rita cipalla

Sometimes gritty, often exotic, always exciting, Palermo is home to some of Italy’s most beautiful churches, ornate palaces and delicious foods. The intensity of the capital city is without equal in all of Sicily.  If you’re looking for yet another …

For some, the sounds might be puzzling — a clank, a hiss, a whoosh. But for coffee aficionados, there’s no mystery at all. It’s merely the hum and clatter of a delicious espresso drink being prepared. The creative design, ingenious …

In November, as Seattle temperatures dip and the ever-present rains return, there is another harbinger that marks the coming of fall: Cinema Italian Style.  The popular Italian film festival, now in its 16th season, was held from November 7-14 this …

Walk into Seattle’s Casa Italiana on any weekend and you’ll likely find the Italian Cultural Center abuzz with Italians, Italian-Americans, and those who simply love Italian culture. From the large first-floor hall come excited cries of “Scopa!” A beginner Italian-language …

When a relationship reaches a milestone, it’s time to celebrate. That’s what happened a few months ago when Walla Walla and its sister city Cannara, a small town in central Umbria, celebrated 10 years of friendship with a gift that …

On a recent visit to the west coast of Sicily, I fully expected to see the traditional trappings of a Mediterranean coastline: rocky coves, dramatic cliffs and spectacular sunsets over deep-blue waters.  What I did not expect to see were …

Perugia, the capital of Umbria, is a medieval gem of a hill town. Known for its excellent universities, rich architectural history and Umbria Jazz, one of the great music festivals of Europe, it’s also nurtured a vibrant sister-city relationship with …

Widely regarded as one of the greatest works of Western literature, The Divine Comedy has captivated readers for more than 700 years. Written in the 14th century by Dante Alighieri, a Florentine bureaucrat turned visionary storyteller, The Divine Comedy is a …

The three pizza ovens are fired up, awaiting the dough. Each oven is painted tomato red and bears a woman’s name in cursive – Filomena, Carolina and Maria –  the great-grandmother, grandmother and mother of Tutta Bella founder and CEO …

Even if creepy crawlers are not your thing, there is plenty to see and appreciate at Field Notes: Artists Observe Nature, a new exhibit at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma. The installation features 18 contemporary glass artists who have …