Let it be known that I am always in the mood for Italy.

But as I’m prepping for my next voyage there (this week, somehow?!) I’m reminded that I like to slip into the character of a place, even one I’ve been to several times, before going.

Whether you’ve booked all your stays, reserved the best tables, packed your bags with curated looks, or not, there are some steps you can take to slick your brain for smooth entry to Italy – oh my gosh, excuse me: Italia 😉

READ A BOOK

The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Ecco. It’s like Sherlock Holmes in a 14th-century Italian monastery, and quite long, so it will last you a solid portion of any trip.

The Neapolitan Novels, or at least, My Brilliant Friend, by Elena Ferrante. If you end up loving that one (as I did), then you’ve got three more you can read in the series.

A Girl Returned, by Donatella di Pietrantonio. (Fun fact, this was translated by the same person who translated the Neapolitan Novels). Short, a little intense, but not so intense as to ruin the mood.

Meeting in Positano, Goliarda Sapienza. This is not a romance, as the name might suggest, so don’t pick it up blindly. It’s set in Positano in the 1950’s, and it’s a bit sad although more in an atmospheric, moody way than in a gut-wrenching way.

Beautiful Ruins, Jess Walter. This one is absolutely a love story, serving a fictional rendition of a time you likely weren’t alive for in a place that doesn’t *exactly* exist but very well could. Not a challenging read; not too fluffy, either. Fiction that’s just real enough to place you, mentally, in Italy.

LISTEN TO MUSIC

Here’s a Spotify playlist with a few of my favorites. Shuffle it, and start to smell a blend of cigarettes, parmigiano reggiano, and your own sweat.

LEARN SOME PHRASES

In the morning, you say “buongiorno.” In the afternoon, you say “buona sera.” These two things alone will get you very far. “Ciao” is safe at all times of day, although it can be humorously informal, depending on who you’re talking to.

“Grazie” is helpful too, of course, but please don’t say it like “graht-zee.” Try something closer to “grah-tsieh,” if you can.

When asking for the check, you can just say “il conto, per favore.”

And that reminds me: “per favore!” Saying “please” will never let you down anywhere.

If shopping, you can ask, “quanto costo?” (“how much does it cost?”). Of course, when it comes to understanding the number, you might just try to flash the digits back and forth with your hands…?

One important differentiation is between a glass (una bicchiere) and a bottle (una bottiglia) of wine. Some other food menu terms that can be helpful to recognize: antipasto (appetizer), primo (first course, which is often pasta), and dolci (sweets, or desserts).

When in doubt: pantomime. Italians aren’t shy of using their hands while speaking, and if you’re polite, they just might have the patience for an informal and absurd little game of charades.

JUST GIVE IN

This note is for me. I don’t feel as prepared for this trip as I might like to. But I know one day when I’m partnered to someone, encumbered by work, or busy bouncing a baby…I’ll be so glad I got on a plane to wander cobblestone streets, gawk at architecture and listen to the staccato music that is the Italian language. It’s never bad to sip a glass of wine at a restaurant that wasn’t “on my list,” wear a not-quite-right thing, and wonder what my own next move might be.

Even in busier times, with no travel in sight, I know I’ll want to take my own advice and get in the mood for Italy.