19 of the best Italian mini-breaks
The Romans were big fans of taking mini holidays. At one point, 50 per cent of their annual calendar was dedicated to festivities, religious celebrations and work-free days — yet, somehow, they managed to build an empire. Perhaps they had the balance right. Centuries later, a culture of carpe diem is as strong as it ever was, making Italy the ideal...
New Jersey’s Italian Cheese Empire
In Abruzzo, Italy, lies a small village by the name of Anversa degli Abruzzi. And when I say small, I mean it—just over 300 people inhabit the mountainside town overlooking the Saggitario Gorge. Livestock roams in the mountains of this eye-catching denomination. A family in this village—the Marcellis—herd sheep and goats for the purpose of making...
The One Neighborhood Not To Miss When Visiting Milan
Milan is a city of many faces. Some visitors highlight the gorgeous grand buildings such as the Duomo and the Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele II in the center, while to others, the slightly bland, industrial side along the outskirts stands out. There are streets that resemble Paris and those that brim with southern Italian charm. But one neighborhood e...
Film at Lincoln Center and Cinecittà Announce the 22nd Edition of Open Roads: New Italian Cinema, June 1-8
Film at Lincoln Center and Cinecittà announce the complete lineup for the 22nd edition of Open Roads: New Italian Cinema, running from June 1 to 8. Open Roads: New Italian Cinema is the only screening series to offer North American audiences a diverse and extensive lineup of contemporary Italian films. This year’s edition again strikes a balance b...
Ortigia: It's Sicily, But It's Not
The small island of Ortigia is tied to Sicily by two short bridges only. Located on the very edge of the south-eastern coast, it is a world entirely of its own. Anthony Bourdain wrote about Sicily, “It’s beautiful. It’s old. It’s Italy, but it’s not.” If that is so, then Ortigia is Sicily, but it’s not. We drove to the end of Syracuse, to a carpark...
Ciao, Seattle: On exchange from Italy
A new perspective can change absolutely everything. As a Pacific Northwest native, I feel a constant need to understand the experience of those encountering Seattle for the first time, whether they are coming from Portland or Portugal. I’ve seen that we can learn so much more about ourselves when viewed by those with a completely different frame of...
The Villa of the Quintilii, ancient Rome's most exclusive winery
For our ancestors, the Romans, wine was not just a drink but a symbol of power, wealth, and status; its production was a complex process that involved not only manual labor but also sophisticated technology and management. The Villa of the Quintilii, located in the southern suburbs of Rome, was one of the largest and most luxurious estates in the...
One Of Naples’ Oldest Pizzerias Now Has A Location In Manhattan
One of Naples’ oldest pizzerias now has an address in Manhattan. Those who learned about L’antica Pizzeria da Michele through the film adaptation of “Eat, Pray, Love” don’t have to travel to Southern Italy to order their pies. Now, pizza enthusiasts can head to the West Village to experience this U.S. offshoot of this Napoli institution. With a sof...
The Tarot Garden: discovering a rare marvel in the Capalbio countryside
We are in the Tuscan Maremma, near Capalbio. Even from a distance, a spot of bright colors can be glimpsed on the hill, where the sculptor Niki de Saint Phalle in 1979 began the works that lasted almost twenty years, for the creation of the artist's park inspired by the game of Tarot. Twenty-two (like the arcana of the Tarot) imaginative works, loc...
Italian residents to visit for Batavia ‘reunion’
Descendants from Valva, Italy will be meeting for a second time to share stories and to make new connections at Roman’s restaurant in the downstairs lounge on May 27. The activity will take place 3 to 5 p.m. at the restaurant on 59 Main St. Those interested can bring a copy of their family tree to share with others. Many families immigrated to Bata...
Italian grappas: a millennial excellence
Italian grappas are rightly among the excellences that make Italy famous all over the world for its food and wine products, characterized by excellent quality and ancient tradition. This distillate is still produced today following a historical process. Here you will discover what they are and you will know the long history of Italian grappa. You w...
At Ilio DiPaolo's, family dining values persist
When the far-flung members of our dining party finally coalesced at Ilio DiPaolo’s Restaurant, we immediately started causing problems. What started as a table of four grew into a party of six. Then seven, as another wounded duck swooped for shelter amid a nest of friends. That would have been enough to jam up the works at most places. At Ilio DiPa...