Does it have a leather insole?
'Soletta' — 'so-LET-ta'. Three syllables, stress on second. Double 't'.
Asking about insole quality — a sign of craftsmanship. Leather insoles absorb moisture, mould to the foot and last much longer than synthetic ones.
'La soletta' = the insole (not to be confused with 'la suola' = the outsole). 'In pelle' = in leather. This is a quality differentiator that Italian shoe buyers take seriously.
La suola è in cuoio o gomma?
Is the outsole leather or rubber?
'Suola' = outsole — different from 'soletta' (insole)
Il fondo è cucito o incollato?
Is the sole sewn or glued?
Construction method — sewn is higher quality
Ha la costruzione Goodyear?
Does it have Goodyear construction?
The gold standard of shoe construction — can be re-soled
Goodyear welting and Norwegian stitching are hallmarks of Italian quality shoe construction. They allow the sole to be replaced ('risuolata') when worn — quality shoes that last decades are a cornerstone of Italian 'slow fashion' philosophy.