Is it at the top of the street or at the bottom?
CI-ma — stress on first syllable. FON-do — stress on first syllable.
When on a street and needing to know which end your destination is at.
'In cima a' (at the top of) — 'cima' means summit or top. 'In fondo a' (at the bottom of / at the end of) — 'fondo' means bottom or end. These are used for streets, hills, corridors, and rooms. 'All'inizio della via' (at the beginning of the street) is the alternative to 'in fondo'.
È all'inizio o alla fine della via?
Is it at the beginning or at the end of the street?
'Inizio' = beginning, 'fine' = end — simpler alternative
Il numero 45 è vicino all'inizio o alla fine?
Is number 45 near the beginning or the end?
Useful when searching a long street
La farmacia è in fondo a questa via?
Is the pharmacy at the end of this street?
Confirming a location at the end of a road
Italian streets in historic centres often curve, narrow, or change character along their length. 'In fondo alla via' (at the end of the street) doesn't always mean the visible end — streets can turn or continue unexpectedly. When in doubt, keep walking and look for the sign (insegna) — Italian businesses are required to have visible signage.