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The Italian Language Foundation

Promoting and Supporting Italian Language Education

La Mia Esperienza Italiana

/ / Blog, Italian Translation /

Traduzione Inglese

Di Alexander Principe

Ciao a tutti! Mi chiamo Mac Principe, e studio biochimica e Italiano. La mia esperienza con lo studio dell’italiano è stato uno dei piu gratificanti all’Universita dell’Arkansas. Ho frequentato un corso di italiano ogni semestre a partire dal primo. L’estate scorso, ho avuto l’entusiasmante possibilità di studiare all’estero al Rome Center dell’Universita dell’Arkansas, ed è stato un viaggio che non dimenticherò mai. Sono rimasto a Roma quasi tre mesi, da metà maggio al primo agosto. Durante questo periodo, ho viaggiato in tutta la nazione, comprese citta come Torino, Firenze, Venezia, Bologna, Napoli, e molte altre.  

In Italia, mi hanno colpito molti momenti e musei incredibile. Sono andato a una partita di calcio tra l’AS Roma e l’AC Milan allo Studio Olimpico di Roma. Questa era un’esperienza fantastica perche lo stadio era pieno di 75,000 tifosi della Roma che cantavano e inneggiavano tutti insieme mentre la Roma batteva il Milan 3-1. Ho anche partecipato a un concerto di Ghali a Roma, che è stata un’altra serata indimenticabile con il pubblico che cantava ogni parola delle sue canzoni. Due musei che mi hanno colpito sono La Galleria Borgese e i famosi Uffizi.. Questi due musei erano cosi grande che avrei potuto trascorrere tutto il giorno in entrambi. Ero sopreso anche dal numero di bellisimi dipinti e meravigliose sculture in un unico posto. Studiare Italiano ha cambiato il corso della mia vita per il meglio, e non vedo l’ora di vedere dove mi porterà questa avventura.

 

My Italian Experience

/ / Blog /

English Translation

By Alexander Principe

Ciao a tutti! My name is Mac Principe, and I am a Biochemistry and Italian Transcultural  Studies double major. My experience studying Italian has been one of the most rewarding at the  University of Arkansas. I have been taking Italian every semester since my first. This past  summer, I had an exciting opportunity to study abroad at the University of Arkansas Rome  Center, and it was a trip I will never forget. I stayed almost three months, from mid-May to early  August, in Rome. I traveled all over the nation during this time, including cities such as Turin,  Florence, Venice, Bologna, Naples, and many others.  

In Italy, multiple amazing moments and museums stand out to me. I attended a soccer  game between AS Roma and AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. This was an  unbelievable experience as the stadium was packed with 75,000 Roma fans all singing and  chanting together as Roma beat Milan 3-1 that night. I also attended a Ghali concert in Rome which was an equally unforgettable night with the crowd singing every lyric. Two standout  museums were the Galleria Borghese in Rome and the famous Uffizi Museum in Florence. These  two museums were so large that I could’ve spent an entire day in each. I was also astounded by  the number of beautiful paintings and sculptures contained in one place. Studying Italian has  changed the course of my life for the better, and I can’t wait to see where it will take me next.  

 

Scoprendo l’Italia, un antenato alla volta

/ / Blog, Italian Translation /

Traduzione Inglese

Di Nia Gamble

Ciao! Mi chiamo Nia e sono di Queens, New York. Studiare l’italiano ha aperto una porta verso una cultura con cui mi sono sempre sentita legata,  ma che non ho ancora avuto il privilegio di esplorare pienamente. Anche solo in classe, imparare  la lingua è come scoprire pezzi della storia della mia famiglia materna, le tradizioni che li hanno  formati e la ricca storia dei luoghi da cui provengono. Ogni nuova frase e regola grammaticale  mi avvicina alla comprensione di un mondo che mi affascina profondamente. 

Esplorare la cultura italiana a New York è stato altrettanto arricchente. Mi sono avvicinata a mia  madre durante le nostre visite al Veniero’s Café a Manhattan, la sua pasticceria preferita dagli  anni ’90, e visitando mostre d’arte dove mi sono innamorata dei lavori di Caravaggio e  Gentileschi. Uno dei miei obiettivi è viaggiare nel comune di origine della mia famiglia, Sant’Angelo a Scala,  per capire le loro vite quotidiane, i santi che veneravano e le civiltà che li hanno preceduti.  Voglio anche comprendere meglio le decisioni che li hanno portati a lasciare un luogo di amore,  tradizione e comunità per cercare una vita migliore. 

In futuro, spero di portare con me la mia esperienza nel campo della salute e fare volontariato  nelle comunità e negli ospedali locali in tutta Italia. Offrire servizio, imparare dai professionisti  sanitari italiani e sostenere le popolazioni meno servite mi permetterebbe di unire i miei studi di  italiano con il mio impegno nella medicina.

 

Discovering Italy, One Ancestor at a Time

/ / Blog /

Italian Translation

By Nia Gamble

Ciao! Mi chiamo Nia e sono di Queens, New York. Studying Italian has opened a  doorway into a culture I’ve long felt connected to but have not yet had the privilege to fully  explore. Even from inside the classroom, learning the language feels like discovering pieces of  my maternal family’s story, the traditions that shaped them, and the rich history embedded in the  regions they came from. Every new phrase and grammar rule brings me closer to understanding a  world that has deeply fascinated me.  

Exploring Italian culture in New York has been just as enriching. I’ve bonded with my  mother over trips to Veniero’s Café in Manhattan, her favorite Pasticceria since the 1990s as well  as visiting art exhibits and falling in adoration with the works of Caravaggio and Gentileschi.  One of my goals is to travel to my family’s commune of origin, Sant’ Angelo a Scala, to  understand their everyday lives, the saints they venerated, and the civilizations that came before  them. I also want to better understand the decisions they made to leave a place of love, tradition,  and community to seek a better life. 

In the future, I hope to bring my healthcare experience with me and volunteer in local  communities and hospitals across Italy. Engaging in service, learning from Italian healthcare  professionals, and supporting underserved populations. This would allow me to bridge my  studies in Italian with my commitment to medicine.

La Dolce Vita in a Bottle: Discover Italy’s Perfume Magic

/ / Blog /

Italian Translation

By Bianca Harmetz

When you think of luxury fragrance, France tends to steal the spotlight—Chanel, Dior, YSL and their irresistible Parisian allure. But pause for a moment: Italy has been weaving its own magic with scent for centuries, and its fragrance world is every bit as enchanting. From Renaissance apothecaries to captivating boutiques in Florence, Naples, Milan, and beyond, Italian perfumery is pure artistry. 

A Renaissance Scent Saga

Picture Florence in the 1300s: a vibrant city where art, fashion, and fragrance flourished. While France experimented with simple oils, Italian monks and apothecaries were already perfecting the alchemy of perfume. Back then, friars blended herbs, citrus, and florals into potions so alluring they bewitched royalty.

The Officina di Santa Maria Novella, founded in 1221, remains the world’s oldest pharmacy—and still crafts divine scents today.

When Catherine de’ Medici married Henry II of France in 1533, she brought her personal profumiere, Renato Bianco, to court, forever imprinting Italy’s fragrance mastery onto French soil. That’s practically the origin story of European glamour.

Venice, at the heart of the spice trade, took perfumery even further with Aqua Mirabilis—one of the earliest alcohol-based perfumes, stored of course in breathtaking Murano glass bottles. 

Florence’s Fragrant Heart

Florence is still the soul of Italian perfumery. Wander into Santa Maria Novella (Via della Scala, 16) and step into a Renaissance dreamscape, where gilded shelves cradle bottles of Acqua della Regina, the citrusy scent once loved by Catherine de’ Medici herself.

For a more personal touch, visit AquaFlor Firenze (Borgo S. Croce, 6), a stunning artisanal house crafting bespoke perfumes inside a hidden palazzo. Or explore Lorenzo Villoresi (Via de’ Bardi, 12), where the on-site perfume museum overflows with delicious potions, and the staff treats fragrance selection like a sacred art.

Naples, Trieste & Beyond

Southern Italy boasts Profumeria Artigianale (Corso Umberto I, Naples), a niche fragrance haven that Carrie’s cult favorites like Xerjoff and Nasomatto. Shopping here feels less like a transaction and more like discovering your scent soulmate, guided by experts.

Up north, Profumeria Essenza (Via Genova, 21, Trieste) is a family-run boutique where a mother-daughter duo lovingly curates hard-to-find fragrances creating a personalized experience that leaves you feeling like part of the family.

In Milan, stop at 50 ml (Via Madonnina, 17), a sleek boutique where fragrance discovery feels effortlessly chic—or Campomarzio70 (Via Brera, 2), which showcases curated selections from cult brands.

If you’re enchanted by Venetian romance, don’t miss The Merchant of Venice flagship store, housed in a historic palazzo near San Marco. This luxury brand draws inspiration from the city’s ancient trade routes and showcases perfumes in dazzling Murano glass bottles. They even offer perfumery workshops, where visitors can create their own custom scents—a dream experience for any fragrance lover.

Fashion’s Fragrant Influence

Italy’s fashion icons have helped keep its perfume heritage in the spotlight. Though global brands like Armani’s Sì and Prada’s Infusion d’Iris are often produced abroad, they embody an unmistakable Italian elegance. Their success has paved the way for boutique perfumers and indie brands to claim their space on the world stage—and trust us, their scents are next-level.

Italian Scents to Fall For

Italy’s perfumers know how to bottle poetry. Add these to your fragrance wardrobe:

  • Bianco Latte by Giardini di Toscana: A cult favorite among fragrance lovers—think creamy caramel, smoky white chocolate, and dreamy vanilla. 
  • L’Erbolario Dolcelisir: Sweet vanilla, caramel, and orange blossom combine in a fragrance that’s basically an Italian dessert in a bottle.
  • Casamorati Lira by Xerjoff: A glamorous blend of blood orange, caramel, and vanilla that’s made for summer nights.
  • Francesca Dell’Oro Need a Name: Bright grapefruit and lemon drift into delicate florals, capturing the spirit of the Amalfi Coast.

Timeless Colognes for Him (Or You!)

  • Acqua di Parma Colonia: Crisp citrus and soothing lavender—an effortless classic since 1916.
  • Santa Maria Novella Acqua di Colonia Melograno: A spicy, sophisticated pomegranate scent that feels like wearing a velvet blazer.
  • Tiziana Terenzi Orion: A luminous blend of pineapple, bergamot, and woods— an Italian summer on your skin.

Contact Us

TELEPHONE: (212) 461 0094

PHYSICAL ADDRESS:

Italian Language Foundation, Inc.
8 East 69th Street
New York, New York 10021

MAILING ADDRESS:

Italian Language Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 112
28 Maple Place
Manhasset, New York 11030

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Word of the Day

  • L'argomento: subject

    Part of speech: noun Example sentence:Non cambiare argomento; finiamo di discutere il nostro progetto. Sentence meaning: Don't change the subject; let's finish discussing our project.