Italian Inventions

Did you know that the invention of the sofa bed, the most valuable and essential item in every college student’s apartment, is credited to an Italian American? To be fair, the idea of combining a bed with a sofa is much older, …

Who isn’t familiar with – and tried to solve – the ubiquitous crosswords? Some of them, like those of the Settimana Enigmistica in Italy, the Guardian and the Times in the UK or the New York Times in the US, …

The innovative construction of Venetian chimneys stands as a testament to the city’s unique approach to addressing the challenges posed by its specific geographical conditions. With high humidity, salt air, and densely packed dwellings of varying heights, the Venetians needed ingenious solutions …

 Ok, I admit it: this may be far-fetched because it wasn’t Italians who created contact lenses as we know them today. But if it wasn’t for an Italian, they may have never been invented! And guess who’s the Italian I …

Glasses, the ingenious invention that revolutionized vision correction, have a fascinating history intertwined with Italy, particularly wtih the city of Venice. While their exact origin is subject to debate, it is widely believed that the precursor to modern eyeglasses was likely …

It may – or may not – come as a surprise to you, but the blue jeans, one of the most iconic symbols of American 20th-century pop culture, are an Italian invention! In fact, if we really want to be …

Not many know that the invention of the typewriter as we know it comes from the ingenuity of an Italian attorney from Novara (Piedmont), Giuseppe Ravizza (1811-1885). Because its keys were reminiscent of those of a piano, another famous Italian …

When we think of the Romans and Etruscans, we imagine great battles, architectural marvels, and illustrious societies teeming with art, culture, and philosophy. Less often, perhaps, do we consider the more practical, less glamorous side of these civilizations, like how they “invented” the sewage …

Were candles invented in Italy? Well, the claim is partially true, because if we know candles were common among the Greeks, we have also proof they were used by the Etruscans, who lived in the central regions of our peninsula: …

If you’ve ever been camping, you definitely own one: the ubiquitous foldable chair. You may have one with a full back, or perhaps a simpler, more portable version, the one with legs shaped like an “X” and a seat made …