La vita italiana

Each of our lives moves toward the same destination, but what distinguishes us is the path we take to get there. This journey defines us, and if there’s one mode of travel that stirs our imagination about where life might …

I am going to be honest with you: as an Italian, I detest the concept of bella figura. While it still remains one of the most deeply ingrained aspects of Italian culture, shaping not only individual behavior but also public …

Sant’Agata Feltria is a village  in the hills of Emilia-Romagna, a place where you can meet history and charm at every corner; it’s the kind of place that makes you feel a tad like you’re on a stage, with its …

In the evening, we would get into the car and drive to the curve or straight stretch we had scouted out in the days before. Armed with blankets—the spring nights were still chilly, especially in those mountainous or hilly areas—we …

One of Rome’s most famous landmarks, the Spanish Steps (Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti), has become the subject of a recent ownership dispute between Italy and France. While this iconic site has long been associated with Italian culture and history, …

The Sistine Chapel is probably one of the most celebrated works of the Renaissance era. Built in the 15th century under Pope Sixtus IV and named in his honor, the chapel forms part of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace and serves …

The ticking of typewriter keys, constant like the stream of thoughts racing through the mind and eyes of a reporter as they translated events witnessed just hours before into words, was the unmistakable soundtrack that filled newspaper offices until the …

The Candelora, known in English as Candlemas, is a Christian feast celebrated on February 2nd, commemorating the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple and the Purification of the Virgin Mary; though less known than other religious celebrations, the Candelora has …

Ragusa Ibla is a village in the southeastern part of Sicily, approximately 15 miles from the city of Modica and about 60 miles from Catania. It sits on a hilltop in the Hyblaean Mountains and is part of the city …

If you have been to Italy, you know it: there are some street names you’re bound to find everywhere, from the largest of cities to the tiniest village. Just like you find a Market Square or Shop Street everywhere in …