The streets are lit up, the shops are teaming, ‘jingle bells’ is everywhere… we can only conclude that arriva natale (Christmas is coming)!
The Christmas period starts properly with the decoration of the albero di natale (Christmas tree), not forgetting the all important stella (star) or angioletto (little angel) on the top. Under the tree in [...]
There’s no denying it - when it comes to i vestiti (clothes) the Italians know what they are doing! La moda (fashion) is one of Italy’s biggest exports and the average person on the street usually looks like they have just stepped out of Vogue.
Here are some things the average Italian has in their armadio [...]
Italians have a different approach to la salute (health) than in many other countries. To say they are knowledgeable would be an understatement. Not only do most people know what the correct temperatura del corpo (body temperature) should be, they even know what their own temperature is on any given day. A slight variation to [...]
L’inverno (Winter) doesn’t officially arrive in Italy until the 15th December, although its presence can be felt a lot earlier than that. In many parts of the country nevica (it snows) as early as November, a great start for those who want to sciare (ski) but not so great for motorists stuck on the motorway [...]
One of the first things a visitor to Italy notices is that Italians look very slim and fit. This could be attributed to the mediterranean diet eaten here but it’s also because exercise is very important and most people like to practicare uno sport (do a sport). The most popular, as in other countries, is [...]
The English, it is said, love to talk about il meteo (the weather). The Italians, on the other hand, really ought to make more use of this topic of conversation since in Italy the weather is incredibly varied. Where English weather is rather mite (mild), the Italian clima (climate) can go from extreme to extreme.
L’autunno [...]
Although only recently having become popular, Halloween in Italy today is a big deal. Shops are full of plastic zucche (pumpkins) and scope (broomsticks) for doting parents to give to their children. When night falls, youngsters will travestirsi (dress up) in costumes of streghe (witches), fantasmi (ghosts) and pipistrelli (bats), either to go out asking [...]
The plane has landed, you’ve negotiated the public transport to the hotel and finally arrived at your destination. Only one more challenge remains - checking in! Of course, your hotel receptionist probably speaks good English and is dying for a chance to use it, but that’s not the point. Throw caution to the wind and [...]
One of the first things you notice living in Italy is that tradizione (tradition) is extremely important, and nowhere is this more true than in the famiglia (family).
Il divorzio is not uncommon, but the vast majority of families live together, often with three generations under the same roof - mamma e papà, fratello e sorella (brother [...]
L’autunno è arrivato (Autumn has arrived)!
Although the official date for Autumn is 22nd September, throughout Italy il tempo (the weather) is now starting to get really autumnal. The days are crisp with blue skies and the evenings are really cool. In a few weeks in the North of Italy the famous nebbia (fog) will start [...]
