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Dopo l'invito, ci si siede a tavola.

Dopo l'invito, ci si siede a tavola.
After the invitation, one sits at the table.
From Lesson 174:Impersonal reflexives (ci si)·Italian

Questions & Answers about Dopo l'invito, ci si siede a tavola.

Why do we use ci si instead of just si here?
The verb is sedersi (to sit), which is reflexive. When making a reflexive verb impersonal, putting the impersonal si next to the reflexive si would create the awkward-sounding si si siede. To fix this, Italian changes the first si to ci, giving us ci si siede.
Why is the verb siede in the singular? Doesn't this sentence refer to a group of people sitting down?
Yes, it implies people in general, but the impersonal si (or ci si) acts as a singular subject. Just like we say "one sits" in English rather than "one sit", Italian uses the third-person singular form of the verb.
Why is it a tavola without an article, instead of al tavolo?
A tavola is a specific expression meaning "at the dinner table" or sitting down to eat a meal. If you were sitting at a table to do homework, play a game, or just wait, you would say al tavolo (which includes the article).
Could I say dopo di l'invito?
No, you use the preposition dopo by itself when it is followed by a noun, like l'invito. You only add di when dopo is followed by a personal pronoun, such as dopo di me (after me) or dopo di noi (after us).

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