Museums, Sights and Guided Tours
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November 10, 2026
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Follow a visit to an Italian museum, exhibition or historic church from the ticket desk to the exit.
- Buying full-price or reduced tickets, checking opening hours and picking up an audio guide
- Understanding museum and church rules about bags, photos and dress codes
- Joining a guided tour, asking the guide questions with polite Lei and talking about what was worth seeing
Voca cards
1.
la mostra
exhibition, exhibit
Scusi, fino a quando resta aperta la mostra sul Caravaggio?
Excuse me, how long is the Caravaggio exhibition open?
'Mostra' is a temporary exhibition; a museum's permanent collection is 'la collezione permanente'.
2.
l'orario di apertura
opening hours, hours of operation
Ho controllato l'orario di apertura: il lunedì il museo è chiuso.
I checked the opening hours: the museum is closed on Mondays.
Many state museums in Italy close on Mondays ('il lunedì').
3.
fare la fila
to wait in line, to stand in line
Se compri i biglietti online, non devi fare la fila all'ingresso.
If you buy your tickets online, you don't have to wait in line at the entrance.
You will also hear 'fare la coda', especially in northern Italy.
4.
la biglietteria
ticket office, ticket counter, box office
Deve passare comunque in biglietteria per ritirare i biglietti prenotati.
You still need to stop by the ticket office to pick up your reserved tickets.
5.
il biglietto intero
full-price ticket, regular ticket
Vorrei due biglietti interi per il palazzo e il giardino, per favore.
I'd like two full-price tickets for the palace and the gardens, please.
At the ticket desk, people often shorten 'il biglietto intero' to just 'un intero'.
6.
il biglietto ridotto
discounted ticket, reduced-price ticket
C'è il biglietto ridotto per gli studenti e per chi ha più di sessantacinque anni.
There is a discounted ticket for students and people over sixty-five.
Like 'intero', this is often shortened to 'un ridotto' when buying tickets.
7.
la prenotazione
reservation, booking
Buongiorno, ho una prenotazione online per le dieci e mezza a nome Rossi.
Good morning, I have an online reservation for ten thirty under the name Rossi.
Major sights in Italy often require booking a time slot in advance ('la prenotazione obbligatoria').
8.
la visita guidata
guided tour
La prossima visita guidata in italiano parte tra un quarto d'ora dal cortile.
The next guided tour in Italian leaves from the courtyard in fifteen minutes.
9.
l'audioguida
audio guide
Posso prendere anche un'audioguida, o è già compresa nel biglietto?
Can I also get an audio guide, or is it already included with the ticket?
10.
il guardaroba
coat check, cloakroom
Mi dispiace, gli zaini grandi vanno lasciati al guardaroba prima di entrare.
I'm sorry, large backpacks must be left at the coat check before entering.
In a museum or theatre, 'il guardaroba' is the cloakroom or bag check; the word does not change in the plural.
11.
vietato
prohibited, forbidden, not allowed
In questa cappella è vietato fare foto con il flash.
Taking photos with a flash is prohibited in this chapel.
On signs, you will often see 'Vietato fotografare' or 'Vietato toccare' without the verb 'è'.
12.
coprirsi le spalle
to cover your shoulders, to cover one's shoulders
Per entrare nella basilica bisogna coprirsi le spalle e le ginocchia.
To enter the basilica, you have to cover your shoulders and knees.
Churches in Italy enforce a dress code at the door; many lend or sell a light shawl if needed.
13.
la guida
guide, tour guide
La nostra guida ci aspetta vicino alla fontana con un ombrellino giallo.
Our guide is waiting for us near the fountain with a yellow umbrella.
'La guida' is always feminine, whether the tour guide is a man or a woman, and also means a printed guidebook.
14.
la sala
room, hall, gallery
Adesso passiamo nella sala successiva, dove sono esposti i ritratti del Rinascimento.
Now let's move on to the next room, where the Renaissance portraits are on display.
In a museum or historic palace, the exhibition rooms are called 'le sale', not 'le stanze'.
15.
l'opera d'arte
work of art, artwork
Per proteggere le opere d'arte, vi chiedo di non superare il cordone.
To protect the works of art, I ask that you please not cross the rope.
Often shortened to 'l'opera' when talking about a specific painting or sculpture.
16.
l'affresco
fresco
Questi affreschi sul soffitto sono stati restaurati solo pochi anni fa.
These frescoes on the ceiling were restored just a few years ago.
17.
il capolavoro
masterpiece
Questo dipinto è considerato il capolavoro assoluto dell'artista.
This painting is considered the artist's absolute masterpiece.
18.
risalire a
to date back to, to date from
Mi scusi, a che secolo risale il mosaico che vediamo qui sul pavimento?
Excuse me, what century does the mosaic we see here on the floor date back to?
'Risalire' literally means to go back up, and with 'a' it means to date back to a period or century.
19.
rappresentare
to depict, to represent
Mi può dire che cosa rappresenta la scena scolpita sopra il portale?
Can you tell me what the scene carved above the portal depicts?
20.
l'uscita
exit, way out
Scusi, da che parte è l'uscita? Vorremmo passare anche dalla libreria del museo.
Excuse me, which way is the exit? We'd also like to stop by the museum bookstore.
21.
impressionante
impressive
La vista dalla cima della cupola è davvero impressionante.
The view from the top of the dome is truly impressive.
In Italian, 'impressionante' means striking, awe-inspiring or overwhelming, rather than simply good.
22.
valere la pena
to be worth it, to be worthwhile
C'era tanta gente, ma valeva davvero la pena di aspettare per vedere la cappella.
There were a lot of people, but it was really worth waiting to see the chapel.
Often used with 'ne' ('ne vale la pena') when the thing that is worth it has just been mentioned.