La vita italiana

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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, …

Narni is an exquisite hill town located in Umbria: it sits on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Nera River, and its narrow streets, ancient churches, and stunning views make it a great place to experience. If you like historical reenactments and …

Ask 10 employed people their opinion of the best job in the world, and don’t be surprised if you get 10 different responses ranging from serious to humorous to daydreaming. There’s one responder, however, who is likely to come up …

We will remember 2023 as the year when Italian cuisine finally applied to become part of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, as well as the year of that Financial Times article. Indeed, In the same week we announced a bid to have our beloved cuisine recognized …

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 …