Culture

Arrivederci to another Natale…and buongiorno to what might be the sweetest month of the year. February, of course – that month that is overwrought with red hearts, flowers, sentimental cards, and perhaps the star of the show: chocolate! Italy produces …

Baci Perugina must be the best-known Italian chocolate in the world: with their silver wrapping covered in blue stars, they look like a precious stone and they are pretty enough to be gifted just like that, on their own and …

Just like us, our ancestors, the Ancient Romans, liked to follow trends. After the conquest of Egypt, in 31 BC, it became popular – at least among the wealthy – to get buried … in pyramids. We know that, at …

Medicine in Rome was at once incredibly different and incredibly close to what it is today. Different, of course, because of what 2,000 years of discoveries and research gave us; but similar, because some of our ancestors’ intuitions – which …

Telling an Italian not to be superstitious is a losing game. Even when we generally don’t believe in old-fashioned tales of misfortune and malocchio, I can guarantee you we probably still avoid opening an umbrella indoors and wince in horror …

2021 has been an important year for one of Italy’s favorite candy makers, Sperlari: the company celebrated its 185th birthday and became officially one of the country’s historical brands (marchi storici). The register includes only names of our Made in …

I’ve been to Florence on several occasions, even though I haven’t in years – note to self: it’s time to pay a visit soon. There is so much to see and learn in this city: art lovers, historians, and foodies …

Pizzoccheri are a traditional dish from Valtellina, a mountainous region between northern Lombardia and Switzerland. The dish has ancient origins, with some believing that the Romans already knew them, as we will see.  The recipe is quite simple: a dough made …

Sanremo in Fiore takes place every year and it is one of the most beloved traditions in town, second perhaps only to Sanremo’s famous Festival della Canzone Italiana. Sanremo is perhaps the most popular of all towns along the Ligurian Riviera dei Fiori, which borders …

Fora Febraro che marso xé qua, people from Veneto say: “Let’s get rid of February, March is here!” The funny expression is also synonymous with a popular tradition in the region, called the Fora Febraro, rooted in the very history …