Traditions

Many tourists rush through Italy, ticking off cities on an imaginary bucket list, zipping through museums and taking holiday snaps in front of iconic attractions. This is fine if you are happy to simply cross things off a checklist. But …

The Catholic Church has a lengthy tradition of collecting relics from saints and clerics dating back almost to its beginnings. Bones, clothes or artifacts from the person were carefully preserved in caskets, lockets and glass urns to commemorate and venerate …

For some reason, I like to compare cities to beautiful female figures: Turin, which I know very well, is an elegant and haughty princess with a knack for the occult. Venice is coquette, colorful and well aware of her unequalled …

Its simple name evokes history, ancient history …. and we’re not mistaken thinking that. Biroldo is a Slow Food protected cold cut, a product of Tuscan tradition, almost impossible to find nowadays. It’s made with the pig’s lesser parts like …

Before the unification of Italy, the  peninsula was a patchwork of independent states, republics and occupied territories each one with their own rulers and laws. And with the different statutes came differing calendars based either on the church’s or the …

Pantelleria’s capers are unique in the world and are known for their intense aroma, caused by a protein present in the island’s volcanic soil. They are dark green in color, rich in vitamins and minerals, have a very low fat …

Montalcino may be best known for its splendid Brunello but buzzing across its rolling hills are amazing honeybees silently working their magic amongst the vines. From the deep dark chestnut honey, to the gentle sunflower honey, each  exquisitely assumes the …

Crossroads and street corners have long been the haunt of peddlers, pickpockets and prostitutes. And as far back as ancient Roman times images of deities have been hung there to protect passers by from evil. Today over 500 statues and …

My region, Piemonte, is known for its good cheeses: Tùma, Raschera, Castelmagno, robiola di Roccaverano are only a handful of the many delicious and fragrant milk-based delicacies it has to offer. You understand that loving cheese and that other typical …

The Extraordinary Italian Taste made its way to San Francisco kicking off a year that sees – once again – Italy as one of the leading countries in the food industry. The winter edition of the Fancy Food Show came …