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 …

It is no coincidence that Italy is often described as “the land of a hundred bell towers.” While this expression is sometimes used to highlight divisiveness, suggesting that everyone looks out for themselves at the expense of unity and common …

Who knows what the weather was like at 8:45 p.m. on that Friday, March 12, 1909, in Palermo? A few people stood at the tram terminus in Piazza Marina when the sudden crack of four gunshots shattered the evening calm. …

We all know that Italian cooking likes to follow the seasons, and rather than relying on the same fruits and vegetables year-round, we just choose what’s naturally at its best. Spring is a key moment in this cycle: nature awakens, …

Vietri sul Mare is a small town in southern Italy, along the Amalfi Coast. Located just about three miles to the east of Salerno, it is considered the gateway to one of the most famous stretches of coastline in the …

Chances are that, if you watched a movie set in Sicily, you unknowingly heard the unmistakable, twangy sound of the scacciapensieri.  Small and unassuming, it is known as “jaw harp” or “Jew’s harp” in English, and produces a metallic vibration …

A new initiative is in motion to have Italian comedy recognized as part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, a move that aims to celebrate a tradition deeply rooted in the country’s artistic and social fabric. The idea, spearheaded by the …

Walk into Seattle’s Casa Italiana on any weekend and you’ll likely find the Italian Cultural Center abuzz with Italians, Italian-Americans, and those who simply love Italian culture. From the large first-floor hall come excited cries of “Scopa!” A beginner Italian-language …

The Italian expression senz’altro (sehn-tzal-troh) is a widely used phrase that translates to “certainly,” “of course,” or “without a doubt” in English. It is a way to affirm something with confidence and conviction, often implying an immediate or unquestionable response. …

If Termini Imerese, in the metropolitan area of Palermo, and Sciacca, in the province of Agrigento, compete for the title of the oldest Carnival in Sicily” while Aci Reale, in the metropolitan area of Catania, claims to host “he most …

You know you’re dealing with something special when a company has been around for over six centuries. That’s the case with Camuffo, the world’s oldest shipyard, making boats since 1438. It all began under the Venetian Republic, when the Camuffo …