La vita italiana

  “Italy isn’t Italy without donkeys.” – Princess Nicoletta Caracciola  Italy’s glories are numerous, and often they’re immortalized in kitschy miniatures easily packed and carted home by tourists. Models of the Coliseum, the David, Pisa’s tower, a gondola, a donkey…wait, what? …

Can I be very honest with you? The idea that we Italians all love the sun and the summer is bogus. I, for one, don’t count the hottest season as my favorite: in fact, I quite dislike it. The heat …

Calabria is known for the beauty of its landscape, its food and for its historical connections with Ancient Greece. The region was one of the richest colonies of Magna Graecia,_° and Hellenic culture is still deeply entrenched in some areas, …

Spiaggia libera o stabilimento? This is the eternal question of Italy’s sea vacanzieri.  Spiaggia libera, which means, literally, “free beach,” is open to everyone, but has no services, besides an outdoor shower and public toilets. Stabilimenti, on the other hand, offer full services …

Prosciutto crudo, known simply as “prosciutto” or “Parma ham” in English-speaking countries, is one of our Made in Italy’s most renowned products. Who doesn’t know it or hasn’t tried it in a sandwich, on a pizza or layered delicately on …

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 …

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 …

On the 25th of September Italians, including those living abroad, are called to vote for the 2022 general elections. It is an important opportunity for citizens living outside of Italy to make their voices heard and choose their representatives for the …

Did you know that tour guides in Italy need to pass university-level exams in order to obtain a tour guide license?  Visitors to Italy often want a private tour of some of the historic and artistic sites throughout the country. We sat …

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 …