Al Mercato
It's Saturday morning and Giulia heads to the bustling Campo de' Fiori market in Rome. The market is outdoors, alive with vibrant, colorful stalls.

What you'll learn
- 1-minute story
- Native narration
- 6 useful words
- 5 comprehension questions
Then shadow
Borrow the narrator’s rhythm
Pause after this line and repeat it aloud without translating. Aim for three clean repetitions.
1Listen first
Hear the whole story
Native Italian narration of this exact text. Keep the transcript visible on the first pass.
Playback speed: Natural
2Then shadow
È sabato mattina e Giulia va al mercato di Campo de' Fiori, a Roma.Your Italian story
Tap highlighted words when you need help
È sabato mattina e Giulia va al di Campo de' Fiori, a Roma. Il mercato è e ci sono molti banchi colorati. Giulia vede frutta fresca, verdura, fiori e formaggi. " Buongiorno, signora! Cosa desidera?" chiede il . " un chilo di pomodori e mezzo chilo di peperoni rossi, per favore," dice Giulia. I pomodori sono rossi e profumati. Giulia compra anche delle fragole dolci e un mazzo di basilico fresco. "Il basilico è in regalo oggi," dice il venditore con un sorriso. Giulia paga e mette tutto nella sua di stoffa. Cammina tra i banchi e compra anche del pane fresco e della mozzarella. Quando torna a casa, Giulia prepara un'insalata caprese con i pomodori, la mozzarella e il basilico. È semplice ma .
Show full English translation
It's Saturday morning and Giulia heads to the bustling Campo de' Fiori market in Rome. The market is outdoors, alive with vibrant, colorful stalls. Giulia sees fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers, and cheeses. " Good morning, ma'am! What would you like?" asks the cheerful seller. " I'd like a kilo of tomatoes and half a kilo of red peppers, please," Giulia replies. The tomatoes are red and fragrant, bursting with aroma. Giulia also picks up sweet strawberries and a bunch of fresh basil. "The basil is a gift today," the seller says with a warm smile. Giulia pays and tucks everything into her cloth bag. She strolls between stalls, also buying fresh bread and mozzarella. Back home, Giulia prepares a caprese salad with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. It's simple yet delicious.
Vocabulary recap
Reading Comprehension Exercise
A1 Italian Reading Comprehension Exercises
1. Where does Giulia go on Saturday morning?
Correct: To the market
Giulia goes to the Campo de' Fiori market, a famous place in Rome known for its colorful and lively stalls.
2. What does Giulia buy at the market?
Correct: Tomatoes and peppers
Giulia buys a kilo of tomatoes and half a kilo of red peppers, among other things.
3. What is the seller's gift?
Correct: Basil
The seller offers Giulia a bunch of fresh basil as a gift.
4. How does Giulia describe the tomatoes?
Correct: Red and fragrant
The tomatoes are described as red and fragrant, suggesting freshness and quality.
5. What does Giulia prepare when she gets home?
Correct: A caprese salad
Giulia prepares a caprese salad with the tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil she bought.
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Mini-lesson complete
You understood 5 of 5 questions.
That is 129 real Italian words read in context.
- ✓ 129 words read
- 6 new expressions
- 2 grammar patterns
- A1 level unlocked
- ○ Narration ready
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