All Around Italy

Danilo Dolci wasn’t Sicilian, but he spent most of his life in Sicily and earned the nickname “the Italian Gandhi.” He lived in Trappeto, where he is also buried. Trappeto, a small town in the province of Palermo, is about …

La Sila is a mountainous plateau that stretches across the provinces of Cosenza, Crotone, and Catanzaro, at the very heart of the Calabria region. Covering approximately 1,500 square kilometers (150,000 hectares), it is known for its dense forests, hills, and …

Trepalle is a small alpine hamlet in the municipality of Livigno, in the province of Sondrio, known for a very special characteristic: it’s the highest inhabited place in Europe.  Well, to be truthful, it is the second, but there is …

On a recent visit to the west coast of Sicily, I fully expected to see the traditional trappings of a Mediterranean coastline: rocky coves, dramatic cliffs and spectacular sunsets over deep-blue waters.  What I did not expect to see were …

Cremona may not be as well known as other cities in Lombardia like Milan or Pavia, but it has a lot to offer to an attentive visitor. Never mind if you are into history, folklore, architecture, or food, the town has …

One night in 1171, King William II, known as “the Good,” was resting from the burdens of war and governance, as was customary for Norman kings, in an ancient Arab village called Balharā. In a dream, the Virgin Mary appeared …

Welcome to Umbria, the “green center” of Italy — home to St. Francis’ stunning Assisi, the university (and chocolate capital) town of Perugia, swaths of alluring forests where wild truffles hide, and the world-famous wines of Montefalco. But there is …

Asolo is a small town in the Veneto region of Italy known for its unique charm, deep historical roots, rich cultural heritage, and for having long been a magnet for writers, artists, and thinkers.  Often referred to as The City …

The twin cities of Gorizia in Italy and Nova Gorica in Slovenia have been jointly designated as the European Capital of Culture for 2025, in an unprecedented move that created the first cross-border capitale della cultura since the initiative’s establishment …

When Agrigento was declared the Italian Capital of Culture for 2025 on May 25, 2023, the significance of the title and the preparations it required may not have been immediately clear. The journey since has been long and fraught with …