Italian language tips, culture deep dives, and everything you need to fall in love with Italy.
How much of a tradition is the Christmas season in Italy? In Italy, Christmas’ arrival happens much earlier than you might think. While the big day is December 25th, the holiday season actually stretches from early December all the way to January 6th. Italian children are particularly lucky because Santa Claus (Babbo Natale) doesn’t work […]
Where can you hear live music in Italy? We all have our favorite ways to listen to music. Maybe it’s through your headphones while sipping morning coffee, or perhaps it’s the background hum of a radio in a crowded restaurant. We usually expect music to be in familiar places – homes, clubs, or theaters. But […]
What are the Italian myths? Italy is famous for its art and history, but every ancient city also hides a world of shadows. From cursed palaces in Venice to tricking the Devil in Tuscany, the “Bel Paese” is a land where legends are as thick as the morning fog. Why is it said that there […]
Does Italy have any secrets? Italy is often defined by its tangible history – Roman emperors, Renaissance masters, and grand cathedrals. But beneath the surface of the famous monuments lies a world of “chicche” (little-known gems): myths and legends that reveal a more mysterious side of the country. Why is Turin the capital of magic? […]
Is soccer popular in Italy? In Italy, there is a joke that every citizen is actually a secret “Technical Commissioner” for the national team. Whether they are world-class athletes or “armchair sportsmen” who haven’t moved a muscle in years, almost everyone has a loud opinion on Calcio (soccer). In Italy, soccer is much more than […]
Are there any famous arts festivals in Italy? When we think of Italian art, our minds usually drift to the Renaissance – Michelangelo’s statues, Da Vinci’s paintings, and the grand frescoes of centuries past. But in Italy, art didn’t stop with the Great Masters. It is a living, breathing evolution. For over 120 years, the […]
What is Trieste’s famous Barcolana? If you find yourself in the city of Trieste on the second Sunday of October, you might notice something impossible: there seems to be more white canvas on the horizon than there is blue water. This is the Barcolana, a historic sailing regatta that has grown from a local tradition […]
What is the Italian “Esame di Maturità”? In the United States, high school graduation is often celebrated with prom and a walk across a stage. In Italy, however, finishing high school involves a rite of passage that is much more intense: the Esame di Maturità (the Maturity Exam). For most Italians, this exam is the […]
Who is Alberto Angela? Italy is a country so densely packed with art and history that it is easy for locals to take it for granted. When you pass a 2,000-year-old monument every day on your way to work, it eventually becomes part of the “background noise” of life. However, over the last few decades, […]
Who is Inspector Montalbano? If you’ve ever dreamed of waking up, opening your front door, and stepping directly onto a sun-drenched Sicilian beach, you have a lot in common with Inspector Salvo Montalbano. In Italy, police procedurals are a staple of television, but one series stands above the rest. Since 1999, Il Commissario Montalbano has […]
The Particle NE: How to Use it in Italian Make sure you watch and study Lesson 1 and Lesson 2 of Ask Manu Italiano before moving on to this episode. In the Lesson 3 you can find the practice exercise! If you want to clear up the final details on this topic, there is also […]
The Particle NE: How to Use it in Italian Make sure you watch and study Lesson 1 and Lesson 2 of Ask Manu Italiano before moving on to this episode. If you want to complete your study of these Italian grammar essentials, make sure not to miss the final part of the series. Once you’ve […]
