rita cipalla

Mention Pinocchio and most Americans immediately think of the 1940 blockbuster film by Walt Disney that introduced the feisty wooden puppet with the pointy nose to millions of children. But the Disney film classic – despite winning two Academy Awards …

From the 1960s to the 1980s, the Italian film industry was booming. Dramas, comedies, no matter the genre, there were so many films coming out of Rome that it was jokingly referred to as Hollywood on the Tiber. Films often …

The University of Washington Rome Center has been an important base for study-abroad students for more than four decades. The UW Rome Center, which welcomed about 400 students across a variety of disciplines in 2023, is housed in Palazzo Pio, a …

A glass artist for more than 75 years, Lino Tagliapietra is considered the greatest glass-blower of all time. His work has had tremendous impact on the studio-glass art movement internationally, including the Pacific Northwest, a mecca for glass art.  But …

The Umbrian city of Perugia is a joy to explore, with centuries of history and charm in every stone wall and winding alleyway. Who wouldn’t want to spend June and July exploring this vibrant Umbrian capital? On June 15 of this year, …

In 1902, 22-year-old Pietro Nelli, like so many immigrants before him, boarded a ship and left Italy to seek a better future in America.  At that age, he could have never imagined what lay before him. It’s possible he saw …

Tuscany has enticed visitors for generations with its stunning landscapes, well-preserved medieval towns, and colorful pageants. For those same reasons, it also attracts plenty of tourists, particularly during the summer months.  If you’re the kind of traveler who likes to …

This year, the 2024 Windermere Cup Regatta, a popular Seattle tradition, brought together two rowing powerhouses – the University of Washington and the Italian National Team – to battle it out in a contest with historic roots. In 1936, during …

The road from Siena to Florence has been in use for centuries, passing through charming villages, fields bursting with flowers, and gently rolling countryside. About 20 minutes north of Siena, along one bend of the road, an impressive skyline suddenly …

At first glance, elephants and Seattle seem an unlikely pairing. Why would the world’s largest land mammal, found in Asia and Africa, have so intrigued residents of the Pacific Northwest? Yet two Seattle companies have used this massive animal for …