Every time I tell someone I live in Florence, I’m met with the same reaction. “Oh my gosh, you live there!? I LOVE FLORENCE!” And I’m never surprised to hear it, in fact, I totally get it. I too am absolutely smitten with my city and take a lot of pride in being a Fiorentina….
How to Talk About the Seasons in Italian
Cambio di stagione, or change of seasons, is an important event that happens two times a year for Italians. Why two times a year and not four? Because this cambio I’m referring to is the one related to wardrobe. As summer ends and fall begins, Italians open their wardrobes (armadi) and take out their winter…
5 Tips for Wine Tasting in Italy
Want to do wine tasting, language learning, and adventuring in Tuscany with The Iceberg Project team? Check out our upcoming Not Your Typical Tourist Language Immersion Retreat. Find out what other activities we do here. Wine tasting can be intimidating. I clearly remember my anxiety when I just started drinking wine and the waiter…
Managing Expectations in Italy
You did it! Your magical, long awaited vacation to Italy is finally happening! From the moment you bought those plane tickets, your mind has been wandering, imagining sun-soaked days, tons of wine, pasta and pizza and beauty all around. I’m not here to ruin this image, but after reading a lot of emails from people…
How to Buy Clothes in Italy (or How to Buy a Coat to Keep You From Succumbing to Hypothermia)
I have previously discussed having to adjust to the weather in Italy, although not in great detail. I come from Las Vegas. Seasons? What are those? In Las Vegas, you wear shorts in the summer and pants in the winter. There isn’t really ever a need for layering or rain boots or big winter parkas….
Italian Phrases for Visiting a Museum
Want to explore museums in your free time in Florence? Come visit Tuscany with The Iceberg Project team during our next Not Your Typical Tourist Language Immersion Retreat. Get all the details here. One of the top three things people think of when coming to visit Italy (besides food obviously) is art. From Rome to…
How to Choose Between “Avere” and “Essere” in the Past Tense
When you start learning the past tense, that is il passato prossimo, you run into the unique situation (at least for native English speakers) of having to not only figure out what the equivalent is of the verb you want to use, but also a second verb that you combine it with. Let me paint…
In Tiny Alleyways: Along the Winding Roads of the Amalfi Coast
I’ve always been curious about the driving laws in Italy. According to every Italian I’ve talked to, the laws are similar to those in the United States. You get pulled over if you’re going too fast; it’s important to obey all posted warnings and signs. In my experience, however, Italians like to play a little…
How to Do an “Aperitivo” Right in Italy
Much like “Happy Hour” in the U.S., the Italian version, aperitivo, is a great time to meet up with friends, grab a drink and munch on some food. However, that is where the similarities stop and in my opinion, the aperitivo wins. If you’re going to Italy soon and haven’t taken part in this Italian…
What’s important to Italians during Christmas? (Insights from Carmine Caruso in Italian)
Here is an episode from our archives about what Italians consider important during Christmas! Click play on the player at the bottom to listen to this podcast or find it on Apple Podcasts. “Il Natale è una tradizione forte in Italia. – Christmas is a strong tradition in Italy.” When I lived in Italy, I…
10 Customs to Know Before Attending an Italian Wedding
Have you ever been to an Italian wedding? I don’t mean a U.S. wedding with an Italian theme or a destination wedding in Italy filled with foreigners, but a real, authentic Italian wedding in Italy? If you have, you know what fun they can be. But to be totally honest, they can also be a…
What is Il Giorno dei Morti (All Souls’ Day), and why is it important in Italy?
All around the world, the end of October and early November is a time to celebrate the enduring connection between the dead and the living. In the U.S., we celebrate Halloween on October 31 every year, and while it may seem so, this isn’t just a randomly selected day by candy manufacturers. It’s the night…
