Sundays in Italy

In Italy, most stores are closed on Sundays and it's the big day to go out for lunch with family or friends. Many restaurants will be full, especially in the countryside, and Sunday lunches usually last two or three hours.

Today we enjoyed lunch at one of our Lunigiana region favorites, Osteria Boccondivino. The meal started with a complimentary taste of prosecco and a fettuna with very good olive oil. For our first course, we enjoyed a farro soup in a bread bowl and an artichoke ravioli with pear and pine nuts. Our meat course was a Cinta Senese pork chop and a duck breast in a blood orange sauce served with tasty potatoes and carrots. We finished by sharing a delicious chocolate dessert.

So what did this meal cost? Including a full bottle of wine, a bottle of mineral water, and an espresso, the bill came to €52 or about $78. In Italy, the bill includes tax and service, too.

Earlier at the bar our bill came to €4.90 for a cappuccino, tea, and two pastries. In our area we can sit at a table without incurring an extra charge, but be careful in tourist areas and in larger cities where there's often an extra charge for a table. In any Italian city the average price of an espresso at the bar is still less than one euro, but a little more if you sit at a table.

Related Italy Travel: Eating out in Italy | Italian Bars | How to Order Italian Coffee Drinks