Italian flavors: Zibello Culatello
Mentions of culatello date from 1332, when it was given, as a precious gift, to noble spouses and wealthy lords. Loved by the poet Gabriele D'Annunzio and the great composer Giuseppe Verdi, culatello, which was once used as a precious medium of exchange, has its roots in the historical memory of the peasant culture, which still exists in the farmho...
Italian handcrafts: Pistoia Cymbals
Cymbals are very ancient in origin: the prehistoric pair of cymbals on the mummy of an Egyptian religious musician displayed in the British Museum in London shows that they were in existence as early as 2000 BC. The manufacture of cymbals was concentrated in China and in Turkey, where methods were discovered to make this instrument more durable and...
Italian traditions: Christmas in Trentino Alto Adige
Visiting Trentino Alto Adige during the Christmas season is just magical! Besides the wonder of its snow-filled landscapes - highly-appreciated by skiers, of course - its magnificent Christmas markets, in Trento and Bolzano during Advent, are what makes the Region so special this time of year. Bolzano The largest city in Trentino Alto Adige, a mee...
Italian gardens: Aspromonte National Park
The Aspromonte National Park, whose name derives from the range of the same name, is located in the province of Reggio Calabria, in a protected natural area. It was created in 1989, and in 1994 its territory was defined: the original extension of 76,000 hectares was subsequently reduced to the current 64,153. The Aspromonte Range, which is part of...
Italian wine: Hiking Mt. Etna with the Volcanic Wines of Firriato's Cavanera Etnea
I have been intrigued by the wines of Sicily for some time now and am always excited about the opportunity to try them, especially those of Mt. Etna. Being onsite at Firriato, walking on the soils, experiencing the climate and admiring the landscapes I’ve discovered is what makes these wines so special. Upon arrival in Catania I was greeted by...
Italian lifestyle and fashion: Costumes make the magic IC-CUNY Italian cinema festival wraps up in New York
Certain images from films just don’t fade from memory. Take, for example, actor Toni Servillo playing the jaded Jep Gambardella, king of Rome’s nightlife, in Paolo Sorrentino’s Oscar-winning The Great Beauty. Who could forget his above-it-all gaze and supple yellow sports jacket that screamed Neapolitan elegance? Then there’s the mysterious scaled...
The struggle of Italian olive oil to regain its leadership
After 2018, annus horribilis of Italy’s olive oil, the sector sees signs of relief thanks to the positive production forecasts. Alongside, there are still many shadows in the sector, which appears to be hostage to old rigidity and new tensions according to the analysis by Assitol, the Italian Association of Oil Industry, at the end of 2019. The mai...
«Io, milanese, vi sposo a New York». L’incredibile storia di Paola Rossi
Vista oggi nel caffè a Bryant Park, la Paola Rossi che disse sì al posto fisso a Milano è una donna lontanissima. Perché ora quella dipendente di banca laureata in scienze politiche è diventata la milanese che sposa gli italiani a New York. E dal 2011 vive a Manhattan, con uno sguardo al passato, la serenità del presente e qualche dubbio su dove vi...
Why You Should Visit An Artisan Workshop On Your Next Trip To Italy
Italy has long been revered for its art and beauty - the country is stepped in cultural heritage and boasts some of the world's most skilled artisans that have honed their craft for centuries. Ceramists, sculptors, goldsmiths and art restorers can be found throughout Italy, dutifully carrying forward ancient traditions in their workshops, though th...
Primo Mercato Opens at The Mall at Short Hills
Primo Mercato has officially brought its offerings to The Mall at Short Hills in New Jersey. Inspired by the iconic Mercato Centrale in Florence Italy, Primo Mercato boasts an expansive space of 17,000 square feet and the authentic Italian food hall offers guests a wide selection of dining and shopping options, including artisanal food counters, fo...
“Up Late with Johnny Potenza,” a new show with a brand new take
Over the years he’s hosted guests from the worlds of music and entertainment — and now after a two-year hiatus he’s back once again thrilling the masses as talk show host aboard Staten Island Community Television’s (CTV) new variety show he calls “Up Late with Johnny Potenza.” He’s one of the borough’s reality-TV pioneers — better known as Johnny P...
The Italian village that celebrates ugliness
Tucked in a valley between the Apennine Mountains and the Adriatic Sea in central Italy, Piobbico is a handsome medieval town full of grand stone buildings surrounded by lush forests. But despite its picture-perfect setting, Piobbico is renowned for the “ugliness” of its people. Since 1879, this 2,000-person town has been home to the Club dei Brutt...