The latest in the now-and-then RST feature, La Scoperta del Giorno (the discovery of the day or, better put in English, Today’s Discovery). The Italian word “scoperta,” and its English equivalent, “discovery,” are similarly constructed; each is based on the verb “to cover” (coprire/to cover) and each is converted into “uncover” or “discover” with a prefix (the “s” in Italian, the “dis” in English).
When entering a café, a bar, a newsstand or any other business other than a super-market/big box store/large appliance store, it's the Rome custom to announce one's presence with "buon giorno" or, later in the day, "buona sera."
But what to say when you've drunk your espresso, enjoyed your cornetto, and paid the bill (that is, if you didn't pay before consuming), and you're headed out the door?
"Grazie, ciao" would seem the obvious choice. It has the proper order: thanks [and] bye.
But according to our informal survey, which included several neighborhood folks and 3 carabinieri, the appropriate closing is (and what Romans actually say):
"Ciao, grazie" (bye [and] thanks), even if the order seems wrongly inverted (to these Americans, anyway). Roman friends confirmed our observations over dinner.
CIAO, GRAZIE!
And that's the Scoperta del Giorno for November 4, 2025.
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