rita cipalla

To say that Iole Alessandrini would travel to the ends of the Earth to capture images of light, time and space is no exaggeration.  In fact, the Seattle artist spent two weeks this past October in the Arctic Circle, traveling …

Founded in 1907, Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market attracts about 10 million tourists and local residents every year. Seventy farmers have fruit and vegetable stalls, and another 160 artists sell their handcrafted products and artwork there. And don’t forget the …

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 …

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 …

Walk the quiet stone streets of Lucignano and it’s easy to see why it was named one of the most beautiful towns in Italy. This small fortified village in Tuscany, not far from Arezzo, is famous not only for its cultural and …

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 …

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, …

The great wave of Italian immigrants to the United States began in the 1880s and lasted until 1920. More than four million Italians made the journey, with about 75 percent settling in cities on the East Coast. A small contingent …

Nestled above the valley, on the southern slope of Mount Subasio, lies the ancient hill town of Spello, surely one of Italy’s prettiest. Around every corner, down every winding street and alleyway, are stunning photos just waiting to be taken.  …

Author and cooking school owner Fabrizia Lanza grew up in Sicily, immersed in the world of food and wine. Raised on her family’s 200-acre agricultural estate in Regaleali, southeast of Palermo, she is part of a well-known Sicilian winemaking family. …