Direction Fundamentals
Master basic directions and spatial vocabulary
Allora, the basics are simple - dritto (straight), destra (right), sinistra (left). But Italians navigate by landmarks, not street names. "Dopo la chiesa" (after the church) or "davanti al bar" (in front of the bar) - that's how we really give directions!
Essential Directions & Spatial Terms
DREET-toh
Sempre dritto = always straight
ah DEH-strah
Gira a destra = turn right
ah see-NEE-strah
Gira a sinistra = turn left
dah-VAHN-tee ah
Position marker
dee-EH-troh
Dietro la chiesa
ah-KAHN-toh ah
Beside something
lohn-TAH-noh dah
Distance away
Di fronte a
Opposite/Facing
โป
dee FROHN-teh ah
Across from
All'angolo
At the corner
โป
ahl-LAHN-goh-loh
Street corner
Alla fine di
At the end of
โป
AHL-lah FEE-neh dee
End of street
PREE-mah dee
Prima del ponte
Quanto รจ lontano?
How far is it?
โป
KWAHN-toh eh lohn-TAH-noh
Essential question
Cinque minuti
Five minutes
โป
CHEEN-kweh mee-NOO-tee
Time distance
ah pee-EH-dee
Walking distance
Il semaforo
Traffic light
โป
eel seh-MAH-foh-roh
Navigation point
lah roh-TOHN-dah
Circle intersection
L'incrocio
Intersection
โป
leen-KROH-choh
Where streets cross
Roman Landmark Navigation
Common landmarks we use:
โข La chiesa (church) - Every neighborhood has one
โข Il bar - Not just for drinking, it's the local meeting point
โข La farmacia - Green cross, visible from far
โข Il tabacchi - Blue "T" sign, sells everything
โข La piazza - Every area centers around one
Luca's Navigation Tip:
Italians measure distance in time, not meters. "Due minuti" (two minutes) could be 100 meters or 500 - depends who's walking! Always ask "Quanto ci vuole?" (how long does it take?) instead of how far.
The Italian Address System
Decode our unique addressing conventions
Italian addresses can be crazy! Via Garibaldi 15 sounds simple, but wait - is that 15 rosso (red, commercial) or 15 nero (black, residential)? And don't get me started on "interno" numbers... Let me explain our system!
๐ Understanding Italian Addresses ๐
vee-AH-leh
Wide street with trees
KOR-soh
Major thoroughfare
Numero civico
Street number
โป
NOO-meh-roh CHEE-vee-koh
Building number
Rosso/Nero
Red/Black numbers
โป
ROHS-soh/NEH-roh
Commercial/Residential
Interno
Interior/Apartment
โป
een-TEHR-noh
Unit within building
PREH-soh
At someone's place
Address Format Example
Full Italian address:
Mario Rossi
Via Garibaldi, 15
Scala B, Piano 3, Interno 7
00187 Roma (RM)
Italia
Translation: Building 15, Staircase B, 3rd floor, Apartment 7
Building Navigation
Find apartments in Italian buildings
Ah, the citofono! Every building has one, and every Roman has stories about pressing wrong buttons. Look for names, but half the time they're old or missing. "Suoni il secondo a destra" - ring the second on the right - that's how we really do it!
Building & Apartment Vocabulary
Piano terra
Ground floor
โป
pee-AH-noh TEHR-rah
Floor 0
Primo piano
First floor
โป
PREE-moh pee-AH-noh
One up from ground
Il citofono
Intercom/Buzzer
โป
eel chee-TOH-foh-noh
Entry system
swoh-NAH-reh
Suoni il citofono
lah-shen-SOH-reh
If it works!
eel por-TOH-neh
Building entrance
Italian Floor Counting
Remember: We count differently than Americans!
โข Piano terra = Ground floor (0)
โข Primo piano = 1st floor (what Americans call 2nd)
โข Secondo piano = 2nd floor (American 3rd)
โข Ultimo piano = Top floor
โข Seminterrato = Basement
Citofono Etiquette:
Always say "Scusi" first when buzzing. If wrong apartment, say "Mi scusi, ho sbagliato" (sorry, wrong one). Many Romans just shout from windows instead of using intercoms!
Asking & Giving Directions
Get help finding your way
Romans love helping with directions - sometimes too much! Three people will give you three different routes. My advice? Ask "Scusi, per andare a...?" and listen for landmarks, not street names. We navigate by bars, churches, and shops!
Essential Direction Phrases
Dove si trova...?
Where is...?
โป
DOH-veh see TROH-vah
Most useful phrase!
Come arrivo a...?
How do I get to...?
โป
KOH-meh ahr-REE-voh ah
Asking for route
Per andare a...?
To go to...?
โป
pehr ahn-DAH-reh ah
Short & sweet
Mi sono perso/a
I'm lost
โป
mee SOH-noh PEHR-soh
Admit defeat!
Puรฒ ripetere?
Can you repeat?
โป
pwoh ree-PEH-teh-reh
Didn't catch it
Piรน lentamente
More slowly
โป
pyoo len-tah-MEN-teh
Slow down please
ร questa la strada?
Is this the street?
โป
eh KWEH-stah lah STRAH-dah
Confirm location
Common Direction Responses You'll Hear
"Sempre dritto" - Keep going straight (their favorite!)
"Non รจ lontano" - It's not far (could be 2 minutes or 20)
"Due passi" - Two steps (never actually two steps)
"Segua questa strada" - Follow this street
"Attraversi la piazza" - Cross the square
Transportation & Meeting Points
Navigate public transport and arrange meetups
Meeting someone in Rome? Never say "at the station" - there are three! Be specific: "Davanti all'edicola di Termini" - in front of the newsstand at Termini. And if taking the metro, validate your ticket or face a โฌ50 fine!
Transport & Meeting Vocabulary
lah fehr-MAH-tah
Bus/metro stop
La stazione
The station
โป
lah stah-tsee-OH-neh
Train/metro station
Ci vediamo
Let's meet/See you
โป
chee veh-dee-AH-moh
Meeting phrase
dah-VAHN-tee ah
Meeting spot
Sono in ritardo
I'm late
โป
SOH-noh een ree-TAR-doh
Roman standard!
Arrivo tra poco
I'll arrive soon
โป
ahr-REE-voh trah POH-koh
5-30 minutes...
Quale linea?
Which line?
โป
KWAH-leh LEE-neh-ah
Bus/metro line
Il biglietto
The ticket
โป
eel bee-LYEHT-toh
Must validate!
Rome Transport Tips
Metro: Only 3 lines (A-red, B-blue, C-green). Simple but limited.
Bus: Extensive but unpredictable. Buy tickets at tabacchi shops.
Validation: ALWAYS stamp your ticket or risk โฌ50 fine!
Night buses: Look for "N" before the number
Roma Pass: 48/72 hour tourist cards include transport
Meeting Point Strategy:
Popular Rome meeting spots: Fontana di Trevi (too crowded!), Spanish Steps (better), specific metro exits (best). Always specify: "Uscita Via Veneto" not just "Barberini station".
Ready to Navigate Italy Like a Local?
"Perfetto! Now you understand our address system, can ask for directions, and navigate buildings like a true Roman. Remember: we navigate by landmarks, not street names. Scala A, piano 2, citofono rosso - now it all makes sense, right? Practice these phrases and you'll never get lost. And if you do? Just ask - Romans love giving directions, even if they're not always right! Buona fortuna!" - Luca