Heritage

Michelangelo’s paintings in the Sistine Chapel in the  Vatican are without a doubt the most celebrated paintings in Italy. The Sistine Chapel takes its name from the pope who consecrated it, Pope Sixtus IV, on August 15, 1493. But it …

On February 11, a new production of ‘Il Barberie di Siviglia’ by Davide Livermore and the orchestra directed by Donato Renzetti went on stage at Teatro dell’Opera in Rome in order to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the first representation. …

The ‘ Via dell’Amore ‘, the famous path overlooking the sea in the Cinque Terre Park connecting Riomaggiore and Manarola, has been nominated part of the cultural heritage by Minister Dario Franceschini. While the document emphasizes the beauty of the trail …

Dear Readers, February is named after Februs, Roman god of purification.  February was his sacred month and the Latin Februa means “feast of purification”.  February is the shortest month of the year, only 28 days this year, but Febbraio is …

“He who is a monk, only looks to God, only desires God, devotes himself only to God, chooses to serve God alone and, living in peace with God, becomes author of peace for others” (Theodore the Studite) Grey afternoon skies …

Mother Mary is ubiquitous in Italy, considering the many churches and traditions revolving around her.  Her humble, carpenter husband can be forgotten behind his popular wife and (literally) godly foster child. While churchgoers flock to mass to praise Jesus and …

The Venetian Ghetto was the area of Venice in which Jews were compelled to live under the Venetian Republic. It is from its name in Italian (“ghetto”), that the English word “ghetto” is derived: in the Venetian language it was …

On March 17, 1861 Victor Emmanuel II became the first King of a unified Italy. As the Risorgimento movement got at its peak, people were fighting for independence and try to free the country from foreign rule and unite several …

In Italy, food means much more than nutrition, it is culture, heritage, tradition. Satisfying all senses at once in a voluptuous embrace, Italian food is impossible to resist. Its variety is legendary and its history rooted deep into that of …

Every year, the little town Bova-Chora in the Reggio Calabria area celebrates Palms Sunday with a special event, which is pretty much unknown in the rest of the region. The tradition consists of bringing, during a procession, huge female statues sculptured …