TV series are an effective and enjoyable way to learn and improve your level of Italian.
Scene after scene, you learn new vocabulary, expressions, idioms and learn how context shapes the language – all while immersing yourself in the Italian culture.
It’s time to get comfortable: Boil some tea, press the play button and start learning Italian, episode for episode.
Beginner level (A1 – A2)
Un Medico in Famiglia
What it’s about: It’s one of the most successful Italian TV shows of all time. It tells stories about the everyday-life of the Martini family in an easy and entertaining way: father Lele, a widower and doctor, his three children – Maria, Ciccio and Annuccia – and finally the unforgettable grand-father Libero
This series portrays the joys and the challenges of family life in a warm and accessible manner, captivating audiences over many seasons.
- Genre: Family comedy
- Setting: Rome, present day
- Seasons: 10 (1998 – 2016)
Why watch it: It’s ideal for those just starting to learn Italian due to its simple dialogues, the clear rhythm and the family situations making everything easy to follow. It’s perfect for expanding your everyday vocabulary and improving your listening comprehension.
Tutti Pazzi per Amore
What it’s about: The series tells the love story of Paolo and Laura, two separated parents with opposite personalities who live, with their children, in two apartments near each other, in the same building.
The special thing about the series is the musical moments, where the characters sing famous Italian songs, mixing music and story in an original way.
- Genre: Romantic, family comedy
- Setting: Rome, present day
- Seasons: 3 (2008 – 2012)
Why watch it: It’s very fun series, perfect as a start to learn everyday Italian vocabulary in a simple and easy way.
La mafia uccide solo d’estate
What it’s about: It’s the story of the Giammarresi family in Palermo at the end of the 1970s, told from the point of view of the youngest at home, Salvatore. The family faces the normal problems of everyday life, but everything becomes more complicated because of the presence of Cosa Nostra.
A series that mixes real news events and imagined stories, with the goal of reflecting on how the mafia affects everyday life.
- Genre: Drama, comedy
- Setting: Palermo, late ’70s and early ’80s
- Seasons: 2 (2016 – 2018)
Why watch it: This series has quite clear Italian, with many typical Sicilian expressions. There is also a narrator, who guides the viewer through the story, making it easier and more engaging to understand what is happening.
Don Matteo
The series is about Don Matteo, a wise and charismatic priest who lives in a small village in Umbria, who is played by Terence Hill. He takes care of his community but also helps the local Carabinieri to solve mysteries and crimes, using his intuition and deep understanding of people. With him is Marshal Nino Cecchini, a lovely and comical character played by Nino Frassica, and together they make a duo, which is very loved by the audiences.
Every episode mixes detective stories, comedy, and moral reflections, telling stories about redemption and solidarity.
- Genre: Comedy
- Setting: Umbria, present day
- Seasons: 14 (2000 – now)
Why watch it: Don Matteo speaks simple and clear Italian, very good for people who just started learning the language. Also, the series shows different ways of speaking, from the more formal words of the Carabinieri to the more familiar talk of people in a small Italian village
Che Dio ci aiuti
What it’s about: Sister Angela, who has a difficult past, lives in a convent that welcomes girls in trouble. She spends her days helping the young girls – especially Giulia, Margherita, and Azzurra – giving advice and support about feelings, morality, and everyday life. With her is Sister Costanza, a motherly and helpful companion, leading often to funny fights between the two because of their different personalities.
- Genre: Comedy
- Setting: Different Italian cities, present day
- Seasons: 8 (2011 – 2025)
Why watch it: It’s a series with clear and standard Italian, no strong accents and good for beginners. The different settings – convent, group homes, more formal situations – let’s you take a first step into different registers.
Guida astrologica per cuori infranti
What it’s about: Tired of complicated relationships and love problems, Alice decides to trust astrology to fix her heart issues. It’s a journey to discover herself, told with irony and lightness.
- Genre: Romantic comedy
- Setting: Rome and other Italian cities, today
- Seasons: 2 (2021 – 2022)
Why watch it: A funny and light series, good for people who want to learn everyday expressions and vocabulary about relationships and daily life.
Intermediary level (B1 – B2)
Skam Italia
What it’s about: Skam Italia follows the everyday life of a group of teenagers going to high school in Rome.
Each season is told from the point of view of a different character and talks about current topics like identity, sexual orientation, anxiety, religion, and of course the joys and difficulties of friendship and first loves.
- Genre: Teen drama
- Setting: Rome, today
- Seasons: 6 (2018 – 2023)
Why watch it: The series uses colloquial Italian and it’s perfect for people who want to see how (and about what) teenagers talk in Italy. It also talks about universal topics in a direct and easy way, making it easier to follow the story and understand how the characters interact.
Call My Agent – Italia
What’s it about: The series tells the story of a few agents at CMA, a talent agency in Rome, who face challenges at work, personal lives, unexpected problems and office rivalries.
- Genre: Comedy
- Setting: Rome, present day
- Seasons: 2 (2023– ongoing)
Why watch it: Call My Agent, characterized by lively and brilliant dialogues, is a perfect entry to a modern, authentic Italian. The appearance of guest stars from the Italian entertainment world, who play themselves, offer an opportunity to hear different accents and references to Italian cinema, television and modern Italian culture.
The Young Pope
What it’s about: The series, directed by Paolo Sorrentino, tells the story of Lenny Belardo, played by Jude Law, a young American man who is elected pope and takes the name Pius XIII. At first, the older clerics think they can control the new pope, but he surprises everyone with his conservative understanding of faith and his often unpredictable decisions.
- Genre: Drama
- Setting: Vatican City, present day
- Seasons: 1 season (2016) + 1 sequel, The New Pope (2020)
Why watch it: The series is ideal for everyone who wants to get to know elegant and sophisticated Italian, full of deep reflections and slow dialogues, both clear and full of meaning. Even though the original language is English, you can watch it with Italian dubbing or subtitles to improve your listening comprehension.
I Medici – Masters of Florence
What it’s about: Set in Renaissance Florence, I Medici – Masters of Florence – an Anglo-Italian production with Richard Madden and Dustin Hoffman – tells the story of the Medici family. It starts with Cosimo de’ Medici and in the following seasons focuses on Lorenzo the Magnificent, following his rise filled with conspiracies, enemies, and struggles to keep power.
- Genre: Historical drama
- Setting: Florence, 1400s
- Seasons: 3 (2016 – 2019)
Why watch it: The series uses formal language, but not too difficult, full of vocabulary about politics and art, with well-structured dialogues and many references to historical events of the time. Even if the original version is in English, it can be very useful to watch it with Italian subtitles or dubbing.
Generazione 56K
What it’s about: The adventures of three friends, between the changes of adolescence and the arrival of the Internet in Procida in the 1990s, mix with their adult lives in Naples today. When Daniel and Marta meet by chance after years apart, memories from the past come back in the present.
- Genre: Comedy
- Setting: Procida, ’90s – Naples, today
- Seasons: 1 (2021)
Why watch it: The Italian in Generazione 56K is perfect for learning everyday language, ideal to learn expressions about personal relationships and to get used to different accents.
Tutto chiede salvezza
What it’s about: Based on the novel by Daniele Mencarelli, this series tells the story of Daniele, who, after a dark moment, wakes up in the psychiatric ward of a clinic where he will stay for a week. Isolated from the outside world, he begins to connect with the other patients and confront his own past.
- Genre: Drama
- Setting: Rome and Anzio, today
- Seasons: 2 (2022 – 2024)
Why watch it: The characters speak authentic, everyday Italian, useful for anyone who wants to improve listening skills and learn vocabulary about emotions and human relationships.
La legge di Lidia Poët
What it’s about: Inspired by the true story of Lidia Poët, the first woman to be officially allowed to practice law in Italy, the series follows the young woman as she faces complex legal cases and fights for her rights, challenging the social rules of the time.
- Genre: Historical, mystery, romantic
- Setting: Turin, late 1800s
- Seasons: 2 (2023 – ongoing)
Why watch it: If you want to get into formal Italian, high-level language, court and legal settings, this series is perfect for you.
Odio il Natale
What’s it about: Gianna is a thirty-year-old nurse, who has 24 days to find a boyfriend that she can introduce to her family on Christmas Eve. The series explores the doubts and hopes of a young woman, with unusual dates, nights out with friends, and existential crises.
- Genere: Comedy
- Ambientazione: Chioggia, present day
- Seasons: 2 (2022 – 2023)
Why watch it: Due to its spontaneous and funny dialogues the series is perfect for all who want to hear colloquial Italian and at the same time expand their vocabulary regarding topics like family, relationships and feelings.
Il Baracchino
What it’s about: Once a big point of reference for stand-up comedy, now Il Baracchino is almost closing. Claudia convinces Maurizio, the disappointed owner, to ask some comedians for help and organize a show night to bring the place back to life.
- Genre: Animation, comedy
- Setting: Unknown, today
- Seasons: 1 (2025)
Why watch it: With fast dialogues and wordplays, Il Baracchino is perfect to train your listening and get used to very different ways of speaking, which change from character to character.
Advanced level (C1)
M – Il figlio del secolo
What it’s about: M – Il figlio del secolo follows the rise to power of Benito Mussolini and the foundation of the Fascist Party in the 1920s, showing the political and social climate of Italy at that time.
The event series is directed by Joe Wright, the director of Atonement and Darkest Hour, and is based on the novel by Antonio Scurati, winner of the Strega Prize.
- Genre: Historical drama
- Setting: Milan, Rome, and other important places for the events, 1919 – 1925
- Seasons: 1 (2025)
Why watch it: A series that shows many different accents and linguistic registers, perfect for anyone who wants to learn vocabulary about politics and Italian society of that period.
Boris
What’s it about: Considered a cult series, Boris tells the surreal stories that happen behind the scenes of an Italian TV show — with frustrated directors, eccentric actors, and confused assistants. It’s a sharp satire about the world of Italian television.
- Genre: Comedy, satire
- Setting: Rome, present day
- Seasons: 3 (2007 – 2010) + 1 special season (2022)
Why watch it: It’s the perfect series to learn colloquial Italian, some Roman slang, and vocabulary connected to the TV industry and creative work.
L’amica geniale
What it’s about: Based on Elena Ferrante’s novels, this event series chronicles the friendship between two girls named Elena and Lila as they grow up in a low-income Naples neighborhood. The two women have a strong and enduring bond that keeps them together even though their lives take different turns during adolescence and adulthood.
The series touches on topics like women’s emancipation, family, and the struggles of poverty, all set against the background of Italy between the 1950s and 1980s.
- Genre: Drama
- Setting: Naples and other Italian cities, the 1950s through the 1980s
- Seasons: 4 (2018–2024)
Why watch it: This series is excellent for examining the blending of standard Italian and dialect if you already speak the language well. The conversations in the series are full of organic, everyday expressions, making them ideal for expanding your vocabulary related to relationships and daily life.
What it’s about: Tear Along the Dotted Line follows the adventures and thoughts of Zerocalcare, the alter ego of the comic artist who created the series. Mixing irony and melancholy, it talks about friendship, personal growth, and that constant feeling of not being enough — all in a very honest and straightforward way.
- Genre: Animation, drama, comedy
- Setting: Rebibbia, a neighborhood in Rome, present day
- Seasons: 1 (2021)
Why watch it: It’s perfect for learners who already have a solid level of Italian and want to get closer to real spoken language, especially expressions and slang from the Roman dialect.
Il Gattopardo
What it’s about: Il Gattopardo tells the story of Fabrizio Salina, a Sicilian nobleman who refuses to accept the decline of the aristocracy and the rise of a new social class, along with the story of his family.
It’s a reflection on the political and social changes of 19th-century Italy, based on the famous novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa.
- Genre: Historical drama
- Setting: Sicily, second half of the 1800s
- Seasons: 1 (2025)
Why watch it: The Italian used in this period series is elegant and literary, with touches of Sicilian. The dialogues offer more formal and refined language, but also with everyday expressions here and there — great for understanding how different linguistic registers work.
Expert level – Italian dialects
Il commissario Montalbano
What it’s about: Based on the stories by Andrea Camilleri, Inspector Montalbano is one of the most popular Italian TV series. In every episode, Salvo Montalbano has to deal with a new case to solve — and also with his own personal troubles.
- Genre: Crime / Detective
- Setting: Vigata, Sicily
- Seasons: 15 seasons (1999 – 2021)
Why watch it: Because the series gives you great exposure to real spoken Italian, with dialogues full of different expressions, idioms, and varying registers. The show mixes standard Italian with some typical (simplified) Sicilian phrases, which makes it perfect for anyone who wants to enrich their vocabulary and get a deeper feeling for Italian language and culture, especially the regional side of it.
Suburra
What it’s about: The show, inspired by real political scandals, tells about the war between rival gangs, corrupt politicians, and church members for the control of Rome, dragging some young people into their schemes and power games.
- Genre: Drama
- Setting: Rome, present day
- Seasons: 3 seasons (2017 – 2020)
Why watch it: If you want to hear natural, unfiltered Italian, full of slang and different accents, especially the Roman one — Suburra is the perfect show for you.
Romanzo criminale
What it’s about: Directed by Stefano Sollima and based on Giancarlo De Cataldo’s novel, Romanzo Criminale tells the story of the Banda della Magliana, a criminal gang born in the outskirts of Rome in the mid-1970s, known for its involvements in famous events of Italian history, from the Bologna bombing to the kidnapping of Aldo Moro.
- Genre: Drama, Noir, Crime
- Setting: Rome, 1970s–1990s
- Seasons: 2 seasons (2008 – 2010)
Why to watch it: The Italian in Romanzo Criminale mixes casual and slang expressions, typical of the Roman dialect, with standard Italian phrases. The dialogues, which are often intense, show how people talk differently depending if they are friends, criminals, or police.
Gomorra
What it’s about: Gomorra, a landmark series directed by Stefano Sollima, tells about the internal wars between the Camorra clans in Naples, particularly the Savastano family.
The series is based on the investigative book by Roberto Saviano, a journalist who has been involved in the fight against the Camorra for years.
- Genre: Drama
- Setting: Naples, present day
- Seasons: 5 seasons (2014 – 2021)
Why watch it: The series is an excellent choice for those who are interested in discovering the nuances of Neapolitan dialect. It’s also useful for understanding how the language can change depending on the character’s personality, age, district and role within the clan.