Learn Hardcore Italian: Il teatro in centro non è lontano da casa mia; potremmo andarci a piedi. - The theater downtown is not far from my house; we could go there on foot.

in centro is a fixed locative expression meaning “downtown” or “in the city centre.” In Italian, certain place‐related phrases drop the article (compare in città, in campagna, in montagna). Although nel centro (“in the centre”) exists, it usually means “in the exact middle (of something)” rather than “downtown.”

What does potremmo mean and why is the conditional used here instead of the present tense?

potremmo is the first‐person plural present conditional of potere (“to be able to”). It means “we could” or “we might,” and it’s softer—more polite or hypothetical—than the straight present possiamo (“we can/we are able to”). Using the conditional here makes it a suggestion rather than a blunt statement of ability.

What is the function of ci in andarci? What does it refer to?

ci is a locative pronoun meaning “there.” It refers back to il teatro in centro. So andarci literally means “to go there,” i.e. “to go to the theatre.”

Why does ci attach to the infinitive andare, forming andarci, instead of appearing before the conjugated verb (for example, ci andiamo)?

After modal verbs or expressions like potremmo, object and locative pronouns typically attach to the following infinitive: potremmo andarci. If you said ci andiamo, you’d be using the present indicative (“we go there”) rather than forming a polite suggestion with the conditional.

Why is it da casa mia instead of dalla mia casa?

Both forms are grammatically correct, but da casa mia is more idiomatic when indicating origin from one’s home. It’s shorter and more colloquial. dalla mia casa (“from my house”) is a more literal or formal alternative, formed by da + la → dalla.

What does a piedi literally mean, and why is it used here?

a piedi literally means “on foot” or “by walking.” Italian often expresses modes of movement with a + plural noun: a piedi, a cavallo, a nuoto, etc. Here it tells us how we could go to the theatre.

What is the difference between a piedi and in piedi?

a piedi = “on foot,” indicating how you travel.
in piedi = “standing (up),” indicating position.
Don’t confuse them: you andare a piedi (go by foot) but stare in piedi (stand).

What is the purpose of the semicolon in this sentence? Could I use a comma or a conjunction instead?

The semicolon links two independent but related clauses, giving a stronger pause than a comma but keeping them in one sentence. You could replace it with e (“and”):
“Il teatro in centro non è lontano da casa mia e potremmo andarci a piedi.”
A simple comma would be grammatically weak here, since each clause has its own verb.