Are you planning a trip to Italy but feeling overwhelmed by the unfamiliarity of Italian addresses? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we’ll explain the Italian equivalents of common address terms, the numbering system for Italian addresses, and other important information you need to know about Italian addresses.
Italian Address Terms
In Italian, the most common terms for addresses are via (street) and piazza (square). Unlike in English, there are fewer variations of address terms in Italian. Additionally, there are standard names for streets and squares in every city and town throughout Italy. For example, almost every town has a piazza del Duomo and a piazza della Repubblica, among other standard names. You will also find names that refer to historical or political figures and also dates using Roman numerals, so you may want to familiarize yourself with the roman numerals.
Numbering System for Italian Addresses
Odd-numbered addresses are located on one side of the road while even-numbered addresses are on the other (most of the time). However, there are exceptions to this rule. For instance, large residences that have been divided, as well as modern apartment blocks, may have a single number for the entire home. In some cases, six families may share the same address, and you will need to know the surname to find the right one.
If a married couple lives in a home with the wife’s mother, there will be three surnames on the bell. The letters “Int.” next to the number mean “interno” -that the address is internal, not on the main road, and may refer to a housing estate or a small dead-end road.
In some cases, very large homes that have been divided into smaller units may have letters next to the number. For example, apartment 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, and 10F may all have the same address number of 10. This practice is also common on country lanes where homes were once spaced further apart.
Italian Address Mysteries in Central Florence
Finally, we must address the greatest mystery of all: why some buildings (mostly in Central Florence) have their building number in black and some in red. I remember one night when I was trying to find an address to meet a friend and was confronted with the number 10r. I had assumed the r was a unit inside of the building. In actuality, after about 40 minutes of walking I stopped to ask a local, only to find out it was a restaurant located on the opposite end of the street. Usually, homes have a black (nero) number while shops, offices, and businesses have a red (rosso) number. The suffix “r” usually designates a red number, but sometimes the numbers are actually written in those colors, and sometimes they are not. This practice has been abandoned for new constructions, but it still exists on older roads in Tuscany.
Conclusion
Navigating Italian addresses can be confusing for tourists, but it is essential to understand the numbering system and the common address terms. Remember to note the comune to which the house belongs, the postal code, and any internal letters when you receive an Italian address. With this guide, you should be able to decipher Italian addresses with ease.
