere river. You have to go inside St. Peters- the main church- it is HUGE inside and you can also climb the stairs up to the very top for an excellent view of Rome. To get to this elevator you go to the right of the church entrance- where you buy the tickets. An elevator takes you up half way, and you take stairs the rest of the way up. Also nearby are the Vatican Museums...
-VATICAN MUSEUMS (Musei Vaticani)
You can find the Vatican museums on the street far to the right of St.
Peters church. The Vatican Museums have weird hours, are closed like every other Sunday and is best to get there in the morning- try this link for the latest hours info.
This is where some very famous art is, as well as the Sistine Chapel (Capella Sistina)- where Michelangelo's famous ceiling is. (tip: sneak your camera in and take a pic with no flash of the ceiling before a guard stops you, rebel!)
Hotels:
-Hotel Delle Nazioni. This is in an EXCELLENT location literally around the corner from the Trevi Fountain! Closest metro stop: Barbarini.
-Hotel Navona. It is in the center of Rome just steps away from Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. The hotel is in an ancient 1400s palace! great location and good price!
-Hotel Florida (Vatican area) This is a great hotel in an excellent, close location to the Vatican and Vatican museums.
Eat:
-An excellent restaurant if you are near the Vatican area is Pizzeria Amalfi Restaurant. EXCELLENT homemade pasta and legit Naples style pizza. Like the best food I ate.
-Via del Pozzo delle Cornacchie: Usually I don't recommend eating in touristy sports, but the restaurants on the very vibrant and busy pedestrian only streets between Trevi Fountain/Pantheaon/Piazza Navona are good. And that is where great gelato is.
-Another restaurant near the Pantheon is called Maccheroni. Excellent.
-Rooftop bar: Minerva Roof Garden on the top of the Grand Minerve right around the corner from the Pantheon.
Day Trips:
Hill towns in Umbria: about an hour from Rome are
-Orvieto,
-Viterbo, and
-Hadrian's villa in Tivoli.
COSTIERA AMALFITANA (Amalfi Coast):
Magicalnesssssss.SOUTHERN ITALY: POMPEII/NAPLES.CAPRI/SORRENTO:
-The best way to explore this area if you have time is to take a train
from Rome to Naples(Napoli) (about 2 hours). I personally wouldn't
stay in Naples, so when you arrive at the Naples train station Central
Station in Piazza Garibaldi, switch onto the local "Cirumvesuviana"
train:
I would catch this train in Naples, then take it all the way to Sorrento (end of the line.) where you can spend the night as your jump off base city-so much better than crazy Naples. The next day you can jump on the train to go to Pompeii for the day (it is midway between Sorrento and Naples see map
(You could go to Pompeii that fist day, but it may be pushing it, it will be well into the afternoon by the time you get there, but up to you.)
-SORRENTO: I would just head down to Sorrento, stroll around this quiet
cute down by the sea, and get a hotel, The Hotel Capri is great! it is
a few blocks from the train station- nice area!
Sorrento just has one main street and lots of stores and restaurants. very chill and romantic!
Sorrento is also a great jumping off point to take a day trip to the island of Capri and the rest of the Amalfi Coast. You can take ferries, or a bus to any other towns, and a ferry to Capri.
CAPRI (pronounced Cahhhh-pri):
Capri has three levels, Marina Grande at sea level, the town of Capri above (reached by funicular or taxi), and the higher smaller town of Anacapri (reached by taxi or small bus).
By boat of ferry (traghetto) you will arrive at Marina Grande. There are touristy shops and restaurants at the marina. To the right after you get off boat, there is a ticket office (bigletteria) where you can but is tickets, funicular tickets, return boat tickets etc. you can buy a funicular ticket to take you to the main town of Capri, or you can take a taxi up (€25).
Town of Capri:
The main Piazza is the hub of the town, funicular and taxi let you out in this spot and there is an amazing granita stand (slushy of fresh lemon or orange and ice!) there is a Main Street that has high end shops, and if you follow it, there will be a gelato window that makes their own waffle cones and you can smell them down the street. When you get their gelato, the gelato is cold and the cone is warm and it's heaven. It's called Buonocore Gelateria.
Heading down this road (Via Vittorio Emmanuel) which turns into Via Federico Serena, take a right on Via Matteotti and you will find Carthusia perfumeria (excellent) another lemon granita stand, and about 100 feet more the free gardens of Augustus with a killer view.
Town of Anacapri- from the main town of Capri you can get to a Anacapri via taxi or a little bus. once the little bus or taxi drops you off up in Anacapri, you will see a sign for Monte Solaro chair lift (Seggiovia). DO THIS! It is AMAZING! Get a round trip ticket (called Andata and Ritorno). The chairlift takes about 12 minutes to go up the mountain and is never more than like 20 feet off the ground, each person goes alone on. Sitting on your own chairlift is so peaceful hovering over little vineyards! At the top the lookout is fantastic and there is a little cafe/bar at top of you are thirsty or hungry!
Hotel:
My favorite is Hotel Gatto Bianco. There is a resident white cat (which I love, his name is Matisse), and it is in an EXCELLENT location in the heart of main Capri on the main pedestrian street, Via V. Emanuele.
Eat:
An excellent and unique experience is to make reservations at Da Paolino Ristorante. This is a famous restaurant set outdoors under a lemon grove. EVERY menu item is made with lemons. I suggest their lemon ravioli! It is pretty expensive ($25 for ravioli) but doable and WORTH it, can you say all you can eat dessert bar?
-Ganitas: get these all over the island, especially right at the top central piazza, and a kiosk near Carthusia.
Shopping:
Everything in Capri is expensive, and the main street is like a Rodeo Drive full of designer stores, but there are little boutiques and toursity stores.
-Buy limoncello
-Carthusia: this famous perfume has a few locations but the main location was is a short walk towards Augusto gardens. They make all their perfume in Capri, and my favorite scent is their Mediterrano.
Back on the Amalfi Coast mainland:
Positano and Ravello are the most beautiful places to visti. You can take a boat to each one or the very windy trip via a bus.
POSITANO:
Check out Le Sirenuse, great view from their pool area. Franco's bar has a gorgeous view next door, their patio is worth a look with navy and yellow decor. Last boat to Capri is like 6pm, so don't get stuck!
RAVELLO:
Ravello is my favorite place on earth!
Ravello is high up on the cliffs above Amalfi. You can reach it by taxi, sita bus or the hop on hop off bus that is roofless and comes every 30 minutes.
-There are two main villas you MUST visit for breathtaking views: Villa Cimbrone and Villa Ruffulo.
-Villa Ruffalo is closest to where bus or taxi will drop you off, has the famous view with the umbrella pine tree, and lovely gardens.
-Villa Cimbrone has more impressive gardens and at the end of the gardens has the most amazing lookout point with statue busts lining the vista! you can have a lovely lunch on the walk towards villa Cimbrone at a few hotel garden restaurants with views, one is called like Santa Anna or Santa Maria?
-There is also a famous Ravello Music festival, as Ravello is the city of music.
LANGUAGE:
Luckily most everyone in Europe speaks English, but it isgreat to speak theirs out of respect, and even small phrases is ALL
you need to know, which the locals will be so charmed by and
appreciate that you are attempting to speak in their language. I know
Rosetta Stone is a great way to learn a language, but really just
buying an Italian dictionary/ travel phrasebook is ALL you will need.
Here are some Italian phrases that are helpful:
-The letter "c" when followed by an i in italian is pronounced like
our "ch" sound. so the number five: cinque is pronounced "cheen-quay".
-When a "ch" is together it is prounounced like our letterk; so the
italian word chiamo is pronounced "key- amo".
-When a word ends in letter "e" it is prounced like "ay" as in the
english words say or may; so the italian word piacere is pronounced
"pee-uh-chair-ay".
-And as a rule, you pronounce EVERY vowel in a word like, grazie is
the word you will use most and is pronounced: "grat-zee-ay". Or an
italian ladies name Paola is pronounced with every vowel,
"pa-ow-o-la".
-When they make words plural they turn the ending to an i if male
wword or e if female word, ex: singlular of
Here are some of the main words you will need that you can practice
and memorize, and anything else you need you can lookup in your pocket
dictionary:
Yes- Si
No- no
Hello- Ciao.
My name is ____ - Mi chiamo _____ (pronounced "mee key-amo ____")
What's Your Name? - Quale è il suo nome?
How are you- Come Stai? Come state? (polite)
I'm Fine, Thanks- Bene, grazie!
And You? - e tu? e lei? (polite)
Good- Bene
Thank you- Grazie.
You're welcome- Prego.
It is a pleasure (when meeting someone)- Piacere.
Excuse Me ... ( to ask for something) - Scusami!/ Mi scusi! (polite)
Excuse Me! ( to pass by) - Permesso
Do You Speak (English/ Italian)? - Parla (inglese/italiano)? (polite)
Just a Little. - Solo un po'.
Mr.../ Mrs.…/ Miss…Signor …/ Signora …(usually for both Mrs. & Ms)
Nice To Meet You! - è un piacere conoscerti!/ è un piacere conoscerla (polite)
You're Very Kind! - Sei molto gentile!/ lei è molto gentile. (polite)
Where Are You From? - Di dove sei?/ Di dove è? (polite)
I'm From (the U.S/ Italia) - Sono (statunitense, italiano).
I'm (American) - Sono americano.
Where Do You Live? - Dove vivi?/ Dove vive? (polite)
I live in the U.S - Vivo negli stati uniti/
I Like Italian - Mi piace l'italiano.
Please- Per Favore.
One- uno
Two- due
Three- tre
Four- quattro
Five- cinque
Good Morning-Buongiorno
Good Evening-Buona sera (say after 4pm or so)
Good Night- Buono notte (say when its night/late)
See you later- A dopo!
Quanto costa? - How much?
this- questa
that- quello
How much is this? Quanto costa questo?
beer- birra
wine- vino
white wine- vino bianco
red wine- vino rosso
cheese- formaggio
tomato- pomodoro
fish- pesce (prounced "pesh-ay", plural is pesci like joe pesci!)
meat (red)- carne
chicken- pollo (pronounce the ll's unlike spanish)
salad- insalata
mushroom- fungi
dessert- dolci
coffee- cafe
ice cream- gelato
bread- pane (prounounced "pan-ay")
table- tavola
waiter/server- camiere (pronounced "cam-ee-yair-ee")
restaurant- ristorante (there are also other names for restaurants
which you will see such as: ostaria, pizzaria)
I would like (when ordering food etc)- Vorrei____. (pronounced "vorr-ay")
example:
I would like the mushroom pizza and a mixed salad-
Vorrei una pizza con fungi, e una insalata mista.
I would like a glass of red wine - Vorrei un bicchiere di vino rosso.
I would like to go- Vorrei andare.
I would like to go to the museum - Vorrei andare al museo.
I am hungry- Ho fame. (pronounce oh fah-mey)
I'm Lost- Mi sono perso.
Can I Help You? - Posso aiutarti?/ posso aiutarla (polite)?
Can You Help Me? - Potresti aiutarmi?/ potrebbe aiutarmi? (polite)
Where is the bathroom? - Dove posso trovare il bagno?
Where is the pharmacy? - Dove posso trovare la farmacia?
Risht - a destra
Left - sinistra
Go Straight! Then Turn Left/ Right! - Vada dritto! e poi giri a
destra/ sinistra!
I'm Looking For_____. - Sto cercando _____.
One Moment Please!- Un momento prego!
Good Luck! - Buona fortuna!
Enjoy! (For meals…) - Buon appetite!
Bless you (when sneezing) - Salute!
Good Bye-Arrivederci!
