Italy from the Inside

Google provides street views of Italian cities (on the iPhone, too)


I’m constantly impressed by the fast pace at which Microsoft and Google are innovating in the mapping technology space.
Some time ago I created a short video tutorial describing the two online services, then I blogged about how Google allows users to customize their maps and how Microsoft introduced bird’s eye views of several cities in Italy.

This time I’ll talk about Google’s street views. Imagine a car with a panoramic camera on its roof to capture thousands of pictures while it’s circulating around a city. Now, link those images to Google maps and you can experience on your computer what a busy Italian street looks like in the reality.

Google for now provides coverage only for Milan, Rome, Florence and the Lake Como area. Check some of these links, drag your pointer around to discover the surroundings and follow the arrows to move along the streets:
– Piazza di Santa Croce in Florence
– Piazza del Popolo in Rome
– Piazza Castello in Milan
– Piazza Roma in Arzegno (on Lake Como)

If you own an iPhone, you’ll be happy to know that Google street views are available for your mobile device too.
For example, search for ‘Rome’ in the Google Maps iPhone application and click on the orange little man on the label:

and you’ll magically experience what’s like driving in Italy without time constrains.

Now that you are “virtually ready” for Italy, consider the next steps to get “totally ready” for Italy.
Download a free chapter of our eBook and start discovering more than 350+ tips that will help you navigate Italy like a local.

Italian for Kids: The School (video)


We received a pleasant note from a school in Rochester, NY that my daughter’s videos are being used in classroom to teach Italian to 4th and 5th graders.
They kindly asked us if we could focus a new episode to life at school. So we did… Enjoy!

– Can’t see the video? Watch it from YouTube
– iPod version (MP4 – 12Mb)
– More Italian videos by Silvia

Love phrases and romantic words in Italian

One of our readers asked us if we could elaborate on the subject of romance. As Italian is considered by many the language of love, there is a wide spectrum of words and phrases you could use to say something nice to your loved one.

I’m going to sort these sentences in “increasing order of love”, so that you can avoid the risk to scare your first date with some impressive claim in Italian.

Mi piaci – I like you
This is a non-committing assertion. Over time you could raise it a little by saying: Mi piaci tanto – I like you a lot.

Ti aspetto – I’ll be waiting for you
Some variances of this phrase: Aspetto la tua chiamata – I’ll be waiting for you call; As we live in the Internet age: Aspetto il tuo email – I’ll be waiting for your email.

Non vedo l’ora di vederti – I look forward to see you
You can use this sentence for regular friends too. Or you can add this after Mi piaci or Ti aspetto.

Mi manchi – I miss you
A stronger variance: Mi manchi tanto – I miss you a lot

Ti mando un bacio – I’m sending you a kiss
Nice closing for an email or phone communication. Not to be said in person, as at that point, you can just kiss your loved one.

Ti voglio bene – I care for you
There is no precise translation in English for it. You could use it with a friend to express friendship love, or with somebody you love but you are not ready yet for the more intimate declaration I love you. Wildely used in Italy, it can be abbreviated in text messages as TVB.

Mi sto innamorando di te – I’m falling in love with you
Another variance is Mi sono innamorato di te (said by a male) or Mi sono innamorata di te (said by a female) and they both mean I (already) fell in love with you.

Ti amo – I love you
This is the intimate and romantic expression of love. You’ll not use it with a relative or friend. In that case it’s more appropriate: Ti voglio bene.

Vorrei fare l’amore con te – I’d like to make love with you
Enough said, this is action time!

Do you want to share your Italian love story? Use the comments below.
And if you are unsure how to pronounce some of these phrases, you can always use your iPod to deliver your message of love.

Vi voglio bene!!