Giulia Franceschini

I am going to be honest with you: as an Italian, I detest the concept of bella figura. While it still remains one of the most deeply ingrained aspects of Italian culture, shaping not only individual behavior but also public …

In an era dominated by GPS and digital navigation, it’s difficult to imagine a world where long-distance travel was possible without modern maps. Yet, the Romans, masters of engineering and logistics, managed to build and maintain a sprawling empire spanning …

Flour is one of the most essential ingredients in Italian cuisine, connected as it is with the country’s culinary traditions and history. From the ancient grains cultivated in Roman times to the finely milled flours used today for pasta, bread, …

Composed in 1898, ’O Sole Mio is among the most iconic songs to emerge from Italy. Its creation was a collaborative effort between Giovanni Capurro, a poet and journalist, and Eduardo di Capua, a composer. Capurro’s lyrics paint a vivid …

Southern Italy, particularly the regions of Puglia and Sicily, is grappling with a mounting agricultural crisis. Recurring droughts, rising temperatures, and diseases such as xylella fastidiosa have ravaged traditional crops like olives, grapes, and citrus fruits. The situation has reached …

The debate over the authenticity of Italian cuisine recently took center stage again, fueled by comments from two historians, Alessandro Barbero and Alberto Grandi.  The controversy began in 2023, when Alberto Grandi, a professor of food history at the University …

Compiano is a medieval village in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, located in the Apennines, about 50 miles southwest of Parma. It sits at an elevation of roughly 1,640 feet, and offers stunning views of the hills and fertile valleys that define …

The Candelora, known in English as Candlemas, is a Christian feast celebrated on February 2nd, commemorating the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple and the Purification of the Virgin Mary; though less known than other religious celebrations, the Candelora has …

Recently, I stumbled upon an interesting article online about the wisdom of Italian proverbs. Needless to say, the ones from Naples stood out as particularly colorful and direct, just like the city itself and just like its people. Their blend …

Trepalle is a small alpine hamlet in the municipality of Livigno, in the province of Sondrio, known for a very special characteristic: it’s the highest inhabited place in Europe.  Well, to be truthful, it is the second, but there is …