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Things Italian people love – #6 Palio e contrada – VIDEO

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Italian people love to belong to their contrada and can’t wait for the day of the Palio to challenge their neighbours.

The Italian Palio  is a traditional contest taking place in many different cities across the country. It can be a horse race, a donkey race, a boat race or even a goose race. In some cities the Palio consists of an ability challenge with ancient weapons, like crossbows. The pattern is always the same: a medieval city divided in rival contrada or rione (neighbourhoods), people wearing strange costumes and one day of passion.

The word Palio comes from Latin Pallium, the precious garment given as price to the winner of the contest. It is at the origin of the common Italian expression “mettere in palio un premio“, to give a prize in a raffle. There are many Medieval cities and towns scattered all over the country and Palio’s are everywhere. For historical reasons Toscana is the region where these traditional contests are more famous abroad, but Palio’s are really everywhere. There are over 400 Palio’s in Italia, and of course we are not going to mention all of them. It’s worth spending a few words on the two most popular ones.

Il Palio di Siena is the most famous, celebrated and symbolic  Palio of Italy. It takes place twice a year in summer, on July 2nd and and August 16th. The first one is called Palio di Provenzano, the latter is called Palio dell’Assunta. The race takes place in the wonderful Piazza del Campo, in the “navel” of Siena. The origin of the Palio di Siena is still not completely clear. Some people say it was already there between 1000 and 1200 a.d. and the horse race was done in a different fashion. The Palio di Siena is based on alliances, bribing, betrayals, pride and old unsolved disputes. The perfect ingredients of a typical Italian drama.

 

Nowadays the competing contrada are 17, named after the medieval bestiario, representing real or imaginary animals: Aquila (Eagle), Bruco (Caterpillar), Chiocciola (Snail), Civetta (Owl), Drago (Dragon), Giraffa (Giraffe), Istrice (Hedgehog), Leocorno (Unicorn), Lupa (She-wolf), Nicchio (Shell), Oca (Goose), Onda (Wave), Pantera (Panther), Selva (Forest), Tartuca (Tortoise), Torre (Tower) and Valdimontone (Mutton). In the Past there were other contrada’s but they were merged or changed with others. The ground rules of the Palio di Siena are overcomplicated, in perfect Italian style. Out of 17 contrada only 10 can run the palio: 7 are the ones which did not run the previous year and 3 are selected at random. The horses are not of pure breed and are assigned to each contrada with a lottery. There have been rumors of bribery and unfair agreements between friend contrada’s, but that’s part of the game. The most critical moment of the race is the start. Only when 9 out of 10 horses are aligned in front of the hemp rope used as start line, the horses are unleashed. It’s a moment of tension and tactics, because allied jockeys can push enemies and change the position of rival horses, putting them in disadvantage. This tactical phase of the race can last for a very long time and I spared you a few minutes of it in the video. If the horses can’t align before sunset, the race is postponed to the day after. The tension hits the peak when the rope is released and horses are free to run. Then anything can happen. Some horses and jockeys fall on the dirt, sometimes horses stand up again with no jockey, and then are called cavallo scosso. Even if not guided a cavallo scosso is lighter than others and can win the Palio. The people of the winning contrada bring the jokey in triumph to their neighbourhood. Rivers of wine music and celebrations last all night. The Palio di Siena is very representative of the Italian mindset towards enemies and rivals. Whilst trying to win is logical, it is also allowed to disturb the other horses. The winner is the first and the loser is the second, not the last to cross the finish line. The Palio di Siena, being always at the centre of attention, is criticized by animal-rights associations, asking for a ban for cruelty on horses. Supporters of the Palio di Siena respond to criticism saying that the rate of injuries on horses are not higher than any other horse race showing statistics and numbers. In the last few years there have been new controls imposed by the Italian authorities and designated vets look after the horses before and after the race. Right or wrong, the Palio di Siena is still one of the most fascinating traditions of Italy.  

Second in terms of popularity, il Palio di Asti, in the northern region of Piemonte, is celebrated since around the year 1000, but the first written mention talking about “an old Palio” is dated 1275. The event celebrates the saint of the city, San Secondo. About 1200 people in medieval costume reproduce the traditional life of the city. The Palio itself consists of a horse race, where 21 horses are mounted bareback, with no saddle. The race takes place every third Sunday of September.

The Palio di Asti is less wild, safer than the Palio di Siena. The Palio stopped because of the war in 1939, and resumed only in 1967. The reborn of the unforgotten tradition of Asti, was so important for the people of the city and the neighbouring villages that no less than 100.000 people came to see the event and celebrate. The Palio consists of three preliminary races, of 7 participants each, and a final. The first price is of course the precious garment, the last price is a pickled anchovy. The race changed location several times. Now is is in the central, triangular, Piazza Alfieri, named after Vittorio Alfieri, an icon of the Italian literature born in Asti in 1749. The preparation of the events taking place in September starts in May and goes on for the whole summer with some minor palio’s and other events, like flags-waving contests. The Palio di Asti was the first one to admit a team of vets for first aid and to work with scientists of the University of Turin in order to improve the circuit, and reduce the risks or accidents or injuries for both jockeys and horses.

We hope you liked this overview. Please visit our homepage and learn more about our Online Italian Language School. Ciao!

Le parti del corpo, body parts in Italian – quiz

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Complete Guide to Italian Body Parts: Master Parti del Corpo Vocabulary and Pronunciation

Learning Italian body parts vocabulary is essential for everyday conversations, medical situations, and describing people. Even intermediate Italian speakers often struggle with body parts pronunciation and irregular plurals. This comprehensive guide covers all essential parti del corpo with audio pronunciation, grammar rules, and practical examples you’ll actually use.

Ready to master Italian anatomy vocabulary like Leonardo da Vinci studied the human body?

La Testa – Italian Head Parts Vocabulary

The head contains some of the most commonly used Italian body parts. Pay special attention to the pronunciation and gender of each word – this vocabulary appears frequently in everyday Italian conversations.

  • i capelli – hair
    Ha i capelli castani molto lunghi.
    She has very long brown hair.
  • la fronte – forehead
    Ha la fronte alta e spaziosa.
    He has a high and spacious forehead.
  • il sopracciglio – eyebrow
    Il sopracciglio sinistro è più sottile del destro.
    The left eyebrow is thinner than the right one.
  • l’occhio – eye
    Il suo occhio destro è di un verde intenso.
    Her right eye is an intense green.
  • le ciglia – eyelashes
    Le ciglia lunghe e folte incorniciano i suoi occhi.
    The long and thick eyelashes frame her eyes.
  • il naso – nose
    Il naso aquilino gli dà un aspetto distinto.
    The aquiline nose gives him a distinguished appearance.
  • la guancia – cheek
    La bambina ha una guancia sporca di cioccolato.
    The little girl has a cheek dirty with chocolate.
  • la bocca – mouth
    Non aprire la bocca mentre mangi!
    Don’t open your mouth while eating!
  • le labbra – lips
    Le labbra rosse contrastano con la pelle chiara.
    The red lips contrast with the fair skin.
  • i denti – teeth
    I denti bianchi e dritti sono il risultato dell’apparecchio.
    The white and straight teeth are the result of braces.
  • la lingua – tongue
    Mi sono morso la lingua mangiando troppo velocemente.
    I bit my tongue eating too quickly.
  • il mento – chin
    Il mento sporgente è una caratteristica di famiglia.
    The prominent chin is a family trait.
  • l’orecchio – ear
    L’orecchio destro mi fa male da stamattina.
    My right ear has been hurting since this morning.
  • il collo – neck
    Il collo lungo la fa sembrare molto elegante.
    The long neck makes her look very elegant.

Grammar Note: Unlike English, i capelli (hair) is countable in Italian. A single hair is il capello. Notice how il sopracciglio (eyebrow) becomes le sopracciglia in the plural – this follows a special pattern we’ll explain below.

Common Italian Phrases with Head Parts

  • “Ha i capelli biondi” – He/she has blonde hair
  • “Gli occhi azzurri” – Blue eyes
  • “Un naso aquilino” – An aquiline nose
  • “Le labbra rosse” – Red lips

Example Sentences – Head Parts

  • “Mia sorella ha i capelli ricci e gli occhi verdi.”
    My sister has curly hair and green eyes.
  • “Il bambino si è sporcato la faccia con il gelato.”
    The child got his face dirty with ice cream.
  • “Devo lavarmi i denti prima di andare a letto.”
    I need to brush my teeth before going to bed.
  • “Ha le sopracciglia molto folte e scure.”
    He has very thick and dark eyebrows.
  • “Non riesco a sentire bene con questo orecchio.”
    I can’t hear well with this ear.

Il Torso – Italian Torso and Body Parts

The torso includes essential Italian body vocabulary for describing the main body. These words are crucial for clothing descriptions, medical conversations, and general body-related discussions in Italian.

  • la spalla – shoulder
    Mi fa male la spalla dopo l’allenamento in palestra.
    My shoulder hurts after the gym workout.
  • il petto – chest
    Il nuotatore ha il petto muscoloso e sviluppato.
    The swimmer has a muscular and developed chest.
  • il seno – breast
    La camicia è troppo stretta al seno.
    The shirt is too tight around the breast.
  • la schiena – back
    Ho la schiena rigida dopo aver dormito male.
    My back is stiff after sleeping badly.
  • la pancia – belly
    Dopo la cena la pancia è troppo piena.
    After dinner the belly is too full.
  • lo stomaco – stomach
    Lo stomaco vuoto brontola rumorosamente.
    The empty stomach rumbles loudly.
  • l’ombelico – navel/belly button
    Il piercing all’ombelico è molto di moda.
    The belly button piercing is very fashionable.
  • la vita – waist
    La cintura stringe troppo la vita.
    The belt squeezes the waist too much.
  • i fianchi – hips
    I fianchi larghi sono tipici della figura femminile.
    Wide hips are typical of the female figure.
  • il sedere – bottom/buttocks
    Il bambino è caduto sul sedere nel parco.
    The child fell on his bottom in the park.
  • la costola – rib
    Si è rotta una costola cadendo dalla scala.
    She broke a rib falling from the ladder.

Vocabulary Note: Il seno typically refers to both breasts collectively. The informal word for buttocks is il culo, though il sedere is more polite in formal situations.

Essential Torso-Related Italian Expressions

  • “Spalle larghe” – Broad shoulders
  • “Mal di schiena” – Back pain
  • “Pancia piena” – Full belly
  • “Vita stretta” – Narrow waist

Example Sentences – Torso

  • “Il nuotatore ha spalle molto larghe e muscoli del petto sviluppati.”
    The swimmer has very broad shoulders and developed chest muscles.
  • “Dopo la cena abbondante, ho la pancia troppo piena.”
    After the big dinner, my belly is too full.
  • “Ho dormito male e ora mi fa male tutta la schiena.”
    I slept badly and now my whole back hurts.
  • “Il vestito le sta perfetto perché ha la vita sottile.”
    The dress fits her perfectly because she has a slim waist.
  • “Il bambino si è fatto male cadendo sul sedere.”
    The child hurt himself falling on his bottom.

Gli Arti – Italian Arms and Legs Vocabulary

Arms and legs vocabulary in Italian includes some tricky irregular plurals and important pronunciation points. Master these Italian limb parts for complete body vocabulary fluency.

  • l’ascella – armpit
    L’ascella destra è irritata dopo la rasatura.
    The right armpit is irritated after shaving.
  • il braccio – arm
    Il braccio sinistro è più forte del destro.
    The left arm is stronger than the right one.
  • il gomito – elbow
    Mi sono sbucciato il gomito cadendo in bicicletta.
    I scraped my elbow falling off my bike.
  • l’avambraccio – forearm
    L’avambraccio è coperto di tatuaggi colorati.
    The forearm is covered with colorful tattoos.
  • il polso – wrist
    Il polso mi fa male dopo aver scritto tutto il giorno.
    My wrist hurts after writing all day.
  • la mano – hand
    La mano destra è più abile della sinistra.
    The right hand is more skilled than the left.
  • il palmo – palm
    Il palmo della mano è sudato per la tensione.
    The palm of the hand is sweaty from tension.
  • il dito – finger
    Il dito anulare porta l’anello di matrimonio.
    The ring finger wears the wedding ring.
  • le unghie – nails
    Le unghie rosse sono perfettamente curate.
    The red nails are perfectly manicured.
  • le nocche – knuckles
    Le nocche sono sbucciate dopo la rissa.
    The knuckles are scraped after the fight.
  • la coscia – thigh
    La coscia sinistra è dolorante dopo la corsa.
    The left thigh is sore after running.
  • il ginocchio – knee
    Il ginocchio destro scricchiola quando lo piego.
    The right knee creaks when I bend it.
  • la gamba – leg
    La gamba destra è più lunga della sinistra.
    The right leg is longer than the left.
  • il polpaccio – calf
    Il polpaccio si è indurito dopo l’allenamento.
    The calf got hard after the workout.
  • lo stinco – shin
    Lo stinco è livido dopo il calcio ricevuto.
    The shin is bruised after the kick received.
  • la caviglia – ankle
    La caviglia si è gonfiata dopo la storta.
    The ankle swelled after the sprain.
  • il piede – foot
    Il piede destro è più grande del sinistro.
    The right foot is bigger than the left.
  • la pianta del piede – sole
    La pianta del piede è molto sensibile al solletico.
    The sole of the foot is very sensitive to tickling.
  • il tallone – heel
    Il tallone è screpolato per la pelle secca.
    The heel is cracked due to dry skin.

Italian Finger Names – I Nomi delle Dita

The Italian finger names from thumb to pinky are essential vocabulary:

  • il pollice – thumb
  • l’indice – index finger
  • il medio – middle finger
  • l’anulare – ring finger
  • il mignolo – pinky finger

Example Sentences – Arms and Legs

  • “Mi sono rotto il braccio sinistro cadendo dalla bicicletta.”
    I broke my left arm falling from the bicycle.
  • “Il giocatore di calcio ha le gambe molto muscolose.”
    The soccer player has very muscular legs.
  • “Non riesco a piegare il ginocchio dopo l’incidente.”
    I can’t bend my knee after the accident.
  • “Ha le mani delicate con le unghie sempre perfette.”
    She has delicate hands with always perfect nails.
  • “Dopo la lunga camminata, mi fanno male i piedi e le caviglie.”
    After the long walk, my feet and ankles hurt.
  • “Il pianista ha dita lunghe e affusolate.”
    The pianist has long and tapered fingers.

Italian Body Parts with Irregular Plurals

Several Italian body parts have irregular plurals that change from masculine singular to feminine plural. This grammar rule comes from Latin neuter nouns and is essential for correct Italian usage.

Singular (Masculine)Plural (Feminine)English
il sopraccigliole sopraccigliaeyebrow/eyebrows
il cigliole cigliaeyelash/eyelashes
il bracciole bracciaarm/arms
il ginocchiole ginocchiaknee/knees
il labbrole labbralip/lips
il ditole ditafinger/fingers

Memory Tip: Remember the pattern LE + word ending in -A for these irregular plurals. For example: LE DITA, LE BRACCIA, LE GINOCCHIA.

Example Sentences – Irregular Plurals

  • “Le sue sopracciglia sono perfettamente curate.”
    Her eyebrows are perfectly groomed.
  • “Il ballerino ha le braccia lunghe ed eleganti.”
    The dancer has long and elegant arms.
  • “Dopo la corsa, mi fanno male le ginocchia.”
    After running, my knees hurt.
  • “Ha le labbra naturalmente rosse e carnose.”
    She has naturally red and full lips.
  • “Il chitarrista ha le dita molto agili e veloci.”
    The guitarist has very agile and fast fingers.

How to Express Pain in Italian – Esprimere Dolore

Knowing how to express pain in Italian is crucial for medical situations and everyday complaints. The construction changes based on singular or plural body parts.

Italian Pain Expressions Formula

  • Mi fa male + singular body part
  • Mi fanno male + plural body parts

Common Italian Pain Expressions

  • “Mi fa male la testa” – My head hurts / I have a headache
  • “Mi fa male lo stomaco” – My stomach hurts
  • “Mi fa male la schiena” – My back hurts
  • “Mi fanno male le gambe” – My legs hurt
  • “Mi fanno male i piedi” – My feet hurt
  • “Mi fanno male le braccia” – My arms hurt

Alternative Pain Expressions in Italian

  • “Ho mal di testa” – I have a headache
  • “Ho mal di pancia” – I have a stomachache
  • “Ho mal di schiena” – I have back pain
  • “Sento dolore al ginocchio” – I feel pain in my knee

Italian Body Parts Pronunciation Tips

Mastering Italian body parts pronunciation requires attention to stress patterns and vowel sounds. Here are key pronunciation tips for common mistakes:

  • Occhio [OK-kyo] – Double ‘c’ creates a ‘k’ sound
  • Orecchio [o-REK-kyo] – Stress on the second syllable
  • Ginocchio [ji-NOK-kyo] – ‘Gn’ makes a ‘ny’ sound
  • Sopracciglia [so-pra-CHEE-lya] – Double ‘c’ + ‘i’ = ‘ch’ sound
  • Caviglia [ka-VEE-lya] – ‘Gli’ makes a ‘ly’ sound

Advanced Italian Body Vocabulary

For advanced Italian learners, here are additional body-related terms that appear in medical contexts and literature:

la nuca – nape of neck
La nuca è esposta al sole senza cappello.
The nape is exposed to the sun without a hat.

la tempia – temple
La tempia pulsa quando sono stressato.
The temple throbs when I’m stressed.

la mascella – jaw
La mascella è contratta per la tensione.
The jaw is clenched from tension.

la clavicola – collarbone
La clavicola è visibile sotto la pelle sottile.
The collarbone is visible under the thin skin.

la scapola – shoulder blade
La scapola sinistra è più sporgente della destra.
The left shoulder blade is more prominent than the right.

il polmone – lung
Il polmone destro è più grande del sinistro.
The right lung is bigger than the left.

il cuore – heart
Il cuore batte forte dopo la corsa.
The heart beats fast after running.

il fegato – liver
Il fegato è l’organo che filtra le tossine.
The liver is the organ that filters toxins.

i reni – kidneys
I reni producono l’urina filtrando il sangue.
The kidneys produce urine by filtering blood.

la milza – spleen
La milza è un organo poco conosciuto ma importante.
The spleen is a little-known but important organ.

Italian Idioms with Body Parts

Italian uses many body part idioms in everyday speech. Learning these expressions will make your Italian sound more natural:

“Costare un occhio della testa” – To cost an arm and a leg (literally: cost an eye of the head)
Quella macchina sportiva costa un occhio della testa!
That sports car costs an arm and a leg!

“Avere le mani bucate” – To be a spendthrift (literally: to have holes in your hands)
Marco ha sempre le mani bucate, spende tutto quello che guadagna.
Marco is always a spendthrift, he spends everything he earns.

“Essere in gamba” – To be smart/capable (literally: to be in leg)
Mia sorella è davvero in gamba, risolve tutti i problemi da sola.
My sister is really capable, she solves all problems by herself.

“Perdere la testa” – To lose one’s mind (literally: to lose the head)
Non perdere la testa per quella ragazza, non ne vale la pena!
Don’t lose your mind over that girl, she’s not worth it!

“Avere buon naso” – To have good intuition (literally: to have a good nose)
Il detective ha buon naso per i casi complicati.
The detective has good intuition for complicated cases.

“Metterci una mano sul fuoco” – To be absolutely certain (literally: to put a hand on fire)
Che lui sia innocente? Ci metto una mano sul fuoco!
That he’s innocent? I’d bet my life on it!

“Avere la testa fra le nuvole” – To be absent-minded (literally: to have the head in the clouds)
Lucia ha sempre la testa fra le nuvole quando studia.
Lucia always has her head in the clouds when studying.

“Dare una mano” – To lend a hand/help (literally: to give a hand)
Puoi darmi una mano a spostare questo tavolo?
Can you lend me a hand moving this table?

“Alzare un dito” – To lift a finger/make an effort (literally: to raise a finger)
Non ha mai alzato un dito per aiutare in casa.
He never lifted a finger to help around the house.

“Toccare con mano” – To experience firsthand (literally: to touch with hand)
Ho toccato con mano la sua generosità durante la crisi.
I experienced his generosity firsthand during the crisis.

Summary: Mastering Italian Body Parts Vocabulary

Learning Italian body parts vocabulary opens doors to natural conversations about health, appearance, and daily life. Remember these key points:

  • Pay attention to irregular plurals (braccio → braccia, dito → dita)
  • Practice the pain expressions “mi fa male” vs “mi fanno male”
  • Focus on correct pronunciation of double consonants
  • Learn common body part idioms for natural speech
  • Use the audio files to perfect your pronunciation

Continue practicing with our interactive quiz above and bookmark this guide for reference. Mastering parti del corpo vocabulary is essential for intermediate and advanced Italian fluency!

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Pesto alla genovese, an easy and cheap Italian dressing

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Pesto alla genovese is a very versatile dressing for your pasta, sandwiches and main dishes, fish and meat. Learn how to prepare it with simple ingredients.

I have four big vases full of basilico, so I decided to prepare some simple pesto alla genovese before it blossoms and leaves get hard. Pesto is one of my favourite dishes of the summer.

Some background information. Pesto alla genovese, in Italian simply pesto (in Ligurian language pestu) is a typical condiment originally from Liguria, northern Italy, the region of the famous Cinque Terre, and its capital Genova. There was something similar our ancestors the Romans called moretum but of course they did not have any pasta back then. The basic ingredients of pesto alla genovese are basil (Ocimum basilicum) or, better, the Genovese Basil (in Ligurian language baxeicò). The second key ingredient is pine nuts, then we have Ligurian sweet garlic,  Parmesan cheese (or Sardinian pecorino) and Ligurian olive oil.

I already know Ligurians will complain against a simple Milanese like me for spoiling their recipe, but they will understand that normal people around the world can’t find regular ingredients used in their famous sauce. So…

I used:

  • 100 grams of fresh basil from my garden
  • 50 grams of tender Sicilian almonds (sorry I didn’t have pine nuts in my cupboard)
  • 4 tbs of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • a glass of Italian Olio Extra Vergine di oliva 30 cl
  • salt

The word pesto comes from the verb pestare, to crush, because pesto is traditionally produced with a mortar made of marble and wooden pestle. I have a simple hand blender, built in 2012. No history or romantic tradition here! Nowadays, it is used more than the mortar. Don’t tell the Ligurians, they might say it’s not true.

I grind all the ingredients separately and mix them together in a later stage. So, first I ground the almonds pretty thin, making sure they didn’t turn into a powder. Then grated the parmigiano. Whole garlic is heavy on your stomach, so it’s better to take the core out. The critical step is mixing the olive oil with the basil and the garlic. Add the basil in two or three times. I usually click just a few seconds on the hand blender, let it cool down and start again. You don’t want to heat the ingredients. I like it when basil leaves are not completely turned into a paste. Then finally add the ground almonds, the ground parmigiano, stir and taste it for adjusting salt. Check the texture. If your pesto is too solid, add olive oil.

You should obtain a half pint of pesto. I usually eat some the same evening and freeze the remainder. You can freeze it in ice cube molds.  If you keep in in your fridge, make sure there is always a film of oil on the surface, protecting the content form air. When you cook your pasta, before adding the sauce, mix pesto alla genovese with some spoons of cooking water and make it soft. I cooked it with a typical Ligurian pasta called trofie.

Penny-pinching Ligurians (believe me, they are…) add potatoes and French beans (in Italian fagiolini or cornetti) to spare some more expensive pasta. I have to say the combination of those two ingredients is superb, so try it!

You can use your pesto alla genovese for dressing a sandwich with mozzarella and tomato, or with your fish or white meat. Try it in your potato salad or on your toasted bruschetta with tomato. If you like simple pasta with tomato, add some pesto and double cream (panna da cucina in Italian), you will get a very delicate sauce, called “le 3 P” (3 P’s –> Pesto Panna Pomodoro). I like to add a couple of spoonfuls of pesto alla genovese to my minestrone, in summertime as well as in winter. Please try it at home!

Il Castello di San Martino della Vaneza – the house is on fire!

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This lovely little castle in the middle of the countryside near Padua, is a little time machine, where people can eat medieval food, learn how stuff was done without electricity, watch a battle which took place 800 years ago and see the castle set on fire.

Built on the banks of the unpredictable river Bacchiglione, in the countryside of Veneto, the Castello di San Martino della Vaneza is perhaps the most important symbol of the desperate and futile effort of the people or Padua, just at the beginning of the renaissance period, to keep their freedom against the emerging superpower of Venezia. The year 1372, the Carrara family lead the last succesful defense of Padua against the army of the Serenissima. Their freedom though didn’t last long. When the battle took place, the castle was at least 400 years old, probably older.

Every year people living around the sweet Colli Euganei,  in the Padua countryside, gather in the area of the castle the last weekend of July to revive the event. The fairy-tail forest around the castello looks like it was 800 years ago, with people in ancient costumes baking bread in stone ovens, soldiers in armours preparing for the battle, women cooking traditional food and brewers serving beer or wine.

 

 

At the exclusive supper inside the castle, open to 50 people only (I was lucky enough to be invited ;)) were served medieval traditional dishes and entertainment. It was a great chance to see and taste what rich people ate back then. Poor people, well… they did not eat at all.

 

After the hearty meal, everyone gather in front of the dry bed of the Bacchiglione river, a fantastic natural amphitheatre in front of the castle, and watch the battle. The show is great, there are about 150 modern professional soldiers belonging to clubs of people crazy for medieval fights (I didn’t know there were so many!). They come all over the Veneto region, some from Lombardia, Toscana, Emilia and Umbria, and fight with real weapons! It was impressive to observe the horses, incredibly brave and beautiful animals, the only ones probably thinking the battle was real. Then after the end of battle, the Castello is “set on fire”, to remember the severe damages it had during the battle. If you happen to be in Venezia in July, the event is worth an afternoon/evening outside the city, just one hour driving.

 

 

XIX Palio dello Sparviero 26/27/28 Luglio 2013

Periodo ipotetico – Italian Conditional Sentences

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The Italian periodo ipotetico, is used to express a hypothetical situation and its consequences

This is a very basic introduction to the Italian Periodo ipotetico.Please have a look at the congiuntivo and condizionale if you are not familiar with those grammar points.

The concept of periodo ipotetico is similar to the English conditional sentences. The main clause, called apodosi, (you don’t need to remember that) describes the consequences of the possible action in the dependent clause, called protasi (another word you can happily forget about).

  • Se piove (premise), —> non andiamo in spiaggia (consequence).

That’s the simplest type of periodo ipotetico.

If the weather will be bad, we won’t go to the beach. We use the indicativo, because we are sure about the situation / outcome scenario.

There are three different types of Italian Conditional Sentences

Realtà

If the outcome, given the circumstances, is  REAL we talk about periodo ipotetico della realtà.

  • Se mangi solo verdura, dimagrisci.
  • Se avrai sonno mentre guidi, fermati.
  • Se hai bevuto troppo, ti accompagnerò a casa.

All the sentences begin with Se, (if).

We can swap main and subordinate clauses and obtain the same result: Fermati se avrai sonno mentre guidi. 

In this first type of conditional sentences, we can use the indicativo mood, presente, passato and futuro, sometimes in combination with the imperativo (2nd example). The action is going to happen for sure or it is likely to happen given the right circumstances.

The “formula” for this first periodo ipotetico is

Se + indicativo presente / futuro (dependent) + indicativo or imperativo (main).

Possibilità

If the premise is not realistic at the moment, the outcome will be more vaguely possible. We talk about periodo ipotetico della possibilità.

  • Se avessi dei soldi, comprerei una bella casa.
  • Se vendessi la mia macchina userei l’autobus.
  • Se potessi, ti presterei dei soldi.

If I had the money, I’d buy a nice house. It means that I don’t have money, however…

The “formula” for this second periodo ipotetico is

→ se + congiuntivo imperfetto (dependent) + condizionale presente (main)

Please note that the 2 tenses are not interchangeable, I cant’s use the condizionale in the dependent clause or the congiuntivo in the main clause

  • Se potrei ti presterei dei soldi
  • Se potessi ti prestassi dei soldi

They are both wrong.

Impossibilità (or Irrealtà)

If the action, given the circumstances is impossible or not realistic, we talk about periodo ipotetico dell’irrealtà. The premise is in the past and did not happen, the outcome is pure speculation.

  1. Se non avessi mangiato quattro pizze, adesso non avrei il mal di pancia.
  2. Se fossi andato all’università, adesso forse avrei un bel lavoro.
  3. Se mi fossi svegliato in tempo, non sarei arrivato in ritardo.

All the events causing the condition in the main clause are in the past. The whole period is a representation of an alternative past, so it’s not real.  We can’t change the past. But, what if…

The “formula” for this periodo ipotetico is

→ se + congiuntivo trapassato (dependent) + condizionale presente (main) – Examples 1 & 2

  • The hypothetical action in the past could have had consequences on the present.

→ se + congiuntivo trapassato (dependent) + condizionale passato (main) – Example 3

  • The hypothetical action in the past could have had consequences on the past.

In spoken Italian, there is a tendency to simplify the periodo ipotetico della impossibilità using the imperfetto. 

  • Se mi fossi svegliato in tempo, non sarei arrivato in ritardo. → Se mi svegliavo in tempo non arrivavo in ritardo.

This is quite common in informal spoken Italian and it is acceptable. Of course, many teachers are against this simplification but, as a matter of fact, Italians use it a lot and it’s already encoded in textbooks. I’m totally fine with that.

Again, this is a simplification. Book a free trial class if you want learn more.

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Italian Direct and Indirect Pronouns – Pronomi combinati – QUIZ

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We are going to study how combining Italian direct and indirect pronouns  will simplify the Italian language and complicate your life as a student

–lolalilene
mime lome lame lime leme ne
tite lote late lite lete ne
gliglieloglielaglieliglielegliene
leglieleglielaglieloglielegliene
cice loce lace lice lece ne
vive love lave live leve ne
gli (a loro)glieloglielaglieliglielegliene
sise lose lase lise lese ne

Let’s imagine a dialogue between two young friends. Mario wants to know if Luigi’s father can lend them his car.

  • Mario: “Hai chiesto a tuo padre se ci presta la sua macchina?” Did you ask your father if he will lend (to) us his car?
  • Luigi: “Glielo ho chiesto ma non ce la dà” I asked (it to) him, but won’t give it to us.

Luigi’s answer has all the elements for describing how Italian direct and indirect pronouns can be combined together and avoid redundant elements in a discussion. Let’s analyse what Luigi says.

I asked (it to) him GLIELO —> GLI + LO = GLI means A LUI, to his father; LO stands for asking your father the question


CE LA ➜ CE means A NOI , to us and LA takes place of “la macchina”, it, the car.

Looking at the grid, we can observe some changes:

MI TI SI CI and VI

when combined with direct pronouns become

ME TE SE CE and VE

  • Mi dai le forbici? ➜ ME LE dai? Can you give me the scissors? Can you give them to me?
  • Ti presento una mia amica ➜  TE LA presento  – Let me introduce her to you
  • Giulia si lava la faccia ➜  SE LA lava – Giulia washes it (the face) herself (reflexive SI)
  • La mamma ci ha detto di tornare a casa ➜ CE LO ha detto – She said it to us
  • Vi do dei biscotti ➜  VE LI do – I give them to you

An important note about GLI: it merges with direct pronouns forming complex compound pronouns.

  • Oggi compro a Maria delle scarpe nuove ➜ GLIELE compro – I buy them (feminine) to her

Please remember that Italian direct and indirect pronouns, with indicativo, congiuntivo and condizionale tenses come always BEFORE the verb and are separate:

  • Te lo dico io. Se non te lo dicessi io, te lo direbbe qualcun altro.

We already can see how Italian direct and indirect pronouns match with infinito, imperativo and gerundio. They always come after the verb and merge with it. The same happens when pronouns are combined together.

  • Non posso tenervelo segreto, devo dirvelo – I cant keep it secret to you. I have to say it to you 
  • Mario, devi dare 10 euro a Carlo. Daglieli
  • Non sapevo cosa fare. Parlandotene, mi sono tolto un peso

Now we can see some real examples and practice. I am going to put together some sentences with different tenses and moods. They are only in Italian. Make an effort and try to understand them.

  • Ci presteresti la tua macchina? Ce la presteresti?
  • Mia sorella mi ha regalato una cravatta. Me l’ha regalata.
  • Ci scambieremo i regali a Natale. Ce li scambieremo.
  • Da bambino, mia madre non mi dava mai la coca cola. Non me la dava mai.
  • Mio fratello si è comprato una macchina nuova. Se l’è comprata.
  • Mi fai assaggiare un po’ di risotto? Me ne fai assaggiare un po’?
  • Luca mi aveva detto di non ascoltarti. Me l’aveva detto.
  • Vi dico di non arrivare in ritardo. Ve lo dico.
  • Puoi mandare due pacchi a noi? Ce li puoi mandare?

Please note: when a verb begins with a vowel or a H, LO and LA turn into L’.

  • Giulia si è tolta il maglione. = Se l‘è tolto.
  • Mia sorella mi ha cucinato il pesce. = Me l’ha cucinato.

Please remember that Italians use pronouns very often and learning them correctly will help you to speak fluently. Please take some time for completing the quiz.

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Italian Direct and Indirect Pronouns

Pronomi combinati

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CI and NE – two particular Italian words

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CI and NE are two common Italian particles. Versatile, very important and sometimes confusing

Italians love to use pronouns, sometimes combined together, sometimes merged with verbs. It’s convenient for us, as the Italian language is greatly simplified by the use of pronouns.

For students, however, it can be rather confusing. “Ci and “Ne” are usually studied together as examples of flexible, useful “pronominal particles”, particelle pronominali and particelle avverbiali. We’ll call them pronouns and adverbs to make it simple.

This is a very basic post introducing CI and NE and their use in spoken Italian.

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Interiezioni and intercalari, the “parsley” of the Italian language

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Cosa impareremo oggi

Ai paragrafi 👇

Interiezioni: Raw Emotional Expression

Intercalari: The Rhythm of Conversation

È come il prezzemolo! That’s what Italians say about someone or something you encounter everywhere. “Like parsley!” Just as parsley appears on countless Italian dishes, intercalari and interiezioni are sprinkled throughout Italian conversation to add flavor and emphasis to what people want to express. And truly, like parsley, these linguistic elements are everywhere in spoken Italian. But also like parsley, when overused, they can overwhelm the natural beauty of the language.

Introduction: The Building Blocks of Authentic Italian

Interiezioni are spontaneous vocal eruptions triggered by immediate emotions – shock, delight, frustration, or discovery. Intercalari function as conversational scaffolding, helping speakers organize ideas, maintain listener connection, and create breathing space in dialogue.

The fundamental distinction lies in emotional intensity: interiezioni carry powerful feelings (“Madonna! Che sorpresa!” – “My goodness! What a surprise!”), while intercalari primarily serve structural purposes (“Allora, vediamo…” – “So, let’s see…”).

Interiezioni: Raw Emotional Expression

Interiezioni represent language at its most instinctive level – the sounds that escape before conscious thought intervenes. Italian interiezioni fall into clear categories, each serving distinct communicative roles in expressing the full spectrum of human emotion.

Pure Emotional Sounds

These words exist exclusively for emotional expression and don’t derive from other word categories. Their meaning shifts dramatically based on vocal tone, facial expression, and situational context. Consider them the primal sounds of human communication.

Boh! – Ignorance, indifference, or complete bewilderment

  • “Boh, non ho la minima idea di cosa stia succedendo.” (genuine confusion)
    I honestly have no clue what’s happening.
  • “Boh, per me va bene qualsiasi cosa.” (total indifference)
    Whatever works for me.
  • “Boh, è una situazione troppo complicata.” (intellectual surrender)
    It’s way too complicated a situation.

Oh! – Wonder, recognition, calling attention, or deep admiration

  • “Oh! Che coincidenza incredibile trovarti qui!” (delighted surprise)
    What an incredible coincidence finding you here!
  • “Oh! Guarda che tramonto spettacolare!” (breathtaking awe)
    Look at that spectacular sunset!
  • “Oh! Luca, puoi venire un attimo?” (gentle attention-getting)
    Luca, can you come here for a moment?

Ahi! – Physical discomfort or emotional shock, completely involuntary

  • “Ahi! Mi sono schiacciato il dito con il martello!” (sharp physical pain)
    I crushed my finger with the hammer!
  • “Ahi! Ho sbattuto il gomito contro la porta!” (sudden impact)
    I banged my elbow against the door!
  • “Ahi! Questa iniezione brucia parecchio!” (medical discomfort)
    This injection really burns!
  • “Ahi! Ho perso tutte le foto del viaggio!” (emotional devastation)
    I lost all my vacation photos!

Can also appear as “Ahia!”

Ah! – Comprehension, surprise, relief, or sudden realization

  • “Ah! Ecco dove avevo lasciato gli occhiali!” (moment of discovery)
    There’s where I left my glasses!
  • “Ah, che notizia terribile!” (emotional shock)
    What terrible news!
  • “Ah, meno male che sei arrivato!” (profound relief)
    Thank goodness you arrived!

Ehi! – Energetic attention-grabbing or informal greeting

  • “Ehi! Fermati un secondo!” (stopping someone in motion)
    Hey! Stop for a second!
  • “Ehi! Stai attento a dove cammini!” (safety warning)
    Hey! Watch where you’re walking!
  • “Ehi! Come vanno le cose?” (casual hello)
    Hey! How are things going?

Sometimes influenced by English as “Hey!”

Uffa! – Frustration, tedium, or annoyance with repetitive situations

  • “Uffa! Devo ricominciare tutto da zero!” (work setback)
    Ugh! I have to start everything over from scratch!
  • “Uffa! Piove proprio nel mio giorno libero!” (unfortunate timing)
    Ugh! It’s raining on my day off!
  • “Uffa! Questa conferenza non finisce mai!” (crushing boredom)
    Ugh! This conference never ends!

Eh! – Disapproval, resignation, confusion, or seeking confirmation

  • “Eh! Non è per niente giusto quello che hai fatto!” (moral reproach)
    Hey! What you did isn’t fair at all!
  • “Eh, ormai è andata così…” (accepting unfortunate reality)
    Well, that’s how it went…
  • “Eh? Non ho sentito bene, ripeti?” (auditory confusion)
    Huh? I didn’t hear clearly, repeat that?

Accidenti! – Mild irritation or frustration at minor setbacks

  • “Accidenti! Ho dimenticato l’ombrello e diluvia!” (weather inconvenience)
    Darn! I forgot my umbrella and it’s pouring!
  • “Accidenti! Il treno ha quaranta minuti di ritardo!” (transportation woes)
    Darn! The train is forty minutes late!
  • “Accidenti! Si è rotta la macchina del caffè!” (daily life disruption)
    Darn! The coffee machine broke!

A completely innocent expression, with the formal alternative “mannaggia!”

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Borrowed Words as Exclamations

These are standard words – nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs – that transform into “interiezioni” when delivered with exclamatory force. They preserve their original meaning while acquiring heightened emotional power.

Coraggio! – Encouragement during difficult or intimidating situations

  • “Coraggio! L’intervento andrà benissimo!” (medical support)
    Come on! The surgery will go perfectly!
  • “Coraggio! È solo un colloquio di lavoro!” (confidence building)
    Come on! It’s just a job interview!
  • “Coraggio! Hai superato momenti peggiori!” (historical perspective)
    Come on! You’ve gotten through worse times!

Peccato! – Regret or disappointment over lost opportunities or unfortunate events

  • “Peccato! Era un’occasione di lavoro fantastica!” (career disappointment)
    Such a shame! It was a fantastic job opportunity!
  • “Peccato! Il concerto è stato rinviato!” (entertainment letdown)
    What a pity! The concert was postponed!
  • “Peccato! Non posso venire al matrimonio!” (social regret)
    Too bad! I can’t come to the wedding!

Basta! – Command to cease or expression of reaching tolerance limits

  • “Basta! Non voglio più sentire lamentele!” (authority assertion)
    Enough! I don’t want to hear any more complaints!
  • “Basta con questi ritardi continui!” (pattern frustration)
    Enough with these constant delays!
  • “Basta, adesso ho capito il problema.” (intellectual satisfaction)
    Enough, now I understand the problem.

Bravo (Brava)! – Appreciation and recognition for excellent performance

  • “Brava! Hai risolto l’enigma da sola!” (intellectual achievement)
    Well done! You solved the puzzle by yourself!
  • “Bravo! Questo progetto è eccezionale!” (professional recognition)
    Excellent! This project is exceptional!
  • “Brava! Continua così e farai strada!” (future-oriented encouragement)
    Good job! Keep it up and you’ll go far!
  • “Bravo! Ha combinato un bel casino!” (heavy irony)
    Great! He made quite a mess!

Zitto/a and plural forms! – Forceful demand for silence

  • “Zitta! Sta parlando il professore!” (academic respect)
    Quiet! The professor is speaking!
  • “Zitto! Non svegliare il gatto!” (household consideration)
    Quiet! Don’t wake up the cat!
  • “Zitto! Non dire sciocchezze!” (intellectual dismissal)
    Shut up! Don’t talk nonsense!

Common with “stare”: “State zitti/zitte”

Complex Expressions

These are multiword phrases or complete sentences functioning as single “interiezioni”. Many originated from religious expresssions and crystallized in everyday usage, becoming fixed formulas for intense emotional expression.

Santo cielo! – Amazement, wonder, or surprise at unexpected developments

  • “Santo cielo! Che notizia meravigliosa!” (overwhelming joy)
    Good heavens! What wonderful news!
  • “Santo cielo! Come hai fatto a riuscirci?” (impressed admiration)
    Good heavens! How did you manage to do it?
  • “Santo cielo! È già così tardi?” (time shock)
    Good heavens! Is it already so late?
  • “Santo cielo! Sei sempre al verde!” (financial exasperation)
    Good heavens! You’re always broke!

Mamma mia! – Intense surprise, alarm, or overwhelming admiration

  • “Mamma mia! Che spavento mi hai fatto!” (heart-stopping fright)
    Oh my! You scared me to death!
  • “Mamma mia! Quanto è cambiata la città!” (transformation awe)
    Oh my! How much the city has changed!
  • “Mamma mia! Che coda interminabile!” (frustrating situation)
    Oh my! What an endless line!

Per carità! – Categorical rejection or horror at suggestions

  • “Andare alla festa di Marco? Per carità!” (social avoidance)
    Go to Marco’s party? For heaven’s sake!
  • “Mangiare quel pesce crudo? Per carità!” (culinary disgust)
    Eat that raw fish? For heaven’s sake!
  • “Sentire ancora le sue storie? Per carità!” (personality rejection)
    Listen to his stories again? For heaven’s sake!

Dio mio! – Profound shock, disbelief, or desperate invocation

  • “Dio mio! Cosa è successo al giardino?” (scene devastation)
    My God! What happened to the garden?
  • “Dio mio! Non ci posso credere!” (reality denial)
    My God! I can’t believe it!
  • “Dio mio! Aiutaci in questo momento!” (spiritual plea)
    My God! Help us in this moment!

Also “Madonna!” appears frequently. Unlike English, “Cristo!” is never used – it’s extremely strong and only heard in dubbed American films, but no Italian actually speaks this way. Be careful please, even non religious people find this exclamation extremely rude.

Intercalari: The Rhythm of Conversation

Intercalari are linguistic elements that add no specific semantic content but serve fundamental communicative functions: organising thoughts, structuring discourse, engaging listeners, and creating natural conversational flow. They characterize spoken Italian and vary according to speaker age, region, and social background.

Discourse Organisers

These intercalari help structure speech content, signaling new topic introduction, discourse resumption, conclusions, or conversational direction changes. They function as linguistic traffic signals guiding listeners through the speaker’s thought process.

Allora – Italy’s most versatile spoken word, functioning as both interiezione and intercalare. It introduces topics, resumes interrupted discourse, expresses impatience, threats, or surprise. Meaning transforms completely based on tone, intensity, and contextual placement. I’m sure you have heard this word over and over and wondered what it actually means, given how wide there range of emotions it can cover.

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Remember: Like parsley in Italian cuisine, interiezioni and intercalari should enhance the flavor of your speech without overwhelming it. Master these elements and you’ll sound like you’ve been speaking Italian your entire life!

Italian articoli partitivi, “some” in Italian – QUIZ

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Articoli partitivi are used to indicate a part, a number out of a total. Some…

This is a very short and simple article for beginners. I’m going to introduce a simple way for you to indicate a quantity, pretty much equivalent the English “some”.

The Italian articoli partitivi are obtained by adding the preposition di (of) to the articoli determinativi:

di + …

il —> del

lo —> dello

la —> della

i —> dei

gli —> degli

le —> delle

l’ —> dell’

Il vino: vorrei del vino

Lo zucchero: ho comprato dello zucchero

La carne: mangerei della carne

I fiori: le ho regalato dei fiori

Gli amici: ho invitato degli amici

Le uova: Vai a comprare delle uova

L’aglio: Aggiungi dell’aglio al sugo

Singular Articoli Partitivi are used in combination with uncountable nouns, in Italian nomi di massa), words such as: foods – acqua, vino, formaggio, verdura, carne – etc ; materials: legno, carta etc.

In spoken Italian, instead of using the articoli partitivi, often times we can use “un po’ di”, literally “a little of” (quantity).

So for example, instead of saying, “ho mangiato dei cioccolatini” I can simply say “ho mangiato un po’ di cioccolatini”.

Here’s a simple quiz for you. Please answer anche check your score against the average.

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Avverbi, Italian adverbs – Complete guide, Audio examples, Quiz

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Italian adverbs are called avverbi

The avverbio, derived from the Latin “ad verbum”, next to the verb, is an invariable part of speech that is positioned alongside the verb to provide specific meaning. Similar to how adjectives modify nouns, the traditional function of adverbs is to add information to the verb and specify the meaning. This analogy becomes evident here:

  • La macchina di Mario è veloce. (aggettivo)
  • Mario guida velocemente. (avverbio)

We use Italian adverbs to add meaning to verbs, adjectives or other parts of a sentence.

According to their structure, we can talk about:

  • Avverbi semplici: we can call the “primitive”, as they don’t derive from other words. Mai, forse, bene, male. etc.
  • Avverbi composti: resulting from combination of words. Da+per+tutto = dappertutto (every + where = everywhere).
  • Avverbi derivati: coming form other words, usually adjectives, with the addition of the suffix – mente (in English -ly). Chiaro (clear) -> chiaramente (clearly).

The avverbi derivati are commonly formed by adding the suffix -mente to the feminine singular form of the adjective.

For example: lento —> lenta + mente (slowly), rapidamente (quickly), certamente (certainly) etcetera.

If the adjective ends in -le or -re, the -e is dropped before attaching -mente, as observed in the adverbs:

Facile —> facil + mente —> facilmente (easily), gentilmente (kindly), particolarmente (particularly).

Similarly, other adverbs conforming to these patterns include dolcemente (sweetly), tranquillamente (calmly), chiaramente (clearly), pazientemente (patiently), sicuramente (surely), notevolmente (remarkably) etcetera.

We can classify the Italian avverbi in 6 main groups, according to their function:

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Avverbi, Italian adverbs

Complete guide, Audio examples, Quiz

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