Getting an Italian Driver’s License Is Expensive and Complicated

Oct 16, 2026 | Culture, Language

Note: This post was written in October 2026. Italian driving license rules, fees, and requirements can change. Please verify current requirements with your local autoscuola (driving school) or the Motorizzazione Civile (Dept of Motor Vehicles in Italy). I’ve...

Not All of Italy Speaks Italian (Only)

Sep 28, 2026 | Culture, Language

Did someone tell you that you can take your Italian driving test in English? As of 2011, that’s no longer true. What about French or German? Maybe. Italy has official minority languages. Most people think of Italy as a monolingual country. Two regions have...

Not All Italian Language Certificates Are Equal

Aug 24, 2026 | Language, Visas and Citizenship

Are you applying for Italian residency or citizenship? Did you sign an integration agreement, and you need to certify your language skills? You might assume that any Italian language certificate will do, but it won’t. Completion certificates versus proficiency...

Will Italian Schools Teach My Kids Italian?

Jul 31, 2026 | Language

You might be wondering if schools will teach your kids Italian the way American schools offer English as a Second Language programs, where a dedicated class or specialist works with your child until they can keep up with the rest. The short answer is: not exactly, and...

“I Speak a Little Spanish… Do I Really Need to Learn Italian?”

Jul 12, 2026 | Language

A question we get from time to time is, “I speak some Spanish. Do I really need to learn Italian to move to Italy?” The question can make sense since people assume that Italian and Spanish sound and are similar. Those rolling R’s, those Latin roots....