Italy celebrates journalist Cecilia Sala's release from Tehran prison and welcomes her to Rome
Italian journalist Cecilia Sala arrived back in Rome today, after being released from detention in Iran. The 37-year-old journalist had been arrested in Tehran in December 2024 while reporting on the country's political and social issues. Her sudden release came after weeks of negotiations between Italian authorities and Iranian officials. Cecilia...
Inside Italy's creepy catacombs lined with 100s of mummies that's a haven for dark tourism
Sicily is renowned for its stunning beaches, charming villages and towns, as well as an abundance of ancient ruins and archeological sites. The Mediterranean island attracted over 16 million visitors last year, evidence of its huge popularity. It is also home to an astonishing burial site that is fast becoming a haven for dark tourism. The Capuchin...
New N.J. Italian restaurant is latest gem hidden in a strip mall
If you’re dining at a restaurant owned by the Bitici family, chances are you’re in for a treat. Such is the case with Amerigo in Berkeley Heights. The spawn of restaurant veterans and brothers Ilir and and Mentor Bitici, their latest endeavor is all about elevating classic Italian-American dishes. Fiorino, the family’s outpost in Summit focuses on...
Why move to the Marche? An overview for foreigners
The Marche is one of the most versatile regions in Italy, easily able to meet the desires of those who are in love with the Italian way of life. Much of the territory is immersed in hills and valleys, especially on the western side, while on the eastern side, along the Adriatic coast, nearly 200 km of coastline stretch out. The variety of landscape...
Growing up Italian at a New York institution
Vivian Cardia's life story has been a true New York tale. She grew up working at the historic Beatrice Inn in New York's West Village, a famous rendezvous for the city's high society. Cardia remembers how "Woody Allen filmed a movie there with Mia Farrow and Gena Rowlands. Charles Kuralt was there every night. Lovin' Spoonful lived across the stree...
In Gorizia Strolling Along the Edge of History
Gorizia, a border town right in the heart of Europe with one foot in Italy and one in Slovenia, is considered the ultimate melting pot of Friuli Venezia Giulia and, together with Nova Gorica, will be the European Capital of Culture 2025. It goes without saying that, now that Gorizia and Nova Gorica have been chosen as the European Capital of Cultur...
I ate pasta in America and Italy while wearing a blood-sugar monitor - the different effects it had on my body scared me
As an Italian-American, my fondest memories are of coming home from school to my mom cooking a massive pot of spaghetti and homemade garlic bread, or getting takeout pizza as a family on Friday nights. But as much as I love pasta and a slice, they don't exactly love me. As I've gotten older, increasingly they leave me stuffed and fatigued for hours...
Ancient Rome and the birth of Encyclopedia
The tradition of compiling comprehensive works of knowledge, known today as encyclopedias, finds its origins in ancient Rome. Roman scholars worked to systematically gather and document the breadth of human understanding, laying the foundation for an encyclopedic tradition that has evolved over centuries. One of the earliest Roman figures associate...
Alfa Romeo Introduces Non-PHEV Tonale to U.S. Market for 2025
Alfa Romeo has made a significant move to boost its presence in the U.S. by introducing a non-PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) version of its C-segment Tonale crossover for the 2025 model year. This change comes after the brand struggled to gain traction against its Dodge sibling, the Hornet, which offered more variety in the American market....
Weekend at Lake Garda: the tour among pretty villages and unforgettable views
A weekend at Lake Garda is the opportunity to start getting to know this wonderful corner of Italy, nestled between three regions: Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige. This is the largest lake in Italy and one of the most beautiful, thanks to a lush nature made of water, high mountains and blue sky. The always mild climate makes it a perfect d...
I discovered 5 hidden coffee gems in Providence’s Federal Hill (and they rival Italy’s best)
In a city renowned for its Italian culinary heritage, Providence’s Federal Hill harbors a secret: a thriving coffee culture that rivals its pasta prowess. While tourists flock to the neighborhood’s famed trattorias, savvy locals and adventurous visitors are discovering a hidden world of artisanal brews and cozy cafes. These underrated coffee houses...
Italy Is Europe's Largest Producer of Rice, and It's All Thanks to the Po Valley
Picture fog as far as the eye can see. Fog so thick you can’t see beyond your nose, and when the fog finally gives some respite and subsides, an immense plain stretching all the way into the distance, expanses of fields repeating themselves identically without interruption, a few farmsteads here and there, barely any trees or hills. The snow of the...