Di sera leggo in poltrona.

In Italian, di + part of the day / time expression is often used to talk about a habitual time when something happens.

So di sera means:

• in the evening
• in the evenings
• at night in some contexts, depending on meaning

It is not usually translated word-for-word as of evening. It is just a natural Italian time expression, similar to:

• di mattina = in the morning
• di pomeriggio = in the afternoon
• di notte = at night

In this sentence, di sera suggests a routine or usual time.

Because di sera is a fixed adverbial expression. Italian often uses di + noun without an article in expressions of time or manner.

So:

• di sera = in the evening
• di notte = at night
• di giorno = during the day / by day

Using della sera would usually change the meaning and sound much less natural here. Della sera would normally refer to of the evening in a more literal or specific sense, not the everyday time expression used in this sentence.

Because Italian usually drops subject pronouns when they are not needed.

The verb leggo already tells you the subject is I, because it is the first person singular form of leggere.

• leggo = I read / I am reading

So io is optional. You would add io mainly for:

• emphasis
• contrast
• clarity

For example:

• Io leggo, lui guarda la TV. = I read, he watches TV.

In a neutral sentence like this, leggo alone is completely natural.

Leggo is present tense.

In Italian, the present tense can cover both:

• I read
• I am reading

The exact meaning depends on context.

In Di sera leggo in poltrona, the most natural interpretation is habitual:

• In the evening / In the evenings, I read in an armchair.

So here it sounds more like I read as a usual activity, not necessarily I am reading right now.

Because in poltrona is the usual Italian way to say in an armchair or sitting in an armchair.

Italian often uses in with places or positions where someone is situated, even when English uses in or on differently.

• in poltrona = in an armchair
• in macchina = in the car
• in ufficio = at the office / in the office

Sulla poltrona would literally mean on the armchair, focusing more on physical position on top of it. That is possible in some contexts, but it is not the normal phrasing here.

Poltrona usually means armchair or easy chair.

It is different from:

• sedia = chair
• divano = sofa / couch

So leggo in poltrona gives the idea of reading while comfortably seated in an armchair.

Yes, Italian word order is flexible.

This sentence begins with Di sera to set the time first:

• Di sera leggo in poltrona.

This is very natural. But other orders are also possible, for example:

• Leggo in poltrona di sera.
• In poltrona leggo di sera.

The meaning stays similar, but the focus changes a little:

• Di sera... emphasizes when
• In poltrona... emphasizes where
• Leggo... is a more neutral start with the action first

The original version sounds smooth and natural because it starts with the time expression and then gives the action.

Grammatically, sera is singular, but the expression can have either a general singular sense or a habitual plural sense.

So di sera can mean:

• in the evening in a general sense
• in the evenings when talking about a routine

In this sentence, most learners should understand it as a habitual expression:

• In the evenings, I read in an armchair.

Italian often uses the singular in this kind of general time phrase.

Sometimes you may hear alla sera, but di sera is the more common and more standard choice in a sentence like this.

For a learner, it is safest to use:

• di mattina
• di pomeriggio
• di sera
• di notte

These are very common and natural for talking about when something usually happens.

It sounds mainly like a habit or repeated action.

That comes from two things:

1. di sera often suggests a usual time
2. the present tense in Italian often describes routines

So the sentence gives the idea:

• In the evening / In the evenings, I read in an armchair.

If you wanted to describe something happening right now, you would usually need more context.

Yes, leggere can be used without stating the object if the meaning is general.

So leggo here means:

• I read
• I do some reading

Italian, like English, often leaves out the object when it is obvious or unimportant.

Compare:

• Di sera leggo in poltrona. = In the evenings I read in an armchair.
• Di sera leggo un romanzo. = In the evenings I read a novel.

Both are correct. The first one just focuses on the activity itself.

You could say:

• Ogni sera leggo in poltrona.

That means Every evening I read in an armchair.

Compared with di sera:

• di sera = a general habitual time expression, slightly broader
• ogni sera = explicitly every evening

Both are natural, but ogni sera is more precise.