And what about Modena? Any positive, enthusiastic comments about it? ;-) Check it out ... http://piazzagrande.comune.modena.it/h3/h3/a2000t2/fForm+Selezione?LNG.x=ENG
I love Rome. It's probably one of my favorite cities in the world that I've ever visited. Then again, I love walking through the Forum and imagining Sulla in a toga proscribing his enemies from the rostra, with the heads of his victims on pike surrounding him, just for a more gruesome effect. Don't get me wrong. Florence is incredible. So is the Amalfi Coast, Perugia, Venice, and all the other places I've visited, but for me, there's something about Rome.
I'd actually phoneticize Chievo as "Kyay-voe". Dipthongs (is that the word for two vowels together?) in Italian are really one sound and one syllable. Therefore, Baggio is "Bah-joh" not "Bah-jee-oh". Another thing that was important for me to learn is that the syllable almost always ends with a vowel. This helps understand the correct way to pronounce, say, Costacurta. In English, you might expect Cos-ta-cur-ta. But it's REALLY Co-sta-cu-rta. You have to be sure to pronounce that "u" before starting the "r" sound. Personally, the HARDEST part for me in Italian pronunciation is determining which syllable to emphasize. After studying Spanish, with its simple rules, it's almost as if Italian is more "instinctive" in that regard. Why is Pancaro pronounced "PAN-ca-ro", for instance. Another pronunciation tip - when a consonant is doubled, as in "Totti", it REALLY requires emphasis. I've heard some English-speaking announcers say "Toady". But it's TOh-TTTTTTTTi. And this is surprisingly important! I'm endlessly criticized (mostly snickers behind my back) for my incorrect pronuncation of "Nonna" for instance. Anyway, for one who can barely speak the language, I know a lot about the rules of pronunciation. Of course, the other rule is, if you go to any rural region - especially in the south - throw all the rules out the window because they essentially speak their own language. My in-laws are from the tiny town of Solano and speak "Solanoto" (sp?), for instance.
I feel the same way, having been to Florence and Venice also...there is something special about Rome for me.... great thread!...
La Grotta Guelfa is my favorite for Italian food. It's to the left of the main post office in Piazza della Repubblica. GREAT seafood, and hearty typical Tuscan dishes. For stuff other than Italian...there is a nice little Indian joint on via Ghebellina (near p.zza S. Croce) as well as a hip Spanish place called La Salamanca which is about a block down from there. "Buco Mario" and "i Lettini" are supposedly the "best" restaurants in Firenze...but WAY too expensive and overrated if you ask me...
Tree, We ate at a place near the train station when we went. Great food, cheap, and gave my kid all the soft drinks he wanted for $10.00 What is up with the blue and red addresses?
That area by the train station is loaded with cheap places to eat...not the best food, but touristy to nail the arriving ppl at the station. THe numbers on the buildings are black and red. Black is for residences, the red are for businesses. quite confusing really even my street is like that I live at 56 so it goes like this 52 54 56 58 60 12 14 62 16 64 this is just florence though...maybe the other large cities use different color...i dont remember... What's really wacky though is sometimes they don't keep the red odds on the same side of the street as the black odds, and vice versa... italian proficiency That leads us to today's word "pazzesco" meaning crazy as hell
Buco Mario is OK, but just OK. BTW, it's "Il Latini," not "i Lettini, Tree. I know because I've eaten there about 5 times. It's very, very good and it's not terribly expensive, at least four years ago it wasn't. By a wide margin, Il Latini had the very best Fiorentina steak I've ever eaten in my life. Which means, by far, the best steak I've ever eaten. I'm no steak freak, but this was amazing. I recommend to anyone a trip to Il Latini. But it's become fairly well known on the tourist route now and you have to start lining up at noon for lunch and 7 for dinner; any later and you're screwed. No reservations. As a side note, the chief waiter, a Roman, is the uncle of Luigi Di Biagio, the former Italy international midfielder and ex of Roma and Inter, now with Brescia. Perhaps the finest restaurant in Florence is the Enoteca Pinchiorri. But I was never willing to part with that much dough.
you're right...my error... however, when I went I had the bistecca alla Fiorentina, insalata di farro, and an anitpasto of prosciutto crudo and mozzarella that set me back 160.000 lire (about $80) about 3 years ago... and i had no wait at all to get a table...
Damn, that is expensive. I think the most I spent was 50,000 lire, but that must have been at least 5 years ago, and the only time I had the Fiorentina I was a guest of the owners (a lucky day; I was working on a TV show about Italian restaurants). I think the Fiorentina is probably the priciest item on the list. Now with the euro, it'll be even more expensive, as are most things. But one day I still want to try the Enoteca Pinchiorri, even if it hurts.
pazzesco is right. This place was about 10 blocks from the train station, and we were the only tourists in there. The food was amazing and cheap, very non-touristy for certain. I need to get back there soon.
Especially when you order penne all'arrabbiata the opposite is somewhat tolerated,when pronouncing the names of A.C.Milan players
I only had it that once...and all I remember was about half a cow on my plate. Don't remember about the bone or not... the thing was HUGE!
It's quite a breathtaking experience to read so many people fond of my country. Thank you all, really. I hope all he people you meet in Italy is as frendly and open-hearted as you are to my country. Sometimes we treat tourists in a way they do not deserve. A gift for you: "Primavera non bussa, lei entra sicura come il fumo lei penetra in ogni fessura, ha le labbra di carne, i capelli di grano, che paura, che voglia che ti prenda per mano. Che paura, che voglia che ti porti lontano." F. De Andrè - THE poet
Great thread, this should help speed up my limited knowledge of Italian. It was founded by Englishmen who called it the english "Milan" instead of the italian "Milano". They decided to keep it AC Milan out of respect for the original founders of the club. That is why the English flag is half of Milan's badge.
Great to have you Milo74. I had a very bad experience on my trip to Perugia, well back to Rome from Perugia. I found the trains horribly run, and because of that I missed my plane by 5 minutes. Had a horrible experience on AlItalia before and after, but despite these little problems...I can't wait to get back.
I wouldn't have been living here for the 5 years that I have if I didn't enjoy it or love the culture. Doesn't hurt that Italy gave me one of her daughters to spend my life with either. ok no more mushy crap eheh Qual'è la parola del giorno?
Nothing wrong with that, Tree-- same with me, and my other half, and Australia. But what Milo74 was saying, Italy is one of those places in Europe I'd definitely love to visit someday... which makes this thread all the more meaningful, for preperatory purposes.
Parola del giorno Cretino! It's heard all over Italy, every day, in the streets, on buses, in cars. A group is crossing the street, and a pair of kids on a Vespa whip in front of them, so they yell: 'Ma che cretini!' Literally, 'But what cretins'! What idiots! Another example: An AC Milan fan says, 'Milan is going to kill Parma this weekend.' And you say: 'Ma che cretino che sei!' What an idiot you are! It's a useful word to know, if only because it might be directed at you.