LIFE & PEOPLE

Recently, I stumbled upon an interesting article online about the wisdom of Italian proverbs. Needless to say, the ones from Naples stood out as particularly colorful and direct, just like the city itself and just like its people. Their blend …

The Regata delle Befane is a cherished Venetian tradition held annually on January 6th, coinciding with the celebration of the Epiphany. It is a whimsical event featuring veteran rowers from the Reale Società Canottieri Bucintoro, Venice’s oldest rowing club, founded …

Ortisei, known as Urtijëi in Ladin and St. Ulrich in German, is a charming town in Italy’s Val Gardena, within the Dolomites of South Tyrol. Approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) northeast of Bolzano, the provincial capital, Ortisei is famous for …

The Week of the Italian Cuisine in the World, established in 2016 by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, grew into a global celebration of Italian culinary heritage. What started as a platform to promote high-quality agri-food …

Fibonacci (fi – son – of Bonacci), born as Leonardo of Pisa in 1175, was a mathematician whose contributions laid the groundwork for modern mathematics and forever changed the way numbers were understood and used in Europe. As the son …

The Canto a Tenore tradition is an ancient vocal style from Sardinia, recognized as one of the island’s most exceptional cultural expressions. This vocal art form reflects the island’s pastoral heritage, and was declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and …

Giuseppe Verdi is one of Italy’s greatest composers, a symbol of national pride whose music has left an indelible mark on both the operatic tradition and Italian identity.  Born in 1813 in Le Roncole, a small village in Parma, Verdi …

Composed in 1898, ’O Sole Mio is among the most iconic songs to emerge from Italy. Its creation was a collaborative effort between Giovanni Capurro, a poet and journalist, and Eduardo di Capua, a composer. Capurro’s lyrics paint a vivid …

Italy’s Christmas season is unfolding, and there is so much to see, experience, try, and learn about. Because if there is something this time of the year makes its own across  the Belpaese is variety.  From the Alpine peaks of …

Calabria, the southern tip of Italy’s mainland, is home to Christmas traditions that are as lively as they are deeply rooted in faith and community. Over the years, some of these customs have faded, yet they remain a powerful reflection …