When I ask foreigners who've just arrived in Italy if they have any questions about their stay, the most typical response isn't "Where can I exchange money?" or "How do you say 'this word' in Italian?" but "What is that short, elongated sink next to the toilet in my bathroom?! Do Italians really wash their 'you know what' in it?" So to help demystify this mysterious contraption lurking in an Italian bathroo ...

Italian coffee is so special it even has its own machine. Unless you’re some kind of cultural genius, you probably don’t have any idea what it is or how the heck it works. 1. Know what a Moka is. The strange metal teapot in the kitchen cupboard of your Italian apartment? That’s a Moka. [caption id="attachment_4303" align="aligncenter" width="243" caption="This is a Moka."][/caption] 2. Understand the parts ...

Whether you’ve been studying Italian for years, or are currently mastering the art of “my name is,” these 10 expressions are an essential addition to any vocabulary. You won’t find them in Italian books, but you’ll hear them all over the streets. Understanding them will give you a huge boost in comprehension. Using them will make you much more fun to talk to. ...