Heritage

The term Carnevale stems from the Latin expression carnem levare, which roughly translates to an urging to abstain from eating meat. Indeed, the day after Mardi Gras, the climax of Carnival, marks the beginning of Lent, a period extending until …

If you have been to Italy, you have most likely come across those small, colorful boxes of candies, usually displayed beside the till in virtually every café. If you bought some, their pastel hues and delicate flavor, I bet, found …

Volcanic ash rained down, followed by a fiery flood of pyroclastic rock and toxic gas; the noonday was cast into darkness. Where only moments before a normal August afternoon had been underway, now lay mayhem and devastation. The opulent villas, …

As Liberation Day approaches every April 25th, the editorial pages of Italy’s national newspapers reignite the national discourse over Mussolini, fascism, and the future of Italian democracy. Although the fall of nazi/fascism may seem remote, it remains relevant today, not only to …

Italy is, by definition, a land of differences. From north to south, from east to west, landscapes, habits, food, climate, flora, and fauna: they all change.  But perhaps nothing says as much about the country’s multifaceted, at times complex, reality …

We all know how important café culture is in Italy, with many believing that the first real cafés in Europe were invented here, with Venice often competing with Vienna for this honor. Over the years, we at L’Italo-Americano have had …

Last weekend Italy, along with many other countries, transitioned to daylight saving time, a practice aimed at maximizing daylight hours during the evening by setting clocks 60 minutes forward. This annual adjustment is a modern solution to optimize energy usage and …

Chiacchiere, bugie, frappe, and cenci. No matter the name, they are a similar Carnival snack—thin, deep-fried strips of a liqueur-enriched dough that are tossed in sugar and munched upon during the festivities. In Venice, arguably home to Italy’s most famous …

The culture of good food is as central to the heart and soul of Italy as practically any other facet of the Dolce Vita. Each of Italy’s regions is renowned for distinctive food and wine specialties, all lovingly produced with pride …

In an era where the concepts of multiethnicity and multiculturalism are pervasive and dominate conversations in our highly connected and globalized world, it’s important to remember that this isn’t a new phenomenon in the annals of history. Indeed, our very …