The Latest

Dear Readers and Friends, L’Italo Americano stands in solidarity with the Italian-American community and all the residents of Los Angeles during this shocking, traumatic, and unimaginable catastrophe caused by the LA fires. L’Italo Americano is not immune to the challenges, …

On this episode of You, Me and Sicily we take you to the Province of Siracusa. First stop is Ortigia, the magnificent and historic island. Then we head to the Archeological park in the city of Siracusa to see some …

The combination of great food, fine wines, heritage and history, culture and climate continue to make Italy a firm favorite with travelers from around the globe. Many visitors to Italy return time and time again for romantic breaks, family holidays, …

Separated by a mere two miles of sparkling sea at its shortest distance, the island of Sicily sits off the toe of Italy’s “boot,” looking somewhat like a football readied for the punt.  Italian by association, yet distinct and unique …

October, the month Italo-American organizations throughout the United States celebrated Columbus Day with parades and public festas, is becoming a thing of the past. Since the 1992 Columbus Quincentennial commemorations, political activists have been watering down Columbus Day Discovery celebrations, to …

At the foot of Rome’s Capitoline Hill, by the staircase leading to the Piazza del Campidoglio, seat of the city government since the Middle Ages, a statue of a hooded man waving a sword commemorates a crime. On this spot …

Agnolotti are Piemonte’s best comfort food: warm, filling, tasty, they are so quintessentially Piedmontese they are part of the region’s official list of traditional products (P.A.T.).  Reassuring in their ubiquitous presence on Piemonte’s festive table, they are today  declined in …

This past 4th of July, the US Embassy in Rome celebrated the 244th Independence Day anniversary unusually. It didn’t only move all celebrations online — because of the pandemic and the consequent ban on gatherings — but it also decided …

We usually say that America is a melting pot of cultures and races, but did you know that, according to  genetic research, Italy may be just as varied? The study was carried out by a team of researchers from Rome’s …

Valtellina is a beautiful alpine area in the Sondrio province of Lombardia. You may think not to know it, but you’re certainly familiar with places like Bormio and Livigno, famous for their ski resorts and picturesque views; truth is, Valtellina …

You are certainly familiar with it, the curnicello, or cornetto, that red chili pepper Neapolitans use to attract good luck and be protected by evil forces, or malocchio, as they call it. Found often on market stalls,  it has become …

Over 26 million Americans of Italian descent currently reside in the United States, making Italian Americans the seventh largest ethnic group. Every October, the Italian-American Heritage Month aims at recognizing the contributions and achievements of these people and their ancestors …

The first weekend in October is usually busy for San Francisco. Residents and travelers greet the San Francisco Fleet Week to honor all men and women serving in the armed forces and celebrate the oldest Italian Heritage Parade of the …

A lot of people in Los Angeles, especially baseball fans, will miss eating at the stadium during a Dodgers’ match:  food has always been part of the experience. Fries, hot dogs, nachos, carne asada, you name it, you could find …

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 …

This past Fall, artist Stefano Ciol and the Museo Italo-Americano of San Francisco collaborated on a unique exhibition titled “Into the Light”, celebrating the talent of the Ciol’s family. The father-son duo from Friuli Venezia Giulia, Elio and Stefano, made …

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 …

During the Renaissance, the study of human anatomy underwent a groundbreaking transformation that reshaped both visual arts and science. This era, particularly in Italy, marked a departure from medieval conventions that relied heavily on secondhand knowledge and theoretical understandings of …

Italy is the world’s second-largest producer of olive oil after Spain, with an estimated production of 324,000 tons in the 2023/2024 crop year; needless to say, the olive oil sector is a significant contributor to the national economy, with the …

Founded in 1919 by Alfonso Bialetti in Crusinallo, a small town in Italy’s Piedmont region, Bialetti began as a workshop specializing in aluminum semi-finished products. Originally called Alfonso Bialetti & Co., the company laid the foundation for a brand that …

An unprecedented disaster, a collective mourning, a warzone in peacetime. Los Angeles wakes up traumatized by the devastation of wildfires. Even those who watched the inferno from a distance—safe but not untouched—will carry the image of towering flames on the …

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 …

The debate over the authenticity of Italian cuisine recently took center stage again, fueled by comments from two historians, Alessandro Barbero and Alberto Grandi.  The controversy began in 2023, when Alberto Grandi, a professor of food history at the University …

When we think of ancient Roman festivals, the Saturnalia often comes to mind: this exuberant December celebration, marked by feasting, role reversals, and a temporary relaxation of social norms, is among the most famous. However, the Roman calendar was rich …