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Questi percorsi nella Campania antica sono pittoreschi.

Questi percorsi nella Campania antica sono pittoreschi.
These routes in ancient Campania are picturesque.
From Lesson 365:Modified regions (nell'Italia del Sud)·Italian

Questions & Answers about Questi percorsi nella Campania antica sono pittoreschi.

Why is it nella Campania instead of just in Campania?
Normally, Italian uses just the preposition in without an article for regions (like in Campania). However, when a region is modified by an adjective or a specific phrase—here, antica—you must add the definite article. So, in + la combines to make nella.
Would it be wrong to say alla Campania antica instead of nella Campania antica?
Yes, it would be incorrect. Italian strictly uses in (and its articulated forms like nella) for regions, countries, and continents. The preposition a (and forms like alla) is reserved for cities, towns, and small islands.
Why does pittoreschi have an "h" in it?
The singular form is pittoresco. In Italian, most words ending in -co add an "h" in the masculine plural to maintain the hard "k" sound, changing the ending to -chi. Since it modifies the masculine plural noun percorsi, we must use pittoreschi.
Could antica go before Campania, as in nell'antica Campania?
While adjectives can sometimes precede nouns for a poetic or emotional effect, placing antica after Campania is the standard choice here. Putting it after the noun provides a factual, distinguishing specification, separating the ancient era of the region from the modern one.

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