Alex Learns Italian Naturally (B1–B2) https://alexlearns.com/italian/naturally/ en-us © 2026 Alex Learns Natural spoken Italian through stories about Italy, its culture, history, food, and everyday life. Free show notes at https://alexlearns.com/italian/naturally/. https://media.alexlearns.com/italian/naturally/cover.png Alex Learns Italian Naturally | Alex Learns https://alexlearns.com/italian/naturally/ Alex Learns Natural spoken Italian through stories about Italy, its culture, history, food, and everyday life. Natural spoken Italian through stories about Italy, its culture, history, food, and everyday life. Free transcripts and notes where available: https://alexlearns.com/italian/naturally/ false serial Alex Learns podcast@alexlearns.com no learn Italian, Italian podcast, Italian listening practice, Alex Learns, B1–B2 Emilia-Romagna: The Road Born from War | B1–B2 – Ep. 1 https://alexlearns.com/italian/naturally/emilia-romagna/ alexlearns-italian-s01e01-emilia-romagna Thu, 23 Jul 2026 04:50:00 +0000 Matteo follows the Via Emilia from Roman conquest to rival cities, food, industry, and identity. Intermediate Italian listening practice through a strong historical story. Show notes: https://alexlearns.com/italian/naturally/emilia-romagna/. Matteo follows the Via Emilia from Roman conquest to rival cities, food, industry, and identity. Intermediate Italian listening practice through a strong historical story.

You will hear about:

  • the Roman conquest of the Po Valley
  • the construction of the Via Emilia
  • Piacenza, Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna, Forlì, Cesena, Rimini, and Ravenna
  • the historical difference between Emilia and Romagna
  • Ravenna and the final centuries of the Roman Empire
  • the Po Valley and the Apennines
  • Parmigiano Reggiano, prosciutto di Parma, tortellini, and piadina
  • motor companies, ceramics, and specialized industry
  • campanilismo, civic rivalry, and regional identity

Show notes: https://alexlearns.com/italian/naturally/emilia-romagna/

]]> Emilia-Romagna: The Road Born from War | B1–B2 – Ep. 1 Rome, the Via Emilia, and rival cities — a B1–B2 Italian listening story Matteo follows the Via Emilia from Roman conquest to rival cities, food, industry, and identity. Intermediate Italian listening practice through a strong historical story. Show notes: https://alexlearns.com/italian/naturally/emilia-romagna/. 17:35 1 1 full false Emilia-Romagna, learn Italian, Italian listening practice, Alex Learns Veneto: Start with Venice, Then Go Beyond | B1–B2 – Ep. 2 https://alexlearns.com/italian/naturally/veneto/ alexlearns-italian-s01e02-veneto Thu, 23 Jul 2026 05:10:00 +0000 Matteo starts in Venice, then crosses to the terraferma: Verona, Padova, Vicenza, Treviso, industry, wine, mountains, and the idea that Veneto is a network of places — not one famous city. Show notes: https://alexlearns.com/italian/naturally/veneto/. Matteo starts in Venice, then crosses to the terraferma: Verona, Padova, Vicenza, Treviso, industry, wine, mountains, and the idea that Veneto is a network of places — not one famous city.

You will hear about:

  • why Venice is the worst place to stop if you want to understand Veneto
  • Verona, Padova, Vicenza, Treviso, Belluno, and Rovigo
  • lagoon, plain, hills, and the Dolomites
  • the terraferma and Venetian power on the mainland
  • Palladio’s villas and wealth moving inland
  • postwar industry and family businesses
  • campanilismo and local identity
  • bacari, cicchetti, ombra, polenta, Prosecco, and Amarone
  • tourism pressure on living Venice

Show notes: https://alexlearns.com/italian/naturally/veneto/

]]> Veneto: Start with Venice, Then Go Beyond | B1–B2 – Ep. 2 Venice, the mainland, and a network of cities — B1–B2 Italian listening Matteo starts in Venice, then crosses to the terraferma: Verona, Padova, Vicenza, Treviso, industry, wine, mountains, and the idea that Veneto is a network of places — not one famous city. Show notes: https://alexlearns.com/italian/naturally/veneto/. 14:55 2 1 full false Veneto, learn Italian, Italian listening practice, Alex Learns Abruzzo: Italy’s First Capital Was Not Rome | B1–B2 – Ep. 3 https://alexlearns.com/italian/naturally/abruzzo/ alexlearns-italian-s01e03-abruzzo Thu, 23 Jul 2026 06:35:00 +0000 Giovanni tells the story of Abruzzo from Corfinium — the rebel capital that put the name Italia on its coins — to Ovid, Celestine V, mountain life, regional food, and L’Aquila’s 2009 earthquake and reconstruction. Show notes: https://alexlearns.com/italian/naturally/abruzzo/. Giovanni tells the story of Abruzzo from Corfinium — the rebel capital that put the name Italia on its coins — to Ovid, Celestine V, mountain life, regional food, and L’Aquila’s 2009 earthquake and reconstruction.

You will hear about:

  • the Social War and why Rome’s Italian allies rebelled
  • Corfinium, the rebel capital that used the name Italia
  • L’Aquila, Pescara, Chieti, Teramo, and Sulmona
  • Ovid, exile, and the Metamorphoses
  • Celestine V, the hermit who became pope and resigned
  • the Gran Sasso, Maiella, national parks, and transhumance
  • arrosticini, saffron, pasta alla chitarra, trabocchi, and confetti
  • the modern economy, the coast, and mountain depopulation
  • the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake, solidarity, and reconstruction

Show notes: https://alexlearns.com/italian/naturally/abruzzo/

]]> Abruzzo: Italy’s First Capital Was Not Rome | B1–B2 – Ep. 3 Corfinium, the name Italia, and a mountain region’s story — B1–B2 Italian listening Giovanni tells the story of Abruzzo from Corfinium — the rebel capital that put the name Italia on its coins — to Ovid, Celestine V, mountain life, regional food, and L’Aquila’s 2009 earthquake and reconstruction. Show notes: https://alexlearns.com/italian/naturally/abruzzo/. 17:57 3 1 full false Abruzzo, learn Italian, Italian listening practice, Alex Learns