A weekend in Bologna: itinerary amid good food, art and misteries
La rossa, la grassa, la dotta (the red, the thick, the learned one): that's how an old saying describes Bologna - for the peculiar color of its buldings, the richness of its food and the presence of the most ancient university in the world. For decades, it has been among the most beloved cities in Italy by tourists for its vitality, unmistakable ar...
Savor a Day Trip to New York's Bronx Little Italy
We’re headed to New York to visit Little Italy in the Bronx, known for their mouth-watering bakeries, pastry shops, meat and cheese markets, and restaurants. Bronx Little Italy is accessible in under a three-hour drive from anywhere in NEPA. The popular Facebook page Bronx Little Italy serves as a great guide in building itineraries for newcomers....
Andrea Bocelli Announces Holiday US Tour in 2024
One of the world’s most beloved Italian tenors just announced that he will embark on a US tour this holiday season! This short but sweet December tour will span numerous US cities, including New York, Miami, San Diego, Los Angeles, and more. The Los Angeles concert will also mark the first time that Andrea Bocelli has ever performed at the Kia Foru...
Giovanni Michelucci’s dramatic concrete church in the Italian Dolomites
Arriving at Longarone on a slow train from Venice, zigzagging up the Piave Valley into the jagged heights of the Dolomites, the visitor is faced by a gruff modern road and, on the other side, the unresponsive façades of indifferent 1960s buildings. It seems so very disappointing. Why would anyone build like this in such an eagle’s nest setting? A t...
The Biggest Difference Between Italian And American Cannoli
There are countless Italian dishes, but few that have been the subject of an iconic movie line. "Leave the gun; take the cannoli" from "The Godfather" is one of the more memorable bits of dialogue in film history. It's also indicative of the importance and universality of cannoli in Italian and Italian-American cuisine. There might not be a more re...
Here Are New Ways To Visit Sicily This Year
For those looking to visit Sicily and experience it in a new way, a good place to start is the Villa Igiea in Palermo. A cherished landmark, the villa is testament to a great Italian dynasty, the Florios, who were widely chronicled in Europe for both their business acumen and social prowess, as the Astors and Vanderbilts were in the U.S., during th...
A Story of Family: Playa Vista writer takes first film ‘The Italians’ to local festivals
Lisa Phillips Visca has dreamed of having one of her screenplays turned into a film. She recently had this chance with “The Italians.” It made its debut at the Los Angeles Italia Film, Fashion and Art Fest on Monday, March 4. It also showed at the Cinequest Film Fest in San Jose on Saturday, March 9. Later in the year, the creative team has plan...
Italian PDO wines exports exceed €5.1 billion in 2023
In 2023, Italian PDO wines upheld their robust export trajectory, eclipsing the €5.1 billion threshold (+0.3% from 2022). Nonetheless, volumes saw a downturn, tallying 1.3 million hectoliters, marking a -3.8% dip. This steadiness secured Italy’s second spot in Europe among PDO wines exporters, trailing France and leading Spain. Given Spain and Fran...
Joe Isidori to open Arthur & Sons in Bridgehampton
Bridgehampton will be home to Arthur & Sons, which is opening at 203 Bridgehampton Sag Harbor Turnpike in May. Joe Isidori, a Michelin star chef, is paying tribute to his family’s three generations in the New York restaurant scene, with a menu filled with “old school” Italian American red-sauce favorites. The restaurant also has a location in Manh...
What to do in Spring in Rome: 5 must see places to visit with nice weather
Rome deserves a trip in every time of the year: with its majestic monuments and unforgettable corners, in every season the eternal city can be a beautiful destination for a holiday in Italy. However, springtime - with the blossoming season at its top - gives the opportunity to admire Rome at its best way, also thanks to the daylight becoming longer...
Making It in America
Recently, while conducting family genealogy research, I came across an intriguing 70-page handbook titled the “Guide to the United States for the Immigrant Italian” by John Foster Carr. I immediately thought of my paternal and maternal Italian ancestors who achieved their westward destiny during the Great Arrival with the help of such organizations...
What Happened in Rome’s Circus Maximus?
The Circus Maximus, a sprawling amphitheater nestled between the Palatine Palace and the Aventine Hill, epitomized the grandeur of ancient Roman entertainment. Originally a venue for celebratory games, it blossomed into a multifaceted arena under the influence of Greek chariot racing, hosting diverse events like animal hunts and triumphal processio...