Basic Italian Words

Here are some basic Italian Phrases and overused Italian words:

Buon giorno bwon zhor-no Hello / Good morning/afternoon	Buona sera bwoh-nah seh-rah Good evening	Buona notte bwoh-nah noht-teh Good night
Ciao chow Hi / Hello / Bye (informal)	Arrivederci ah-ree-vuh-dehr-chee Goodbye	ArrivederLa ah-ree-vuh-dehr-lah Goodbye (formal)
A più tardi ah pyoo tar-dee See you later	A presto ah press-toh See you soon	A domani ah doh-mahn-ee See you tomorrow
Per favore / Per piacere pehr fah-voh-reh / pehr pee-ah-cheh-reh Please	Grazie (mille) graht-zee-eh (mee-leh) Thank you (very much)	Prego preh-goh You’re Welcome
Mi dispiace mee dee-spyah-cheh Sorry	Scusi / Scusa skoo-zee / skoo-zah Excuse me (formal / informal)	Andiamo! on-dee-ah-mo Let’s go!
Come sta? / Come stai? koh-meh stah / koh-meh sty How are you? (formal / informal)	Sto bene. stoh beh-neh I am fine / well.	Non c’è male. nohn cheh mah-leh Not bad.
Abbastanza bene. ah-bah-stahn-tsah beh-neh Pretty good.	Così così. koh-zee koh-zee So so.	Sì / No see / noh Yes / No
Come si chiama? koh-meh see kee-ah-mah What’s your name? (formal)	Come ti chiami? koh-meh tee kee-ah-mee What’s your name? (informal)	Mi chiamo… mee kee-ah-mo My name is…
Piacere / Molto lieto. pee-ah-cheh-reh / mohl-toh lee-eh-toh Pleased / Nice to meet you.	Signore, Signora, Signorina seen-yoh-reh, seen-yoh-rah, seen-yoh-reen-ah Mister, Misses, Miss
Di dov’è? dee doh-veh Where are you from? (formal)	Di dove sei? dee doh-veh seh-ee Where are you from? (informal)	Sono di… soh-noh dee I am from…
Quanti anni ha? kwahn-tee ahn-nee ah How old are you? (formal)	Quanti anni hai? kwahn-tee ahn-nee ah-ee How old are you? (informal)	Ho ______ anni. oh ______ ahn-nee I am _____ years old.
Parla italiano? par-lah ee-tahl-ee-ah-no Do you speak Italian? (formal)	Parli inglese? par-lee een-gleh-zeh Do you speak English? (informal)	[Non] parlo… [non] par-lo I [don't] speak…
Capisce? / Capisci? kah-pee-sheh / kah-pee-shee Do you understand? (formal / informal)	[Non] capisco. [non] kah-pees-koh I [don't] understand.	Non so. / Lo so. non soh / low soh I don’t know. / I know.
Può aiutarmi? / Puoi aiutarmi? pwoh ah-yoo-tar-mee / pwoh-ee ah-yoo-tar-mee Can you help me? (formal / informal)	Certamente / D’accordo. cher-tah-mehn-teh / dah-kohr-doh Sure / OK.	Come? koh-meh? What? / Pardon me?
Desidera? / Desideri? deh-zee-deh-rah / deh-zee-deh-ree May I help you? (formal / informal)	Come si dice ____ in italiano? koh-meh see dee-cheh ____ een ee-tah-lee-ah-noh How do you say ____ in Italian?
Dov’è / Dove sono…? doh-veh / doh-veh soh-noh Where is / Where are… ?	Ecco… eh-koh Here is / Here are…	C’è / Ci sono… cheh / chee soh-noh There is / There are…
Cosa c’è? koh-zah cheh What’s the matter? / What’s wrong?	Non importa. / Di niente. nohn eem-por-tah / dee nee-ehn-teh It doesn’t matter.	Non m’importa. nohn meem-por-tah I don’t care.
Non ti preoccupare. nohn tee preh-ohk-koo-pah-reh Don’t worry. (informal)	Ho dimenticato. oh dee-men-tee-kah-toh I forgot.	Devo andare adesso. deh-voh ahn-dah-reh ah-des-soh I have to go now.
Ho fame. / Ho sete. oh fah-meh / oh seh-teh I’m hungry. / I’m thirsty.	Ho freddo. / Ho caldo. oh freh-doh / oh kal-doh I’m cold. / I’m hot.	Mi annoio. mee ahn-noh-ee-oh I’m bored.
Salute! sah-loo-teh Bless you!	Congratulazioni! kohn-grah-tsoo-lah-tsee-oh-nee Congratulations!	Benvenuti! behn-veh-noo-tee Welcome!
Buona fortuna! bwoh-nah for-too-nah Good luck!	Tocca a me! / Tocca a te! tohk-kah ah meh / tohk-kah ah teh It’s my turn! / It’s your turn! (informal)	Ti amo. tee ah-moh I love you. (informal)
È pazzo! / Sei pazzo! eh pats-soh / seh-ee pats-soh You’re crazy! (formal / informal)	Sta zitto! / Stai zitto! stah tseet-toh / sty tseet-toh Be quiet / Shut up! (formal / informal)	Va bene! vah beh-neh OK!

Maps of Venice

The Venetian Islands

San Marco Sestiere

San Marco is the heart of Venice and the sestiere most visited by tourists. Piazza San Marco, St. Mark's square, is Venice's main square. It was called the drawing room of Europe by Napoleon. Around the square are elegant historic buildings and expensive cafes, some with live music in the evening, and the main tourist sites of St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Campanile (bell tower), and the Correr Museum.
Dorsoduro Sestiere

Dorsoduro, a large sestiere across the Accademia Bridge from San Marco, is close to Piazzale Roma where buses and taxis arrive. Its home to the Accademia Museum and Guggenheim Art Collection, two of Venice's top museums. Its bounded on one side by the Guidecca Canal and the walkway along the canal is tranquil and scenic. Much of Venice's university is in Dorsoduro. Campo Santa Margherita is a popular spot during the day and has a fish and vegetable market. It's one of the best areas for nightlife, too.
Check Dorsoduro hotels on Venere (book direct).

San Polo Sestiere
The Rialto Bridge across the Grand Canal connects San Marco and San Polo, one of the oldest parts of Venice. At the foot of the Rialto Bridge in San Polo is the huge Venice fish market and open-air vegetable market, a good place to visit in early morning. San Palo has many food shops and bars and very good restaurants. It's a small but pretty sestiere with remnants of its medieval roots. The Frari church holds some Titian masterpieces.

Santa Croce Sestiere
Santa Croce is next to San Palo along the Grand Canal. If you're arriving in Venice by bus or taxi this is the closest sestiere. Santa Croce is one of the least touristy parts of Venice and another of the oldest areas. The oldest parts of the University are in Santa Croce. It's home to one of Venice's most expensive restaurants, la Zucca, but also many good pizzerie.

Cannaregio Sestiere
Cannaregio, across the Grand Canal from Santa Croce, is a large sestiere that stretches from Santa Lucia train station to the Rialto Bridge. The Cannaregio Canal is the second largest in Venice and it connects the lagoon with the Grand Canal. Cannaregio has picturesque squares and canals and many residents live in this sestiere, giving it local flavor. The Jewish Ghetto is here and Fondamenta Misercordia is a good place to find restaurants. There are many shops, cafes, and wine bars.

Castello Sestiere
Castello, on the other side of San Marco, is home to the Arsenale, the old shipyard and an interesting museum. It's an interesting area to walk around and as you get farther from San Marco you'll see few tourists. Campo Santa Maria Formosa is a pleasant spot. Boats for Murano and Burano Islands leave from Fondamenta Nove, the walkway along the Northern lagoon.

 

 

Popular Tourist Attractions 

A. Cannaregio - The area of Venice’s main transportation hub close & pedestrian thoroughfare, however we prefer the quieter back streets for a more authentic taste of local Venetian life.
B. Santa Croce & San Polo - Venice’s main restaurant and nightlife area, with tiny winding streets, quaint campos (squares) and the iconic Rialto Markets.
C. Dorsoduro - Our favourite area of Venice with beautiful art galleries, quiet picturesque streets and beautiful green leafy neighbourhoods.
D. La Giudecca - A quiet outlying district of Venice and home to some of Venice’s most exclusive 5-star hotels, e.g. the iconic Cipriani Hotel.
E. San Marco - Venice’s most popular and touristy area, with a wealth of incredible landmarks such as the Piazza San Marco, along with a vibrant restaurant, nightlife and shopping scene.
F. Castello - The home of Venice’s annual art Biennale with an endless supply of impressive art galleries, along with a vibrant local Venetian community away from the tourist masses.

Restaurants

Places to Eat!

De Mamo

 

This cozy little restaurant in the heart of Venice right near Rialto Bridge is a must if you want good food at reasonable prices, a great ambiance, and the opportunity to see people from all over the world.The restaurant serves classic Italian dishes such as pasta and pizzas with any kind of topping you could imagine. The restaurant is located right next to the Rialto Bridge in the heart of Venice, and it's beautiful interior allows it's customers to relax from a day of touring. De Mamo Restaurant online!

             Antico Forno

 It's mainly known for it's amazing and larger than life pizza dishes. These pizzas are made in the store every morning and put out fresh for customers to chose their dish. However if you have a specific pizza that you want made so you can take a box out to the edge of the canal, the chiefs can do that to. All reasonably priced and easy to find. 

Quanto Basta

This restaurant is considered more as a fast food joint, but the ice cream (gelato) that is served is well known all over the city of Venice. The prices are cheap, and the food and drink are delicious as well. This place makes a perfect mid-day stop to take a break from sight seeing.

MiTi bar

 If eating pizza repetitively isn't exactly idea for you, because it isn't for me, then this place will be a nice slice of relief. It offers sandwiches and pastas and all for very reasonable prices. The staff is known to be friendly and kind even to the tourists. Feel free to dine in, or grab a seat out in the sun!

 

 

Things To Do in Venice

Teatro La Fenice

Teatro La Fenice is the most important opera houses and one of the most prestigious concert venues in Venice, with a history dating back to 1789. It is tradition that every new years day, there is a live concert that typically gets sold out in minutes. The orchestra is so moving with their music that it gets televised live all over Italy. The website of the theater where you can find a list of the upcoming shows and ticket information is listed here:  http://www.teatrolafenice.it/ Below is a link to a video of one of the more recent concerts.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DPJXXagXFs

Musica a Palazzo

In these intimate palace drawing rooms, the soprano’s high notes might make you fear for your glassware, and the thundering baritone is felt in the base of the spine. The drama unfolds over 1½ hours of selected arias from Verdi to Rossini, with 70 guests trailing singers in modern dress as they pour their hearts out in song, progressing from receiving-room overtures to heartbreaking finales in the bedroom. From the outside the building looks like it could be a pub, but once inside the scene is spectacular!

Venetian Gondola Ride and Serenade 

     One of the most popular attractions in Venice are the gondola rides. This trips can be long or short, and can seat as many as 6 people, but it can also cost a pretty penny. There are many types of gondola rides you can take, and at any time of the day. If you want a romantic experience then this ride is for the two of you.  

Ca' Macana

This Venetian masks shop is a glorious place to spend some money. the shop specializes in the traditional Commedia dell'arte, as well as Venetian styles, and you can find any size mask from a large full hair/facial cover to the small masquerade masks which only cover your eyes. However, if you are looking for something more personal, the shop offers mini courses that allow to to create your own mask from scratch, from making the mold to painting your design your mask is only a few hours away! To find their location, or if you need any other information visit the link below to visit their store website. www.camacana.com/
 

Venice Ghost Walking Tour

Your adventure starts at the Rialto Bridge, from where you'll descend into the labyrinth of Venice, crossing sleeping canals and abandoned squares. In fact it will feel as if you have Venice to yourself, as the only sounds you'll hear will be the echoes of distant footsteps. In between the ghost stories, you'll hear gruesome tales from Venice's past as you take a stroll along the narrow alleyway called the street of the Assassins, and learn of the murders that have taken place there. You'll also explore a secret passageway, one of the few surviving that were used by the inhabitants of palaces to flee from the authorities (subject to water levels). The walking tour also highlights architectural gems and follies lost in the backstreets of Venice, including the delightful Bovolo staircase built for a wealthy Venetian at a time when many Venetians still traveled around the city on horseback. The elaborate spiral staircase enabled the wealthy nobleman to ride his horse up to his private apartments within his palace. 

The Sights of Venice

     As a tourists on a short-term visit to these beautiful islands, there is never enough time to see all of Venice and it's cultural beauty. Venice is one of the oldest cities still standing with it's original architectural buildings and designs, and it is what makes Venice uniquely beautiful. So here is a list of the must see, most popular sights of Venice, Italy.

Saint Mark's Square

Piazza San Marco is the principal public square of Venice, Italy, where it is generally known just as "the Piazza". The Piazzetta (the 'little Piazza') is an extension of the Piazza towards the lagoon in its south east corner. The two spaces together form the social, religious and political centre of Venice. A remark usually attributed to Napoleon calls the Piazza San Marco "the drawing room of Europe".  It is one of the few great urban spaces in Europe where human voices prevail over the sounds of motorized traffic. There are numerous shops and restaurants along the square on either side. You can chose to eat outside, or dine in, or simply to run in and grab a sandwich. The Piazza is usually very crowded during the day, being popular for tourists, and the center of San Marco, but there is always more to visit in the square than just the shops themselves. 

Basilica of Saint Mark

 

The  Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice, northern Italy. It is the most famous of the city's churches and one of the best known examples of Byzantine architecture. It lies on St Mark's Square adjacent and connected to the Doge's Palace. Originally it was the "chapel" of the Venetian rulers, and not the city's cathedral. Since 1807 it has been the seat of the Patriarch of Venice, archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice. For its opulent design, gilded Byzantine mosaics, and its status as a symbol of Venetian wealth and power. The paintings on the inside cover the interior of the building.

 

The Ducale Palace 

The Ducal Palace is a Renaissance building and one of the most important monuments in Italy,The Ducal Palace featured several rooms that reflect Federico's devotion to Classical and humanistic studies and served his daily routine, which included visiting the palace's lararium and reading literature The Galleria Nazionale delle Marche (National Gallery of the Marche), housed in the palace, is one of the most important collection of Renaissance art in the world. It includes important works by artists such as Santi, Van Wassenhove (a Last Supper with portraits of the Montefeltro family and the court), and other 15th century artists, as well as a late Resurrection by Titian.The Palace draws in thousands of tourists every year because of its containment of magnificent art work. 

 The Arsenale

Founded in 1104, the Arsenale soon became the greatest medieval shipyard in Europe, home to 300 shipping companies employing up to 16,000 people, and capable of turning out a new galley in a day. Venice’s navy remained unbeatable for centuries, but now arty types invade the shipyards during Venice’s Art and Architecture Biennales. At its peak, the Arsenale covered 46 hectares and must have made an enormous impression, with its boiling black pitch, metalworking and timber-cutting.

 The Jewish Ghetto

  

This area in Venice was once a getto (foundry) on an island away from the main area of Cannaregio to contain the risk of fire – but its role as the designated Jewish quarter from the 16th to 18th centuries gave the word a whole new meaning. In accordance with the Venetian Republic’s 1516 decree, Jewish artisans and lenders stocked and funded Venice’s commercial enterprises by day, while at night and on Christian holidays, they were restricted to the gated island of the Ghetto Nuovo.

Despite it's name, this part of Venice has become home to thousands of people, and a tourists attraction. The history of the island is captivating, and you can still see some of the original buildings and architecture. This area is covered in vines and other arrangements of flowers during the warmer seasons of Venice. A tour through here will almost make you feel right at home.

 The Rialto Bridge

Rivoalto (later contracted to Rialto), is the highest spot in the collection of islets that formed the nucleus of the lagoon city, and was one of the areas of first settlement - although the more active part was initially on the San Marco side of the bridge. The San Polo side slowly became the center of trade and banking for the Republic. This is where dosh traded hands, voyages were bankrolled, insurance was arranged and news (or gossip) was exchanged.

The bridge is constructed for pedestrains only, and has a very wide walking space so that all of the lagoon can be viewed while passing over. However, if you don't want the typical look feel free to take the gondola ride and get the view of the Rialto Bridge from the lagoon. 

Campanile di San Marco

Originally built as a lighthouse to assist navigation in the lagoon, visitors can be whisked by elevator to the top of St. Mark's Campanile or bell tower to savor incredible views of Venice, the lagoon and the Alps in the distance. Located in the corner of Saint Mark's square, it is one steps away from both the activities of the square and the Basilica.

 

Bridge of Sighs

Built in 1602, the Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs) connected the interrogation rooms in the Doges Palace with the prison cells. It got its name from the fact that prisoners passing across it sighed for their lost freedom and their final view of Venice through the barred windows. The prison cells were small, dank and often a final stop before death. You can see them on a tour of the Palazzo Ducale (Doges Palace).
Designed by Antoni Contino whose uncle designed the Rialto Bridge, the Bridge of Sighs is covered-in, with bars on the windows, made of white limestone. From the outside it is lovely, from the inside not so pretty.