Story in Italian, level C2
Dante at the office in Florence
Felix needs one final stamp to register as a resident.
Watch the video, 53 secondsSopra lo sportello qualcuno ha scritto a penna:
Above the counter someone has written in pen:
«Lasciate ogni speranza, voi ch’entrate.»
"Leave all hope behind, you who enter."
Felix prende il numero e si siede. Davanti a lui, mezza Firenze.
Felix takes a number and sits down. Half of Florence is ahead of him.
Tre ore, due moduli e una marca da bollo dopo, l’impiegata gli timbra finalmente il foglio.
Three hours, two forms and a tax stamp later, the clerk finally stamps his paper.
Quando esce, fuori è già buio. Felix alza gli occhi al cielo:
When he leaves, it is already dark. Felix looks up at the sky:
«E quindi uscimmo a riveder le stelle.»
"And so we went out to see the stars again."
Dante's final Inferno line turns leaving into an escape.
E quindi uscimmo a riveder le stelle.
And so we went out to see the stars again.
Tip
Alzare gli occhi al cielo can mean looking skyward or rolling your eyes. Here both readings fit.
Which quotation fits your last visit to an official office? Tell us in Italian in the comments.
