A student of mine (let’s call him Mark) messaged me two days before flying to Rome with a list of questions that could have been a thesis. “Should I leave my passport at the hotel? Can I wear a watch? Is the train station safe after 8 PM? Does Italy have Uber?”

Mark had a great trip. Nobody pickpocketed him. Nobody scammed him. He ate incredibly well and is now asking me about moving to Italy with a digital nomad visa.

The concern made sense. The level of it didn’t.

I grew up in Italy, between Rome and the Marche region, studied in Milan, my family is from the Naples area. I’ve seen most of the country, and it’s a very safe place to visit.

Tourists almost never run into violent crime. Muggings are rare. There’s nothing here that should make you cancel your trip.

What you do get, especially in big cities, is petty theft. Pickpockets, bag snatchers, and street scammers who’ve been perfecting their craft since (and I mean this literally) the 1600s.

There’s a 1617 painting by Simon Vouet, hanging in Palazzo Barberini in Rome right now, showing a fortune teller distracting a man while an accomplice picks his pocket. The hustle is older than most countries.

Let’s get into what actually matters: numbers, risks, and what to do. This is the guide I wish I could hand every student or friend who tells me they’re going to Italy and asks if they should be worried.

How bad is petty crime in Italy, really?

Let’s start with the data. Guessing is worse than knowing what you’re actually dealing with.

Rome recorded over 33,000 pickpocketing incidents in 2024, up 68% from 2019. That’s roughly 90 reported cases a day, and the real number is certainly higher.

A 2024 study found that Italy leads Europe with 478 pickpocketing mentions per million visitors at its top tourist attractions, ahead of France (251) and Spain (111). The worst spots? The Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum, and the Pantheon in Rome. The Duomo in Milan. The Uffizi area in Florence.

ISTAT, Italy’s national statistics institute, reported that nearly 14 out of every 1,000 people in Lazio (which includes Rome) fell victim to pickpockets in 2023. That’s almost triple the national average of 5 per 1,000.

In response, Italy’s interior ministry created a dedicated metro police unit, the Polmetro, and you’ll see them patrolling metro platforms in Rome, Naples, and Milan.

Influencers like Simone Cicalone have become famous for patrolling the Rome metro and confronting pickpockets on camera, with some people seeing him as a hero and others seeing him as a vigilante.

On TikTok, clips of American tourists fighting back against pickpockets have gone viral. (Spoiler: Italian law is not on their side.)

So yeah, pickpocketing is real, and it’s not going anywhere. But it’s not random. Once you see the patterns, it’s predictable.

The 25 safety tips

What follows is a mix of mindset, gear, street smarts, scam awareness, and practical travel advice. Some of these you’ll know. Some you won’t. All of them are things I tell people before they go.

Mindset

1. You’re a tourist; you’ll stand out. That’s normal.

If you’re a tourist in Rome, Florence, Milan, or Naples, you are a target. Not because you’re doing anything wrong, but because you’re distracted, you don’t know the terrain, and you’re probably on your phone more than usual.

Accepting this doesn’t mean being paranoid. It means being aware. The people who get pickpocketed are almost always the ones who assumed it wouldn’t happen to them.

2. Understand that pickpockets avoid confrontation.

This is the big one. Italian pickpockets are not muggers. (And truth be told, most often they’re not Italian either.) They don’t carry weapons to threaten you with. They don’t want a scene. Their entire business model depends on you not noticing. If you make it difficult, if your stuff is secured and you look like you know what’s going on, they’ll move on to someone easier. You don’t have to be faster than the bear. You just have to be faster than the other tourists.

3. Where you are matters.

Italy is a big country. The pickpocket problem is concentrated in a few specific areas of a few major cities: mostly central Rome, Milan, Florence, Naples, and Venice. If you’re hiking the Dolomites, eating your way through Emilia-Romagna, or exploring the Marche region, petty theft is barely a consideration.

Growing up in the Marche, I could leave belongings in my car without thinking twice. Where I live now in Canada, I can’t.

A student of mine spent two weeks in Lecce and Matera and despite the south’s reputation she never once felt unsafe. Because she wasn’t. Those places don’t have the tourist density that creates conditions for organized pickpocketing.

This is also why I encourage people to visit the real Italy, outside of tourist areas, to relax and experience the beauty and slower pace the country has to offer.

4. Don’t let fear ruin the trip.

I’ve met people so anxious about theft they couldn’t enjoy a meal without clutching their bag to their chest with one hand. That’s not caution, that’s paranoia. Take simple precautions, internalize them until they’re automatic, then forget about it and enjoy one of the most beautiful countries on earth. This should take 30 seconds of thought a day, not ruin your trip.

Gear

5. Get an anti-theft crossbody bag, and actually use it.

If you do one thing, do this. A crossbody bag with a zip closure, worn across your front, makes pickpocketing nearly impossible without you noticing.

Pacsafe makes excellent options (the GO Crossbody Citysafe or the Metrosafe series are popular for a reason, including features such as: locking zippers, cut-proof straps, RFID blocking).

You don’t need to spend a fortune; any bag that crosses your body and zips shut will do.

The key is wearing it in front of you in crowded areas, not dangling behind your hip. Once it’s in the front, with your hands resting on the zipper, it becomes virtually impossible to pick pocket you. They’ll certainly opt for an easier target.

Never wear a backpack on your back in crowded places.

6. Use a money belt for the stuff you can’t afford to lose.

I know, I know. Money belts are not glamorous. But a slim under-clothing belt (Pacsafe Coversafe, Eagle Creek, PeakGear or similar) is the right place for your backup credit card, your passport in a small zip lock bag (or a photocopy), and a small amount of emergency cash (euros of course).

You don’t access it in public. Never. Only in a private bathroom stall. But it’s insurance for getting out of a jam and it only costs twenty dollars.

7. Leave the fancy jewelry at home.

This isn’t about style. If you’re wearing a Rolex in Naples, you’re advertising. My fiancée has a gorgeous engagement ring. It doesn’t come with us when we visit Italy.

The same goes for flashy necklaces, expensive sunglasses, or designer bags. None of these will get you mugged, but they’ll get you noticed, and getting noticed is the first step in the pickpocket’s workflow.

8. Carry a photocopy of your passport, not the original.

This one bugs me. Italy doesn’t take the pickpocket problem seriously, but they do require by law that non-EU citizens carry their passport at all times. So you’re forced to walk around with the one document you absolutely cannot afford to lose.

My suggestion, and it’s a controversial one: leave the real passport in the hotel safe. Carry a photocopy and a photo on your phone.

Italian law technically requires the original, but in practice a photocopy will usually satisfy a police check. Be nice to them and at worst they might scold you for not having the original on you.

Losing a photocopy is an inconvenience. Losing your passport will ruin your vacation.

9. Split your cash and cards.

Never carry all your money in one place. I keep a day’s worth of cash and one card in my front pocket, a backup card and some cash in my money belt, and the rest in the hotel safe. If someone gets my wallet, I lose maybe €50 and one card I can cancel in five minutes. Not great, not a disaster.

Street smarts

10. Front pockets only. Always.

Your back pockets are not storage. They are a buffet for professionals. Phone, wallet, anything of value: front pockets, always. This alone probably eliminates 80% of your risk.

11. Tether your wallet and phone.

A pickpocket’s entire job is to separate you from your stuff without you noticing. A tether makes that quite difficult.

I use a Pacsafe wallet that has a wire-reinforced strap that clips to your belt loop; even if someone gets into your front pocket, the wallet isn’t going anywhere. It’s a small measure that will further discourage pickpockets.

Do the same with your phone. Phone tether straps (the kind that loop around your wrist or you wear across your body) have become popular for good reason.

They cost $10-30, they don’t look ridiculous, and they mean that even if someone snatches your phone out of your hand on the metro, or you fumble it in a crowd, it stays attached to you.

Never leave your phone on the table at a café or restaurant either, especially in tourist areas. It takes one second for someone walking past to grab it, or for someone to lift it while they distract you with a newspaper or a board.

Same goes for your bag: don’t hang it behind your chair or leave it on the floor out of sight. Keep it on your lap or looped around your chair leg.

Your phone is now your map, your camera, your boarding pass, and your backup ID. Losing it mid-trip is arguably worse than losing your wallet.

12. Public transport is where you need to pay attention.

Pickpockets need two things: proximity and distraction. Both converge in predictable spots: getting on and off public transport, standing in line at attractions, navigating crowded piazzas, and squeezing through narrow passages near major landmarks.

A friend of mine got her phone lifted from her back pocket while going through a turnstile at a metro station. She felt absolutely nothing.

Rome’s Line A (Vatican to Spanish Steps to Termini) and Line B (Colosseum to Termini) are where most transit pickpocketing happens. Same applies to Milan’s metro near Duomo and Centrale, and Naples’ Line 1.

The moment of boarding, when everyone presses together and your attention is on getting through the door, is when you’re most vulnerable.

Keep your bag in front of you. Keep your hand on your phone. Stay alert. If you see commotion happening, you back away. You don’t investigate.

You can relax in 99.99% of Italy, but public transportation is one place to pay attention.

13. Be suspicious of unnecessary physical contact.

If someone bumps into you, spills something on you, blocks your path, or presses against you when there’s room not to, your first thought should be: where are my valuables?

Not every bump is a pickpocket, but the “accidental” jostle is one of the oldest techniques in the book. Do not let anyone get in your personal space.

Watch for women holding a jacket, large bag, umbrella or map in front of them. They use it to conceal what their hands are doing as they crowd you.

But watch out for men too. Living in North America, where pickpockets are rare, you might at times ask yourself ethical questions about judging people on the basis of their looks. You might hesitate to profile people based on appearance. That’s fair. But when someone is invading your personal space in a crowd, trust your instincts first and examine your ethics later.

14. Walk with purpose, even when you’re lost.

Pickpockets and scammers target people who look confused or hesitant. If you need to check your phone for directions, step into a shop or café. Don’t stand on a street corner squinting at Google Maps with your phone at arm’s length. You’re broadcasting both your distraction and the location of your phone.

15. Be careful around train stations at night.

During the day, major stations like Roma Termini, Milano Centrale, Napoli Centrale, and Firenze Santa Maria Novella are busy, well-patrolled, and generally fine. At night, the areas around them shift. The piazzas outside tend to attract a rougher crowd after dark: loiterers, aggressive panhandlers, the occasional drunk or dealer.

You’re unlikely to be attacked, but it’s not unheard of. What is certain is that you’re in prime territory for opportunistic theft, aggressive scams, sexual harassment, or just a very unpleasant interaction.

If you’re arriving late, take an official taxi or Uber from the station rather than walking. If you do walk, stick to well-lit streets and move like you know where you’re going (see tip 14).

If you’re waiting for a connection on a quiet platform late at night, keep your bags close and stay near other passengers or station staff.

Common scams and how to shut them down

16. The friendship bracelet.

This one is everywhere: Rome (especially near the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, and the Colosseum), Florence, and Venice.

A man approaches you smiling, asks where you’re from, and before you’ve finished answering, he’s tying a woven bracelet onto your wrist. Once it’s on, the smile disappears and he demands €10–20.

If you refuse, they get aggressive fast or start accusing you of being racist. Sometimes it’s a distraction while an accomplice goes for your pockets.

The fix: Don’t stop. Don’t engage. Keep your hands in your pockets or at your sides. A firm “No, grazie” without breaking stride. You are not being rude. You are being targeted.

17. The gladiator photo.

Outside the Colosseum, men dressed as Roman gladiators pose for photos with you, sometimes jumping into your selfie uninvited. Then they demand €20–50. Refuse and they get aggressive.

What they’re doing is illegal in Italy, but they do it anyway.

The fix: Don’t take photos with them. If one jumps into your shot, walk away. Don’t negotiate.

18. The petition/clipboard scam.

Groups of young people, often teenagers, approach with a clipboard asking you to sign a petition for a “deaf-mute charity” or some other seemingly worthwhile cause.

While your hands are busy with the clipboard and pen, an accomplice picks your pockets. Or after you sign, they demand a “donation.”

The fix: Never accept a clipboard from a stranger. Say no and keep walking. If you don’t feel rude, you’re not being firm enough.

19. The fake police.

Someone claims to be plainclothes police and asks to check your wallet for “counterfeit bills.” This is always a scam. Real Italian police will never ask to inspect your wallet on the street. They might ask for ID but that’s it.

(Also, this isn’t Tijuana, Mexico. Do not attempt to bribe the Italian police. It’s a serious crime in Italy.)

The fix: Ask to see identification. Tell them you’d prefer to walk to the nearest Questura (police station) together. They’ll disappear immediately.

You may also run into fake controllori (ticket inspectors) on trains. These are harder to spot, since real inspectors do board and check tickets. If something feels off, ask for credentials, show your ticket but nothing else, and never hand over cash or your wallet.

20. The “you stepped on my painting” scam.

In Florence especially (but also Rome), vendors display art prints on the ground near busy walkways along the Uffizi or Ponte Vecchio. The prints are placed so it’s nearly impossible not to step on one in a crowd. The moment your shoe grazes a print, the vendor erupts: you’ve “damaged” their artwork and owe €50, €100, sometimes more. It’s theater. The print was worthless.

The fix: Watch your step near ground-level merchandise, but if it happens, you owe nothing. Walk away. Don’t negotiate, don’t let a crowd pressure you, don’t hand over money. If the vendor gets aggressive, look for a police officer or Carabiniere. They’re usually nearby and they know exactly what’s going on.

21. The restaurant tourist trap.

Not a street scam, but it catches tourists constantly. Restaurants near major attractions (the Pantheon in Rome, San Marco in Venice, the Duomo in Florence) are notorious for hidden charges: unlisted coperto (cover charge), fish priced by weight but presented as a flat price, bread and water you didn’t order but get charged for, mediocre food charged at 3-4 times the going rate, etc.

The fix: Always ask for a menu with prices. Check if coperto and servizio (service charge) are listed. Avoid restaurants where a host pulls you in from the sidewalk, where there are photos of food on the menu, or where signs in five languages advertise “tourist menus.”

As a rule, the further you walk from the landmark, the better and cheaper you eat. Look for places where Italians are actually sitting down. Check Google Maps reviews but filter for locals, not tourists.

A restaurant packed at 1 PM with Italian families is a good sign. One that’s full at 6 PM with tourists is a red flag: Italians don’t eat dinner until 8 PM as a general rule.

Also check out what to order in Italy, depending on which region you’re travelling to.

22. The taxi overcharge.

Not all taxi drivers do this, but enough do. The meter is “broken.” The route is mysteriously scenic. A fake night surcharge appears during the day. Or you pay with a €50 note and the driver claims you gave him a €10.

Watch out also for random people offering you a taxi service at the airport. They are likely unauthorized and more likely to scam you.

The fix: Use FreeNow (or ItTaxi) to book taxis, which locks in the fare. If you hail a cab, insist on the meter. Consider Uber if you’re booking in advance. Know the fixed-rate fares from airports (€50–55 flat from Fiumicino to central Rome is the official rate; anyone quoting higher is trying it on). Keep your large bills separated so there’s no sleight of hand.

23. The helpful stranger at the ticket machine.

At train stations, someone offers to “help” you buy a ticket. They’re going to pickpocket you during the transaction, charge you for the help, or both.

The fix: If you need help, ask a uniformed staff member or even safer, go to the ticket counter. Trenitalia and Italo machines are straightforward and most have English options.

Practical travel tips

24. Validate your train ticket (or risk a fine).

Not a scam, but it catches first-time visitors off guard. If you buy a paper ticket from a machine or counter for a regional train, you must validate it before boarding by stamping it in one of the small green-and-white machines on the platform. An unvalidated ticket is treated as no ticket at all, and the fine starts at around €50 on the spot.

This doesn’t apply to tickets bought online with a seat reservation (Frecciarossa, Italo), which are tied to a specific departure. But for regional and local trains where the ticket has no date and time printed on it, validation is mandatory. Miss this step and you’ll have an awkward and expensive conversation with the inspector.

25. Get travel insurance. Seriously.

The least exciting tip on the list and the one you’ll be most grateful for if things go sideways. A good policy covers stolen belongings, trip cancellations, medical emergencies (which can be expensive even in countries with public healthcare), and the bureaucratic nightmare of replacing a stolen passport mid-trip.

You don’t need the gold-plated plan. A basic policy will run you €30–80 for a two-week trip. That’s the cost of one tourist-trap dinner near the Pantheon, except this one actually protects you. Also check what coverage your credit card and employer insurance already provide.

Bonus tips

Download offline maps and key apps before you go.

Half the vulnerability tips in this guide come down to one thing: don’t stand around looking lost with your phone out. The fix is having everything available offline. Download your destination cities in Google Maps or Apple Maps before you leave. Install Trenitalia and Italo for buying train tickets without approaching those machines (see tip 23). Get FreeNow or ItTaxi so you never haggle with a cab driver.

And download WhatsApp if you don’t have it. In Italy it’s not just a messaging app, it’s infrastructure. Restaurants take reservations on it, small hotels communicate through it, and your Airbnb host will almost certainly message you there instead of email.

Learn five Italian phrases that can get you out of trouble.

You don’t need to speak Italian to visit Italy, but a handful of phrases delivered with confidence will shut down a scam faster than any amount of awkward smiling. The essentials: “No, grazie” (no thank you), your all-purpose answer. “Non mi interessa” (I’m not interested), for when they persist. “Mi lasci in pace” (leave me alone), when firm needs to become blunt. “Chiamo la polizia” (I’m calling the police), the nuclear option, rarely needed but good to have.

And “Quanto costa?” (how much does it cost?), not a safety phrase exactly, but asking the price before you touch, eat, or sit down prevents a lot of the scams in this guide.

If you catch a pickpocket in the act, don’t be a hero.

It happens: you feel a hand in your pocket, you spot someone unzipping your bag, something feels wrong mid-crowd. Your instinct will be to grab, chase, or confront. Don’t. These people work in groups, and a confrontation can escalate fast, especially in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language and don’t know the terrain.

Instead, make noise. A loud “Attenzione!”, “Borseggiatore!” (male pickpocket), “Borseggiatrice!” (female pickpocket), or simply “Ladro!” / “Ladra!” (thief) will draw attention, which is the one thing pickpockets can’t afford.

Secure your belongings, step away, and alert the nearest officer. Your property isn’t worth a physical altercation. The law is not on your side if you beat them up. And your safety is worth more than your wallet.

Get an eSIM for data.

Fumbling with local SIM cards at the airport or hunting for Wi-Fi every time you need to check a map is a solved problem. An eSIM like Airalo lets you buy a data plan for Italy (or all of Europe) before you even board the plane, and activate it the moment you land.

I use Airalo it just works; you pick your destination, choose a data package, scan a QR code, and you’re online. Having reliable data from the moment you arrive means your offline maps have a backup, your taxi apps work, your WhatsApp is connected, and you’re never stuck without Google Translate when you need it.

Plans start at a few euros for short trips. Set it up the night before you fly and forget about it. (Use the coupon code ANTONI0257 for $4.50 CAD OFF.)

You don’t need to tip in Italy.

Do not tip. In Italy, it’s not a thing. You can leave one or two euros if you really liked the service, but do not leave a 15–20% tip like you would in North America. You’d be helping to import a tipping culture that Italy doesn’t need. If a waiter demands a tip, you’re unfortunately dining at a tourist trap.

City-by-city notes

The tips above apply everywhere touristy in Italy. But the risks are concentrated in a handful of cities, so here’s what to know about each one.

Rome: treat it like the capital of pickpocketing, because it is.

Highest-risk zones: the metro (Lines A and B), Termini station, the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, the Spanish Steps, and the Vatican queue. Be alert in these places and relaxed everywhere else. Trastevere, Testaccio, the Aventine, Monti: these neighborhoods are far calmer and, incidentally, where the best food is. Rome is enormous and most of it is perfectly safe. The danger zone is the tourist circuit, and even there, it’s manageable with basic awareness.

Florence: watch the Duomo area and the bridges.

Piazza del Duomo is ground zero. The Ponte Vecchio, with its narrow packed walkway, is another hotspot. The leather market at San Lorenzo attracts both tourists and pickpockets. And as mentioned above, the art print scam near the Uffizi (vendors lay prints on the ground and demand money if you step on one) is a Florentine specialty.

Milan: the Duomo metro station and Centrale.

Milan’s pickpocketing is concentrated around Piazza del Duomo (the square and the metro station) and Milano Centrale, one of Italy’s busiest train stations. The city has the highest overall crime rate per capita in Italy (69.7 reported crimes per 1,000 residents in 2024), though most of that is non-violent property crime. Outside the Duomo area, Milan feels more like a working city than a tourist trap, and the risk drops fast.

Naples: different rules.

Naples has a reputation that is, in my experience, about 70% outdated and 30% earned. The city is rougher around the edges than Rome or Florence, but also more authentic, more generous, and more alive.

Pickpocketing exists, especially around Napoli Centrale, Piazza Municipio, and on the metro, but the rate is actually lower than Rome’s (3 per 1,000 in Campania versus 14 per 1,000 in Lazio). What Naples has more of is motorbike bag-snatching (scippatori), which is rare but real. Wear your bag crossbody, keep it on the building side of the sidewalk (not the road side), and don’t dangle your phone while walking along busy streets. The scams in Naples can also get creative. Use your common sense.

Venice: crowded and expensive, but not dangerous.

Venice’s biggest safety issue isn’t pickpocketing in the traditional sense. It’s the sheer density of tourists funneled through impossibly narrow calli (alleyways) and onto packed vaporetti (water buses). The areas around Piazza San Marco, the Rialto Bridge, and the vaporetto stops are where pickpockets operate, using the same crush-and-grab techniques as in the Rome metro. The friendship bracelet scam is active near San Marco too.

But the real Venice “scam” is economic: restaurants in the San Marco area charge eye-watering prices, and a gondola ride costs €80–120 for about 30 minutes. None of it is illegal, just expensive. Walk ten minutes in any direction from San Marco and you’ll find quieter neighborhoods, better food, and lower prices. Cannaregio, Dorsoduro, and Castello are all more authentic and far less picked-over, in every sense.

What to do if it happens anyway

Don’t panic. You’re not in danger. You’ve lost property.

Go to the nearest police station (Questura or Commissariato) and file a report (denuncia). You’ll need it for insurance claims and to replace stolen documents. If you’re near a major monument, look for Carabinieri or police patrols. They’re almost always nearby and can direct you.

Cancel your cards immediately. If your passport was stolen, contact your country’s nearest embassy or consulate. If you followed tip 6 and have a backup card in your money belt, you’ll be back on your feet in hours, not days.

The emotional sting fades faster than you’d think. I know several people who were pickpocketed in Italy and still call it one of the best trips they’ve ever taken. Because it was. A lost wallet is an inconvenience. A trip to Italy is something you carry with you.

The bottom line

Italy’s biggest tourist cities have a pickpocketing problem. It’s real and documented. But it’s entirely manageable with basic precautions that take two minutes to adopt and quickly become second nature.

The far greater risk is letting fear keep you from going, or worse, going but spending the whole trip clutching your bag instead of looking up at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, wandering through the backstreets of Naples, or sitting in a piazza in the late afternoon doing absolutely nothing.

Italy is one of the safest, most welcoming, most extraordinary places you can visit. Go. Eat the carbonara (in Rome, obviously). Wear the crossbody bag. And stop reading Reddit threads at 2 AM.

You’ll be fine.

If you haven’t yet, make sure you sign up for my new Italian practice site: Linguetto. Practice a little each day and you’ll be surprised by how much Italian you pick up over time.

🎬 Italian Media

Perfetti Sconosciuti (2016, Perfect Strangers) is a brilliant Italian comedy-drama directed by Paolo Genovese. The premise is simple but quite intriguing: seven friends gather for a dinner party and decide to play a game where everyone puts their phone on the table, and all incoming calls, texts, and notifications must be shared with the group.

What starts as a lighthearted experiment quickly spirals into chaos as secrets, lies, and hidden lives are exposed one message at a time.

It’s sharp, funny, and at times genuinely uncomfortable to watch, in the best way possible. The film was such a hit that it became one of the most remade movies in cinema history, with official versions produced in over 20 countries. If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if your phone became an open book, this movie will make you grateful for your lock screen.

🎵 Italian Song

A song that deserves more international recognition is Luce (Tramonti a Nord Est) by Elisa. The song won Sanremo in 2001 and remains one of the most beautiful Italian ballads of the 2000s.

🎭 Famous Italian

Grazia Deledda (1871–1936) was a Sardinian novelist and the second woman ever to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, which she received in 1926. Born in Nuoro, a small town in the mountainous interior of Sardinia, she was largely self-educated and began publishing stories as a teenager.

Her novels explore the harsh, rugged landscape of Sardinia and the passionate, often tragic lives of its people. Works like Canne al vento (Reeds in the Wind) and Elias Portolu are considered some of the finest examples of Italian regionalist literature.

Despite being one of Italy’s greatest literary voices, she’s not as well known internationally as she deserves to be, which is a shame. If you want to understand Sardinia beyond the beaches and the Costa Smeralda, Deledda is where you start.

🏞️ Italian Landmark

If you’re ever in Piedmont, make sure you visit the Sacra di San Michele, a stunning medieval abbey perched dramatically on top of Mount Pirchiriano near Turin. It sits at nearly 1,000 meters above sea level, overlooking the Val di Susa, and on a clear day, the views are breathtaking.

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The kitchen will make it. It will arrive at your table. But somewhere between the first bite and the last, you’ll realize… It’s not bad, by any means, but it’s not as spectacular as you expected.

This is the quiet mistake tourists make all over Italy: ordering the greatest Italian hits in the wrong city. It’s like asking a high jumper to compete in a 100-meter race. They’ll do it and be much faster than you and me, but it’ll generally be a far cry from a professional sprinter.

Every region has a short list of dishes it believes it does better than anywhere else in the world, and they are almost always right.

Another reason to embrace cucina tipica (local, traditional, authentic cuisine) is to avoid tourist traps, which are notorious for putting the most common Italian dishes on the menu, regardless of geography. And charging you a fortune for it.

Here’s what to actually order, region by region.

Valle d’Aosta

Cities: Aosta (33K)

Valle d’Aosta (Aosta Valley) is Italy’s smallest region, tucked into the Alps. While visiting, try the following dishes:

• Fonduta valdostana: melted Fontina cheese with butter and egg yolk, poured over polenta or bread. The fondue you didn’t know could be this good.

• Carbonade valdostana: beef braised in red wine. The mountain equivalent of a warm blanket.

• 🍰 Tegole valdostane: thin, curved almond-and-hazelnut biscuits shaped like roof tiles. Great with coffee.

Piemonte

Cities: Torino (848K), Novara (104K), Alessandria (92K), Asti (74K), Cuneo (57K), Vercelli (45K), Biella (43K), Verbania (30K)

Piemonte (Piedmont) is where Italian food gets quietly luxurious.

• Tajarin al tartufo: thin egg pasta similar to spaghetti with shaved white truffle. Worth every cent of the price tag.

• Vitello tonnato: cold veal sliced thin under a smooth tuna-caper sauce. The region’s most elegant contradiction.

• Bagna cauda: a warm anchovy-garlic dip for raw vegetables. A tasty communal winter dish.

• 🍰 Gianduiotti: the boat-shaped chocolate-hazelnut pralines born in Torino. If you like Nutella, buy them by the bag, regret nothing.

• ☕️ Bicerin: a three-layered coffee drink featuring espresso, hot chocolate, and whipped cream or frothed milk.

Liguria

Cities: Genova (560K), La Spezia (94K), Savona (60K), Imperia (43K), Cinque Terre

Pesto’s homeland.

• Trofie al pesto genovese: the dish that justifies your trip to the Liguria region.

• Focaccia di Recco: paper-thin, cheese-stuffed flatbread. Nothing like the focaccia you know.

• Fritto misto di mare: a light, crispy tangle of fried seafood. Perfect for a lunch in between visiting the Aquarium and the Caruggi in Genova.

• 🍰 Pandolce genovese: Genoa’s answer to panettone: a dense fruit cake studded with pine nuts and candied citrus. Not my jam, but objectively loved by most people.

Lombardia

Cities: Milano (1.4M), Brescia (200K), Monza (124K), Bergamo (122K), Como (84K), Varese (80K), Pavia (73K), Cremona (72K), Mantova (49K), Lecco (48K), Lodi (47K), Sondrio (21K)

When in Lombardia (Lombardy), try out:

• Risotto alla milanese: saffron-stained, buttery, golden. Milano considers this a staple.

• Ossobuco: braised veal shank with a marrow bone you’re expected to scoop out. Pair it with the risotto.

• 🍰 Panettone: mostly eaten around Christmas time, but it is available year-round in Milan. Get it from a proper bakery and taste the difference.

Trentino-Alto Adige

Cities: Trento (120K), Bolzano (108K), Rovereto (40K)

Half Italian, half Austrian, entirely its own thing.

• Canederli (Knödel): bread dumplings in broth. Alpine comfort food.

• Speck: smoked ham that appears on every cheese board and belongs there.

• 🍰 Strudel di mele: not an import here, but a local tradition. Seriously good.

Veneto

Cities: Venezia (250K), Verona (258K), Padova (210K), Vicenza (112K), Treviso (85K), Rovigo (51K), Belluno (35K)

Ordering pizza in Venezia is an act of mild self-sabotage.

• Cicchetti: Venetian tapas at a bacaro (wine bar): baccalà mantecato on crostini, sardines in saor, marinated octopus.

• Risotto al nero di seppia: jet-black cuttlefish ink risotto that looks dramatic and tastes like the Adriatic.

• Fegato alla veneziana: calf’s liver with onions. The city’s unsung classic.

• 🍰 Fritole: fried dough balls studded with raisins and pine nuts, dusted in sugar. Carnival season’s gift.

• 🍰 Tiramisù: yes, it was born in Veneto. Order it here with a clear conscience.

Friuli Venezia Giulia

Cities: Trieste (204K), Udine (99K), Pordenone (51K), Gorizia (34K)

Trieste’s café culture hides a strong food identity.

• Frico: a crispy pancake of melted Montasio cheese and potatoes. Addictive.

• Jota: a hearty soup of sauerkraut, beans, and pork. The Slovenian influence at the border, in a bowl.

• 🍰 Gubana: a spiral-shaped sweet bread stuffed with nuts and grappa-soaked fruit.

Emilia-Romagna

Cities: Bologna (394K), Parma (198K), Modena (186K), Reggio Emilia (172K), Ravenna (159K), Rimini (150K), Ferrara (131K), Forlì (117K), Piacenza (104K)

The mothership. Arguably Italy’s greatest eating region, and they know it.

• Tagliatelle al ragù: what the world incorrectly calls “spaghetti bolognese.” The real thing, with its silky egg pasta, will ruin the impostor forever.

• Prosciutto di Parma con Parmigiano Reggiano: torn chunks of cheese and paper-thin cured ham.

• Aceto balsamico tradizionale: in Modena, drizzle real aged balsamic on anything and everything.

• 🍰 Torta di riso: Bologna’s beloved rice custard cake, scented with almonds and liqueur.

• 🍰 Zuppa inglese: despite the name (literally English soup), entirely Emilian: layers of custard, chocolate cream, and alchermes liquor-soaked sponge.

Toscana

Cities: Firenze (367K), Prato (195K), Livorno (157K), Arezzo (100K), Pisa (89K), Pistoia (90K), Lucca (89K), Grosseto (82K), Massa (68K), Siena (54K)

Firenze wants you to eat its food, not Roma’s. When in Toscana (Tuscany) try:

• Bistecca alla fiorentina: a two-inch-thick T-bone served rare and unapologetic.

• Lampredotto: tripe in a sandwich from a street cart. Yes, you should try it.

• Ribollita: bread-thickened soup that will warm your heart. Order it when it’s cold.

• 🍰 Cantucci con vin santo: hard almond biscuits dunked in sweet dessert wine. The perfect ending to a meal.

• 🍰 Schiacciata alla fiorentina: a soft, vanilla-scented sponge cake dusted with powdered sugar and stamped with the Florentine lily.

Umbria

Cities: Perugia (166K), Terni (111K), Foligno (57K), Città di Castello (39K), Spoleto (38K), Assisi (28K), Gubbio (31K), Orvieto (20K)

Toscana’s quieter, earthier neighbour.

• Strangozzi al tartufo nero: hand-rolled pasta with black truffle. The headline dish, more affordable than Piemonte’s white truffle equivalent.

• Porchetta: herb-stuffed roast pork, served from roadside vans. One of my favorite foods in the world. Just don’t forget to take your statins.

• Torta al testo: flatbread cooked on a stone and stuffed with prosciutto and greens. Fast food done right.

• 🍰 Tozzetti: crunchy hazelnut biscotti, Umbria’s answer to Tuscany’s cantucci.

• 🍰 Cioccolato di Perugia: the Baci Perugina were born here. Visit the chocolate shops and if you land at the right time of the year, attend the Eurochocolate festival.

Marche

Cities: Ancona (100K), Pesaro (97K), Fano (61K), Fermo (37K), Ascoli Piceno (47K), Macerata (42K), Civitanova Marche (42K), Recanati (21K), Urbino (15K)

Quietly one of Italy’s best-kept eating secrets.

• Olive all’ascolana: stuffed, breaded, fried olives from Ascoli Piceno. The world’s most perfect aperitivo snack.

• Vincisgrassi: the region’s rich, elaborate lasagna with béchamel. I personally prefer it even over the Emilian standard Lasagna version.

• Brodetto: a saffron-spiked fish stew that varies from town to town and starts arguments accordingly. (We are feisty people.)

• 🍰 Ciambellone: a simple, rustic ring cake flavoured with lemon and anise. Every nonna makes her own. Afroman and the Adams County sheriff would likely love it.

Lazio

Cities: Roma (2.8M), Latina (128K), Guidonia Montecelio (89K), Fiumicino (82K), Viterbo (68K), Frosinone (45K), Rieti (47K), Tivoli (56K), Aprilia (74K)

This is carbonara’s home. Don’t eat it anywhere else.

• Carbonara: guanciale, pecorino romano, egg, black pepper. A point of civic pride.

• Cacio e pepe: its minimalist cousin. Two ingredients, just as iconic.

• Supplì: fried rice balls with a molten heart of mozzarella, from any pizza al taglio shop worth its salt. My Canadian fiancée still talks about them.

• 🍰 Maritozzo: a soft, brioche-like bun split open and overflowing with whipped cream. Roma’s favourite breakfast indulgence.

Abruzzo

Cities: Pescara (119K), Chieti (50K), L’Aquila (70K), Teramo (54K)

Mountain food with backbone.

• Arrosticini: tiny lamb skewers grilled over a narrow brazier. Eaten by the dozen. Don’t skip the sagre featuring them. (Note: a sagra is a local festival, typically celebrating seasonal food.)

• Maccheroni alla chitarra: pasta cut on a wire frame, served with lamb ragù. The primo you want.

• 🍰 Confetti di Sulmona: sugar-coated almonds, made here since the fifteenth century. Buy a few bags.

• 🍰 Parrozzo: a dome-shaped almond-and-semolina cake coated in dark chocolate, invented in Pescara.

Molise

Cities: Campobasso (49K), Isernia (21K)

Yes, Molise exists, and it eats well.

• Cavatelli con ragù di maiale: hand-shaped pasta with slow-cooked pork. The soul of the local table.

• Pallotte cacio e ova: fried balls of cheese and egg in tomato sauce. Peasant food that makes you wonder why anyone bothers with anything fancier.

• Caciocavallo: local sheep’s and cow’s milk cheeses that need no embellishment beyond bread.

• 🍰 Mostaccioli molisani: diamond-shaped spiced biscuits glazed with chocolate or cooked grape must.

Campania

Cities: Napoli (914K), Salerno (129K), Giugliano in Campania (123K), Torre del Greco (83K), Caserta (75K), Castellammare di Stabia (65K), Avellino (53K), Benevento (58K), Costa Amalfitana

Napoli is where pizza was perfected, and you need no further instruction.

• Pizza Margherita: find a wood-fired oven. Order. Go for the mozzarella di bufala version. That’s it.

• Ragù napoletano: a slow-cooked meat sauce that has nothing to do with what you call ragù at home.

• Spaghetti alle vongole: clams, garlic, white wine, and the sea. The only pasta you need along the coast.

• 🍰 Sfogliatella: crispy, shell-shaped pastry filled with sweet ricotta and candied citrus. The riccia (ridged) version is the classic.

• 🍰 Babà: a rum-soaked sponge cake that Napoli adopted from the French and made entirely its own.

• 🍰 Pastiera napoletana: a wheat-and-ricotta Easter tart that locals will argue about year-round. And to think that, as a child, I didn’t like it. It eventually grew on me and I really miss it. Especially, since my mom used to make a phenomenal version.

Puglia

Cities: Bari (316K), Taranto (191K), Foggia (147K), Andria (100K), Barletta (94K), Lecce (95K), Brindisi (86K), Altamura (70K), Cerignola (57K), Bisceglie (55K), Trani (56K), Manfredonia (55K)

Sun-drenched and unfussy.

• Orecchiette con cime di rapa: ear-shaped pasta with broccoli rabe, anchovies, and chili. The signature dish, and it’s so good. You must try it and then buy a few bags of orecchiette off the old nonne in the streets.

• Burrata: invented here. Eat it still warm and leaking cream.

• Bombette: little rolls of meat stuffed with cheese and herbs, grilled over open flame.

• 🍰 Pasticciotto leccese: a shortcrust pastry shell filled with custard cream, from Lecce. Breakfast of champions.

• 🍰 Cartellate: fried pastry ribbons drizzled with vincotto or honey, a Christmas staple.

Basilicata

Cities: Potenza (66K), Matera (60K)

Rugged and underrated.

• Peperoni cruschi: dried, fried sweet peppers that shatter like chips. The region’s signature ingredient, on everything.

• Lucanica: pork sausage seasoned with chili and fennel, made here since Roman times.

• Orecchiette con peperoni cruschi: order this in Matera’s cave restaurants for the full experience.

• 🍰 Strazzate: rough, cracked chocolate-almond cookies that look rustic and taste amazing.

Calabria

Cities: Reggio Calabria (172K), Catanzaro (85K), Cosenza (67K), Lamezia Terme (69K), Crotone (62K), Vibo Valentia (33K)

Calabria likes heat.

• ‘Nduja: the spreadable, fiery salami from Spilinga. Belongs on bread, in pasta, and arguably on everything. I love spicy food but I’m a lightweight when it comes to spice; yet, even I will indulge. The spicy cousin to Marche’s ciauscolo.

• Fileja alla ‘nduja: hand-rolled pasta wrapped in that spicy, porky punch.

• Cipolla rossa di Tropea: the sweet red onions of Tropea, showing up everywhere: salads, pizza, jams. Worth the fuss.

• 🍰 Tartufo di Pizzo: a frozen chocolate truffle with a molten centre, invented in the seaside town of Pizzo (in the province of Vibo Valentia). Order it at the source if you can.

Sicilia

Cities: Palermo (630K), Catania (298K), Messina (227K), Siracusa (119K), Ragusa (74K), Trapani (68K), Marsala (83K), Gela (73K), Agrigento (59K), Caltanissetta (60K), Enna (26K)

Sicilian food is its own universe.

• Arancini: deep-fried rice balls stuffed with ragù or butter and cheese. The island’s perfect street food. (Note: these are known as arancini in Eastern Sicily, and arancine in Western Sicility. In Eastern Sicily, they often are cone-shaped.)

• Pasta alla Norma: fried eggplant, tomato, and salty ricotta. Catania’s love letter to the world.

• 🍰 Cannoli: filled to order (never pre-filled, a cardinal sin).

• 🍰 Cassata siciliana: ricotta-filled sponge cake covered in marzipan and candied fruit. Baroque-looking deliciousness.

• 🍰 Granita con brioche: icy, intensely flavoured granita (almond, pistachio, lemon, mulberry) scooped into a soft brioche bun. Sicilia’s greatest breakfast.

Sardegna

Cities: Cagliari (149K), Sassari (126K), Quartu Sant'Elena (70K), Olbia (63K), Nuoro (36K), Oristano (31K)

Sardegna (Sardinia) feels like a different country, and the food follows suit.

• Culurgiones: ravioli filled with potato, mint, and pecorino, pinched shut like tiny works of art.

• Porceddu: spit-roasted suckling pig. The island’s celebratory centrepiece.

• Fregola con arselle: toasted semolina pasta with clams. Sardegna’s answer to the mainland’s seafood pastas.

• 🍰 Seadas: fried pastry filled with fresh cheese and drizzled with warm honey. The island’s signature dessert.

• 🍰 Amaretti sardi: light, crumbly almond macaroons, subtly bitter and impossible to stop eating.

The pattern is simple: every Italian region has a chip on its shoulder and a short list of dishes it believes it does better than anywhere else on earth.

The real pleasure of eating in Italy is surrendering to geography. Ask the waiter what’s local. Look for the dish that appears on every menu within a three-block radius: that’s the one you want.

So please, by all means, go to Milan. Just don’t order the carbonara.

Marche (pronounced MAR-keh) is what Italy looked like before TikTok tourists and the tour buses came.

I know this because I grew up there. Though I spent my childhood in Rome, my teenage years were spent in Montegiorgio, a small town in the province of Fermo.

Living in the Marche region was slower-paced, and sometimes I missed the excitement of city life. But now that I have left, having lived in Canada for over two decades, I sometimes long for that calmer pace.

I see Marche as a once-local who is now, in some ways, a visitor again. An older, slower, but also wiser visitor with nostalgic memories of the place.

What follows is a south-to-north journey through seven cities I would send any traveler to (including some interesting detours left as an exercise for the reader).

1. San Benedetto del Tronto — The Riviera delle Palme

San Benedetto del Tronto’s lungomare stretches nearly five kilometers and is lined with thousands of palm trees. Visit in the early summer, and you’ll enjoy fantastic weather in a relaxed beach-town atmosphere.

This is not a place of grand monuments. San Benedetto is more about its vibe. It’s the kind of place where you can sit down, eat a good seafood meal, and watch the fishing trawlers come in.

Or grab an ice cream and go for a long passeggiata (a stroll) alongside the seafront.

2. Ascoli Piceno — Travertine dreams

Ascoli Piceno’s centro storico is built almost entirely of travertine, and it glows with a honey colored warmth. At its heart is Piazza del Popolo, one of the most beautiful city squares in Italy.

Experience it from a café table with a plate of olive all’ascolana, the city’s famous stuffed and fried olives, which here taste nothing like the frozen versions sometimes found elsewhere.

Beyond the piazza: a Roman bridge still carrying traffic, a Romanesque baptistery, and the Forte Malatesta.

Detour: Twenty minutes southwest, Offida’s church of Santa Maria della Rocca sits atop a cliff edge. Very picturesque.

3. Fermo — Layers upon layers

This one is personal. Montegiorgio is in the province of Fermo, and Fermo was the "big place" I'd take the bus to when I wanted to escape the monotony of Montegiorgio, needed a book not available locally, or wanted to see a particular movie.

The Cisterne Romane, vast first-century chambers, barrel-vaulted and silent, are one of Italy’s most atmospheric archaeological spaces. Above ground, the city is quietly refined: the Piazza del Popolo (also quite stunning), the Palazzo dei Priori, and the Teatro dell’Aquila. Fermo doesn’t shout. It assumes you’ll notice.

Detour: Torre di Palme, a micro-village on a cliff fifteen minutes away, offers one of the most dramatic coastal views in central Italy. One lane, one church, one belvedere: fifteen minutes to see, years to remember.

4. Recanati — Poetry on a hilltop

Italy’s greatest modern poet, Giacomo Leopardi, was born here in 1798. His family palazzo and library are preserved almost exactly as he left them. But Recanati’s real gift is its position: a ridge between the mountains and the sea. From the Colle dell’Infinito, the hillside that inspired his most famous poem, you see the Adriatic to the east and the Sibillini peaks to the west. The view really does suggest something infinite.

5. Conero Riviera — Sirolo and Numana

If you think Italy’s eastern coast is all flat sand and beach umbrellas, you haven’t seen the Conero. This limestone promontory south of Ancona creates a coastline so dramatic that first-time visitors reach for comparisons with Croatia or Greece. Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle, accessible only by boat, is framed by rock stacks rising from often transparent water. Sirolo, the village above, is a gem in miniature: a handful of streets, a piazza with a belvedere, and an atmosphere between fishing village and chic weekend escape.

Detour: The Frasassi Caves, less than an hour inland, are one of Europe’s largest karst systems. The scale is impossible to grasp from photographs.

6. Loreto — The hilltop basilica

Loreto exists because of a single building, and that building exists because of a single room. The Basilica della Santa Casa was constructed around what Catholic tradition holds is the house of the Virgin Mary, transported here from Nazareth in the thirteenth century. Whether you take the legend at face value or not, the result is one of the most important pilgrimage churches in Christianity and one of the most architecturally impressive in the Marche.

The basilica dominates the town from its hilltop. The exterior is fortress-like; the interior is not. The marble screen encasing the Santa Casa was designed by Bramante and decorated by some of the best sculptors of the Renaissance.

The sacristies contain frescoes by Melozzo da Forlì and Luca Signorelli. The piazza outside, designed by Carlo Maderno, has a grandeur that feels out of scale with the small town around it, which is, of course, the point.

Loreto gets busloads of pilgrims (literally) and relatively few casual tourists, which means the town itself is often overlooked. It’s worth a walk through the quiet streets behind the basilica, where the views toward the Adriatic and the Conero headland are excellent and free of crowds.

7. Urbino — The quiet capital

Save the best for last. Urbino is one of the great cities of the Italian Renaissance, and unlike Florence, it has never been overwhelmed by its own legend. The Palazzo Ducale, masterpiece of the warrior-duke Federico da Montefeltro, is reason enough to come.

Also, Raphael was born here; his childhood home is a few streets away, and you can visit it.

But Urbino’s real power is atmospheric: the university keeps it young, the steep streets create constant shifts in perspective, and the brick catches late-afternoon light in a way that explains why Renaissance painters trained here were so obsessed with luminosity.

My sister studied here, and so I got the opportunity to visit this stunning UNESCO site a few times. This year, when visiting Marche again, I will certainly stop by Urbino again.

Detour: Gradara, forty minutes north, is a storybook medieval fortress tied to Dante’s Paolo and Francesca. And the independent republic of San Marino (its own microstate, just across) is worth a half-day visit.

There you have it. I recommend spending at least a week, possibly more, in the Marche region, soaking up the sun and the slower-paced lifestyle. If that's your jam. If you'd prefer busier places, I'd recommend looking elsewhere, and Italy has, of course, plenty of places to scratch that itch.

Which translates to "nobody is a prophet in their own country."

This comes from the Bible (specifically from the Gospels, where Jesus states that a prophet is not accepted in his hometown) and I think to some extent it applies to most countries. But in Italy, we absolutely embrace this attitude.

Italian people who are appreciated worldwide will often be harshly criticized or ridiculed at home. The latest example is Sanremo Music Festival winner Sal Da Vinci and his song Per sempre sì.

The song is incredibly catchy and it expresses the traditional romantic idea of love, a couple that gets married and promises to love each other forever (Per sempre sì means forever yes in Italian).

Now, you might like the song or not, but you can't deny that it's catchy. The singer has a beautiful voice, well in tune without any help from autotune.

Sal Da Vinci is a Neapolitan artist who's been around for 40 years and has had a few successes under his belt. Yet, this is definitely the culmination of his career and a much deserved spotlight for an artist often overlooked in comparison to other Neapolitan giants such as Nino D'Angelo and Gigi D'Alessio (who, in fairness, have also been derided by many for decades).

Sal's catchy song and he himself have been heavily criticized after his victory, mostly from people in the north of Italy who have a tendency to dislike Naples and everything associated with it.

Naples is a polarizing city in Italy. It's poetry and it's camorra (their own mafia type). It's kindness and lawlessness. It's beauty and garbage. As singer Pino Daniele put it in his Napul è (Neapolitan for Naples is), "e a sap tutto o munno, ma nun sann a verità" (the whole world knows it, but they don't know the truth).

The song was also criticized by some feminists who objected to the idea of a forever love with a ceremony "in front of God." Some critics went as far as associating it with "femminicidio" (the phenomenon of a man killing a woman, often when she leaves him). The implication being that if love is "per sempre sì," the man would kill the woman if she were to change her mind. Of course, this is an incredible reach by people who will go out of their way to reject anything traditional, even if it's just a romantic song.

In short, Italy continues with its tradition of nemo propheta in patria, while the entire world sings and dances along with Sal Da Vinci. I for one congratulate him on a well deserved victory and wish him luck at Eurovision, where he actually stands a chance to win with this song.

If you haven’t yet, make sure you sign up for my new Italian practice site: Linguetto. Practice a little each day and you'll be surprised by how much Italian you pick up over time.

🎬 Italian Media

Aprile (1998) is an Italian film by director and actor Nanni Moretti. While often labeled a comedy, it's more accurately described as a semi-autobiographical documentary-drama hybrid.

The film mixes Moretti's gentle, offbeat humor with personal (almost intrusive) thoughts about being a father, making movies, and the messy politics of mid-1990s Italy (especially Silvio Berlusconi's rise to power and how the left struggled to deal with it).

A funny movie that makes you think.

🎵 Italian Song

I’m absolutely obsessed with Core Mio by Giovanni Block and Flo. A beautiful love letter to one’s own heart.

Here is the official video, and I’m including the Neapolitan lyrics and my English translation.

Original Lyrics

Core Mio

Core core mio, ma ch’haje passato;
he fatt’’a faccia cchiù janca do cielo
Ca porta ‘a vernata.

Core core mio, lass’ ’a paura
M’arape ‘m pietto accussì guard’ ‘o mare
Ca s’ è fatto scuro.

Core core mio damme ‘na voce
mò vene ‘o tiempo ca te faccio scennere
‘a copp’ ‘a sta croce

Core core mio,  cu ‘e mane aizate.
Haje fatt’ ‘a guerra a chi guerra t’ha fatto
O a chi c’ ha pruvato

Core core mio, uocchie  ‘e criature,
miettete ‘e scarpe e accumbuogliate buono
Nun stà semp’annure

Core core mio damme ‘na voce
mò vene ‘o tiempo ca te faccio scennere
‘a copp’ ‘a sta croce.

English Translation

My Heart

Heart heart of mine, what happened to you;
Your face became whiter than the sky
That brings winter.

Heart heart of mine, leave fear behind
You open my chest so you see the sea 
That has become dark.

Heart heart of mine, give me a voice
Now comes the time that I make you come down
From up this cross.

Heart heart of mine, with hands up.
You went to war with those who fought you
Or they tried to.

Heart heart of mine, eyes of a child,
Put on your shoes and cover yourself up 
Don’t be always naked.

Heart heart of mine, give me a voice 
Now comes the time that I make you come down
From up this cross.

Read more

if you haven’t yet, make sure you sign up for my new Italian practice site: Linguetto. Practice a little each day and you'll be surprised by how much Italian you pick up over time.

🎬 Italian Media

Vita da Carlo is an entertaining Italian comedy TV series created by and starring Carlo Verdone, one of Italy's most beloved comic actors and filmmakers. The show premiered in 2021 and offers a semi-autobiographical, self-aware look at Verdone's life and career, mixing reality with fiction as he navigates the entertainment industry, family relationships, and the challenges of aging.

🎵 Italian Song

Francesco De Gregori is a beloved Italian singer-songwriter, famous for his poetic lyrics and influential role in Italian music. His song "Santa Lucia" is a poetic ballad just shy of a prayer to the Saint.

🎭 Famous Italian

Ornella Vanoni was a renowned Italian singer with a career spanning several decades, remaining relevant up until her last days. She recently passed away at the age of 91, leaving many Italians mourning her loss and her unmistakable voice.

🏞️ Italian Landmark

If you’re ever in Naples, you should visit the Catacombs of San Gennaro. (San Gennaro being the patron saint of the city.)

These are underground burial sites that date back to early Christianity and are notable for their historical and religious significance. They offer a glimpse into early Christian practices and art.

Keep in mind that access to certain parts may be limited or require guided tours, so it’s a good idea to check ahead before visiting.

🍝 Italian Dish

Torrone is a traditional Italian nougat that is an absolute staple during the Christmas season in Italy and nearby countries. It is typically made from honey, sugar, and egg whites, with toasted almonds, hazelnuts, or pistachios. Chocolate hazelnut versions are quite popular too.

This sweet treat has ancient origins, with some historians tracing it back to the Arab world, from where it spread throughout the Mediterranean.

The town of Cremona in Lombardy is particularly famous for its torrone production and claims a long-standing tradition dating back to the 15th century.

🗣️ Italian Proverb

A caval donato non si guarda in bocca.

(You don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.)

When you receive something as a gift, you should not criticize it or look for flaws. The value lies in the generosity of the giver, not in whether the gift is perfect.

👀 Italian Curiosity

The United Nations cultural organization UNESCO has given Italian cooking special recognition as cultural heritage. This recognition extends to the whole tradition of Italian cooking and the culture around food, not just the food itself.

Italians received the news with amusement and pride, but there were also debates about the extensive nature of the award and even discussions on whether some foods (e.g., the canederli from Alto Adige) are actually Italian.

I hope you enjoyed the 36th edition of Small Dose of Italian Culture.

Buone feste e a presto!

🎬 Italian Media

In Italy, Aldo, Giovanni e Giacomo are a famous comedic trio who have been working together since the late 1990s. They're one of the most beloved comedy acts of all time among the Italian general public, known for their unique blend of slapstick humor, witty dialogue, and relatable characters.

They are genuinely funny, and I highly recommend exploring their filmography if you enjoy Italian comedy or want to understand modern Italian pop culture better.

Not every movie they've made is a masterpiece; however, their catalog contains many genuine gems that have become cults in Italy. Films like "Tre uomini e una gamba" (1997), "Così è la vita" (1998), and "Chiedimi se sono felice" (2000) have originated countless quotes and references that Italians still use in everyday conversation.

If you’re learning Italian or already speak it, watching their films can give you authentic insight into Italian humor, idioms, and the way people actually talk; though, be aware that some jokes rely heavily on wordplay and cultural context that might not be easy to grasp for beginners.

🎵 Italian Song

Caparezza is an Italian rapper who is an absolute master of wordplay. If you feel adventurous or simply want to hear a very catchy song, check out his latest song called Pathosfera.

🎭 Famous Italian

Rocco Papaleo is an Italian actor, film director, and screenwriter born in Lauria, a small town in the Basilicata region of southern Italy.

He's particularly known for his work in Italian comedy and for often portraying characters from his native region, bringing the culture and dialect of Basilicata to mainstream Italian cinema.

Papaleo gained significant recognition in the 1990s and has since built a diverse career spanning acting, directing, and writing. His performances often blend humor with a deep sense of regional identity, and he's respected for his authentic, natural style.

🏞️ Italian Landmark

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My apologies for the relative lack of engagement lately; it’s been an overwhelming time personally. My father recently passed away.

On a brighter note, I’ve also been working on something I’m really excited to share with you: Linguelo, a new adaptive Italian learning platform. The good news is: it’s now live, and you can sign up for free below.

Sign up for Linguelo

A few things first

• Linguelo is currently in alpha, which means things might change or break unexpectedly. Please be patient and feel free to share your feedback; it truly helps.

• During the Alpha phase (until the end of 2025), the site is completely free and unlimited for everyone.

• When Linguelo officially launches in 2026, Alpha users will automatically move to a Free tier and receive a generous discount code if they’d like to upgrade to a Premium plan.

• If you’re a paid subscriber of Italian with Antonio, you’ll automatically get the Pro/Premium role on Linguelo shortly after you sign up. It doesn’t make much difference during the Alpha, but starting in 2026, it’ll let you take many more quizzes per day compared to the Free tier.

How does it work

1. You sign up and confirm your email (if you don’t see it, check your spam/junk folder).

2. Take your initial assessment to determine your initial rating.

3. You start training, and the system will present you only with quizzes that are in line with your level. As you improve your Italian, the quizzes get tougher. If you regress, they get easier. You get a quiz right, your score goes up. You get a quiz wrong, and it goes down.

Linguelo’s adaptive system ensures you’re always challenged at the right level; not too easy, not too hard. This “Goldilocks zone” maximizes learning efficiency and keeps you motivated.

The idea behind Linguelo is that it augments whatever else you do to improve your Italian. Watching movies, reading books, taking courses, listening to Italian music, and conversing with native speakers are all great choices.

Linguelo complements these activities by providing targeted practice and explanations that are rich in practical tips and cultural notes. Think of it as your daily Italian gym, whether you have five minutes to spare or an hour.

I hope you enjoy Linguelo and good luck!

— Antonio

It’s designed to help you test your Italian level and practice with personalized quizzes and exercises that adapt to your skills. Today, I’m looking for a small group of passionate Italian learners to join as early adopters of Linguelo’s alpha version.

What is Linguelo?

Linguelo will be an online platform where you can practice Italian through tailored quizzes, get instant feedback with explanations and pronunciation guides, and track your progress. Whether you’re A0 (absolute beginner) or C2 (highly proficient), Linguelo will adjust to your level. The goal is to make practicing Italian effective, engaging, and convenient.

The name comes from the idea of an ELO rating system, like in chess. At the beginning, you’ll take a test that will give you an initial rating. Every time you practice, this rating is adjusted, going up or down depending on your current level of Italian.

Linguelo then uses that rating to provide exercises that are challenging yet achievable. As your skills improve, your rating rises, and so does the difficulty of the material you receive. The system balances plenty of variety (so you don’t get bored and to expose you to lots of new words) with repetition (so the learning sticks), ensuring steady progress at your own pace.

Who am I looking for?

All levels are welcome – in fact, I want a mix of beginners to advanced speakers to see how Linguelo performs for everyone. If you’re enthusiastic about improving your Italian and can spare a bit of time to use a new tool and give feedback, you’d be perfect for this program.

What’s in it for you?

Early adopters who actively participate in the program will receive Premium access to Linguelo for life, completely free. 🎉 That means you’ll never have to pay for the Premium tier – consider it a thank-you for helping me shape the platform.

Premium membership will include full access to all features (such as detailed answer explanations, pronunciation help, and generous daily practice limits).

There will eventually be Free, Premium, and Ultimate tiers for the general public. Premium will be a paid subscription, and Ultimate will be an even higher tier with unlimited usage.

As an early adopter, you get Premium without paying. You’ll also get the satisfaction of directly influencing a product tailored for Italian learners like you.

What will early adopters do?

If you volunteer, here’s the plan:

• Kickoff Call: We’ll have a one-on-one Zoom call where I personally show you the alpha version of Linguelo (screen-sharing the site, since it’s not live yet) and how it works. You can ask questions and decide if you’re truly interested.

• Alpha Testing: After the demo, you’ll get access to Linguelo’s alpha as soon as it’s ready (likely within a month or two). You’ll use the site to practice Italian. Ideally, you’d spend a little time each day (even 10–15 minutes) or at least a few times a week doing exercises and quizzes. Try out the features, take the initial placement test, and explore.

• Feedback Loop: I’ll ask you to fill out a short survey about your experience after you’ve used Linguelo for a bit. Additionally, we’ll schedule a follow-up video call after a few weeks of use, so I can hear your thoughts in depth. We’ll talk about what you liked, what could be improved, and any ideas or issues you have. Your candid feedback will be invaluable in refining the platform.

• Stay in Touch: Throughout the process, you can email or message me anytime if you encounter bugs or have quick suggestions. Early adopters will have a direct line to me, and I’ll be actively incorporating your input to make Linguelo better.

How to get involved

If this opportunity excites you, please fill out the Linguelo Early Adopter form (linked below). In the form, I’ll ask a few questions about your Italian level and learning habits – nothing too long, just enough to ensure we have a good mix of participants. I’ll review the submissions and select a handful of people for this first round of testing. Don’t worry if you’re not picked immediately; I might expand testing later and will keep others in mind.

Early Adopter Application

I truly appreciate your support and interest. Building Linguelo has been a passion project, and I can’t wait to share it with you. With your help, we can make it something truly useful for Italian learners everywhere.

Grazie mille for reading, and I hope to chat with some of you on our first Linguelo call! 🙏🇮🇹

Antonio

🎬 Italian Media

An entertaining Italian TV series available on Netflix, even in North America, is Summertime. It ended in 2022 after three seasons and tells the fictional story of two young adults from very different backgrounds who fall in love during the summer on Italy’s Adriatic Coast. Unlike some recent series, this one uses fairly neutral Italian without relying too heavily on dialect.

🎵 Italian Song

Gloria by Umberto Tozzi is an absolute classic in Italy. You’re likely familiar with the English version, which became famous internationally. However, if you translate the lyrics, you’ll quickly see that the Italian version (the original) is completely different from the English one, aside from the music.

🎭 Famous Italian

Monica Bellucci is an internationally renowned Italian actress and model, celebrated for her beauty, elegance, and versatile performances. She began her career as a fashion model before gaining recognition in both European cinema and Hollywood. Bellucci is best known for roles in films such as Malèna, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, The Passion of the Christ, Irreversible, and Spectre. She is regarded as a cultural icon in Italy.

🏞️ Italian Landmark

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🎬 Italian Media

One of the most talked-about Italian films of the past year is Parthenope by Paolo Sorrentino (my favorite movie director). The movie is set in Naples and it’s a melting pot of nostalgia, beauty, and melancholy.

The title comes from the siren Parthenope of Greek mythology, a figure associated with Naples’ identity (in fact, in Italian, partenope is synonymous with Neapolitan).

It’s not a film with much of a plot, but it’s an experience, full of atmosphere and poetry. This is something that receives mixed appreciation from international audiences, but if you’re in the mood for something deeply Italian, this one is worth watching.

🎵 Italian Song

Most people outside Italy know Ricchi e Poveri for Sarà perché ti amo, which has become an international sing-along hit. But in Italy, another song of theirs, Mamma Maria, was just as iconic. Released in 1982, it was impossibly catchy and quickly became extremely popular.

🎭 Famous Italian

A name everyone is familiar with in Italy is Christian De Sica. He is the son of legendary actor and director Vittorio De Sica, who made classics like Bicycle Thieves. Christian, however, took a different path and became famous for comedies, especially the Christmas films known as cinepanettoni.

Because of this, he’s often underestimated, as if he were just a comic actor. But he actually has great range and presence, and when given the chance, he shines in more serious roles too. Personally, I’m a fan.

🏞️ Italian Landmark

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Trigger warning: Some of these may be considered offensive by certain readers.

The main text says:

360 B.C. — Aphrodite hits her son with a slipper.

This attitude is thankfully changing with newer generations, but those of us who grew up in Italy in the 1980s and earlier know how the slipper (or sandal) was a common “educational” tool used by our mothers.

This meme was posted by Commenti Memorabili (Memorable Comments), a Facebook group and website dedicated to highlighting the funniest comments under memes.

The highlighted comment, by Valentina Donia, reads:

By the way, her son was Eros, the god of love — I would’ve hit him too.

With this joke, she implies her lack of success in romantic endeavors. 😂

I actually created the next meme, which became somewhat popular on Facebook. The caption reads:

You should never go to a Coldplay concert, Andy.

The scene is a screenshot from the movie Amici Miei – Atto II (My Friends, Act 2), in which a group of childish friends pull pranks for fun. In this particular scene, the prank targets a widower named Paolo.

Il professor Sassaroli (played by Adolfo Celi) approaches him and misleads him into believing he had an affair with Paolo’s late wife. When the widower asks when the affair took place — and whether it was while he was taking a course in Germany — il professor Sassaroli replies:

Non si deve mai andare in Germania, Paolo.
(You should never go to Germany, Paolo.)

This infuriates the widower, who believes the claim and ends up cursing his late wife. You can see the original scene below.

The quote is well-known among fans of Italian comedies from the 1970s and 80s. In my meme, I adapted it to reference the scandal involving Ex-Astronomer CEO Andy Byron, who cheated on his wife at a Coldplay concert.

The keenest observers will notice that I used “non bisogna” instead of “non si deve.” This was a slight misquote, but from an Italian perspective, the two are interchangeable, and both mean “you should not.”

The third meme needs little translation. The only cultural note is about the two men pictured above Dr. Now: they are Romano Prodi (a former Prime Minister of Italy) and Al Bano (a famous singer from Puglia).

Let me know whether this series strikes you as fun and interesting, or just a little too silly.

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Basic Italian Responses

• Non lo so – I don't know

• Penso di sì – I think so

• Penso di no – I don't think so

• Assolutamente no! – Absolutely not!

• Forse – Maybe

• Va bene – All right

• Certo – Sure

• Sicuramente - For sure

• (È) vero – (It's) true

• Hai ragione – You're right

• Tutto a posto? – Everything okay?

Italian Requests and Clarifications

• Puoi ripetere (la domanda)? – Can you repeat (the question)?

• Puoi parlare più lentamente? – Can you speak more slowly?

• Cosa significa ...? – What does ... mean?

• Come si dice ... in italiano? – How do you say ... in Italian?

• Non capisco – I don’t understand

• (Ho) capito – I understand / Got it

• Puoi farmi un esempio? – Can you give me an example?

• Puoi spiegarmelo di nuovo? – Can you explain it to me again?

Thinking or Hesitating in Italian

• Fammici pensare – Let me think about it

• Aspetta un attimo – Wait a second

• Boh – I don’t know / Who knows (very informal)

• Direi di sì / no – I’d say yes / no

• Credo di sì / no – I believe so / I don’t believe so

• Vediamo – Let’s see...

• Bella domanda – Good question

• Non saprei – I wouldn’t know / I’m not sure

Polite Italian Phrases

• Per favore / per piacere – Please

• Grazie – Thank you

• Prego – You’re welcome

• Di niente / di nulla – No problem

• Figurati / Si figuri - Don’t mention it! (informal / formal)

• Scusa / Mi scusi – Excuse me or Sorry (informal / formal)

• (Con) permesso – Excuse me (to pass by)

• Piacere (di conoscerti / conoscerla) – Nice to meet you (informal / formal)

Everyday Italian Filler Expressions

• Davvero? – Really?

• Capito – Got it

• Che bello! – How nice!

• Che peccato – What a shame

• Ti va? – Do you feel like it? / Want to?

• Magari! – I wish! / Hopefully!

• Dai! – Come on! / No way!

• Ma va! – No way! / Come on!

Italian Media

If you have Netflix, you may have access to the series Storia della mia famiglia (My Family, 2025), depending on your region. This drama, with comedic elements, offers some keen insights into Italian culture. It’s available with subtitles in both Italian and English.

If you're a beginner, feel free to watch with English subtitles. For more advanced learners, using Italian subtitles (or watching without any) will serve you best.

Italian Song

An absolute classic of Italian music is Un mondo d’amore by Gianni Morandi. Morandi has been a celebrated singer in Italy for over 60 years. This is one of his greatest successes.

Famous Italian

Alvaro Vitali (1950–2025) was a well-known and often controversial Italian actor. He began his film career with small roles in movies by legendary directors, including Federico Fellini.

However, he mostly rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s through his portrayal of Pierino, a mischievous schoolboy featured in a series of popular commedie sexy all’italiana (Italian erotic comedies).

In later years, Vitali often complained that he was essentially forgotten by the industry. He also acknowledged having squandered much of the wealth he earned during his peak years, now relying on a modest pension to live.

This was in stark contrast with contemporaries like Lino Banfi, who managed to adapt and reinvent themselves into more serious roles.

During the final year of his life, director Carlo Verdone offered Vitali a dignified role in one of his television series. This brought him some much-needed financial relief as well as redemption.

Many people on social media expressed appreciation towards Verdone for his gesture, with many saying, “Carlo Verdone è un signore.” (Carlo Verdone is a gentleman). He was also the only celebrity at Vitali’s recent funeral.

Italian Landmarks and Events

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In English, though vulgar, the word fuck is one of the most flexible. It's used for emphasis and countless other reasons. The literal translation of “to fuck” in Italian would be the slang verbs scopare (scoh-PAH-reh) or fottere (FOH-teh-reh), but we don’t use them idiomatically the way fuck is used in English.

Instead, we tend to use cazzo (KAHT-tsoh), literally “dick.” When you say “oh fuck,” we say oh cazzo (oh KAHT-tsoh), literally “oh dick.” As you can imagine, this is quite vulgar, but you’ll hear cazzo a lot, so it’s worth being aware of it.

That said, you might be surprised to hear the word cavolo (KAH-voh-loh), literally “cabbage,” used in similar idiomatic ways.

It’s a euphemism, like heck for hell or frig for fuck. So, cavolo can replace cazzo to maintain the emotional impact and emphasis, while sounding much less crude.

However, note that cavolo cannot be used when referring to the anatomical body part. In that case, the appropriate, polite word is pene (PEH-neh), which obviously translates to “penis.”

Let’s look at some examples of cavolo used idiomatically.

Cavolo! (KAH-voh-loh)

This is an exclamation, usually expressing surprise. It can be used in both positive and negative contexts, similar to wow in English.

Ho passato l’esame a pieni voti!
(I passed my exam with full marks.)

Cavolo!
(Oh wow!)

Mi è morto il cane.
(My dog died.)

Cavolo! Mi dispiace moltissimo.
(Oh wow. I’m so sorry.)

Col cavolo! (kohl KAH-voh-loh)

Literally, “with the cabbage!” Idiomatically, it means no way! or not a chance!

Dai, paga tu Claudio!
(Come on, you pay, Claudio!)

Col cavolo! Non ho mangiato quasi nulla.
(No way! I barely ate anything.)

Che cavolo! (keh KAH-voh-loh)

Literally, “what a cabbage!” Used to express frustration, like what the hell in English.

Dove sei?
(Where are you?)

Mi dispiace ma non posso più venire all’appuntamento.
(I’m sorry, I can’t make it to the meeting anymore.)

Che cavolo! Ho sprecato due ore a prepararmi.
(What the hell! I wasted two hours getting ready.)

Che cavolo vuoi? (keh KAH-voh-loh VWAW-ee)

Literally, “what cabbage do you want?” Idiomatically, what the hell do you want? Less vulgar than che cazzo vuoi?, but still rude and shows you’re irritated.

Fatti i cavoli tuoi! (FAHT-tee ee KAH-voh-lee TWAW-ee)

Literally, “mind your own cabbages.” Idiomatically, mind your own business. It's the toned-down version of fatti i cazzi tuoi!

Sono cavoli miei! (SOH-noh KAH-voh-lee MYAY-ee)

Literally, “they’re my cabbages.” Idiomatically, it’s my business. It tells others to stay out of your personal matters.

Non dire cavolate! (nohn DEE-reh kah-voh-LAH-teh)

Idiomatically, don’t talk nonsense or don’t lie to me. Cavolate is a softened version of cazzate (bullshit), coming from cavolo.

Sono tutte cavolate (SOH-noh TOO-teh kah-voh-LAH-teh)

Idiomatically, that’s all nonsense or it’s all lies. It’s used to dismiss rumors or incorrect statements.

Sono incavolato! (SOH-noh een-kah-voh-LAH-toh)

Idiomatically, I’m angry or I’m pissed off. It’s a more polite way to say sono incazzato!

Conclusion

Cavolo may literally mean cabbage, but in Italian slang, it's a widely used stand-in for the more vulgar word cazzo. If you're learning Italian, understanding when and how to use cavolo will help you sound more natural and keep you out of trouble in polite company.

Italian Movie

Il mostro (The Monster, 1994) is a hilarious comedy starring Roberto Benigni and his wife, Nicoletta Braschi. The plot revolves around a serial killer who has been on the loose for years. Due to a series of misunderstandings, the police come to suspect Loris (played by Benigni) of being the killer. To catch him in the act, they send an undercover policewoman (played by Braschi) to seduce him and provoke an attack.

Remarkably, the film is available for free with English subtitles on YouTube. I highly recommend you watch it.

Italian Song

A powerful Italian song I recommend is La canzone di Tom by Il Teatro degli Orrori. While it's far from mainstream, it has a devoted indie following thanks to its raw intensity. If you're into rock with a theatrical and dramatic edge, I’d give it a listen.

Famous Italian

Giacomo Leopardi (1798 — 1837) is one of Italy’s most celebrated poets and authors. Every student in Italian schools spends countless hours studying his work, with L’Infinito and A Silvia being two of the most widely memorized and analyzed poems.

His life was marked by suffering and isolation, which deeply influenced his writing and led to his death at a relatively young age. If you’re ever near Recanati, I highly recommend visiting his childhood home, which has been turned into a museum.

Italian Landmark

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Italian Movie

I Vitelloni (1953, The Bullocks) is a comedy/drama directed by legendary Italian director Federico Fellini. The story follows the lives of five “vitelloni,” a slang term for pleasure-seeking slacker youth. People drifting through life in a provincial Italian town, stuck between adolescence and adulthood.

This movie speaks to me because it perfectly captures post-war Italian society, particularly the youth's sense of stagnation and lack of opportunity. It’s a classic that any Italian learner should watch at least once.

Italian Song

The Italian song I’d like to highlight is Anima Mia by I Cugini di Campagna; a song sung in falsetto and sometimes parodied because of it.

Interestingly, during a concert of theirs I attended, they pointed out that the singer had a four-octave range, much like Freddie Mercury, demonstrating for the crowd how he could sing in a super high-pitched tone but also go all the way down to baritone.

Famous Italian

Fiorello (full name: Rosario Tindaro Fiorello, 1960 —) is one of the most famous entertainers in Italy. He started his career working as an entertainer in tourist villages, where he was discovered and eventually showcased his many talents (singing, impersonating, presenting, and more) on the radio and ultimately on television.

His karaoke program in the ’90s was legendary and watched by millions of Italians.

Fiorello is still popular to this day, even co-hosting the 2024 Sanremo Music Festival.

Pop Moment

In an episode of the Italian Wheel of Fortune (La Ruota della Fortuna), a contestant (Giancarlo Pelosini), forever immortalized as "Il signor Giancarlo,” risked giving up a major cash prize in order to make a joke.

This was the board before the solution was revealed:

The clue was about the Amazons. The correct answer was “Vinsero battaglie grazie alla loro foga” (“They won battles thanks to their fervor”).

Il signor Giancarlo, however, chose to say, “Vinsero battaglie grazie alla loro figa” (“They won battles thanks to their p*ssy”).

The studio erupted in laughter as the Italo-American host Mike Bongiorno feigned indignation.

Some find it hilarious, believing that il signor Giancarlo chose glory over mere money, while others view it as childish and sexist.

Either way, it’s a pop culture moment that hasn’t been forgotten.

Italian Landmark

If you’re visiting Venice, you must take a vaporetto (water bus) to visit Murano. There, among colorful buildings, you’ll find many glassblowers who will (no pun intended) blow your mind with their skill and artistry. Murano glass is among the finest in the world, with intricate pieces fetching thousands of dollars.

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Italian Movie

Profondo Rosso (Deep Red, 1975) is an iconic horror/thriller film from the 1970s. Its director, Dario Argento, rose to international fame with a series of horror movies that terrified generations.

While the special effects may feel dated today, the film's vintage horror vibe still delivers thrills. It comes highly recommended for fans of the genre.

The soundtrack alone makes this a worthwhile watch.

Italian Song

This time, the Italian song I’d like to highlight is Il più grande spettacolo dopo il Big Bang (The Greatest Show After the Big Bang), an energetic celebration of love.

Jovanotti states, in so many ways, that after the Big Bang, the greatest show of all is “the two of us”.

Famous Italian

Some would argue he's more infamous than famous, but he's for sure a well-known figure in Italy. I'm talking about Fabrizio Corona, a paparazzo who gained notoriety in the 2000s for his involvement in a major scandal involving the extortion of celebrities using compromising photos.

Known for his flashy lifestyle and frequent issues with the law, Corona has since become a controversial media personality, and virtually everyone in Italy knows who he is.

Pop Moment

In 2021, Måneskin brought Italy global attention by winning Eurovision with "Zitti e buoni." Their quick rise symbolized a new era of Italian cool on the world stage, with some even comparing Måneskin to The Beatles.

In Italy, reactions were mixed. Many took pride in their international success, while others were more critical. There is a Latin saying that captures this phenomenon well: "Nemo propheta in patria," which means "No one is a prophet in their own land". Something quite often applicable in Italy.

Italian Landmark

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