francesca bezzone

 In the narrative of the Gospels, the birth of Christ doesn’t take up much space: the focus, as those among you who went to catechism as children may remember, is all on the last three years of his life, those …

A glass of Italian red: who hasn’t relaxed after a long day at work with one? Italian wines are the epitome of quality and versatility, of tradition and elegance: this is not only because of the work and skills of …

Milan, the beating heart of Italian economy and fashion, the trendsetting city, the birthplace of Manzoni and panettone, the home of the most famous gothic church in the country, the Duomo, and of one of Leonardo’s most precious works, the …

2021 has been rough. Not as rough as 2020 but I am not that sad to see this year go. While we are sitting and gorging on panettone on two different sides of the Atlantic, I reckon our New Year’s …

Italians live longer, we know it: the people of the Belpaese are among the longest-living in the world, along with other Mediterraneans like the Spaniards, and the eastern masters of longevity, the Japanese. There are some parts of the country …

This year, La Serenissima turned 1600, and she carries her age well. According to tradition and historical sources, Venice was founded in 421 AD: it’s the Chronicon Altinate,  a chronicle dating from the 11th century, that tells us. Of course, …

Panettone: soft, fragrant, with its melt-in-the-mouth texture, it is perhaps the most popular cake we eat at Christmas. Traditional with candied fruit and sultanas, or reinvented, with chocolate, fruit, nuts, and creams of all types, it has several contenders across …

The love story between coffee and Italy is strong, just like our espresso. Caffé is more than a drink, more than a morning pick-me-up, more than a perfect note to end our meals with. It means to relax, it means …

Every time I read about Rome’s underground archeological world, I always think about what Romans often say: “Wherever you dig in the city, you’ll find something interesting.” It’s true: there’s a whole city under the city, in Rome: catacombs, ancient …

AH! Il Presepe! Quintessential tradition of the Italian Christmas, it brings together Faith, history, tradition, and art. The first was created by Saint Francis of Assisi, our Patron Saint, to represent the birth of Christ and offer another way to …