‘Mosaico’ Italian art exhibit featured at Dupont Underground
“Mosaico Italian code of a timeless art” is the Dupont Underground’s latest exhibit, in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy, running until Feb. 2. Decorating cathedral ceilings, palace walls and the Mediterranean seafloor, the ancient artistic tradition of mosaics, or the art of creating images or patterns out of small pieces of glass, clay and...
Italy's 'hidden gem' that's a 'great alternative' to dodge the crowds in Greece
Italy’s southern region of Puglia has been branded as a hidden gem for those looking to escape the busy tourist crowds of places like Santorini and Mykonos. Michael Donovan, a travel expert and the co-founder of staynewengland.com, told the Express that Puglia is a great alternative for travellers looking for an authentic experience without the ove...
N.J. grower who brought Italian grape to US remains optimistic about its potential
Larry Coia, a New Jersey grape grower and the part owner of Bellview Winery, brought the San Marco grape back to the United States in 2011. By then he had been tending to grapevines for 35 years, all as a sidelight while working as a radiation oncologist. A founding member of the Outer Coastal Plain Vineyard Association, he became immersed in the s...
In Umbria, Medieval Estates Are Transformed Into Luxury Hotels
It feels like everybody is traveling to Italy these days. So to enjoy an authentic Italian experience without throngs of crowds, you have to venture a lot further off the beaten path. Skip Tuscany in favor of its lesser-known-but-equally-beautiful neighboring region—where several hotels and resorts have been created inside imposing medieval structu...
Francesco Clemente: New Bar, New Show, New York
'I wish there was a drink named after me,' Francesco Clemente said one day to New York chef Daniel Humm. The two met a few years back through art dealer Vito Schnabel and have since become close friends. 'Just a drink?' Humm responded with a more ambitious suggestion: 'How about an entire bar?' What began as a pipe dream came to fruition last month...
Impressive peace altar in Italy honors all war dead amid history-rich park path
War memorials around the world tend to be country-specific in honoring the fallen, but a magnificent hilltop monument in the Italian city of Medea (Gorizia, Friuli venezia Giulia) breaks the mold by also paying homage to peace. Built shortly after World War II, the Ara Pacis Mundi commemorates soldiers who have died in all wars. Its name translates...
Allegro Italian Restaurant & Lounge to open at former Rudy's location in Rocky Hill (CT)
Just four months after Rudy's Little Italy restaurant closed on the Silas Deane Highway, a new Italian restaurant, Allegro Italian Restaurant & Lounge, will take its place. Owned by Betim Muzlijaj of Middletown and Wilson Solano of Rocky Hill, the restaurant will feature pasta and seafood, but not grinders or pizza. "There's a lot in town already,...
She fell in ‘love at first sight’ with an Italian stranger. Within days they were talking about marriage
Ambika Mathur was sitting on her parents’ couch, watching “Emily in Paris” and feeling sorry for herself. It was summer 2022. Ambika, a California-based model, was feeling “kind of stagnant.” She’d just broken up with her long-term partner and moved back in with her parents at the age of 25. And while she was regularly shooting commercials, nothing...
After more than 80 years, WWII soldier's remains returned to family in Delaware County
For Donna Duranti and Jo Ann Spata, Joseph Cocco is the uncle they never met. These sisters only knew the stories of "Uncle Joe," or U.S. Army Private Joseph Cocco, who died fighting in World War II. At 22 years old, the Overbrook native who grew up on the 800 block of North 66th Street was reported missing while in combat in Italy. On Sept. 9, 19...
I bet you didn’t know that pretzels were Italian!
We all had pretzels at least once in our lives, but how many among us know they have Italian roots? Legend has it that pretzels, one of the world’s oldest baked snacks, originated in 7th-century Italy in the Aosta Valley, where they were crafted by a monk to inspire young students. During a time when education was heavily tied to religious practice...
Barilla launches limited-edition ‘Snowfall’ pasta ahead of holiday season
Pasta brand Barilla has announced the US launch of a new limited-edition pasta shape, Barilla Snowfall, ahead of the holiday season. Barilla’s festive pasta aims to help home chefs ‘capture the essence’ of the season, reimagining the brand’s classic pasta shapes. The themed pasta shapes represent the elements of the season: tradition, with the depi...
The Legend of Armida and the Castle of Trani
The Castle of Trani, perched along the Adriatic coast in Apulia, is a historical marvel. Built by Emperor Frederick II in the 13th century, this fortress has been witness to centuries of history, intrigue, and legend. One tale stands out, capturing the imagination of visitors and locals alike: the legend of Armida, a mysterious and beautiful figure...