Giulia Franceschini

There are two countries within Italy. One, the Vatican, is the smallest sovereign state in the world. The other, San Marino, is the most ancient Republic still extant. There is something very magical about San Marino, a place which I had …

Younger Gen-Xers (no, I don’t like the “old millennials” label) – and every generation before – remember the thrill of walking with mille lire in their hand to buy five pacchetti di figurine, or the comfort that same walk would give when it …

The ancient Romans are important for Italy: they are part of its history and heritage, a symbol of unity, and a constant presence in the collective imagination of the country. We like to read about them, discover what they used to do …

The Abbey of Montecassino is a symbol of spirituality, history, and resilience. The patron Saint of Europe and father of Western Monasticism Benedict of Norcia founded the abbey in 529 AD. He had reached the hills of Montecassino from Subiaco, on foot, with other …

For us Italians, it is a familiar melody and we all know its lyrics. Many of us learned it in elementary school, along with the first lines of our national anthem. But the rest of the world, probably, only got …

There is something akin to poetry in a nice trip by train: the landscape running fast outside the windows, the soft lulling of the carriage, the opportunity of daydreaming, thinking, and reflecting while you move towards a new destination. Of course, …

To most of us, Mount Vesuvius is at once a beautiful postcard and a deadly killer. We can’t forget the magic of a Neapolitan landscape, with the city gently laying on the waters of its gulf and Mount Vesuvius, sometimes pictured with …

The readers of popular online food and wine daily All Food Sicily (www.allfoodsicily.it) selected the most beautiful place on their island: Militello in Val di Catania. The publication, which focuses on the rich and multifaceted world of Sicilian eno-gastronomic tradition, proposed a survey to …

Superheroes are ubiquitous in today’s world: they are everywhere, from comics to movie franchises, from commercials to video games. Children dress up like them, adults enjoy watching or reading about their struggle to defeat evil and let good triumph.  The American …

Our beautiful country has a lot to offer for both nature and art lovers. But how could we forget history? Italy has been at the heart of European and Mediterranean history for centuries and its historical relevance cannot be discounted. …