Welcome to Rome Fiumicino where the local time is 11am. Through passport control, on to the Leonardo express train and I’m in Rome Termini. From there, I take the Treno regionale veloce to Chiusi Chianciano Terme for only 10 euros one way. After less than 20 minutes, I’m already in the beautiful Italian countryside. I don’t regret for one moment my decision to reach Montepulciano by train – the view is beyond words.The train is passing through wheat…
We asked Enrico to tell us more about the programme in Rome Home is… where my Amatriciana is. First thing you do when you arrive back in Rome? Get a real coffee. Un caffè per favore! What advice would you give to a tourist? Just leave the touristic side of the city for when you’ll be older. Discover the real…
We asked Martina to tell us why the programme in Montepulciano was crucial for her to learn Italian. First thing you do when you arrive back in Montepulciano, Tuscany? Go to the beginning of Via di Collazzi and take in the panoramic view of San Biagio and the surrounding countryside – spectacular especially at sunset. What advice would you give…
Italian language services is happy to present the Intensive Italian Summer courses. Make rapid progress this summer with one of our courses at the Italian Cultural Institute, the official Italian government centre for the promotion of culture in London, one of 90 Institutes around the world offering a wide choice of Italian language classes. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or…
In 1662 Leonardo Di Nucci was a shepherd moving his herds along the tratturi. The wide tracks that weave through Abruzzo and Molise down to the plains of Puglia. The Di Nucci family have been making award winning artisan cheese here in the Apennine hills, in Alto Molise, ever since. Today, the 11th generation of the family use the same…
I arrived in Lecce after a long train journey from Milano and was happy to be met by Maria Rossini, my Italian teacher and host for the next two weeks, who created “Scuola Mondo Italia Homestay”. Maria had arrived on foot and was waiting at the station for me with Maya, her cute, little pug dog. Italian lessons given enthusiastically,…
Doing some dedicated research on the ancient town of Isernia, about 30 minutes away from Agnone, our base at Live and Learn Italian. I always knew Isernia was there, not least to use the train station, but I had not explored the old town until last summer. It was a revelation – originally settled over 700,000 years ago, it then…
When you take the Strada delle Crete, the road that leads down from Siena towards the south, the last strip of Tuscany before Umbria, you need to drive carefully. Every 100 metres or so there will be somebody who has pulled their car to a halt along the side of the road, and is taking photographs, totally enrapt, unaware of…
I live in a small Apulian town, very cozy and typical in the province of Brindisi called Villa Castelli. The origin of the name is still undefined, but it is said it derives from either “Li Castelli” or “Monte Castello”, due to the presence in the area of two castles: the Palazzo Ducale built with towers and cannons and the…
Why do you study Italian? “because I love Italy!”, “I like art”, “I like Italian movies”, “my girlfriend is Italian, and I’d like to know what she’s muttering on Monday mornings”. But what about studying Italian to understand 20 pages-long menus handed out in Italian restaurants ? Non turistic restaurants seldom have menus translated in English, and you’ll have to…
