From sunny Italia to Wroclaw – is this a shocking change? Not really, since we have here such a great Italian community. Salvatore has already started his Polish adventure, so we asked him a few questions about how it is going. Check out where you can get a real Italian pizza and what does he miss the most while living in Poland…

 

You have just arrived to Wroclaw and you have never been to Poland before, so you can offer a fresh perspective. What was the first thing that caught you eye?

Poland – and Wroclaw in particular – appear to be in a dynamic development stage: new buildings are rising alongside beautiful historical places. I have found here liveliness and vibrant economic activity. It's like assisting the birth of a relatively new country which it's taking its rightful place in Europe.
 

Is Wroclaw a coincidence or a destination? We are more used to the situation when people travel outside Poland, like to Italy, for instance.

Wrocław is a destination. I've been offered a very good job opportunity, and so I will have the opportunity to enjoy this city for a while.
 

You land in Wroclaw and…. What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about the new city?

The first impression of Wroclaw is that its heart – Rynek or the Main Square – is very small in comparison to the size of the city. This is a very nice feature for me: it combines the variety of a large city and the comfort of being able to find everything you want within the distance you can make on foot.
 

Did you have any problems at the beginning of your stay?

Nothing in particular. Of course, Polish language is something to get used to, but that's typical to every foreign destination. However, I believe that Wroclaw is well-prepared to host foreigners.
 

You are living now in a different language – how do you cope with that? Is Wroclaw really an international city where you can communicate freely with everyone?

Polish language is intimidating for a latin-language speaker. It is really easy to communicate with everyone in the city center and in popular locations, but this is not always the case in other parts of the city.  I would say that Wroclaw is in the process of becoming an international city.
 

As for the 'international character' of Wroclaw, there are a lot of foreigners who live here, and many parties are organized especially for them. Do you take part in such events? Do you look for foreign, Italian friends on Facebook groups, for instance?

Yes, I got involved in one international community where foreigners from all over the world meet to share the Wrocław experience. I look for foreigners actively, both Italians and those from other countries. 
 

A lot of Wroclaw's restaurants advertise saying that they offer traditional Italian cuisine. Have you been to any of those places? What were your impressions?

Yes, the “Galleria Italiana” is the main destination for Italian food. There are three pure Italian restaurants which offer good quality, traditional dishes. I would rate them above the average. One of them has also an ice-cream shop.
 

And now the question everyone loves to ask foreigners: what to you think about Polish cuisine? Any surprises there?

My knowledge of Polish cuisine is still very limited. I've noticed an intensive use of meat and cabbage, in the quantity which far exceeds that of my home country.
 

Have you found your favorite place in Wroclaw? A place to party, or just where you like to sit down and rest?

There are many places for different occasions. For a good, relaxing, and tasty evening I would go to Milano più on Swidnicka Street. Afterwards – for a drink and a party I would get to Plac Solny with its many good clubs and a touch of romance thanks to awlays-open flower street shops.
 

Is there anything about Poland you think you can never get used to?

Given that Polish language takes some time to get accustomed to, the real drawback, from my perspective, is the freezing winter. In my home country we almost never go below zero degrees.
 

What do you miss the most while living in Poland?

My answer here is easy: the beach. The Odra River cannot compare with the warm, southern Italian shores I left behind.