Passato Prossimo (literally: Close Past) is the Present Perfect in English.

I added this extra section in order to clarify some aspects of this tense.

We use it with:

1. recent actions,

2. past actions with effects in the present,

3. a precise life experience,

4. a past action over a period of time not yet spent at all

The main difference with the English one is the auxiliar verb: Italian has either "essere/to be" or "avere/to have"

Note: many verbs of motion use the auxiliary "to be".

Now, so far so good, right?

The trouble is when even Italian native speakers do not know when and how to use the Passato Prossimo rather, for example, the Imperfetto/Simple Past.

Well, do not listen to them so much!

When people talk, they make mistakes anywhere. But you are a proper learner, you should try to do your best and follow the grammar rules... right?

Passato Prossimo is a sort of "hybrid" tense. It is not stuck into the past, it is not stuck into present. It is in between. You should use it when it is not important WHEN something happens but WHAT happens. Keep in mind: When vs.What Passato Prossimo is just a term. Focus on its meaning and no problem anymore!