Reviving Italy’s Royal Palace of Caserta, with EU help
THE Royal Palace of Caserta, a long-neglected architectural jewel near Naples, is being returned to its former glory through a vast restoration project, partly financed by the European Union’s (EU) recovery fund. Nicknamed the “Italian Versailles” after the royal palace near Paris, the Italian Unesco site boasts 1,200 rooms, 1,742 windows and 123h...
UNICO’s Derby dinner money raises money for cancer research
The Rehoboth Area UNICO chapter held its fifth annual Kentucky Derby lasagna dinner on May 6 at St. Edmond Parish Hall, attended by more than 60 members and friends. The races were projected on a large screen. Music and vocals were provided by UNICO member Vince Varrassi, a talented artist from Milton who performed American classics as well as Itali...
13 things to know before visiting Italy
With an unmatched abundance of Unesco World Heritage sites, diverse scenery ranging from some of Europe’s highest peaks to the turquoise waters of the southern coasts, and an endless list of regional cuisines to taste, planning an Italian adventure can easily get overwhelming. Add a variety of dialects – both spoken and hand-gestured – and hard-to-...
Mama Rose’s pleases with homemade Italian fare
If Mama Rose’s, the venerable Italian restaurant in downtown Estes Park, kind of feels like you’re in someone’s home that’s because it was loosely styled to resemble Rose’s home back in Iowa. When the restaurant opened its doors some thirty years ago, the design and décor echoed the home of Julie Piper’s mom, the original Rose. Julie’s brother Mari...
What to Eat in Venice: Foods to Try in Venice, Italy
Planning a trip to the City of Masks and wondering what to eat in Venice? In fact, the food in Venice, Italy, differs quite drastically from other regions and cities. Historically, those living in the city of islands had access to a different assortment of ingredients than those from the mainland. Over the years, the city started to import suppli...
A residency in Rome to uncover the Eternal City’s ancient voting culture
The voices that have endured from the Classical period describe what life was like in ancient Rome for their authors, who were literate and educated elites. But what about everyone else? One way to learn about life outside the privileged classes is to examine how people engaged with laws and politics, particularly voting. Finding the evidence howev...
AnniVenti La Trattoria Brings Authentic Italian Flavors To Lemon Grove
AnniVenti La Trattoria, the Italian restaurant owned and operated by three brothers, is now open in Lemon Grove. The restaurant is named after their family’s original restaurant located just 10 miles from Palermo in Italy, where the brothers grew up working. Emanuele Gagliano, one of the brothers, says, “It’s been our lifelong dream to bring the au...
Luxury tourism, wine and food tourism, sustainable tourism: the future of Sicily
Sicily is Italy’s most in-demand tourism destination - in a country that is already first tourist destination in the world in relation to its size, and is, in particular, among the most desired wine and food destinations - in a segment considered transversally attractive for all age groups. In addition, that so-called “high-end” tourism that is tak...
The Strong, Not-So-Silent Type: Dolores Alfieri Taranto Is Elevating the Conversation
Born to Southern Italian immigrants in the Hudson Valley region of New York, Dolores Alfieri Taranto was raised with old world values and traditional mores, an experience that greatly influenced her character and work. Her parents emigrated from the Campania region of Italy not long after their wedding day, bringing with them a view of child raisin...
The discarded Neapolitan, symbol of luck
After 33 years of waiting, a number that in the Neapolitan Grimace represents the years of Christ, Naples becomes Italian champion for the third time in its history. The victory of the team of Luciano Spalletti, and the immense joy of all the fans who followed the game was certainly accompanied by superstitious rites, so important in the city of Ve...
Fairfield's Toto reopens as Italian wine bar Gabagool
From the photos of "The Sopranos" crew to the owner's mugshot-style picture outside with the caption "now serving," Gabagool Wine Bar leans into some of the stereotypes about Italian-Americans, which owner Antonio Ninivaggi says are all in good fun. Originally from Italy, but now living in Stamford, Ninivaggi said his restaurant, formerly known as...
Soldiers’ Theatre to host world premiere of “Americans in Vicenza”
This autumn, when Teatro Olimpico closes its 76th season of classic plays, the historic Italian theater will premiere “Americans in Vicenza” at the Soldiers’ Theatre on Caserma Ederle. Col. Matthew Gomlak, U.S. Army Garrison Italy commander, announced the show recently during a red-carpet engagement at Teatro Olimpico. “It is an absolute honor to r...