La vita italiana

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 …

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 …

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 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 …

The lira calabrese is one of the most distinctive traditional instruments of Southern Italy, known also for its long and varied cultural history. As its name says, the lira calabrese comes from Calabria, the rugged region forming the “toe” of …

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 …

Trallalero is a highly distinctive form of polyphonic singing that originated in Genoa, Italy, known for its complex harmonies and unique use of vocal techniques. Traditionally performed by male ensembles, trallalero features a complex arrangement of different vocal parts. The …

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 …

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 …