LIFE & PEOPLE

Tuscany’s countryside has long been framed through a romantic lens, often shaped by films and novels like Under the Tuscan Sun. But, while the image of endless vineyards, rustic farmhouses, and golden hills has been the dream of Italophiles worldwide, …

Castel di Tora is a striking medieval village located in the Lazio region of central Italy, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) northeast of Rome. It lies on the shores of Lake Turano, surrounded by the mountains of the Monte Navegna …

The song Mamma has a special place in Italian music history, both because of its universal theme, maternal love, and the many famous artists to whom it is associated.  The song was composed in 1940 by Cesare Andrea Bixio, with …

For many Italian-Americans, the connection to Italy is not only cultural but also very practical: maybe you’ve inherited a family home in Puglia; maybe you’re finally buying that dream property in Umbria; or maybe you’ve discovered a long-lost bank account …

Maruggio is situated approximately 25 miles (ca. 40 km) east of Taranto, within a natural depression between the inland and the coastline. Its beaches are known for being sandy, with occasional rocky stretches in the eastern part. The sea here …

I was born Catholic, like most Italians of my generation. Brought up by devout grandparents, they taught me how to make the sign of the cross the right way and the words of all prayers. Today, at the ripe age …

Art, history, and modern technology helped researchers unveil hidden tunnels beneath Milan’s Castello Sforzesco (Sforza Castle), structures that perfectly match sketches made by Leonardo da Vinci over five centuries ago.  Built in the 15th century, the Sforza Castle had been …

Carbonara Day, celebrated every year on April 6, was launched in 2017 by Unione Italiana Food and the International Pasta Organisation to honor and share one of the most iconic dishes of Italian cuisine with the world: pasta alla carbonara. …

Pietro Mascagni was just 27 years old when he composed Cavalleria Rusticana, a one-act opera that met with immediate success at its premiere on May 17, 1890, at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome. Inspired by Giovanni Verga’s novella of the …

The expression bel canto, Italian for “beautiful singing,” brings to mind a golden age of vocal artistry that left a memorable mark on the history of opera and vocal performance. Though often used broadly to describe elegant and technically refined …