The Interesting History of Italian Last Names
Italy has the highest number of last names in Europe: 350,000. This is due to the country’s history of linguistic fragmentation. Some last names extend throughout the country, others are only typical of a region or area. We tend to take last names for granted, because we all have one. In reality, the use of surnames in Italy is the result of a thou...
The 10 most beautiful rivieras in Italy
With around 8 thousand kilometres of coastline, organising a holiday with a view of the Mediterranean can be a challenge for the most indecisive travellers. Well-equipped beaches or small, wild coves? Adventures on the road or total relaxation in a stylish hotel? What if I want to go trekking? No more pre-departure anxiety; we are here to help you...
Brachetto d’Acqui, the perfect wine for a romantic dinner
What better occasion than Valentine’s Day to enjoy a romantic dinner by candlelight with your loved one? And why not make everything even more perfect by accompanying it with an excellent Brachetto d’Acqui? I am suggesting a luxury wine with a special perfume, not very alcoholic and to be consumed in a wine or sparkling version. Brachetto D’Acqui,...
The Best Italian Movies You Have To See
Did you know Italy holds the record for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscars with a total of 14 since 1956? Since the invention of cinema, names like Vittorio De Sica, Roberto Rossellini, and Michelangelo Antonioni continue to inspire and influence filmmakers around the world. From neorealism to post-modernism, the evolution of Italian cinema has...
Fontana del Gigante
THE MONUMENTAL 17TH-CENTURY FONTANA DEL Gigante (Fountain of the Giant) is a fine piece of Mannerist art featuring a trio of arches. Adorned with heraldic symbols and marine animals, it stands on the seafront near Castel dell’Ovo. It’s the fourth location for the fountain, which has moved all over Naples in its lifetime. In the early 17th century,...
What is Molise? Go there. Take a walk. Have a bite. You will love it.
I recently returned from a trip to the Basilica Santuario di Maria Santissima Addolorata, in the town of Castelpetroso, in the province of Isernia, in the magnificent region of Molise. I want to say that what I followed was a perfect itinerary but I can’t do that for a couple of reasons. First, the trip was largely unplanned and it was the unplanne...
The top 22 free things to do in Milan
This fashion-focused city may be Italy’s most expensive, but that doesn’t mean it has to hit your wallet hard. Look past the posh exterior, and you’ll see that Milan is brimming with sights that won’t cost a cent, from glorious churches to exceptional architecture to unusual museums. Here are the best free things to do in Milan. 1. Duomo The city’s...
Spice Up Your Kitchen With These Seven Italian Aphrodisiac Foods
Valentine's Day is upon us and if you’re planning a romantic dinner with your partner then you may want to include some (or all!) of the following foods and ingredients. The debate on aphrodisiac foods remains open, with some claiming it is just the power of suggestion, while others swear by the efficacy of certain foods. Certainly the release of...
The 10 places for the most romantic sunsets in North Sardinia
In Sardinia it is possible to admire unique sunsets, from the heights immersed in uncontaminated nature to its wild beaches. The colors of the sunset reflected on the sea create unique and spectacular landscapes, when the sky turns yellow and gold, and then pink and purple. Today we will discover the 10 places from which you can admire the most rom...
Top 20 Southern Italian Foods
There is no doubt that if you were to name the most internationally renowned Italian foods, many of them would probably come from the South: pizza, carbonara, and ice cream are just a few. Indeed, the South of Italy accounts for a large number of Italian cultural stereotypes: just think of the typical Neapolitan man singing passionately in the stre...
Zeudi Di Palma is Miss Italia 2021
Zeudi Di Palma, 20 years old, from Naples, was elected Miss Italy 2021. Zeudi Di Palma, student of sociology at the Federico II, has represented the capital of Naples in the final having already won the sash of Miss Naples 2021. Tall 1.72 brown hair and eyes, Zeudi Di Palma had arrived in Venice with the title of Miss Naples, her hometown. A victor...
A Snowy Scene at Italy’s Lake Santa Croce Wins the People’s Choice Award in Wildlife Photographer of the Year Contest
When Italian photographer Christiano Vendramin visited Santa Croce Lake in northern Italy in 2019, he noticed the water was unusually high. While the four-mile lake is bustling with action in the warm summer months, it lays dormant in winter. Icy storms had blanketed partially submerged willow trees in snow, freezing the scene in place. Positioning...