The poet of matter
The artist Giorgio Morandi once turned down the opportunity of showing his works in an exhibition because the organisers envisaged something altogether too showy for his taste. He rather tetchily declared they were trying to deprive him of “that tiny degree of quiet that is vital for my work”. Quiet. If one had to find one word to sum up the painti...
Five Stunning National Parks To Visit In Italy
While Italy’s sprawling cities attract massive amounts of tourists each year, there’s no shortage of stunning spots to explore outside the country’s urban oases. From the remote reaches of the Mediterranean to the French border, Italy is home to a wealth of incredible national parks, each one loaded with native wildlife and marvelous landscapes. As...
A radicchio revolution is underway in the Northwest
On an overcast winter morning, the four acres of Wild Roots Farm look pretty dormant to the untrained eye. A string of winter storms and some 20-degree nights have left what looks like rows of muddy soil with spots of wilting vegetation mixed in. But Mary Colombo sees things a little differently. “On the outside it’s all slimy and dead,” said Colom...
Ostia Antica, Italy
There are so many great places to visit in Italy, it is impossible to see everything. During the summer Rome is crowded with tourists and the city can be blistering hot so a good option is to do what the Italians do — go to the beach. Ostia, or more correctly, Lido di Ostia, is technically a neighborhood of Rome but it is about 20 miles from the ce...
How a Makeup Artist Spends Her Sundays
Eight years ago, Angie Valentino, an award-winning makeup artist, moved from Milan — where she worked for brands like Fendi, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and Philipp Plein — to New York. Since then, she has focused on private clients around the city, including Broadway and television performers. Ms. Valentino, 37, lives in Ridgewood, Queens. ITALIAN AM...
Exploring Italy’s Iconic Bridges: A Journey Through History, Art and Engineering Marvels
Italy is a country that boasts an abundance of cultural and artistic treasures, and its bridges are no exception. From ancient times to the present day, Italian bridges have played an essential role in the country’s development and have inspired awe and admiration from visitors around the world. In this article, we will take a journey through Italy...
Why Chefs Prefer Italian Nutella Over American
Pizza, pasta, espresso, gelato. Some things (okay, a lot of things) are just better in Italy. Try as we might to remake the magic here in the U.S., a dish or a product is only as good as its ingredients, and there's no denying that, in many cases, Italy produces better, higher-quality ingredients. That's because more often than not, authentic Itali...
Messina like a local: 7 things to do
Messina has the smarmy air of the city by the sea historically open to hospitality and a romantic and melancholic Belle Èpoque air bequeathed by the post-seismic reconstruction (the devastating earthquake of 1908 razed millennia of history to the ground). While tourists usually aspire to other, more storied Sicilian destinations, it's indeed a pri...
Italian American Community in San Antonio
Italian immigrants began arriving in San Antonio in the 1870s. By 1890 a number of families had established an Italian neighborhood northwest of downtown. In April of that year a small group gathered together in a fruit store at the corner of Commerce Street and Plaza de Armas to organize a benevolent association. They obtained a charter for the Ch...
Here's the rub on some of Italy's iconic lucky statues
There is no lack of fantastic statuary in Italy. Even in the smallest hamlets, you’re sure to find at least a statue or two honoring a local hero or momentous occasion. While most of Italy’s statues are duly admired by passersby, there’s a subset of iconic bronze statuary that receive a more personal form of attention. You may’ve even noticed one o...
This Cute Pasta Timer Sings Italian Ballads When Your Spaghetti Is Ready
Even if you enjoy cooking, it’s hard to get excited watching a pot of pasta boil—but after breaking out the Al Dente kitchen timer, you’ll find yourself singing along while stirring your spaghetti. This clever gadget brings a sense of humor to the otherwise mundane kitchen task. Instead of a boring buzzer, Al Dente uses one of four classic Italian...
Retiring in Italy: The 7 Best Places to Retire in Italy
Italy's villages and cities appeal to retirees for many different reasons - the beautiful beaches, breathtaking countryside, amazing food, wonderful nightlife, bustling town markets and welcoming people. In this article, we cover several of our readers' favorite places, but one of our members offered the best advice, "in over 20 years of travel to ...