Guidebooks list the sights; locals know the best places. This lesson shows you how to ask the people you meet what to see, where to eat and what to do, with Lei and with tu.

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Tony asks Giulia Cosa mi consigli di vedere? and Signora Lombardo Cosa mi consiglia di vedere? Why the two forms?

The main idea

Asking for tips

Cosa mi consiglia di vedere?
What do you recommend I see?
Dove si mangia bene qui?
Where's a good place to eat around here?
C'è un posto dove vanno quelli del posto?
Is there a place where the locals go?
Cosa c'è da fare la sera?
What is there to do in the evening?
Vale la pena?
Is it worth it?
Ne vale la pena!
It's worth it!
Grazie del consiglio!
Thanks for the tip!

consiglia is kon-SEEL-ya; quelli del posto, the people from here, are the locals. Dove si mangia bene? is literally where does one eat well?: Italians ask it everywhere.

Tony asks Signora Lombardo, who runs the bakery near his B&B:

Tony: Signora, cosa mi consiglia di vedere a Sciacca?
What do you recommend I see in Sciacca?
Lombardo: Il porto, la sera, quando tornano i pescatori. E le ceramiche in centro.
The harbor in the evening, when the fishermen come back. And the ceramics downtown.
Tony: E dove si mangia bene?
And where's a good place to eat?
Lombardo: Al porto c'è una trattoria dove vanno quelli del posto. Il pesce è freschissimo.
At the harbor there's a trattoria where the locals go. The fish is really fresh.
Tony: Grazie del consiglio!
Thanks for the tip!

Sciacca is SHAHK-ka: sc before i is the sh sound. ceramiche (cheh-RA-mee-keh) and tornano (TOR-na-no) are stressed on the third-to-last syllable; freschissimo is fres-KEES-see-mo, with sch as sk.

Later, he asks Giulia:

Tony: Cosa c'è da fare la sera?
What is there to do in the evening?
Giulia: D'estate c'è sempre musica in piazza. E Caltabellotta? Ci sei andato?
In summer there's always music in the square. And Caltabellotta? Have you been?
Tony: No. Vale la pena?
No. Is it worth it?
Giulia: Ne vale la pena!
It's worth it!

Caltabellotta is a village on the mountain above Sciacca. musica is MOO-zee-ka.

Quick check

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Tony asks Giulia, his age, for a tip. Which form?

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Complete with one word: Where's a good place to eat around here?

Dove si bene qui?
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What does Vale la pena? ask?

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Ask an older woman at your B&B what she recommends you see, and where the locals eat.

Take with you

Cosa mi consiglia di vedere?
What do you recommend I see?
Dove si mangia bene qui?
Where's a good place to eat around here?
C'è un posto dove vanno quelli del posto?
Is there a place where the locals go?
Cosa c'è da fare la sera?
What is there to do in the evening?
Vale la pena?
Is it worth it?
Ne vale la pena!
It's worth it!
Grazie del consiglio!
Thanks for the tip!

Ask the people who live there: Cosa mi consiglia? opens doors no guidebook knows.