chiara dalessio

Italy is known for many wonderful things: art, architecture, opera, hand gestures, and an enviable approach to coffee. But tucked among these cultural icons, there is something just as incredible: its delightfully peculiar laws. Some are old, some still enforced, …

In the sunny heel of Italy’s boot lies Salento, a stretch of land suspended between sea and stone; famous for its turquoise water, white beaches, and beautifully rugged coastline, this part of southern Puglia has earned the nickname the Caribbean …

Who doesn’t love meatballs? Fried, in tomato sauce, on top of pasta, or on their own, they are the ultimate comfort food. Used to the deliciousness of my own grandmother’s polpette al sugo, a staple of my childhood — which …

Frico is a traditional dish from Italy’s Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, particularly associated with the mountainous area of Carnia. This culinary specialty is the perfect symbol of the resourcefulness of Friulian cuisine, which turns simple and readily available ingredients into flavorful …

When the white smoke came out of the Sistine Chapel on the afternoon of May 8, I was sitting at my kitchen table, working with the TV quietly on in the background. I’ll be honest with you, it caught me …

With its beautiful mountains and sunny valleys, Valle d’Aosta is one of Italy’s most dream-like places, at least for those who would rather spend time surrounded by the majesty of the Alps, rather than on a beach  — yes, that’d …

Art, history, and modern technology helped researchers unveil hidden tunnels beneath Milan’s Castello Sforzesco (Sforza Castle), structures that perfectly match sketches made by Leonardo da Vinci over five centuries ago.  Built in the 15th century, the Sforza Castle had been …

Spilimbergo is a small town sitting along the banks of the Tagliamento River, in Friuli Venezia Giulia. Known as Italy’s City of Mosaics, it has recently earned the distinction of being one of the country’s Borghi più Belli d’Italia, an …

The Catholic Church is preparing for a historic transition following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. His passing has set in motion the historical process of electing a new pope, with the …

Just a few hundred meters off the Calabrian coast, opposite the town of Praia a Mare, lies the Isola di Dino, a small island that many Italians have heard of, but few have actually visited. With its sheer limestone cliffs, …