Study Italian in Perugia on a SPSCA Scholarship
One of Seattle-Perugia Sister City Association's signature opportunities for members is their Scholarship Program. Scholarships are awarded to study at the University for Foreigners (Università per Stranieri), the oldest and most prestigious Italian institution engaged in teaching Italian language and culture, located in the heart of historic Perug...
Florence tomb by Michelangelo restored with aid of bacteria
A Medici family chapel created by Michelangelo that was cleaned with the help of bacteria has been presented to the public to mark the 545th anniversary of the Renaissance master’s birth. Michelangelo was commissioned to sculpt the New Sacristy, in the Medici chapels in San Lorenzo church in Florence, in 1520. Restorers struggled to clean the dirt...
Culture war: Russia wants its art back from Italy
Russia is seeking the immediate return of highly valuable art works currently on loan to Italy, as the repercussions from the invasion of Ukraine and international sanctions impact the world of culture. The Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg has demanded the return, by the end of this month, of the works loaned for exhibitions at the Palazzo Reale a...
The History of the Aperitivo, Italy’s Very Own Happy Hour
Ah, the first drink at the end of the day – a noble tradition honoured almost anywhere in the world. Getting a boozy kick at a bar before dinner is what prevents a probably shocking number of adults from losing their minds on the daily. In the UK, we know this as happy hour, a glorious time when –if you’re lucky – the drinks are two-for-one and the...
Militello: a baroque jewel is Sicily's most beautiful village
The readers of popular online food and wine daily All Food Sicily (www.allfoodsicily.it) selected the most beautiful place on their island: Militello in Val di Catania. The publication, which focuses on the rich and multifaceted world of Sicilian eno-gastronomic tradition, proposed a survey to vote the island’s most charming place, in a competition...
Rome's new museum dedicated to cooking
From the outside, the museum on Palatine Hill looked like just another of Rome's elegant palazzi, its entrance graced with statues of Roman soldiers and decorative urns. Inside, however, it was clear that this wasn't your run-of-the-mill Roman mansion. Hundreds of culinary tools were displayed in glass cabinets: bulky 19th-Century pasta machines, 2...
Top Italian Wines Roadshow: Borgo Conventi
A path surrounded by magnificent vineyards will get you to the Borgo Conventi villa. The estate owes its name to a legend, according to which local feudatory Rizzardo di Strassoldo donated a plot of land to the Dominican Fathers who built a convent there. The current history of the winery, instead, dates back to 1975, when Gianni Vescovo started t...
You Know Artemisia Gentileschi—Now Learn About These Other Renaissance Women Artists
Thanks to feminist scholars of the last century, Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653) has gone from a footnote in art history textbooks to something of a household name. Her works now fetch sums in the millions. In 2020, London’s National Gallery staged a blockbuster solo exhibition of Gentileschi’s art—the museum’s first-ever show ded...
The Winsome Joy of Ricotta Salata
Ricotta salata is still ricotta, but it doesn’t have the classic soft texture. Southern Italians use the hard cheese mostly for grating – it completes pasta alla norma, Sicily's tomato and fried eggplant pasta. Conical in shape, the cheese is made from leftover whey, which is reheated, hence the name – ricotta means “recooked.” A recooked dairy pro...
Italians reveal their favorite places to go on vacation — in Italy
Italy is home to some of the world’s most famous cities, art, wine and beaches. Think Florence, Rome and Venice with their abundant Renaissance architecture and well-known galleries, Tuscany with its globally-renowned vineyards and the glamorous Amalfi coast with its see-and-be-seen vibe. While these places are an obvious draw for travelers, Italia...
Il Giardino di Babuk
TUCKED AWAY IN A TINY street near the center of Rione Sanita lies a peculiar secret garden. Hidden away from roving eyes, accessible only by appointment, this beautiful 10,000 square foot yard hides a wealth of history and mystery. Flushed with mandarin, lemon, even banana plants, fountains, a stage for outdoor theater and music performances, and a...
Olive Oil: Italy ranks second among world producers
Thanks to the 2021/2022 campaign, Italy returns to the second step of the podium of the world production of olive oil. This was announced by Unaprol (Italian Olive Oil Consortium) based on official estimates released by the International Olive Oil Council. Spain is confirmed as the undisputed ‘queen’ of the sector with almost 1.3 million tons produ...