The ITALY Email (Tuesday Sept. 23, 2025)
Inspire🌟 • Tips📚 • Adventure🗺️
• Learn🎓 • Yes!✨
Ciao Beautiful People!
Welcome to The ITALY Email! Every week, I’ll share my favorite 5 Italian discoveries. Let’s dive in:
I – INSPIRE 🌟
The Leaning Tower of Pisa took 200 years to complete. Construction started normally in 1173, but in 1178 the tower began sinking due to soft soil.
A war with Genoa halted work for 100 years, which actually saved it from collapse. When construction resumed, engineers cleverly built upper floors taller on one side to compensate. Completed in 1372, this “engineering mistake” now attracts millions worldwide.
The best way to appreciate its ingenious construction is on a guided walking tour through Pisa’s historic Miracle Square.
T – TIPS 📚
Want to sound more Italian? Try mixing in time-specific greetings alongside “ciao”:
- Buongiorno – Good morning through early afternoon
- Buon pomeriggio – Good afternoon through early evening
- Buona sera – Good evening
Using these proper greetings shows cultural awareness and often gets even warmer responses from locals.
👉 These are just 3 of the 135 essential Italian phrases every traveler should know.
A – ADVENTURE 🗺️
Hidden gem: Tellaro near La Spezia. Same stunning coastal views as Cinque Terre, zero tourist buses.
Colorful houses, complete tranquility. Locals call it “il paese che dorme” (the village that sleeps). Best in late September – warm sea, no crowds.
👉 Going to Italy in September? Keep these guides handy:
L – LEARN 🎓
Italians don’t say “pepperoni pizza.” Order “pizza ai peperoni” in Italy and you’ll get bell peppers!
What Americans call pepperoni is “salame piccante.”
This mix-up comes from Italian-American immigrants in early 1900s New York who adapted their recipes with available American ingredients.
👉 Want more pizza surprises? Check out our 110 Fun Facts About Pizza collection.
Y – YES! ✨
This mug makes me smile every morning. “I’d Rather BE IN ITALY” – isn’t that exactly how we all feel?
Every time I see those cheerful Italian flag colors, it’s like my kitchen becomes a little Roman café. Sometimes the smallest things can transport us back to Italy, even when we’re thousands of miles away.
That’s all for this week. Arrivederci for now!
-Massimo
