Italian Short Stories for Beginners and Intermediate Learners
Welcome to our collection of short stories in Italian for learners from A1 to B2.
The first texts you’ll find on this page are taken from our books (Pinocchio, The Decameron Stories, Pirandello for Learners): carefully selected and adapted stories designed to help you read in a natural and enjoyable way.
All stories follow the principles of extensive reading, but with different levels of support:
some are uninterrupted narratives that let you follow the plot without distractions; others include glossaries, cultural notes, or short comprehension exercises, to guide learners who prefer a bit of extra help.
You can read the stories in order, from easier to more advanced, or use the tags to filter by level (A1, A2, B1, B2) or genre (historical, humorous, mystery…).
New stories are added regularly. Pick one, relax, and let the Italian language speak to you through stories.
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A powerful love story unfolds as two young lovers are driven into exile by a ruthless landowner, set against one of the darkest chapters in Italian history—ravaged by war, plague, and famine. Through vivid characters and gripping events, the novel reveals the enduring strength of faith, hope, and the pursuit of justice.
A stubborn landowner, a precious jar, and a disastrous repair.
This witty tale by Pirandello offers a glimpse into rural Sicily and the absurdity of pride taken to the extreme.
Recommended for intermediate students (B1-B2), it is written in accessible Italian, with expressive language and vivid dialogue. A great way to immerse yourself in Italian humor through classic literature.
This is the real story of Pinocchio, written by Carlo Collodi and adapted for intermediate learners of Italian (B1–B2).
The text is a short excerpt from our full book, carefully rewritten to preserve the spirit of the original while making it accessible to language students.
A great way to explore a classic of Italian literature in clear and authentic Italian.
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A powerful adventure follows Sandokan, a legendary pirate torn between overwhelming love for Marianna and burning hatred toward his enemies. Driven by passion and revenge, he faces fierce battles and ruthless foes. Through love, hatred, and war, the novel tells a story of sacrifice, loyalty, and a relentless fight for freedom.
An evil man, determined to reach his goal, makes a deathbed confession that is as false as it is clever.
This short excerpt from The Decameron blends irony, sharp wit, and moral ambiguity in a story that still surprises readers today.
The downloadable PDF includes the full version with glossary, summary, and exercises — ideal for A2–B1 learners looking to explore classic Italian literature with guided support.
Marco wakes up late and panics—he's already late for work! He rushes through the house, skips breakfast, grabs his things, and runs to the office in a sweat. But something doesn’t feel right. The streets are quiet. The building is empty. Then Marco notices something that changes his whole morning.
A terrifying tale inspired by Guy de Maupassant and simplified for intermediate Italian learners. One evening, friends gather at Louis’ house. Pierre arrives with a dried human hand to scare away debt collectors. Strange knocks, fear, and nightmares follow. A chilling story about guilt, curses, and a restless ghostly hand.
This is not just a short story — it’s a small ebook written in simplified Italian for A2–B1 learners. Il mistero di Fastigliano is a complete story, full of suspense and atmosphere, designed to help students improve their reading skills in a natural and enjoyable way. You can download the entire text as a PDF and follow the mystery step by step.
In Renaissance Lucca, Ganfo the furrier decides to follow his doctor’s advice and travel to the thermal baths of Corsena. What should be a simple cure turns unexpectedly strange. Among unfamiliar faces and absurd fears, Ganfo finds himself caught in a confusion that grows more ridiculous with each step. A story that begins with illness and ends… well, not as you might expect. Perfect reading for Italian learners at A2-B1 level.
Every Tuesday, Carla goes to the pool with her granddaughter Sofia. Carla always stays dry, sitting by the water. She hasn’t entered a pool in many years. But one day, Sofia asks her to join her in the water. Carla hesitates. Something begins to change—slowly, step by step.
Matteo tries to steal a woman’s bag, but things don’t go as planned. Instead of calling the police, Rosa surprises him with kindness. This short story, written in easy Italian for beginners, shows how a small act of humanity can change someone’s path. Includes vocabulary notes for A1 learners.
Lorenzo lives a quiet, uneventful life—so uneventful that people literally fall asleep when he talks. Desperate to change, he tries everything to seem exciting. But the more he tries, the stranger things get. A humorous and unpredictable story about boredom, identity, and how even the most overlooked lives can take a bizarre turn.
Two artists leave the city for a quiet village, hoping for a peaceful life among flowers and hills. Everything seems perfect—until one of them falls seriously ill. As autumn approaches, only a single red rose remains in the garden. But the rose doesn’t fall. And neither does hope
Every first Monday of the month, in a quiet and orderly office, employees must write the name of a colleague on a blue sheet of paper. Riccardo is new and soon discovers the cold and ruthless side of that simple rule.
In a quiet town in Alabama, two would-be kidnappers believe they have found the perfect plan to get easy money. But nothing goes as expected. Between absurd situations and an uncontrollable child, their adventure turns into a mix of comedy and desperation.
An excellent reading opportunity for students of Italian at A2-B1 level.
In a chilly New York autumn, Soapy sits on a park bench and prepares for winter in his own way: by getting arrested. For him, prison on Blackwell’s Island means warmth, food, and rest. But as he tries one absurd plan after another, something unexpected happens. A story that blends irony and melancholy, set in a city that looks the other way.
December 1918. The war is over, and a tired soldier named Antonio arrives in a desolate mountain village. Hungry and alone, he finds not hostility but silence and emptiness. Yet from a simple idea—stone soup—he kindles something extraordinary. In a time of scarcity, his imagination turns cold kitchens into warmth, silence into music, and strangers into a community.
A short and easy story for beginners learning Italian
A man once gentle and loving descends into darkness, tormented by guilt, alcohol, and something more sinister. When a one-eyed cat returns from his past—or perhaps never left—his mind unravels. What begins as a confession becomes a psychological spiral of horror and doom. In this chilling tale, madness and remorse are as real as fur and blood.
In 13th-century Alexandria, where spices fill the air and food vendors line the streets, a hungry man finds comfort in the aroma rising from a cook’s pot. He tastes nothing—only the scent. But when the cook demands payment for the smell, the matter escalates to the Sultan himself. A tale of hunger, pride, and a curious debate about what is worth paying for.
Clelia wants a perfect beach photo for her social media. With Marta’s help, she prepares everything carefully. But something unexpected appears in the background, and the photo goes viral for the wrong reason. A light and funny story about appearances, friendship, and how plans can change in surprising ways.
Rayan has everything—wealth, fame, power—but feels an emptiness he can't explain. When a mysterious message leads him to a strange man and two objects that defy reality, his life changes forever. This story follows Rayan’s journey across the world and deep into himself, as he discovers what truly matters—and what he must give up to be free.
Gianni wants a new life and pretends to be a shoemaker. He meets Anna and falls in love. One day, a child gets locked inside a bank vault. To save her, Gianni uses his old thief tools. His past returns, but this time everything is different—and a new future begins.
This is a short story for A1 students. It’s a rainy day. Carla buys a yellow umbrella and goes to the pastry shop. But when she comes out, the umbrella is gone. She takes another one by mistake… and this small confusion leads to an unexpected meeting with a stranger.
Carmela and the Spider is a short and funny story. Carmela is terrified when she sees a spider in her kitchen. With help from a friend and a kind doctor, she slowly learns to face her fear. But just when things seem better, something unexpected makes her scream again.
This is a short story for A1 students. A woman has a date in a bar with a man she met online. They both love books. She arrives on time and starts talking to a man in a blue shirt. But while they talk, something feels a bit strange.
In the year 2736, cosmetic surgery no longer exists. Thanks to nanotechnology, people can replace any body part in minutes. Arturo, a man in his sixties, upgrades everything—his nose, hair, even his organs. But when things start to fail, he discovers that maybe the old version of himself wasn't so bad after all.
Toni Appacher, a famous violinist, returns home... twenty days after his funeral. As a ghost, he seeks shelter from his old friends, but no one wants him around. Rejected again and again, he discovers that even in death, there's no place for him among the living. A darkly ironic tale about fear, friendship, and the limits of hospitality.
Mocked, ignored, feared—Malpelo walks through life alone, his red hair a symbol of everything others refuse to understand. But behind the silence and anger lies a boy shaped by pain and injustice. His world is hard, unkind, and often cruel, yet full of strength. A powerful story about survival, perception, and the quiet resistance of those the world pretends not to see.
A dramatic story for intermediate students.
In medieval times, a powerful lord demands a large payment from an abbot for failing to care for his dogs. After the abbot’s pleas, the lord offers him a chance to avoid the payment by answering a series of impossible questions within a day. A clever miller steps in to help him.
What if the Eiffel Tower decided to take a holiday — and went to Rome?
This surreal and humorous story imagines the unexpected arrival of a world-famous monument in the Eternal City.
Written in light, vivid Italian, it’s a great read for A2–B1 learners who appreciate creative storytelling and playful imagination.
Spring has finally arrived, but the winter’s aches and pains still linger. Marcovaldo, sitting on a sunny bench, meets Mr. Rizieri, an old man tormented by rheumatism. Between tales of ailments and crumpled newspapers, they discover a curious remedy: bee venom. From that moment, Marcovaldo hatches a bizarre idea that, through homemade experiments and unexpected disasters, will turn his home into a real battlefield.
A man is tormented by a single letter — and slowly loses his grip on reality.
This short and surreal story plays with obsession, language, and madness.
Best suited for B2 learners, the language is accessible but abstract, ideal for students who enjoy eerie, psychological narratives with a literary twist.
This is a story that blends mystery, fear, and a touch of irony, unfolding in 19th-century Italy. A simple bone, forgotte
n for years, becomes the center of a strange and unexpected encounter between the world of the living and the realm of the dead. An atmospheric and gripping tale, perfect for intermediate students of Italian.
This short story by Igino Ugo Tarchetti (1839–1869) has been simplified and adapted for intermediate students
A boy walks ten miles to reach his sick father in a hospital in Naples. Day after day, he stays by his side, full of love and hope. But at the end of his long vigil, something incredible is revealed, changing everything he believed.
In Renaissance Florence, an elderly doctor tries to help a seriously ill woman by examining a urine sample. Due to a mishap, the servant accidentally replaces the sample with her own. This mistake leads to a series of amusing misunderstandings and unexpected revelations, ending in a surprising cure, a marriage, and a new discovery that will change many lives.
Mazzarò, a poor Sicilian farmer, devotes his entire life to accumulating land, livestock, and crops. His intelligence and hard work make him one of the richest men in the region. But when old age comes, he realizes that his beloved possessions cannot follow him into death. A quiet tragedy about the desperate attachment to material wealth.
Story adapted from "Novelle rusticane" by Giovanni Verga (1840–1922), simplified and rewritten for intermediate-advanced learners (B2-C1 level).
At the age of twelve, Stefano Roi dreams of sailing the seas, but a mysterious creature begins to follow him: the feared colombre. For years, Stefano lives torn between fear and fascination, crossing oceans under its shadow. Only in old age does he discover the truth behind the creature's pursuit — a revelation both wonderful and tragically too late.
At the end of a long working day, crowds fill the shops, eager to buy goods. Marcovaldo, who cannot afford anything, enters a supermarket with his family just to wander among the aisles. But the temptation to fill their carts becomes too strong. A chaotic adventure begins, leading them to an unexpected and daring solution...
Jeff Peters and Andy Tucker are two seasoned tricksters with a new brilliant idea: a fake matrimonial agency to double their money. Everything goes smoothly—until emotions get in the way. In a game of deceit, where everyone is trying to fool someone else, the biggest surprise is that love might just be the ultimate trick.
In sixteenth-century Florence, Guasparri is a kind and wealthy goldsmith, but also very naive. Four cunning men deceive him with flattery, tricking him into bringing them the best wines for free. Later, they scare him with cruel pranks involving spirits and the dead. After bitter humiliations, Guasparri finally opens his eyes and chooses a quieter, wiser life with his family.
Arturo Massolari works the night shift and returns home at dawn, just as his wife Elide is waking up. Their lives follow a delicate rhythm of small rituals, gestures of care, and tired tenderness. Between the silence of empty streets and the warmth of a shared home, this is a quiet story of love, routine, and invisible bonds.
After watching a film set in India, Marcovaldo steps into a foggy night where reality and dream blur together. Lost among deserted streets, he continues to wander, wrapped in his colorful fantasies. The world around him disappears, and he keeps chasing illusions, until, convinced he is simply boarding a bus, he ends up instead...
Marcovaldo works for a company where he waters a lonely plant every day. Forgotten in a dark corner, the plant mirrors Marcovaldo’s own quiet struggles. When the rain comes, he takes it outside, and an unexpected adventure begins. A delicate, bittersweet story about hope, resilience, and the fragile beauty hidden in everyday life.
Giuseppe Corte arrives at a famous hospital to treat a mild illness. At first, he is placed on the bright seventh floor, reserved for light cases. But little by little, through a series of misunderstandings, he is moved lower and lower, toward the floors of the seriously ill. A disturbing story about fear, fate, and the loss of control.
A short unsettling story by Dino Buzzati, suitable for B2–C1 level readers.
Mathilde is a young and beautiful woman, born into a poor family. Dreaming of a life filled with luxury and admiration, she feels trapped by her modest reality. One night, an unexpected invitation to a prestigious ball offers her a glimpse of her dreams. But a small mistake will change her life forever.
A young man leaves home to explore the vast kingdom of his father, believing he will reach the borders in a few weeks. But as the years pass, the journey seems endless. Through deserted lands and fading memories, he relies on a group of loyal messengers to keep him connected to a distant past that grows more unfamiliar with each passing year.
One morning, Marcovaldo wakes up to an unusual silence. As he opens the window, he discovers that the entire city has disappeared under a thick, white blanket of snow. The familiar buildings, streets, and noises are all erased. Enthralled by the transformation, Marcovaldo steps outside, ready to explore a world where everything seems new and full of possibility.
In the countryside near Caserta, thousands of tons of Milan’s waste have been dumped for decades. Toxic materials, industrial residues, and even human remains poison the land. Hidden behind official documents and criminal networks, a parallel system of illegal waste disposal has reshaped southern Italy’s landscape, transforming abandoned fields into silent graveyards of garbage, death, and forgotten histories.
In eighteenth-century Paris, a suffocating stench filled every street, home, and church. The city rotted under the weight of decay, disease, and death. Amid the unbearable heat and filth, near the foul Cimitière des Innocents, a woman gives birth beneath a fishmonger’s stall. From blood, rot, and waste, a child is born—destined to carry within him an extraordinary and terrifying gift.
Masino is a boy about eleven or twelve years old, full of flaws and often scolded by parents, teachers, and classmates. Tired of constant reproaches, he finds comfort in his imagination and decides to write a story to defend boys like him. However, his rebellious and naive ideas will meet the ironic smile of the adult world.
Gigino is almost ten years old. He is neither handsome nor ugly, with light eyes, very blond hair, an upturned nose, and rather thin legs. Overall, he is a good boy, loved at home and appreciated at school. However, he has a strange flaw: he is ashamed of being a child and does everything to seem like a grown man.
Arnoldo, Giovanni, and Paolino are three strong but not very bright brothers who work together in the fields. One day, a simple greeting sparks a furious argument among them. As they seek justice for their absurd quarrel, a series of hilarious misunderstandings leads to an unforgettable verdict.
A humorous folk tale probably of Sicilian origin, adapted for intermediate-level Italian students.
What has happened to my dear friends, the Corios? In their old countryside villa, strange events unfold, hidden behind closed doors. Years of fond memories give way to dark suspicions, as unusual sounds, frightened animals, and unsettling changes reveal a terrifying reality that no one dares to face openly.
An eerie short story freely adapted from Dino Buzzati, for B2-C1 level Italian students.
A soldier, isolated on a distant planet, fights a desperate war against alien creatures. In a land of mud, cold, and fear, his only comfort is the certainty of his mission. But the enemy is not what they were told. A disturbing truth slowly emerges, challenging everything he believes.
A short unsettling story loosely inspired by Fredric Brown, adapted for intermediate-level Italian students.
Alvaro loves spending long afternoons in the quiet of his beautiful garden. But everything changes when noisy and strange new neighbors move in next door. What first seems like a simple annoyance slowly reveals an unexpected and troubling reality, forcing Alvaro and his friend Mimi to come up with a bold plan.
A funny short story freely adapted from Chris Rose, for beginner-level Italian students.
Robie is the latest model of promotional robot, designed to charm customers with gifts and kind words. In the bright streets of a modern city, everything seems perfect—until a terrible event shatters reality. Alone among ruins and silence, Robie keeps performing his mission, unaware that the world has changed forever.
An ironic short story freely adapted from Fritz Leiber, for B1-B2 level Italian students.
In a hidden corner of Paris, a strange shop offers an unsettling service: for a fee, you can trade your misfortunes with others. Curious and skeptical, a man decides to try it himself. What seems like a harmless game will leave an unexpected mark, in ways he could never have imagined.
An eerie short story freely adapted from Edward Plunkett, for intermediate-level Italian students.
On Christmas Eve, Della is desperate to find the perfect gift for her beloved Jim. With only a few coins saved through endless sacrifices, she makes a bold choice. But love sometimes creates the sweetest and saddest surprises, in a world where true richness is not measured in money.
A touching short story loosely based on O. Henry, adapted for intermediate-level Italian learners (B1-B2).
