Giulia Franceschini

I don’t know how common it is in US schools, but here in Italy, at least when I was a child in the 1980s, it was quite common to create colorful paper mosaics during art class: you’d buy these colored, shiny paper …

With the hot summer just a handful of weeks away, Italian towns and cities are about to face a surge of tourism, with visitors flocking to popular destinations in the Belpaese, from North to South. While this is certainly good news …

Tourism, for many art cities, is a double-edged sword: on one hand, it injects capital into the local economy, creates jobs, and showcases cultural heritage but, in recent years, it has been causing more than one headache. Who isn’t familiar …

Pasta is, without a doubt, one of Italy’s most beloved and popular foods, but, as of late, it has been facing a crisis because of its soaring price. In response to this alarming situation, the Italian government recently convened crisis talks …

When you think of summer, what comes to mind? For some, it’s the smell of sunblock, the taste of ripe, juicy watermelon, or the feeling of sand between their toes. For others, summer is a song – a tune that …

Taralli are a recent culinary obsession of mine. It all began one evening when I received an impromptu invitation for dinner from a friend, who set up a quick aperitivo, too: a glass of white, some parmesan cubes, and cold …

Never mind the season, it’s always a good time to have aperitivo with friends. A great way to end the day or the working week in good company, this quintessentially Italian habit has become pretty popular around the world, where …

For our ancestors, the Romans, wine was not just a drink but a symbol of power, wealth, and status; its production was a complex process that involved not only manual labor but also sophisticated technology and management. The Villa of the Quintilii, located in …

Art serves as a catalyst for human expression: it sparks emotions, instigates conversations, and challenges societal norms. Sometimes, however, art surpasses mere provocation and creates scandal. A number of Italian masterpieces throughout history have ignited controversy and scandalized the public, pushing the …

Bathed in the vibrant hues of rich history, cultural splendor, and a pulsating economy, Emilia-Romagna, the heartland of Italy, often flies under the radar if compared to the popularity of our southern regions or the romantic allure of Tuscany. Yet, this …