The Latest

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 …

 In the realm of language, few words possess the nuanced grace of our word of the day, insinuare (een-see-noo-ah-rai), which we translate in English as “to insinuate” or “to suggest.” This verb traces its origins back to the Latin verb insinuo,  meaning “to introduce” …

Dear Readers,  May, we said, keeps on having many Italian connections, but for those of us who were fans, this is the month we had to say goodbye to Frank Sinatra: learning he had died, on the 14th of May 1998, was …

The innovative construction of Venetian chimneys stands as a testament to the city’s unique approach to addressing the challenges posed by its specific geographical conditions. With high humidity, salt air, and densely packed dwellings of varying heights, the Venetians needed ingenious solutions …

Italian cuisine is known worldwide for its authentic and traditional products. However, in recent years, the Italian-sounding phenomenon has posed a threat to genuine Italian goods. It’s not uncommon to see “Italian” items, complete with Italian names and symbols, but with …

In the late ’90s, during my high school days, one of my closest friends introduced me to her newfound obsession: Nutella pizza. It was a time when this unique dessert was a novelty, and my friend insisted that it was the …

Cocullo is a small, picturesque village located in the heart of the Apennine Mountains in the L’Aquila province of Abruzzo. Usually, life goes on quietly, following the gentle and ancient rhythm of nature all year, but things get more exciting every …

Maestro Carlo Ponti received the “Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy” honor, presented to him by Consul General Raffaella Valentini. At the end of the last concert of the season for the Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra last May 12 …

Matt Walker and Zeneba Bowers are Grammy-nominated classical musicians and recording artists who played in the Nashville Symphony for 20 years. During that time they also started a travel consulting business, Little Roads Europe, and wrote four award-winning guidebooks to small-town Italy and Ireland.  …

Ask 10 employed people their opinion of the best job in the world, and don’t be surprised if you get 10 different responses ranging from serious to humorous to daydreaming. There’s one responder, however, who is likely to come up …

“I’ve always been a shy person, but theater helped me open up because it made me feel like I belonged. It became my home and my life.”  Italian actress and comedian Paola Minaccioni took a piece of herself and her life on …