As a child, I knew that the inner-city, activist community I grew up among in Cleveland, Ohio, was quirky (and as a high schooler who just wanted to be normal, I was even embarrassed by parts of it). People left their doors unlocked, popping in with a knock to announce themselves while out running errands or walking the dog; we spontaneously gather...

What is the oldest country in the world? Depending on who you ask, you’ll get a variety of responses. Some might say it’s a country like China or Greece, where you can visit ancient cities that date all the way back to the second, third, even fifth millennium BCE. But borders and cultures have always shifted—and will continue to to shift—throughout...

Rimini is a small Italian city on the Adriatic coast that is famous in modern Europe for being a beach-going destination. But Rimini has much more to offer visitors than just beaches; it also has a number of impressive ancient Roman monuments to explore. Those traveling down the Adriatic coast should stop by Rimini and explore its ancient monuments...

“The Ducati trail?” My husband was suddenly excited. “Do we get to ride motorbikes?” I had to explain that the “Ducati” in Sentiero dei Ducati, a new hiking route being promoted by Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, refers not to the high-performance bikes made nearby, but to the medieval duchies that once ruled north and central Italy. And far from ea...

We don’t need to tell you that Italian cuisine is so much more than just pizza and pasta. Each region in Italy, from Lombardy in the north to Sicily in the south, offers its own unique culinary treasures that are steeped in centuries-old traditions, offering a true treat to the palates of food lovers worldwide. With this in mind, here’s our roundup...

Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena PDO (traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena) has made its debut in Boston, one of the United States’ oldest cities, at an exclusive masterclass tailored for retailers, chefs, and influential figures within the American food and wine industry. Enrico Corsini, President of the Protection Consortium, expressed, “...

You’ve likely mixed balsamic vinegar into a salad dressing or drizzled a little over some fresh tomatoes and mozzarella, but how much do you actually know about that bottle sitting in your pantry? As it turns out, there are many different types of balsamic vinegar that vary widely in terms of both quality and price, ranging from a few dollars for a...

It’s astounding how many everyday English words have their roots in Italian: think confetti, stilettos, casino, volcano, influenza, and quarantine, just to name a handful. However, there are also many words making their way into everyday language that find their origins in specific Italian cities. Items were often titled after their places of origi...

Sarsina is a sleepy, rural town of barely 3,000 residents straddling the pristine Apennine mountains in Italy’s Emilia Romagna region, surrounded by stunning views and grazing sheep. While it has a glorious past, as a strategic defensive outpost for the Roman Empire and the birthplace of the famed playwright Plautus, today there’s not much to do be...

Imagine a place where beauty is not just a concept, but a thriving industry where innovation and entrepreneurial spirit lead the way. Welcome to the Beauty Valley, a lesser-known powerhouse of Made in Italy, nestled between the regions of Lombardy, Emilia Romagna, and Veneto. This vibrant hub is the pulsating heart of Italy’s cosmetics industry, ac...