Verona, romantic, historical, mysterious city
Famous for being one of Italy’s most romantic cities, Verona has a charm which is recognized all over the world. It is no surprise in fact that generations of poets and writers have told its beauties, a case in point being William Shakespeare who made it the setting to the work he is probably most famous for, which to this day lends Verona that are...
‘Dritto negli occhi’. A video project dedicated to promoting Italian photography around the world
‘Dritto negli occhi’ is a video project for the promotion of contemporary Italian photography abroad , promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and conceived and produced by Alessandra Mauro, editorial director of Contrasto Books. 5 short documentaries (in Italian with English subtitles), 6 conversations with leadin...
Fortunato Depero in contemporary Italian graphic design
Two pairs of XX appear on the poster: the first pair falls into the background in black color while the second moves into the foreground bearing two orange palettes to accentuate their shadow and width. Above them, the words SECOLO XX dangle over, cut in half where the upper portion swerves to the left as if forced to dance by an invisible wind. Lo...
How to get the most out of your trip to Sicily
Sicily is one of the most beautiful destinations in Europe. Perhaps Sicily is on your bucket list, or you are desperate to scratch the travelling itch. With plans to visit Sicily, your next summer holiday could be on a white sandy beach with delicious Italian food. If you’re dreaming of a future escape, follow this quick guide to get the most out o...
The Embassy of Italy and the Consulate Generals and Italian Cultural Institutes in the US take part in the initiative “Giornata del Contemporaneo – Italian Contemporary Art”
On December 11, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) joins for the fourth time the XVI edition of the Italian Contemporary Art Day, an initiative promoted by AMACI (Association of Italian Museums of Contemporary Art) that involves museums, foundations, and public and private institutions, in order to show the vitali...
Despite pandemic, famed Italian theater opens season
While many European theaters remain closed due to the pandemic, the famed Teatro alla Scala on Tuesday opened its new season with the gala premiere of Verdi’s “Macbeth” to a fully seated house. Despite the glittery evening wear and a guest list that included Giorgio Armani and Italy’s president, Sergio Mattarella, the mood was more restrained than...
The Murals of Valogno light up the grey of the Soul
Once upon a time, in the heart of Campania, perched on a gentle hill, there was a small village called Valogno. A place abandoned by everyone, with no crowded places, no supermarkets, no skyscrapers or gyms. It had only a few inhabitants, older people, who lived on simplicity and ancient traditions. No one came through here, and everyone sought the...
A Quick Guide to Traditional Italian Christmas Food
Maybe you plan to travel to Italy for the holidays. Perhaps you're Italian-American wondering if your family recipes are actually "traditional." Or possibly you just love learning about all things food from the Belpaese. No matter the reason, you may ask, "What Food Is Served During Christmas In Italy?" Here is a rundown of what food is served acr...
Five Christmas Markets To Visit in Italy (That Are Not in Trentino-Alto Adige)
The most famous Christmas markets in Italy are those located in the northern region of Trentino-Alto Adige. They are usually the ones that get the most visitors, but why not go off the beaten track this year and discover other quaint markets from north to south? Here’s a selection of some great ones. Most of them are already under way and will cont...
Rome's Artisanal Food Shops Are Staging a Comeback—And They're Cooler Than Ever
“We already have lots of regulars, and it’s only been four months,” Valerio Spadaro Guerra tells me when we meet on a rainy November morning in his shop, Casadora. “I thought it’d take longer to get customers, but it didn’t. The response has really been beyond my expectations. ” We are in Rome’s Prati, a stately area just north of St. Peter’s Squar...
Pompeii’s Ruins to Be Reconstructed by Robot
Imagine you have a jigsaw puzzle with 10,000 pieces but no picture on a box. In fact, you don’t even have the box—it was destroyed nearly 2,000 years ago. These puzzle pieces are fragments of frescoes in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii that were leveled or buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. Some pieces are missing, others are br...
Is eating together Italy's secret to long life?
Italians live longer, we know it: the people of the Belpaese are among the longest-living in the world, along with other Mediterraneans like the Spaniards, and the eastern masters of longevity, the Japanese. There are some parts of the country where our elders normally live well into their 90s and, often, easily reach and surpass 100 years, Cilento...