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Today’s word, impeccabile (eem-pek-kah-bee-lai) is something you want to be associated with anything you do. It comes from the Latin impeccabilis, which combines the prefix “in-” (meaning “not”) with peccare (meaning “to sin” or “to make a mistake”). Thus, its …

Gambling was a pervasive aspect of Venetian life, reflecting the city’s wealth and status as a major cultural and trade hub. In Venice, everyone gambled everywhere: people engaged in games of chance in private homes, public squares, and during festivals, …

Monteleone d’Orvieto is a lovely hamlet located in the Umbria region, not far from the border with Tuscany. The closest larger town is Città della Pieve, about 10 kilometers away, which is itself a little jewel of art and history. …

Did you know that the first shopping mall was built in ancient Rome? We are talking about Trajan’s Market.  Built around 110 AD, it was a significant architectural achievement for its time: made of red brick and concrete, it originally …

The Sassi di Matera are an extraordinary example of ancient and sustainable human settlement in the southern region of Basilicata, Italy. These stone dwellings, etched into the limestone cliffs of Matera, represent one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, with origins dating …

Ginori 1735 is among the most iconic names of Italian porcelain making, but you may be more familiar with the way it used to be called until a couple—four, to be precise!—years ago, Richard Ginori. Its story, as you may …

Cartapesta (kar-tah peh-stah) means papier-mâché in English and, with coriandoli and maschera is the most quintessential of all Carnevale words. It comes from the union of carta (paper) and pesta (pounded), which reveals what it is: a concoction of paper …

Who doesn’t enjoy a glass or two of bubbly every once in a while? Champagne or prosecco, dry or sweet, bubbles are key, so it’s not a surprise that ensuring there are many (and that they last) has been the …

The Battaglia delle Arance, or the Battle of the Oranges, is a unique and lively tradition held annually in Ivrea, a town in Italy’s Piedmont region. This event is part of the town’s historical carnival and takes place over three …

…Say the title out loud and every Italian will think immediately about the popular advertisement campaigns from the 1980s and 1990s, that saw Raffaella Carrà first and then Lorella Cuccarini support Scavolini kitchens on TV. Iconic! Scavolini’s journey, however, started much earlier, …