To describe where buildings and places are located in a town, Italian uses complex prepositions. These are location words that require an additional short preposition—usually a (to/at) or da (from)—to connect them to the landmark.
Prepositions with "A"
Most common prepositions of place pair with a. Remember that when a is followed by a definite article (like il, la, lo), they combine into one word (e.g., a + il = al, a + la = alla).
Here are the key location phrases that use a:
- vicino a (near / close to)
- dietro a (behind)
- davanti a (in front of)
- di fronte a (opposite / across from)
| The bookstore is near the bank. | La libreria è vicino alla banca. |
| The bakery is behind the town hall. | Il panificio è dietro al municipio. |
| I am waiting for the bus in front of the museum. | Aspetto l'autobus davanti al museo. |
| The cinema is opposite the bookstore. | Il cinema è di fronte alla libreria. |
Far From: Lontano da
While most spatial prepositions use a, the word for "far"—lontano—pairs with da (from). Like a, da will combine with definite articles, though it is frequently used with words like qui (here) which do not require an article.
| The hospital is far from here. | L'ospedale è lontano da qui. |
| The supermarket is not far from here. | Il supermercato non è lontano da qui. |
Giving Directions
When giving directions around these landmarks, you will often need to tell someone to turn. Use the verb girare (to turn).
Helpful vocabulary for navigating includes:
- l'angolo (the corner)
- la fermata (the stop, such as a bus stop)
| You must turn the corner to find the bakery. | Devi girare l'angolo per trovare il panificio. |
| The town hall is near the stop, we have to turn here. | Il municipio è vicino alla fermata, dobbiamo girare qui. |
